We have been out all day and just got back from a night at the opera.Peking opera is an amazing experience.Google it and get a taste but seeing and listening to it is really a treat and of course when in Peking how could you not go to the opera.The day started with an excursion to a travel agent that speaks english,or so the book says.The process here is interesting as you can go down to the reception desk in Bob's building and show them where you want to go.They in turn write it out on a card in Chinese that you give to the taxi driver and after a few nods and some exchange of knowing looks and grunts you are off with fingers crossed. It all worked as planned and we wound up at ... read more

Sunshine greeted us today hot, and a cloudless blue sky.I am a bit hung over from an evening of Tsing tao beer and a couple of bottles of wine with supper and friends. We decide to walk today and head to the Lamasery of Harmony and Peace. Beijing is as clean as a city could get I think, streets are spotless,sidewalks also swept clean.There is no where I have ever been that is as clean.Construction cranes everywhere,literally forests of them building more and more highrises and who knows what.The Olympics in 2008 must be a factor but there definately is a boom on here.Chairman Mao must be rolling over in his mausoleum. We arrive at the Lamasery which was originally the first mansion of the Prince Yong built in 1694 but now is a Buddist shrine. ... read more

Well bloggers we are here and on the move.After breakfast and the sad task of wishing Bob a good day at work as we headed off on the adventure. The Beijing subway is a modern system and pretty user friendly with signage and maps.Hold up two fingers and money and voila! tickets appear from the ticket window.Ironically the forst people we met were from Ottawa.A couple with children came up to us in the subway and struck up a conversation.Actually she was from Toronto but had a sister in Orleans.The subway was packed and I bumped my head on the hand rail as I entered the car. Clearly not made for 6'3" Canadians! We transfered and got out at Tianamen square east. The forbidden city,home of the Emperors built in 1400 at one end of the ... read more

Well greetings from the mysterious east.Air Canada (The peoples Airline) has served us well. Many thanks to Ian for driving us to the 7am flight and a HUGE!! tip of the hat to the air canada ticket agent in Ottawa who got us exit row seats!!!! My legs and knees thank you. Uneventful flights for the most part,movies we had not seen and airline food. Flight plan was Ottawa Toronto,Toronto Vancouver and Vancouver Beijing. Arrival in Vancouver coincided with a security breach of unknown description.It meant we sat on the runway for a half hour without explanation.The good news was as we weer grounded so were the departing flights so no fear of missing the all important transfer. The exit row was a blessing on this leg with an 11 hour flight to look forward to.Unusual ... read more