Joyful Reader

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Beijing China, May 17

This was our last day in China. It was the perfect ending to a great trip.

We started the day on a rickshaw ride through some older parts of Beijing (Hutong). It was fun and interesting to see the non-high rise side of the city.

Then we went to a Jade Factory. The Chinese love their jade. Jade has some interesting properties. It changes color over the years as you wear it next to your skin. Also they believe that if a jade piece is supposed to be yours, it will "speak" to you. I kept my ears plugged and only a tiny pair of white jade earrings was able to penetrate my hearing.

We finished the day on the Great Wall. That was the greatest thing we did on the whole trip for me. To actually see it in person changed my perspective of it. It is truly awesome. I loved hearing the history of the wall as we rode the bus to get there. We did have to get on another chair lift to get up there, but I survived, and it did mean that I didn't have to climb up that far on my own.

Not much text for today, but a lot of pictures.

May 17, the last day

Hutong Rickshaw tour
Jade Factory
Great Wall
Final dinner
Hotel, and pack to go home

Thanks to Mom and Dad for a marvelous experience!

A small street with shops in Beijing. Ray and Diane

Walking the streets of Beijing

Mom and Dad

Orva and Paul

John and Audry

Ann and Charles

Ray and Diane

Our caravan of rickshaws

Charles, Ann, Diane, Ray, Dad, om, Orva, Paul, John, Audry (in the front row in black next to Mom is the gracious lady who let us visit her home.)

Diane. This ship is entirely carved of Jade. Luckily it didn't call my name!

Map of Mutianyu section of the Great Wall

Paul and Orva. Our final chairlift ride of the trip.

On the great wall. Dad, Mom, Charles, Ann, John, Audry, Ray, Diane, Orva, Paul

Audry and John

Mom and Dad

Dad

Dad and Mom

John, Audry, Mom, Ray, Charles, Orva, Paul

Top to bottom, John, Mom, Paul, Orva

This is amazing to see in person

Diane

Ray

Diane

Ray

Mom and Ray

Ann and Diane are down on that little "patio". There was a British young man and his father, and some girls from Guilin we visited with

Orva and Paul

Ray

Here's how we came down - on a slide. Although I was quite nervous at first and very slow, it proved more enjoyable than the chairlift by a long shot. This is Mom.

Charles and Ann

Dad

Mr. Wonderful with his coke.

Diane. This was a fabulous end to a fantastic trip.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Beijing China, May 16

This was a long day with a lot of walking and I am tired all over again just looking through the pictures.

We went first to the Temple of Heaven. This was fascinating, not because of the Temple itself, but because of the people. We were there first thing in the morning and there were hundreds of retired Chinese people in the park, exercising in various ways. There is "playground" equipment there, and people were also dancing, using spinning tops, and bouncing balls off paddles. We were enthralled. Very fun.

Then we went to "a local handicraft center". Another silk factory.

From there we went to Tian An Men Square. Fifteen years ago when my parents were there no one was allowed to take pictures, and one woman's camera was confiscated when she took some photos. These days cameras are flashing all over the place, with no repercussions at all. Here's what our guide told us, "You can take pictures everywhere here, but if you want to take a picture of the police, don't ask. Just wait until the Koreans take pictures of them, then you take a picture." I love seeing places where I know about some of the history that has taken place in that spot.

Next on to ZhongShan Park. We found the tree where in 1921 David O. McKay dedicated the land of China for missionary work sometime in the future. That day has not yet arrived, but the Chinese people are afforded many more freedoms now than in the past.

We spent the remainder of the day in the Forbidden City. It was a lot to take in, and a long time spent there. At least we were together.

May 16