Beijing - Chinatown writ large!!

It sure is a Great Wall!
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We were met at the airport on Tuesday evening by our friend Alan, currently teaching at an international school. A car and driver took us back to his apartment in a large apartment complex located on the edge of the city near his school and very comfortable it was too. Alan had arranged a car and driver for the next day to take us to the Great Wall. That was an hour or so drive away, and to quote Richard Nixon it sure is a great wall. It goes as far as the eye can see along the razor back ridges. Hard to imagine all the materials being carried up its much easier these days, a cable car to the top and a choice of cable car or toboggan slide down! It was a beautiful clear day and we werent overrun by tourists most enjoyable.

Alan Drayton in the Hutong (Beijing)
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Of course the Great Wall, made up of heaps of stairs, may not have been the best place to start given Wendys level of fitness it took her several days to recover from the 2 hours of stairs we went up and down. However, it was good training for what was to come!!!!

The driver then took us back to the outskirts of Beijing to the Summer Palace. We had been hoping for a lunch stop on the way, but no such luck sad to say, our first meal in China was a quick Maccas outside the entrance to the Summer Palace.

Keith needed to repel the mongol hordes at the Great Wall.
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The palace itself was a magnificent place acres & acres of gardens dotted with temples and other imperial buildings, in a lovely lakeside setting. Of course the amazing renovations currently being undertaken in preparation for the Olympics in 2008 meant that some buildings were not available for viewing but we got the general idea.

We made it back to Alans for dinner prepared, as always, by his ayee who comes in and does 4 hours of housework every weekday morning. All Alan has to do is pop it in the microwave! What a life.

Great wall - the arty shot
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The next morning, armed with tickets for the shuttle bus from the apartment complex into the city, we set off to explore. We managed to get off at the right place, and found a food court in the shopping centre nearby. Fortunately there were pictures and prices on display, so with a bit of pointing we were able to order a meal. Everyone else was given a number which they had to listen for to be called out we got table service!

Next step was to try our hand at the subway bought tickets without difficulty and managed to get off at the right stop for Tiananmen Square. We wandered around the square for a while the tanks seemed to be away that day. We didnt bother with viewing Maos body in the mausoleum. We did however walk under his giant portrait into the Forbidden City. This is a huge walled complex of imperial buildings, dating back several centuries. Wendy was particularly impressed with the portable audio tour as the commentary was provided by Roger Moore (as in 007). She dutifully wandered around the Forbidden City looking at everything Roger told her to!

The Great Wall goes on forever
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It really was very impressive and Keith got into trouble for photographing every blade of grass Wendy has learnt to call him Steven (as in Steven Spielberg) as he is constantly videotaping the surroundings.

From the Forbidden City we caught a taxi to a theatre to see a display of acrobatics very flexible as well as inscrutable, these Chinese! It was a lot of fun and we were lucky to be only 6 rows from the front.

Made it back to Alans without incident, then set off for the city again the following day. This time the destination was the Temple of Heaven Gardens, a huge formal garden with several temples and still more imperial buildings. Again some were under renovation, but we had plenty to look at.

The weekend saw Alan uncommitted and available to act as our tour guide. Saturday we spent touring the Hutong the old dwellings in the city. Enjoyed finding Antique street where Keith bought yet another musical instrument to decorate the study (whether he will ever learn to play this one is debatable though it is trumpet like). Really liked the Tea Houses and sampled some different teas purchasing some Jasmine tea and green tea snacks. Are now kitted out with a cup in which to make tea whilst we are traveling so we look forward to finding all the tea in China. Sunday we explored the lakes and parks in Central Beijing before heading back out for dinner at an Indian Restaurant near Alans house. The Hutong area is either quaint or slum-like, depending on your point of view. Wendy was taken with the public toilets her first introduction to the lack of privacy with which the Chinese approach ablutions more on this later.

Up early on Monday morning (though not early enough to catch Alan before he set off for work!!) to grab a taxi out to the airport next stop Xian!! A mere 1hr 40 min plane flight away.. those of you who know how much Wendy enjoys flying will appreciate her sheer delight at flying on some dodgy little airlines !!