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Published: June 24th 2011
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Running down a corridor
This had to be the main Photo Let me start off by saying what a lovely bright and sunny day we had today. I have the pictures to prove it! No smog. YAY you would swear you were back in brisbane if it wasnt for all the asians walking around... wait... scrap that... Chinese being spoken.
Woke up this morning at 6am, blergh, and half begged the young man to go back to sleep. He stayed quiet for an hour and I laid in bed until 9am. I dont know why but I feel exhausted. Plus the realisation that today, at some point, I will have to take this child out in public again literally made me throw the covers over my head.
At around 10am I finally gave into my conscience and decided we would go to the Forbidden City. As we didnt have my Chinese friend Claire with us I did let the munchkin lead me around. I didnt get to see as much as I was wanting to but I got to see as much as I was expecting to. And as he was reasonably well behaved it wasnt too bad. he did of course chuck a fair few tantrums but since I
wasnt as stressed as yesterday they rarely lasted any more then 30-60 seconds.
We saw both restored and unrestored bits of decorated buildings which I was very happy to see! I like to kinda, sorta know what it may look like if humans didnt give it the odd touch up. However I LOVE chinese painting and decorating and architecture. HUGE FAN. I would be the happiest person in the world if I could build my house like the oldstyle asian buildings! Though with all the mod cons inside
Forbidden city was fantastic. I am glad I went on a weekday though as it was pretty darn crowded and if u were to go back and look at our photos from 2008 you will see NEVER come on a national holiday. U cant even get inside. Im glad I have learnt that lesson :-D I would love to do the city again and try see some more. A guide did offer to take us around but I decided Id let Eli be my unofficial guide as that would make him happier and me less stressed. Worked a treat.
Elijah was getting ALOT of attention that day. Everyone seemed
to want pictures or to talk to him and Eli wanted no part. all he wanted to do was run and explore on his own with noone else. Except noone else doesnt apply to a large city like Beijing. many parents wanted shots of their kids with Eli (Eli didnt mind those kinds 2 much he likes kids) Collage girls wanted pictures with the 'cute baby' and 1 older man, who spoke quite good english, actually ASKED me if he could take a photo. I was so happy someone actually asked (not that I mind anyway but its kind of a respect thing) but the only thing was when he asked and the 1 picture he took Eli was chucking a tantie. Bugger. Good camera he had though!
By the time I got to the other side of the city it was 12.30pm and pretty much Elijah's naptime. So desprate to get back to the hotel I tried to find the exit. I was shitty as people kept telling me to get back inside as this was not the exit. I had no idea where I was going. Then a nice lady came up and asked if I would
like some postcards. I said no I just want to get out. And she goes "out? to taxi?" I said yes and she showed me to a car that cost 1RMB and would take me to a taxi. I was so frantic that I didnt even get time to thank her :-(
So the car didnt take us to a taxi but rather to an absolutely gorgeous tree lined street that lead us down the outside of the forbidden city's wall and towards our hotel. I was hoping to catch a rickshaw home but not 1 passed us. Go figure. But we saved some money haha. The trees gave us shade and we took our time walking home, making sure we said hi or tried to squash every ant, and one lonely bug, we came across. Almost home I took out ye ol faithful cuddle rug and dummy, chucked him in the backpack and made the peaceful walk home.
Elijah napped and I talked to my Mum and then also napped. When I awoke we got ready for a run in the park again but noticed Elijah's Dad online. So instead we had a good hour talk to
him. As it was only an hour off darkness by we decided to give the park a miss for today and instead of walking down Wangfujing in search of a scrumptious dinner (while avoiding all sheep penis, scorpions, silkworm larve and the like) we went to a little pizza shop. It suited us well as noone else was in there. I search out restuarants that are not chinese hole in the walls but have barely anyone in there so that Eli doesnt desturb the chinese people. I'd love some peking duck again (had it in 08) but I dont think Eli would sit down long enough for that. He couldnt even sit down long enough for them to make pizza haha.
On the way back we bought 2 1.5 litre waters and Elijah decided he was a man and was going to carry them for his mumma all the way home. This of coarse caused a big stir in the chinese people and they were laughing, smiling and cheering him along. Eli didnt care as he was focusing solely on gettng those heavy buggers home!
Now he is all snug in bed and I will be too in
a few minutes. I am unsure yet wether I want to go to the temple of heaven or just give it a miss and go back to the zoo. I suppose I'll know in the morning hey?
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
He is a natural
From the looks of things your son is a natural traveler! It is good to start them young.