China - Day 4 The Great Wall!

In you Birthday year (for me the year of the Rat) one should wear a red belt and red underwear to bring good luck and avoid troubles throughout the year!

Yellow = The Emperor's Color

Jade = China's National Stone

Rose = Beijing's Flower

Peonie = China's National Flower

Lotus = China's National Flower (yup, they have 2!)

The trees we see on the side of the roads are for the most part Chinese Scholar Trees and Cypress.

Peking vs. Beijing:

The Chinese have always called Beijing Beijing.

Theory 1 of where Peking came from: When the Cantonese left China to go west, with their accent when they would pronounce Beijing it sounded like Peking.

Theory 2 of where Peking came from: A British scholar, who was a Christian minister, who, when he translated the language changed all of the B's into P's!

So... Peking never really was, it has always been Beijing.

Cloisonne was incredible. The craftsmanship is so intricate. It is the creation of vases, jewelry, bowls, etc... using a metal base then gluing metal shapes to the metal. After that, the dyed ceramic is applied in multiple layers. The final product looks so beautiful and delicate. Only women were creating the pieces. Only one person works on each piece and they have to remember which colors go into which space on the piece. Amazing. There was one man working at the Cloisonne factory but he was running the kiln... men's work!

The Chinese call going to the "bathroom" or the "rest room" going to the "Happy Room". Eddie explained that they call it the Happy Room because it is where you go to sing. When you "Sing a Song" it means you are going #1... When you are going #2 it is said you are "Singing Opera"!! Too Funny!!!!!

Ping = Vase & Peace

The construction of the Great Wall of China happened 3000 years ago. Separate kingdoms built their own walls. When China was unified the walls were linked together. It is not only the longest wall in the world but is also considered the largest cemetery in the world.

Lady Ming's Temple... Lady Ming's husband died while building the Wall. Lady ming went to find her husband and upon finding out about his death she threw herself into the sea.

To the north is Mongolia.

Shang = Mountain

Hai = Sea

Chairman Mao said, "If you haven't climbed the Great Wall of China you aren't a true man or woman".

The Great Wall of China was such an emotional experience! We went to an area that is not well known by tourists, in fact, we were just about the only people there. We climbed a little while to the wall then actually walked on the wall. It was extremely steep in parts. I am forever indebted to Mr. Monkey, our guide, who stayed with me thru much of the climb. It was so windy and cool on top of the wall.... I could have stayed for hours or even days.

I have climbed the Great Wall of China.... I am a true woman!!!

Mama Huhu = not very good

And Traps = people who live in the basements of office buildings

SoHo = small office at home!!! <-- that is where I work... in SoHo!

On to the Acrobats... I was going to pass & now almost wish I had... so tired & so sore & well, I haven't been hungry since I got here. I'm really not ready for more food!

China - Day 3

Up at 4am and out for a walk in the park Eddie recommended. It is fascinating... people doing Tai Chi & playing Badminton & walking & playing with their dogs. There are so many dogs but most of them walk off leash which is a little concerning to me with the massive & insane traffic... but the dogs seem to know to stay out of the streets.

It feels like we lost a day when we crossed over the International Date Line. Somehow I feel cheated of a day.

Eddie's family name is Gao which = tall which Eddie isn't!

"Bring your eyes wider" is what Eddie wants for us about China - what an interesting way to put it!

Today I experienced my 1st with the "porcelain hole in the floor" potty... that was freaky. Thank to Mimi (my wonderful Grandmother) I know how to squat... it's just the aim that is difficult! Freaky!

Bei = Capital
Jing = North
...therefore, Beijing is the Capital in the North.
Ming Wa = Brightness
Shi San = 13 (which is lucky and my lucky number, 14, is not lucky)
The Forbidden City was built to the Fung Shui specs meaning there is water to the front (south) and a hill, Coal Hill to the back (north).

Wow, what a day!

Tienanmen Square - it didn't seem as massive as I expected. I thought it should go on for miles. I suppose it was bigger in my mind and in history than it is in actual size. It was still very impressive. I wanted to see Mao's mausoleum but that wasn't on the itinerary and the line was really, really long. I did get to see his massive portrait hanging above the entrance to the Forbidden City.

The Forbidden City - now this was massive. I can't imagine this whole complex was for the Emperor and his "family". It is huge and elaborate... anywhere else it would look tacky but somehow here in China it fits!

Peking Duck - is DELICIOUS and is for dinner!

Night Market - what a freak show of food! We saw everything imaginable on a stick! there were Starfish (Sorry Mary), Scorpions, Snakes, Seahorses and so much more. It was disgusting & fascinating at the same time. No one in our group was daring enough to venture anything more exotic than Coconut Milk with dry ice!

Communism/Socialism here is so very interesting. As Eddie says, "It is Socialism with Chinese influence"! Well stated!
There are may rules and very high taxes:

• Only cars from Beijing are allowed to drive during rush hour.



















• Everyone who drives in Beijing must take alternate transportation at least one day per week



















• License plates are numbered so you know where a car is registered & on what days it is allowed to be driven



















• For 5 years you must pay tax before buying a home (condo) in Beijing



















• For 5 years you must pay tax before you are allowed into the car lottery and are allowed to purchase and drive a car



















• Smoking Bans have been in effect since 1996 but: it is not enforced by the police, it is not enforced by restaurant owners, it is continually broken by patrons



















• Only 20,000 people each year win the "lottery" and are allowed to purchase and drive cars



















• There are stores for Gucci, Burberry, Coach, Bvlgari, etc...

Handwashing clothing for the 1st time in a very long time!

AC is my favorite thing ever. Today I'm thankful for:

• Air Conditioning



















• Foods on Sticks



















• Freedom



















• Peking Duck



















• Interesting People



















• Clean Air (there must be some around here, somewhere)

Why can't I add images to my post????????? Grrrrrrr.

China - Days 1 & 2 - A Country of Contradicion

Day 1:

Amazing how life just falls away so easily - it seems to melt away with every passing mile, everyday life is farther & farther away.

On to the incredible adventure of China!

Toronto to Beijing ~ story of my life, we have been delayed an hour but it's ok ~ I'm on vacation and going to CHINA!!

How many movies can you watch in one flight??

1. Gulliver's Travels

2. The King's Speech

3. The Tourist

4. Stage Door

5. Knight & Day

6. The American

... and that's not counting the documentaries I watched. 13 hour flights are not fun! But Air Canada feeds the masses every 2 hours!! And with the free movies, you can't complain about being bored!!

Day 2:

Somewhere we crossed the International Date Line & travelled into tomorrow. We flew over the Artic Sea! I've always wanted to travel into the Artic Circle, this is one way to do it!

I got to see Russia from the air, wow was that barren! Nothing but brown for miles and miles.

Something else I got to see was the Great Wall of China - from the air! YAY!

I haven't been this tired in forever. Was able to make it through dinner with our tour guide, Eddie, and a couple who will be part of our group, Jennifer and Bob. It was delish, real Chinese food, in China! Eddie took us to a small, dark, dirty restaurant. He was considerate enough to get us a table in a back room where we could close the door. Smoking has been banned in restaurants here for years but no one pays attention to that law.

I was able to figure out how to turn on the TV. It was a little bit of a challenge... there is a master switch box and you have to make sure the master button is on, the the desk lamp button is on, then you can turn on the tv button... after those buttons are turned on you use the remote to turn the tv on! Wow... I'm too tired to figure this out! Anyway, the first thing to show on the tv was a Ping-Pong match!! Imagine that!!

So tired and ready for sleep... dreaming sweet Asian dreams!!

*I promise Day 3 will be much more interesting!!