So we did it. Thanks to Grandma, we took a trip without the boys. It was the first time I had left them for that long, so it took me a little while to get over the guilt of leaving them... and then I was good! We had an awesome trip, one I will never forget. When we got back someone asked me if we had fun. I have decided that "fun" is not the word to describe a trip to China. "Fun" is an amusement park, a trip to the beach, or some good shopping. China was beautiful, amazing, interesting, informative, but "fun" isn't really the right word...
We started out our trip in the brand new Beijing airport, built for the Olympics. I literally stopped in my tracks as I stepped off the jet way, because it is beautiful. A ceiling that seems to go on forever, and this awesome pagoda in the middle.
It really is an amazing piece of architecture, and a pretty good first impression of China, which I'm sure was the point! When we got there the terminal had only been open for 10 days. It was actually our tour guide's first time there too!
Our first sightseeing stop was the Temple of Heaven. Basically a temple that only the emperor could worship at. A beautiful building inside and out.
On our way to the temple we walked through this park where there were retirees all over the place, just being. Some were singing, some were dancing. Others were playing cards or knitting. They weren't trying to sell us anything, or asking for money. They were just enjoying life, and it was really refreshing to see.
Next we headed to Tien An Men square. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know my history well enough to really grasp the significance of this place, but it was a little surreal to actually be there, surrounded by the Chinese police. Here is a picture of the famous building, ironically called "The Gate of Heavenly Peace," and one of me on the other side of the square in front of the Olympic countdown sign.
It is pretty obvious that the whole city is in full scale Olympic preparations, and that it is impacting every part of their lives. We could see where whole neighborhoods of "Old Beijing" had been torn down, and where their alleys or 'hutongs' are being replaced with high rises. You can really feel the struggle between the modern and traditional. On one hand, I saw some of the most amazing modern architecture I have ever seen. But, I knew that to build that amazing building, many people lost their old homes and ways of living. The juxtaposition was unreal.
In other places where the old neighboorhoods weren't being torn down, we noticed that walls were being built around them, I guess to give a cleaner appearance, but it made me a little sad.
Here is a picture of the Olympic Stadium as we drove by. They call it the "bird's nest," just trust me on this one... it's really there.
I know, it's really hard to see, but that's the way almost everything was for us. The air quality in Beijing was HORRIBLE! There were times we could barely see across the street. I was so glad we didn't have the boys with us, because I think they would have had major problems breathing. I honestly don't know how any of the media is going to get any good pictures at the outdoor events. I have never seen smog like that. The air quality was definitely one of the lows of the trip for me.
The other low for me was the Chineese Acrobatic Show. I had heard great things about the show, and it was an extremely impressive show. The things these gymnasts could do were amazing. However, the theater was extremely dirty and run down. I kept thinking, if this is what they are showing us tourists (it was only tour groups in there - no locals), then how bad must be the conditions be for the gymnasts working there? I just really worried if these young athletes had the proper safety equipment or training. It was the only time on the tour I really got the hee-bee-jee-bees.
The next morning we headed to the Great Wall. It was by far the highlight of the trip. It was AMAZING! I mean, how could it not be, it's the Great Wall of China! We took like a hundred pictures (OK, more like 65, but still!) When we got there it was really crowded, and
so it took forever to climb. But as we kept climbing higher, the crowds started to thin out.
We eventually made it to the highest point we could climb to at this section of the wall (the tower you can just barely see on the top right of the previous photo.) Let me tell you, it was a work out. Like the best stair stepper ever. All that wall you see, it's all covered with steps. And we did them all. All of them. My legs ached for days later, even when we got home! At one point during our climb, the wind started to pick up and it even sprinkled for a few minutes. This was a huge blessing because it really cleared up the air, so we were able to get some awesome pictures from the top.
Yup, that's us, on the Great Wall of China. How cool is that?
Here is one more picture we snapped near the top to give you an idea of how high (and steep) this wall climbs. I was so impressed, I can't believe they built the wall up such steep mountain terrain. Absolutely amazing.
That afternoon we headed to the Summer Palace. It was built as a retreat for the royal family to escape the summer heat, and is even complete with its own man made lake. It was amazingly beautiful, with all the flowering trees in bloom. I wasn't expecting this, so it was a really nice surprise. We rode this Dragon Boat across the beautiful lake to the palace, and then walked our way back.
Another amazingly walkway, and some beautiful flowers.
The next day we headed to the Forbidden City, the royal family's palace at the center of Beijing. I expected it to be a lot like the Korean palaces we've seen here. In some ways it is. The art is similar, and the buildings are also of a similar style. But here they are bigger. Way bigger. And closer together, and more of them, a lot more. The scale is just very different. Unfortunately we didn't get a great tour of the palace, because so much is under refurbishment before the Olympics, and there was some sort of DV when we were there, and that closed down like half of the area. This first picture is me outside the gates. There is an actual moat around the palace.
E in the first courtyard, where government officials would have gathered.
Near the back there are so many little buildings and pathways, it's like a maze in there!
The way tours in China work is that along with the amazing cultural sights, you also have to tour all the state run factories. Over the course of two days I learned how to tell real from fake jade, how Cloisonne is made, how to seed an oyster to grow pearls, and what a silk worm looks like. Interesting, but not enough to make me want to buy any of the merchandise they sell there, marked up like 300%! Instead, we went to a market the last day. It's a total tourist place, but I have to say, I had a great time there. I bargained for, and picked out my own pearls, and watched them get strung, all for a pretty nice price! We also got some other goodies, with a lot of bargaining. I mean, like down to a fifth of the price they were quoting.
Funny story. At one point I had picked out some sweaters and the bargaining was about to begin. The woman selling the sweaters looked at E and asked him if "You boss, or she boss?" E replied back very quickly, "Oh, she boss!" The trick was to just name my price and then walk away. I was never once denied a price I named, even when I thought it was way too low!
Our last night in town, we met up with a former neighbor who lives in Beijing. She took us to this really trendy restaurant in a hutong, then we walked through the city and got some way yummy street food. Spiced lamb on a stick, cooked over open coals. It was so good. In many ways, I felt like I saw more of the city that night than during the rest of the trip. We definitely had the best food of the trip with her!
The next day it was back to the airport to head home, where E found his favorite spot of the whole trip!
Yes, it's his type of lounging. No sunblock needed, and in an airport! All that's missing is a nice view...
...OK, that will do! We were happy to get home to the boys, and I think they (and Grandma) were happy to see us too!
This next one is typical of his "I just got a box of new markers" period. Notice the bright vivid colors, and random scribbling pattern. This is an earlier work then the "basketballs" above. 
The next morning we headed to Namdaemun market (the second time in as many weeks, it's such a fun place!) But first we had to stop and get our morning exercise. These little exercise stations are all over Korea, usually near a playground. Makes sense to me, let the kiddos play while the adults work out! 
The next day Uncle E and EJ headed out for an adventure of their own. We sent them off to E-Mart, and they came back with these little accessories for our "minivan car". These crack us up. We see them all the time over here, protecting car doors from dings. It's so funny to see a really fancy new car with blue Styrofoam pads stuck to the doors!
