Yesterday we visited the Forbidden City, had a ricksaw ride through the Hutongs, visited the Temple of Heaven and saw the Kung Fu show. The shopping stop of the day – silk market.
Lisa, our guide mixed our itinary up a little, so we were all a bit unprepared for a very long day. We did not receive a pick up confirmation – only a 8:00 phone call – we’re waiting for you. So – no breakfast yesterday. Thank heaven for the jungle bar I keep in my daybag.
Forbidden City was very very busy – more busy than she has seen it in a while. We skipped the museum due to time constraints and went to the hutongs for lunch at the home of local family – a state sponsored restaurant initiative. It felt a bit intrusive, but the food was good.
After lunch we visited the Temple of Heaven, giving me the opportunity to take more smog-filled pics there. I was looking forward to a visit later in the week with the possibilties of clearer skies.
After the temple – the obligatory shopping stop – this time a company that specialises in silk items, including silk-filled duvets and pillows.
Kung fu show was very loud, but interesting and energetic, but I’m not sure that is what the boys parents had in mind when they sent these guys to the temple to become monks. The actors in the show are all real monks.
After the show we stopped for supper en route home. It was good and chop stick skills are improving all round our little group of 17 – brits, south africans, australians and one tall gorgeous Sudanese lady. She is getting a lot of attention from the locals and everyone wants a picture of/with her. Quite the celebrity.
At the hotel my SIM card has eventually been located (it arrived before we did – just as scheduled, but was misplaced). It was installed successfully and I received an email today with VPN details. Only I have no way to get pics from camera to Samsung Tablet – cant upload any pics.
This morning we were more organised and managed to fit in breakfast before being on the bus at 7:40 as agreed.
We drove to the Great Wall section we were visiting, but en-route stopped at a facilty that specialises in Jade and gemstone carvings. The carving skills and patience is amazing, but nothing was in the price range I can afford.
Then we climbed the wall and a group of us took it very easy and made it eventually as far as you can go on that section of the wall. We were awarded with the privilegde of being able to buy a medallion (engraved with your name and the date) to commemorate your ‘achievement’.
The way down was much easier, or we were just on such a high we did not notice the effort. Rhodene and some others did not go all the way up our section, but turned back and braved the other much steeper (almost vertical) section open to the public. Due to the smog the views were dissapointing and pictures grey – but it was a bucket list experience none the less.
Our efforts were rewarded with yet more chinese food and a visit to a facilty that specialises in intricate copper enameling. Lovely to look at, but nothing I want to take home. Looks like something that will require dusting…
Then we travelled back to the city for a visit to a chinese medical centre where you could get your feet massaged/reflexology treatment and your health checked by the local specialists. Expensive packets of herbal powders were prescribed for various ailments. As I trust my Cape Town Homeopath I decided to decline the offer and watch the spectacle. The group promised feedback on the outcome of the various treatments.
Then on to a acrobatic show for some. Me and Rhodene and some others opted to walk around the area and visit the local shops instead. Some interesting stuff in those shops… and thats just the food.
Another chance to test our chop stick skills followed – this time a restaurant popular with the locals and not set up with busloads of tourists in mind. Most flavoursome meal to date š
Supper was followed by a drive through the CBD and town centre – past the forbidden city to see Bejing by night – all lit up. The show that is Bejing traffic also never ceases to amaze even that time of night.
We arrived at the hotel at 8:30. I opted for a soak in the jacuzzi and some me-time in the sauna. Hopefully this will help lessen the impact of todays 49 flights of stairs my fibit claims I have done through the course of the day.
It’s 23:11 and I’m going to turn in now. Tomorrow we leave at 8am to see the pandas at the zoo, visit a pearl market, visit the summer palace complex. Lets hope we find the pandas awake š
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