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Published: October 4th 2006
Bei 1
Our own little garden of heaven, outside our room door in Leo's hostellei hou ma, people?
Just a quick update on the last few days of our short stay in Beijing, really didn't give this place enough time, another lesson learned on our way, I'm certain this will not be the last such lesson learned during the next year. Among the other places to see during a stop in Beijing as I'm sure our pictures will testify include :
Summer Palace - restored on the request of Empress Dowager Cixi with money intended for the development of the navy, she then never seemed to smile whilst there, ungrateful wench I say, the place is class, oh yeah and buy a guide at the outset or you'll wonder around the place aimlessly for a few hours like we did. Word to the wise for pale, lanky western lads, be prepared to smile for others as you will undoubtedly be asked to pose for a few snapshots.
Secret Wall Tour - good tour and well worth the hour or so up hill hike behind the chain smoking 68 year old guide, be mindful to bring a couple of Yuan however as no matter how desolate a place appears there'll always be a
Bei 2
Gaiety ain't got a patch on the stage at the Summer Palace ! hawker around the corner in Beijing, not a tourist in sight on our walk along the wall apart from the small gleaming smile of the trader in the last tower we encountered, gotta love capitalism. Breath taking none the less !
Legend of Kung Fu, the Shaolin Monks - a fun way to spend the evening, watching lads of all ages and one hot lass throw themselves around the stage for over an hour before proceeding to break wooden and concrete blocks over their torsoes and heads, all of course interspersed by the obligitory sword and spear play(bending spears with your neck, why ?)
Forbidden City - what a place to live, wonder how much a place like this would go for in Dublin nowadays, it's guargantuan(spelling may be awry). The most amazing aspect of this place for me was the attention to detail on every single building, roof, archway, door and artefact in this massive space(9,999.5 rooms I believe!). The craftmanship is stunning, mind our 3 megapixel camera fails to show this on any pictures we've taken. However despite all the stunning works we seen within the city, I suppose we were left most astounded by the
Bei 3
Not a pole in sight ! appearance of the little fella in the crotchless yellow jumpsuit (see picture 8), wonder where I can get one of these suits ?
Chairman Mao - So, after two failed attempts, it was third time lucky at going to see the deceased Chairman Mao. A few facts, apparently they raise him from a freezer every morning when it's show time, and his left ear fell off a few years back and they had to re-attach it. Huge queues around Memorial Hall to see the embalmed remains of the former leader -a bit morbid, but still had to see it and the people's reactions to him all the same. After eventually getting in we were ushered past him in about 10 seconds. I suppose there isn't much else to really hang around for, although seeing the right ear fall off would have been an experience.
Temple of Heaven - the best of all temples we seen in Beijing, probably because it had been recently restored and again the intricate detail was absolutely class(see picture 12). The emperor's came to the temple of heaven every January to pray to the heavens for good harvests, this ritual also involved the sacrificing
Bei 4
If the water lillies are this big, I wonder what size the frogs are ? of farming animals as an offering to the heavens.
Well thats pretty much all we got to see in Beijing I'm afraid, as I said time was minimal. We have plenty more photo's but I won't bore you'se with them unless specifically asked.
Take care and remember one foot forward is no use unless followed by the other,
Manto
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Deamus
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Hup
Alright Manto ye mad yokes! Great to see the holiday goin well, it looks class....and is described even better...very elegant writing there Anto...cant wait for the book!!