Reading the Blog for the First Time

Now that the journey is over, for those that are new to reading this blog, please note that the blog itself is in reverse chronological order. For better enjoyment, read the oldest posts first. You can access these via the blog archive list on the left side of the home page.

New Pictures Added

I have added more pictures to each post.  I have also added a few comments here and there.  For those new to my blog, please feel free to leave me a comment.  If you wish to be included on the distribution list when a new post or blog is issued, please send me your email address and I will add you.

Good-bye and Thanks

Five short months ago as I was heading into back surgery, I wondered if I was really going to be able to climb the Great Wall.  I had such a hard time walking let alone climbing stairs and steep walkways.  I had great pain with every step I took or even standing.  Everything I did took great effort and concentration to physically make my body perform even when it wasn’t willing.  But Dr. Hsiang assured me that I would be ready to go.  Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I could do some of the things I have done since the surgery.  I CLIMBED THE GREAT WALL!

As I write this tears are in my eyes.  I have my life back.  No, everything isn’t perfect and I still get really tired after these exhausting excursion days, but who wouldn’t?  I am so thankful to my surgeon and his team for performing a successful surgery.  But most importantly I couldn’t have done any of this without the help and support of the most wonderful man a woman could have – my husband, Michael.  As I reflect on this latest adventure, I am overcome with emotion.  I have been around the world, and seen and done so many incredible places and things. What a charmed and lucky life I lead. 

So stay tuned.  Who knows what will be coming this way.

The Great Wall of China

Today, it is over 4,400 miles long, but this is only the parts you can see and hike on -- rising in the west out the Gobi Desert and ending in the sea in the east.  The Great Wall is actually made up of sections of earlier fortifications which were then joined together to form a united defense system against invasions from the north. It was built over 2,500 years ago, by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of China during the Qin (Ch'in) Dynasty (221 B.C - 206 B.C.).  He connected and extended four old fortification walls along the north of China that originated about 700 B.C.

It was over 3,107 miles long.  Its thickness ranged from about 15 to 30 feet and was up to 25 feet tall. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Great Wall was enlarged to 4,000 miles and renovated over a 200 year period, with watch-towers and cannons added.  It is constructed of masonry, rocks and packed-earth.  Stones from the mountains were used over mountain ranges, while rammed earth was used for construction in the plains. It is estimated that over one million workers died building the wall and it is rumored that many of the dead were buried in the wall.

We rode about 1 ½ hours north out of Beijing to view The Great Wall at Badaling.  The weather was clear, sunny and there was a chilly wind blowing.  Time to trot out the winter wear to climb the wall.  There is a visitor plaza and pay station at the base of one of the towers.  We entered and took the stairs up on to the top of the wall.  The stone floor was lumpy and uneven, worn down by human feet and the elements.  The first section we walked was at a pretty steep angle; after that, the stairs became very steep.  Michael made it to the top guard tower and I decided caution was the better part of valor as I was told to avoid steep inclines so I only went as far as the first guard tower.  It was exhilarating to be here where so much history occurred.

We met back at the tourist shop and had to buy a souvenir shirt to remember this occasion (as if the memories and pictures aren’t enough!).  We had plenty of yuan (Chinese currency) left so we had to do something with it. 

We headed down the mountain for lunch at the Dragon Palace.  Can you guess what we had to eat?  I am about ready for a McDonald’s hamburger about now; Michael is still in food heaven.  However, this was no regular restaurant.  This was a state-owned jade workshop and a great big retail store which just happened to have a humongous restaurant in the back.  Jade is the national stone and is an integral part of the culture.  Every Chinese person has some jade trinket, charm or piece of jewelry that they carry with them at all times.  We watched a demonstration of how the jade is cut and after another huge lunch served on the lazy susan, there was time for some retail therapy.

At this point, everyone was exhausted and very few people wanted to see the Ming tombs.  Most of the group went back to the hotel for some R&R and to pack.  My cold reached its zenith today and I felt absolutely horrible (and I was running out of tissues).  The adrenaline rush from walking on The Great Wall had worn off and I just wanted to collapse into bed, which I did.

Michael went off for the Peking duck dinner and enjoyed watching the chef carve the duck into 108 pieces.  Seriously, the tradition here is exactly 108 pieces.  He reported back that the Peking duck was served in a traditional style best described as Moo Shu Duck, slices of duck served on a pancake, with some vegetables and sauce added and then eaten like a burrito.

We finished packing.  Tomorrow is the long journey home.

China has been Delayed

I try, I really do, to write every night.  But this trip has left little time for blogging (which can take me up to 2 or 3 hours to do each day, depending on how much information I acquired) and in total exhaustion as well as being sick (thanks to Yolanda who gave it to Michael who gave it to me).  I have seen so much and have taken copious notes on what we have seen and where we have been.  It will take me sometime to sort it all out and get pictures to go with the words.  I plan on using airplane time to start, but where to start?

I hope you will read about China as this trip has been incredible and I learned and saw so much worth reporting to you. 

Day 3 -- Xi'an

The nights are short or the mornings come too early now.  We were up and out by 8:30am to see the old city of Xi’an and some museums before flying back to Beijing.  We finally saw some sun today.  Xi’an is located in a basin and unlike Beijing which gets a lot of wind it wasn’t windy for a change.A

s I described before, the old city is encircled by a wall that is 10 miles in circumference.  The wall is 600 years old and is wider than the Great Wall.  It is 36 feet wide at the top, 180 feet wide at the bottom, and 54 feet high.  It is made up of pounded earth covered by a layer of brick.  That is a lot of dirt.  We had a brief visit to the East Gate and negotiated a steep 70 stair climb to get to the top.  Thank goodness my legs are now strong enough to do all this stair climbing!  We had an excellent view of the old city.

Next stop was a folk art museum and a demonstration of Chinese calligraphy.  Calligraphy brushes are made out of all kinds of hairs such as horse, goat, and even baby hair.  But the best brushes are made using mouse hair!  I don’t know how they can keep the precious ancient art as the place is not climate controlled.  It was cold and damp in the museum, and in the summer time, temperatures can run as high as 105 degrees.

This was followed by a stop at the History Museum.  I do not like museums.  This was another place where there were too many people to get up close to the exhibits and no place to sit down.  Do the Chinese ever sit??  There were lots of jade sculptures, bronze items, terra cotta warriors, coins, and artifacts from the beginning of Chinese culture.  I managed to walk the two floors and see everything and still have time to browse in the gift shop all in an hour!

Time to eat again.  We went to a large plaza and it was amazing how the bus could maneuver and fit the narrow roads without wiping out the nearby cars.  People were out walking, shopping and eating lunch in the park.  It was a lovely place.  Red lanterns were hung in front of all the restaurants and were gently swaying in the breeze.  We had way too much food again; one fellow sitting next to me didn’t eat anything but rice, complaining about eating Chinese food again. Ah duh, we are in China what do you expect – to eat at McDonald’s?

The drive to the airport was quite interesting.  The traffic was very heavy and I was wondering if we would make it on time.  The driver weaved in and out of traffic playing commando chicken.  It amazes me that there weren’t more car accidents.

We had no organized dinner plans so the group voted to have the guide take us to the silk market.  We had a lesson in how the worms spin the cocoon and how they process the silk thread.  Then the real fun began:  SHOPPING.  We haven’t had much shopping time and money was burning a hole in my pocket.  The recipient of my labor of love was Isabelle.  I bought her a Mandarin collar dress and matching silk shoes, in pink of course.  I had a scroll made with her name in Chinese characters and I even got something for myself (a chop with my name – it’s like a rubber stamp but is made from jade).  I was amazed at the skill and precision it took to carve Beverly and my birth year sign in such clarity on a ½ square surface.

We decided to skip dinner tonight.

Back in Beijing

It looks like my real blog will be postponed again.  I may have to write it on the airplane ride home as I am TOTALLY exhausted.  Our days have been very long, driving to the airport, flying to Xian touring all day, dinner show at night, hotel overnight, tour again in the morning, lunch, drive to airport, fly back to Beijing, drive to city, and shopping as we decided to forget dinner as we had enough for lunch.  I am zonked.  Tomorrow we do an all day trip to the great wall.

I promise to write about my observations and more details when my mind isn't so foggy and tired.  I think you will enjoy it.  After all, this is what the trip has been about, getting to the foreign countries that play a prominent role in our lives.  I will leave you with a teaser... China is nothing like you thought it would be when you contrast the old versus the new.