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Published: March 5th 2007
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BEIJING RAILWAY STATION
Mum and I buying train tickets at Beijing Central Railway Station on a snowy morning XMAS 2006
Christmas holidays are far away behind us and kids have been on holiday again since, but let me tell you first about our nice and quiet end of the year. My mother came and we rediscovered together a few places we visited 18 years ago when we were backpacking together around China. See the picture of Beijing Central Railway Station on a snowy morning…one place that has not changed much really! 18 years ago, we hated it out here in China. We thought: what rude and noisy people!!!!... even the food was terrible !!! Nothing like chinese food we used to have in the west...
But I see things very differently now and my mother agrees with me... I can now say basic sentences in chinese, I understand how the language works. I can start a conversation with local people and enjoy the music of the language. However, compared to other languages that I have come across with, I still think chinese language is 'noisy', it jumps all over the place! Regarding food, Beijing is a great place to be: lots of varieties and lots of tastes.
We travelled out of town to Chengde which used to be
BEIJING ROAST DUCK
Being vegetarian, Marie was not too happy with our New Year's Eve duck! a cool summer residence for the emperors. We went in the middle of the winter and we could skate and walk on the deeply frozen lakes, and visit some of the temples.
NEW YEAR AGAIN and AGAIN
Our western style New Year came in quietly with Beijing Roast Duck, Champagne (expensive item out here!) and family DVDs, trying to stay awake till midnight!!! Kids were doing better than adults!
The good thing about China (bad for the film industry in general) is the 1 euro DVD, copies of the latest films available in shops everywhere (even at the small post office branch near us), even though it is completely illegal. Legal and illegal don't have the meaning we, westerners, give to them, I guess.
Then we celebrated Russian Orthodox New Year, January 13th. Through some friends, we were invited to a midnight drink with Champagnska…
Then came Chinese New Year, starting on Feb 18th , for two weeks. Basically, fireworks all over the place, all night long! People are off work for a whole week, visiting family, eating and drinking. This is the great migration time of the year, people go back to their home towns
LEO WOULD KILL FOR DUMPLINGS
Leo loves chinese food, he is always happy to try new dishes...unlike the girls!!! they like their pasta better!! and villages, others travel around the country for sightseeing. We stayed in Beijing and witnessed the celebrations here in the parks and temples of the capital.
It was especially nice to see children in the streets, playing and having fun. It is quite unusual in Beijing to see children outside! I am told they are studying all the time, homework and extra schools on week-ends…poor kids!
CHINESE TROPICAL PARADISE
When I first heard about Hainan island, it did not mean anything to me. Now, I know this is the place where one needs to go, in the middle of winter, looking for sun and heat! We flew to the town of Sanya, southern tip of the country, from Beijing Nanyu airport. I mention it because I was told by everybody around me that Beijing only had one airport, Capital airport in the west. Well, not true, Nanyu airport exists, we were there! it looked quite old but the flight was great and arrived on time! Of course, the airport did not look like one, it is in fact a military base! I have to admit that at the beginning I was not very confident, but I did
ROOFS in CHENGDE
Temple roofs are the most interesting aspect of chinese architecture. Nothing much to see inside however... not want to worry the kids so I said nothing!!!
All this well worth it anyway to reach Sanya and the white sand beaches: sun, sand and…very expensive food…it seems like hotel managers have forgotten we are still in China and that a squid barbecue stick is not supposed to cost 1 euro piece! I guess that is where they make their profits.
We were staying at a hotel called Cactus Resort with Chinese guests on holiday…Chinese couples or small parties buy themselves matching shorts and shirts (fruity and colourful like, Hawaii style) and wear them everyday of their stay!
Our kids were getting a bit upset in the end because Chinese people want to take photos of them all the time! But we have a very enjoyable time, breathing clean air and feeling the nice warm breeze.
Back in Beijing, temperature dropped suddenly, it snowed and it is freezing cold as I am writing these lines!!! Chinese New Year celebrations are also called 'Spring Festival'…I wonder why? I feel Spring is still a long way away!
You will hear from me next when the flowers have finally bloomed...and I am looking forwards to that,
ACROBAT SHOW FOR LEO
Leo and his friends were very impressed, so were we! really worth a visit. for sure!
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