Good Morning. I had a good night sleep at the Shangri-La hotel and headed down for breakfast. I am on the 20th floor. Yesterday Drew texted me after I check in and asked me if I had felt the earthquake. A wave of fear came over me....I was on the 20th floor of a hotel in Beijing! I thought he was joking, but apparently not. He said it was about a 20 second earthquake in Tianjin and Beijing! And NO I didn't feel it, thank goodness!! I didn't need any more anxiety about flying solo in China.
Now, just so you know, I have traveled solo many times before, but there was something unnerving about being alone in China. My major anxiety was the lack of language and communication skills. I have been in 27 different countries and able to at least read street signs, but China is different in that they do not use the alphabet, they use Chinese characters! Unidentifiable ones at that. Not even Garmin would help me here!! Drew seems to have a handle on the characters and language. As time went on throughout the week of travel with him, he very much impressed me with his Mandarin. The only thing I have been able to master (and apparently not very well due to the giggles) is 'how are you' (hi'how) and 'thank you' (shei-shei)!!
Well, I headed to breakfast. Just so you know, I have had the same breakfast for 8 days in a row.... I call it the Ho Jo special, hahaha. A little dim sum, sauteed mushrooms, salmon and fruit. Leo, my guide, picked me up. And yes, my guide is a private guide!! A little bit different than the past week on BigBus!! Drew and I have been on the fly/loosey goosey/ wherever the wind blows us, for tours and reservations. I love Expedia.com!! We have booked fabulous expensive, five star hotels, The Royal Palace, Ho Jo, Westin for less than $120 a night, and have had great City tours. I booked the Beijing part of my trip in Minneapolis because I knew I would be alone and thought meeting other tourists and getting to know them and their lives would be interesting. Apparently this was NOT going to happen!! But I have had fun getting to know Leo (his adopted American name).
Our first stop was Tiananmen Square. The Square is anchored in each corner by government buildings. The Square is the largest public square in the world and one million chinese people shoulder to shoulder would fill the square. The square was bustling with people, not just tourists. It had two major jumbotrons and lots of photo ops!! We walked toward the Forbidden City and observed a 20 foot by 20 foot picture of Mao. Tiananmen Square has a storied past and it felt eerie to be standing on grounds that were once filled with revolting people.
Next was The Forbidden City, built by third Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, is amazing. The colors and patterns of each building are vibrant and beautiful. After one building is another one, and another one, and another one...it just keeps going. The Emperor had buildings for meetings, food, bathing, reading, relaxing, concubines, you name, he had it! Beautiful and loaded with tourists!! The yellow roofs were ordered by the Emperor to signify the color of the earth. The red on the buildings signifies happiness forever.
We walked for several hours and our driver picked us up for lunch. Before ordering, Leo asked if I was able to use chopsticks...I answered a quick yes!! A typical Beijing cuisine lunch was ordered....chicken, pork, rice, and pear salad. It was good, even though half of it was on the table and my lap!! Hahahaha! I guess Leo will think twice before going any place for food with me again.
Next we drove to the northern part of the city, to the fabled Summer Palace. The decor of buildings and colors were identical to the Forbidden City, however, the area also had pavilions, bridges and gardens. The Summer Palace sits on a beautiful lake and it was noticeable cooler than the The Forbidden City. The Emperor had ordered the building of the Summer palace as a break away from the city. I can see why the Emperor would travel to this part of the country to get away...kinda ike Minnesotans and their lake cabins, except not as lavish!! The pavilion was the longest walkway with over 800 pictures painted on the beams, absolutely gorgeous and beautiful walkway!!s
On the way back to the hotel we stopped at a silk factory. Very cool. They showed the entire process of making silk and then had a huge display room to purchase items. All I wanted to do was lay down and take a nap on the silk blankets...ufda, they were soft. I restrained myself from buying out the factory in even light of the fact that they could shrinking wrap anything you purchased to fit in your suitcase!! hahahaha
I made it back to the 20th floor and immediately took my shoes off and relaxed. The rest of the evening was spent downloading pictures and skyping with family!! What a day and tomorrow was going to be even better!! Estimated time of departure: 8:00 a.m. Leo will be here with bells on his feet!!
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
May 29th Pictures of Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City and Summer Palace
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| 1 of 4 Government Buildings on Tiananmen Square |
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| Tiananmen Square |
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| Tiananmen Square |
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| Forbidden City |
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| Summer Palace |
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| Summer Palace |
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| Summer Palace |
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| Summer Palace |
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| Silk Factory |
May 28th Bullet Train Pictures
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| Bullet Train to Tianjin |
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| Train Station |
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| Hot Pot with Vegetable Stock and HOT/SPICY Stock |
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| Fried buns dipped in condensed milk!! |
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| Leo my personal tour guide |
May 28th Travel Day to Beiijing
Well, today was the day. I was about to travel China alone. Drew is starting school and I have a 11:30 speed train reservation to Beijing. The Westin concierge Juani from Argentina was back from his weekend at the beach and wanted to catch up on everything I did over the weekend. I had breakfast and told him all of the fun things I saw and did in Tianjin. But it was time...Juani got me a cab and off I went to the Tianjin train station.
The train stations in China are just like American airports. Line up, go through security and then to your gate. Drew had recommended that I go first class because I had luggage. The cost to take the train was $69 Kuai (or $11 US dollars). I am glad that I did. The frantic rush through the gate for seating was crazy. Before getting on the train, I heard a young man speaking english and struck up a conversation. His name was Nick and he was an architect student at Pratt University in NJ doing an internship in Tianjin. He was taking the Beijing train for work and was really enjoying his stay. I told him about Drew and the 50 students from UW. I suggested to Nick if he needed some down time with some college students, give Drew a call. It was fun to talk to him!!
The train ride was quick. Tianjin and Beijing are about 60 miles apart. The ride was less than 30 minutes with one stop in Wijung. The landscape between Tianjin and Beijing was half agriculture and half high-rise apartments. Upon arrival the tourist guide, Leo, from Orient Travel, met me and took me to my hotel, Shangri-La, on the west side of Beijing. I unpacked my stuff and went out exploring. For dinner I went to the "hot pot" restaurant down the street and enjoyed the meal. I called it an early evening and knew that 8:00 a.m. would come quick for a day full of sightseeing.
The train stations in China are just like American airports. Line up, go through security and then to your gate. Drew had recommended that I go first class because I had luggage. The cost to take the train was $69 Kuai (or $11 US dollars). I am glad that I did. The frantic rush through the gate for seating was crazy. Before getting on the train, I heard a young man speaking english and struck up a conversation. His name was Nick and he was an architect student at Pratt University in NJ doing an internship in Tianjin. He was taking the Beijing train for work and was really enjoying his stay. I told him about Drew and the 50 students from UW. I suggested to Nick if he needed some down time with some college students, give Drew a call. It was fun to talk to him!!
The train ride was quick. Tianjin and Beijing are about 60 miles apart. The ride was less than 30 minutes with one stop in Wijung. The landscape between Tianjin and Beijing was half agriculture and half high-rise apartments. Upon arrival the tourist guide, Leo, from Orient Travel, met me and took me to my hotel, Shangri-La, on the west side of Beijing. I unpacked my stuff and went out exploring. For dinner I went to the "hot pot" restaurant down the street and enjoyed the meal. I called it an early evening and knew that 8:00 a.m. would come quick for a day full of sightseeing.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27th Hot Pot Sunday
Tianjin is very impressive. Yesterday's tour was fun and the city is beautiful. Today I grabbed a cab (solo) to the Drum Tower. The Drum Tower and accompanying area of vendors selling antiquities was quite taking. The colors and designs on the Drum Tower were vibrant and very interesting. The numerous vendors were colorful too. I noticed that each vendor had his/her entire family crammed into their little store area, the size of my closet at home. It appears the chinese family is very close and they all live, work and eat together...all generations too.
It turned out to be a hot day with a slight breeze, and walking around the Drum Tower and vendors was the perfect afternoon to move slow and nod at those staring at me. I really enjoy the Chinese people. So non-adversarial, content and calm. It is infectious!
I spent $2.00 for a cab to the Drum Tower. This was the first time since I have been in China that I had a female taxi driver. The taxi driver's are crazy here. Most of the time I shut my eyes and pray. They come within inches of other cabs, bicycles, rickshaws, mopeds and walkers. Darn scary!! Nobody stops at a light, and a right or left hand turn does not require slowing down before making the turn. Pretty unbelievable.
Drew was unpacking at his dorm and doing some shopping. He suggested that we meet later for dinner..."hot pot". I was game...I remember Drew talking about it last year.
Drew also suggested that after the Drum Tower to take a taxi over to the Chinahouse. This is a house made out of porcelain. I think every broken plate in China was collected to put this house together. Very interesting! Again, the colors and textures were beautiful. After touring the porcelain house and taking pics, I snagged a cab back to the Westin. Again, a female taxi driver....second one in the same day!!
Dinner was at 7:00 o'clock about a mile from my hotel. Drew was on the other side of town. He and his roommate Ricky took a taxi and met me at Haidi Lao Huoguo at 7:00 p.m. The place was packed, but the boys had made a reservation. Drew suggested wearing something dark because you spill/splatter a lot, which ruins your shirt. Thanks Drew!
The hot pot type cooking is similar to fondue except the hot pot in sunken into you table and it is boiled in a vegetable stock or you can spice it up to the point that you start on fire....haha. The boys ordered lame, beef and pork, two types of mushrooms, tofu, noodles, cabbge and potatoes. Threw it into the pot and let it cook away. Amazing!! They also ordered a fried roll that you dip in condensed milk, yes, you heard me right, condensed milk. Wow, I could have eaten these all night!! The whole dinner was very good and except for the fried rolls, it was quite healthy.
Drew starts class tomorrow, so we parted ways about 8:30. I walked back to the hotel and the boys took a taxi.
I loved "hot pot" Sunday!! I can certainly see why Drew loves it!!
Tomorrow I am off to Beijing via speed/bullet train!!
It turned out to be a hot day with a slight breeze, and walking around the Drum Tower and vendors was the perfect afternoon to move slow and nod at those staring at me. I really enjoy the Chinese people. So non-adversarial, content and calm. It is infectious!
I spent $2.00 for a cab to the Drum Tower. This was the first time since I have been in China that I had a female taxi driver. The taxi driver's are crazy here. Most of the time I shut my eyes and pray. They come within inches of other cabs, bicycles, rickshaws, mopeds and walkers. Darn scary!! Nobody stops at a light, and a right or left hand turn does not require slowing down before making the turn. Pretty unbelievable.
Drew was unpacking at his dorm and doing some shopping. He suggested that we meet later for dinner..."hot pot". I was game...I remember Drew talking about it last year.
Drew also suggested that after the Drum Tower to take a taxi over to the Chinahouse. This is a house made out of porcelain. I think every broken plate in China was collected to put this house together. Very interesting! Again, the colors and textures were beautiful. After touring the porcelain house and taking pics, I snagged a cab back to the Westin. Again, a female taxi driver....second one in the same day!!
Dinner was at 7:00 o'clock about a mile from my hotel. Drew was on the other side of town. He and his roommate Ricky took a taxi and met me at Haidi Lao Huoguo at 7:00 p.m. The place was packed, but the boys had made a reservation. Drew suggested wearing something dark because you spill/splatter a lot, which ruins your shirt. Thanks Drew!
The hot pot type cooking is similar to fondue except the hot pot in sunken into you table and it is boiled in a vegetable stock or you can spice it up to the point that you start on fire....haha. The boys ordered lame, beef and pork, two types of mushrooms, tofu, noodles, cabbge and potatoes. Threw it into the pot and let it cook away. Amazing!! They also ordered a fried roll that you dip in condensed milk, yes, you heard me right, condensed milk. Wow, I could have eaten these all night!! The whole dinner was very good and except for the fried rolls, it was quite healthy.
Drew starts class tomorrow, so we parted ways about 8:30. I walked back to the hotel and the boys took a taxi.
I loved "hot pot" Sunday!! I can certainly see why Drew loves it!!
Tomorrow I am off to Beijing via speed/bullet train!!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
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