http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Freespirited/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Freespirited en-us Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:34:37 +0000 Sat, 26 Dec 2009 12:34:37 +0000 Considering how may countries now are in short supply of inoculation against the H1N1 virus 294822796924863 I consider myself extremely lucky to live in Beijing. As of a few days ago the government decreed that the H1N1 inoculations were to be extended beyond the elderly school children and more susceptible victims to all permanently registered residents of Beijing. Ordinarily each sh http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-451952.html It snowed for the first time this winter today November 1st way too early in the season. Not only did it snow the whole day nonstop it was also the most snow Beijing had ever seen in 22 years. It caught everyone off guard. Many people not expecting it to keep pouring down the way it did went out only dressed in light jackets rain boots and umbrellas suffering the cold outside wearing insu http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-450216.html Beijingers love to hang couplets on their hutong doors. 600 years ago as history might have it these began as lucky charms written by learned people typically a poet or artist. People would stick them outside the main doors on important festivals such as Chinese New Year or the Spring festival to ward away evil and welcome peace good fortune wealth harmony and happiness for the entire famil http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-442661.html No matter which part of China you're in one thing that quickly becomes glaringly apparent is their longer lineage family connections. In the western world the main family unit basically only encompasses a single parent and children or spouses and children. Here grandparents are an integral part making it commonly a household of three generations. Lately this trend is definitely going more and http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-441997.html During the Qing Dynasty it was stipulated that no one from outside Beijing was allowed to stay within the city wallsnow the area within the 2nd Ring Road. QianMen at that time was the gateway into Beijing so people started opening businesses along QianMen Street which led into the city. Down the centuries the stores along this street came to be reputable stores people frequent for high qualit http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-441984.html Chinese festivals are packed with all sorts of mystical stories from the ancient times. Many of these mesmerizing and beautiful reflect historical events combined with legends and superstitions. Here are a couple from the motherland.The Dragon Boat Festival 314712132033410 lsquoDuan Wu Jiersquo is celebrated on the 5th day of the 5th lunar month on the Chinese calendar. 2000 years a http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-441180.html A couple weeks ago I decided to go back for full body oil massage. I was ushered into a room where the told me to get dressed in a fresh white robe and brought out cotton slippers from the side of the room removed the plastic it was contained in and told me I could take a shower if I desired before leaving the room for me to get ready for her. I thought Irsquod try the shower facility. Walking http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-440669.html October 1st is Chinarsquos National Day where they celebrate the founding of the country by Chairman Mao. And this year the 60th Anniversary is being greeted as if it was the most grandiose affair of the century. Banners welcoming this day are set up outside many office buildings and public places. Television broadcast programs like variety shows documentaries and TV series and old war movies http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-440657.html Itrsquos finally Fall in Beijing. The weather is perfect for hiking into the mountains nearby. Beautiful little mountain villages flank Beijing all around its north and western outskirts. I went with a couple Beijing locals. First we took a bus from the DeShengMen Station on the northwest part of downtown Beijing. Itrsquos a huge mess of place where different busses leaving into the outskirts http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-432902.html Today is Valentines Day according to the Chinese calendar. The Chinese donrsquot really have any special way of celebrating the day. Restaurants donrsquot raise their prices and flower shops donrsquot demand double for the same roses. But being the sentimental romantics that they are Chinese believe in legends. This is the tale of the Cowherd and the Weaving Maid 2927537070324552 http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-431597.html I believe that massages are essential for a personrsquos overall wellbeing and health in all aspects physiologically mentally and emotionally. Many see massages as a luxury mainly afforded for members of the lsquoRich Wivesrsquo Cubrsquo but more and more people are realizing that itrsquos an essential part of life especially in the fast paced world we live in today. Afterall massa http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-427558.html Therersquos a famous bakery in Bejing with branches all over called 312913932126449lsquoDao Xiang Cunrsquo12290 You can ask any local directions to one if you want to. But donrsquot expect to see a fancy westernized looking bakery with the glass walls and cute little acrylic containers for the cakes with pretty colors and westernised fillings like chocolate vanilla or cheese. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-426384.html I ventured out to the 798 Art District this weekend and was amazed to discover the artistic talent here in China. This bunch of abandoned warehouse buildings during Mao's reign. Remotely located 30 minutes outside the city its reputation precedes it plainly as 798. The older generation is still pretty oblivious as to its existence. Even among the younger generation though they've have heard of i http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-420369.html Just in the past month that Irsquove been in Beijing therersquos been 2 major shutdowns on websites due to internal political strife in the country. Itrsquos irritating to say the least when because of a crackdown on porn in the country there was a 12 hour blackout on access to Google websites or when Facebook and Twitter are also now blacked out because of the violent outbreak in XinJian http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-416465.html Made another trip to the hutongs today because I had extended my residency and changed my visa status. So I had to go to the police station to reregister my residency. While there I struck up a conversation with the two registrar ladies asking how I should go about finding a hutong to live in. They warmed up to me quickly to my surprise as they recognized me from the previous visit and filled m http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-414476.html Beijing weather can be unforgiving in the summer. Last week it was over 40C for days in a row. Thatrsquos over 104F. Stepping outside felt like walking into a roasting oven at full blast. It was unbearable. By law the government must declare it an emergency and send people home from work if the temperature rose above 40C so the local newspapers reported the temperature to be below 39.9C. B http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-414453.html In the midst of China's booming economy comes a vast emigration from the countryside into the cities. As the gap between the rich and the poor increases so do their lifestyles. Here's a few more interesting street sightings alongside the Audis Volvos VWs BMWs and Mercedes cars that zoom past. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-412897.html I decided to finally satisfy my curiosity of what a typical hutong setting would look like. So I was weaving through the maze of old Chinese streets in a traditional hutong neighborhood close to mine when I decided to stop and walk into one house and see what I find. Worse thing that could happen is they kick me out...and I try another. As I was about to do so a girl looking in her mid 20s parke http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-412893.html The One Child Policy in China imposed about 25 years ago. Chinese people in general are very much aware that they contribute to one third of the world's population and know that their country is over populated. So they understand the practical concerns of the policy and are pretty willing in most part to comply. However the downside of it is there seems like therersquos a growing concern among http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-412869.html Irsquove observed that it is common to see male friends hanging onto each other or walking with their arms over each otherrsquos shoulders. It's also a common sight to see two girls walking hand in hand. In Western countries there seems to be a prevalent homophobia about touch and private space that the Chinese seem oblivious about. I find it pretty refreshing to be honest. It's a charming i http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Beijing/blog-410634.html