China Dreaming

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June 10, 2005

Lara Here

Some notes from today:

1. We really need to stop visiting countries when they are preparing to host the Olympics. Same here as in Athens in 2001 - lots of stuff under scaffolding! Course a lot of it really needs spiffing up so I guess it's good they've got a reason to get it done.

2. You hear about how different things are going to be, and I suppose in some ways they are. But in other ways, it really doesn't feel that different at all. Beijing is a huge city, and is much like huge cities everywhere else - smelly, grimy, crowded. The touristy areas are just like those anywhere else - complete with souvenir booths. (Though I've never met salespeople nearly as aggressive as the Chinese. It's hard for this Southern gal to learn to just flat-out ignore people or say sharp no's.) Lots of signs are in English as well as Chinese, including street signs and signs in the subway (which was very easy to navigate). I just don't feel nearly as out of place as I expected. Although when we get to Nanchang it could be a different story.

3. I have never longed for a New York cabbie the way I have here. Even the one in Athens who drove on the sidewalk is nothing compared to here. Apparently the lines in the road are only there for decoration, because no one pays any attention to them. Bicycles are all over the place, and a cab ride involves lots of closing your eyes and prayer.

We spent the morning (well, once we got moving, which was pretty late) at the Temple of Heaven. It has some beautiful grounds that we wandered through for a while. This afternoon we went on a hutong tour. The hutongs are the old neighborhoods of Beijing, with houses and shops situated around narrow alleyways. The tour was by rickshaw. Including the parts of the tour where you crossed/went along major roads. At least in the taxis there's a car wall between you and the car that looks like it's about to hit you! The tour included stops at the bell that rings in the Chinese New Year, Prince Gong's Gardens, and a house in the hutong. We got to go in the living room and wander around the courtyard. It was really nice to see how the real Chinese folks live. At the gardens we attended a Chinese tea ceremony which was really neat (and had some good tea!) All in all it was a very good day. And more relaxing than yesterday, which we needed.

And now, time to upload the pictures!

Posted by brlittle at June 10, 2005 11:07 PM

Comments

Posted by: jamie at June 11, 2005 12:06 AM