Tuesday, May 5, 2009

The Great Great Wall

So today, an early morning drive in Rush hour traffic lead us out of Beijing and at the Great Wall of CHina. The landscape is incredible. Moreso, that the traffic, the buildings seem to never end. If you have a chance search the CCTV building. It's the CHinese television building, and its amazing. It looks like a jagged "U" shape upside down.. an architectural marvel really.

The great wall spans so far and is about the width of a lane of traffic. Restored in the 1990's only portions are really accessible. We walked and walked up millions of stairs to get to the wall (opting out of the $5 cable car fee), and then along the wall is stairs up and down all of the mountains the wall spans. Now these are not only stairs at some points literally you are climbing/ crawling up the wall as the wall does have a 70 - 80% slope in parts.. it was so much fun! Then where the restored areas stop, vegetation has taken over the wall. Guess since it was made in 200 bc, you would think eventually it would be engrossed into the trees that surround it. We walked along the bushed part of the wall for fun and later heard that people camp up there and do hikes along the wall.. so cool.

On the way back down you can walk down the stairs or pay $8 and take a toboggan. I chose a slide ride please. It's like a bobsled track but you are on a crazy tobaggon that does have brakes.. you can go as fast or as slow as you like, but apparently as we discovered if you go to fast you get yelled at.. but man, it was fun!

A brief interlude about money. It really really is cheap here. But once you learn what you should be paying, getting gorged for being a tourist rips me right off. So, a water in Beijing is 1 yuan about 60 cents.. on the wall is was 3. I tried buying a diet coke, and the lady was like 20 yuan, that was the full cost of my peking meal the other day.. outraged. I walked away, she went from 20 to 5, and I was like too bad lady. I really hate bartering. It makes me feel like I am being raped all over and have no idea how to do it. I decided as a result as I do feel uncomfortable with the process that I am not going to buy anything. Steve our tour guide said he would come to the markets with me if I like, but I really don't like having to barter. Some people like it, but I am just not that person. I feel guilty that I am literally nickel and diming something that I spend more on daily at Starbucks, but at the same time don't want to be taken advantage of..so why bother.

Last night we did go out for Beijing Duck (Peking Duck), a fun walk through the Huatongs (alleys) led us to the restaurant. Our suppers have cost about 5 to 6 dollars each day, and we come out stuffed. I was the only one that didn't like the duck, but I think it was moreso because they leave the skin on.. if they took that off, I probably would have been fine. We had deep fried apples for dessert topped with toffee... so so good! Today we went out for a traditional dim sum meal and never having it before i think I found a new favourite food!

Back to the money... it's so funny, we all have become so cheap not wanting to spend anything, when really we figure we are living on $30 a day including side trips (Like tobaggoning), and ice cream (at +30 I am living up on the ice cream!).

TOnight we are heading to a Chinese Acrobats show, it should be quite the site. Tomorrow I plan on walking the huatongs with the tour guide (we were thinking of renting bikes), and then making my way to the temple of heaven. As well I plan on finding a place to burn my pics to a cd as a tour group heading to tibet with GAP had all their cameras confiscated by the tibetan police and returned to them without the memory sticks. Crazy. Although not heading that way, I feel like I should back up my pics just in case.. you never never know.

I meant to mention as well, walking through the huatongs you are walking by traditional chinese homes. They are centered around a courtyard and have no nails used. IT's really neat. But here's the catch, there's no bathrooms either.. community's share public bathrooms.. Steve owns a bar here in beijing and we went there for a pint and on route to the loo, locals are walking in their pjs to the bathroom as well.. what a site. I definitely couldn't live like that (especially since there was no western toilets!).

Anyhoo, we are taking the night train to Shanghai tomorrow.. so probably no post for tomorrow.

Love you all!

1 comment:

  1. Heya Punkin':

    When ever we crossed borders we took the memory cards out of our camera's and tucked them on ourselves in an obscure pocket - whether we were warned to or not. You don't want to lose your memory card while traveling... because then your camera is next to useless. In the cities I am sure you can replace that card, but in Loas and Thailand you may not find it as easy. Just a suggestion :)

    Enjoying the arm-chair travels. Thanks for taking the time to keep us in the loop with your potty tales and food adventures!

    PS: You have to barter!!!!! I want a dragon! Please bring me home a real, live fire breathing dragon. Thanks.

    your "kiss me I'm gay" cup is awaiting your return.

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