Summer Palace and Beer/Patio experience

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First full day in Beijing was interesting. Getting to know my classmates, meeting an old friend, visiting a historic site, learning about the Alberta/China partnership, surviving the walk to a local cafe filled the menu of my day. First, after getting up early and figuring out the time difference between China and Edmonton, I had my first typical Beijing breakfast (fried peanuts, noodles, and some kind of veggie tofu dish. The best news of the day was that dumplings are served at each meal and they are delicious. Black tea with sugar rounded up what was a pretty decent breakfast.

Then we hopped on the bus for a hour trip to the Canadian Embassy where an old friend (Da Li) was presenting to our group on his experience as a Canadian who started his business in China. Very practical information. David Wong from the Alberta-China Office provided an overview of the current relationship between the two oil savvy regions of the world. The meeting was very informative.

After lunch we took a quick drive to the Summer Palace (Yihe Yuan). This was an excellent site to visit, beautiful, historical, and green the Summer Palace was built in the 10th century and inhabited by dozens of imperial dynasties. We walked down the Long Corridor to see to the Longevity Hill and its beautiful Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha. Some of my classmate purchased some art work from local students (I received strict instructions not to bring any such trinkets home this time around 😊. We then took a dragon power boat across the lake and left the premises.

Upon arriving back to CNSA the group divided in several mini-groups. I joined a group on a mission to find a outside patio-bar that served beer. Our adventure required that we crossed major streets intersections which in itself is a huge adventure. Pedestrians have absolutely no rights in Beijing. It is hilarious to see 20+ foreigners run as fast as they can to reach the other side of the street. But we made it and found a cafe called Black-Forest.com.cn. This is where I realised that in survival mode, the little chinese I know can come very handy. For instance, I instantly remembered that beer in mandarin is "pijiu", and that how much translates into "Duo Shou Tian?" Would you believe that 13 large beers, 2 coffees and a pepsi only cost the group 130 Yuans or $18? We will have to go back.

Although the night is far from over, I decided to opt out of the noctural activities planned by my peers (nightclub and more beers) to relax and call home. I am told my sons are missing their papa, so I plan to call them in just about 30 minutes.

Talk to you tomorrow.

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Photos

Longevity Hill
Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha

Longevity Hill again
Yours truly in front of the Tower of Fragrance of the Buddha

Summer Palace - Lion statue
Yours Truly with statue of a lion

Pijiu - Black-Forest.com.cn
Having a cold one with view on the busy Ring Road #3

Pijiu ~ Xie Xie
Group shot at the Black-Forest.com.cn

Comments

[Emric]

Je t'aime, a nuiter papa (this is supped to mean I miss you papa) . Parce-que m'ainer (?) moi a la gymnastiques et parc. Noubliez pas mon nouvelle monte de Batman. Moi je t'aime papa dans la folie (is that 'world'?)

[Popsy]

Hahaha! Merci Emric pour ton beau message. Je m'ennuie de toi aussi. J'espere bien revenir en Chine un jour avec toi, Sam-Sam et maman. J'ai vu des acrobates hier qui m'ont fait penser a toi et tes cours de gymnastiques. Je vais essayer de te trouver une montre batman... je crois que nous allons a un marche ou il y a des montres ce soir. Je t'embrasse et un gros calin a toi, a Sam-Sam et a maman. Popsy P.S. a la folie means "madly"