2010.05 - Beijing

OK OK. I know...I have finally gotten around to writing some info here after 6 months. First to say, some things are not in the right order for whatever reason (crap blog page but free...). So, I am trying to put dates beside titles (ish). I am writing most of the text and John has uploaded and shrunk most of the pics. We were unable to do anything on this in China but now should be able to update regularly.
Hope you enjoy our trip as much as we are! oh, and by the way, you're not allowed to laugh at my photos. Thanks!


Beijing snapshots (April 25 - May 10)

Entrance to the Forbidden Palace - John and Mao...opposites DO attract ;0)

We did tons in Beijing. Forbidden Palace being one of them...along with several million Chinese people. Lotsa screaming and flag waving going on as Chinese seem unable to be individualistic and travel sans group. My biggest wonder was:

'what if two groups turn up with the same colour of flag being waved by their leader?'

Presumably disaster would ensue................

Foridden Palace

Tiananmen Square


Beijing subway
On this morning we were on our way with our 20kg backpacks (I know...I am trying to get rid of some stuff but.....) to the other side of Beijing. We decided to wait until rush hour was over. This was the scene of people moving through the crowd control barriers for about an hour.There was no way we were getting on any train.

Hot Pot always sounded like great fun. As you can see, there are two parts to the pot. One is mild, the other spicy. Being lovers of spicy food, we went to the shelves, collected the foodstuffs and dumped them all into the spicy side of the pot. Then we found that some things are just too spicy. Inedibly so! We then proceeded to dump half the mild soup into the spicy soup. When that didn't work, we took all the food out of the spicy side and dumped it into the mild side. Finally, we could eat :0) . Once we finished, we found the chicken's head........as you do!

Mandarin Duck - I hope it wasn't the Beijing Duck we ate in Wangfujing!


Great Wall at Mutianyu
It's hard to belive in a place like China, we had our picture taken WITHOUT other people in it!! No, no...I didn't Photoshop them out!

Mike came to Beijing for a few days!! We were at the Drum and Bell Towers. Yep, I bet you guessed already :0). One has a drum and the other, a bell!

Great Wall at Shanhaiguan goes straight into the sea!! It's all very reproduced but nevermind.The real thing used to be there!

John and Robocop at Beidaihe - Strange place this was. Chinese beach resort. Hmmm...everything was written in Russian or Mandarin. My name was seemingly "Babushka". Guessing the Russians visit from time to time.