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Published: January 3rd 2007
Hi again all...
I arrived here in Beijing around 7:30 at night and got a hotel room from the tourist office at the airport... the cost was 200Y for one night but I just wanted to get a room and figure out later where I wanted to spend Christmas day and my time here in Beijing.... Once in the hotel room I so badly wanted to go to Tiananmen Square.... I asked at the hotel if they had a map but they told me they did not and I just went for awalk to a big hotel and picked up a map for free... I found where Tiananmen Square was and took the 2km walk in -5 degree weather... On my way I was approached by a young girl who asked if I spoke english... I was wowed because this was the first person that had come up to me and spoke english so far in China... I said yes and then she asked me if I wanted a massage...LOL Not what I expected to be my first conversation here in Beijing.... I said No and went on my way...LOL.... On my way afew grils did the same thing
and I thought that I was in Bangkok again... But I did manage to get to Tiananmen Square and I was so impressed... There were alot of soldiers around and a few people too... I just stood there with a smile on my face and felt so impressed with myself... After about 45min I headed back to my hotel....
The next morning I looked in my Lonely Planet guide book for a hostel that I could stay at that would have other fellow travelers to spend Xmas with...As you know I don't like staying at HI hostels but there was one in the book that looked to me as a good place to stay...(later I found out I was wrong!!!!)... So I called them up and took a cab to the hostel... The taxi driver had no clue at all where to go even when I gave the phone to hin with the person on the other end who was from the hostel giving him directions... But after about 10min going around in circles we found the place....Also adding more money to the meter...LOL... I Liked the cleanness of the hostel and found out that there was another Canadian
The Great Wall
Thats me worn out from all the climbing of the Great Wall...in my room named Michael too... After settling in I went out to see and explore Beijing... My first stop was to get myself a toque to keep my head warm.. I found out that you have to bargain here with the prices... I then went to see Tiananmen Square in the day light...On my way acouple of girls came up to me and asked where I was from and I was just thinking that this was another massage offer... But they just told me that they where students and wanted to practice their english.... I said ok and they walked with me too the square... There were a lot of people in the square and on the oppisiteside was the Forbidden city with a big ass picture of Mao over the entrance... O n the other side of the square was Mao's Mausoleum where Mao is resting... I seen Uncle Ho in Hanoi and thought that seeing Cousin Mao here would be a goos thing too... But I would have to wait until Tues to see him.... The girls took me to one of Beijing's olds streeets... Apparently it was 600 years old... We walked up the street and
came up to a tea shop and they wanted me to come in with them but I declined because I was not a tea drinker and they were not that cute...LOL... I then went to the old British rail station ant to a couple of the gates that where behind Mao's Mausoleum... There was some great achievements done here... I went back to the walk street where there were al kinds of malls and western fast food... and had a good look around...LaterI net up with my fellow Canadian and we decided to go to on of thee bars in the city... The taxi driver however take us to where we wanted to go but to some place where guys out on the street wanted us to see the girlie bars... We just wanted to go to a nice bar and hear some good music... We finally found the bar that we wanted to go to about 6 blocks away... It was called The Poachers Inn and it was a good place to hang out in... The music was all new and people were dancing all over the place.... And a lot of nice looking girls too...LOL...
The next
The Great Wall
Thats my fellow Canadian trying to catch up with me...LOL morning I went out on my own to see the Forbidden City.... At least thats what was the plan... When walking to the city I was approached by a girl who asked me if she could practice her english with me... I said sure and we wereoff to the City.... She told me that she was a student and that she was all alone here in Beijing... I felt sorry for her and paid for her entrance fees to the City40Y $5.50us Forbidin City was unbelievable... there was so much to see but the only thing was that there was very little english telling me what was what... But I did have a guide that tried to explain some as best as she could in her very limited english... After about 4hrs doing the city and freezing my ass off the girl wanted me to go with her to a tea show... But I had to go and pick up my laundry and decided that we would meet latter in the evening and go... When I went to pick up my laundry the charged my 75Y or $7us... I didn't think about it until later when I got home and
The Great Wall
Just a look up at some of the Guard Towers... a girl from Hong Kong told me that I was ripped off... I also found out that all my clothes were still wet...LOL. I went to use the dryer at that hostel for 10Y... But when They gave me my clothes back they just shoved them in a bag and where all wrinkled... nice service.... The girl from Hong Kong also told me that the people on the street that go up to you just try and get you to go to Tea shows for the commission or to art show to buy some of the art... That explains some of the other people that have come up to me a ask me to see other things too... And also why no guys have come up to me and just girls...LOL So I didn't go to the Tea Show and just hung out with Michael...
The next day was Christmas Day and me and Michael went to see the Temple of Heaven. This was a park with gates at each end where solemn rites preformed by the son of Heaven, who came here to pray for good harvest,seekdivine clearance and atone for the sins of the people... Basically it
The Great Wall
The Wall just travels for ever was a big and beautiful... We then went to have our xmas dinner at a restaurant that specializes in duck... We found the place out of the Lonely Planet guide and it was quite good... We then went to try and find some phone cards so that we could call home... This task was not easy because you must find a certain type of card(IP for cell phones).... But we found them and decide that we would call home around 10:30 at night from Tiananmen Square... So later that night we froze our Asses off to wish you all a Merry Christmas... And Im sorry that not all of you got my phone call but it wasn't because I didn't try but because we just had problems with the phone network...
The next day we went to the Great Wall. at Mutianyu...Mutianyu is a 2250m long granite section about 90Km from Beijing...We decided to not to take the Tour that was offered by the hostel but to do it on our own...We got at 5am and found the long distance bus (#916... 6Y) and and got off to grab a mini bus to the wall... The cost to the
St Joesph Church
This is where I went to Mid-night Mass... wall by mini bus was 40Y round trip...We ended up there around 9am... We then walked all the way up the hill and let me tell you it was hard work...LOL... The clouds were very low and picture taking was a bit hard but I did manage to get some good Pics... We spent about 4hrs walking the wall up and down and you could fell it in your legs... But what a view and what an experience... We ended up back at the hostel around 3pm and later that night we went to see the Acrobats at some theater... The cost was 100Y and the place was only 10% full... The show was not that great... They did have some good acts but the were dropping things and in between acts it took about 2mins before the next show... But it was OK...
The next morning we went to stay at another Hostel because we weren't happy with the service at the Saga... One of the problems was that the staff wasn't that helpful when asking for some directions to the wall... We think it was because we didn't want to take their tour... And also because the
staff would let any one watch TV in english where they all watch there chinese soaps... And the Tv was suppose to be for the travelers that stayed at the Hostel...But anyway we found another hostel and this was better except for the fact that I wanted to buy a membership so that I didn't have to pay non-member prices...But they had run out of memberships and because of it I had to pay non-member prices...LOL... After we got a new hostel we went to seeCousin Mao... It was basicly the same as seeing Uncle HO but this time I made sure that I wasn't carring a knife... He was just laying there with a Hammar and Sickle Flag on top of him... I think that Uncle Ho looked better... We then went to the Great Hall of the People... This is where the National People's Congress covenes... I guess Nixon had dinner there... I didn't think that it was that exciting... Latter that night We found a great Vegetarian restaurant that had a60+ item buffet... This place ROCKED... I love meat but I love this place....The cost was only 56Y or 7us....
The next day I tried to
The flag at Tiananmen Square
They have a cerimony at night fall and at sunrise every day... us the internet but it sucks so bad because of the earthquake that hit Taiwan over Christmas...The earthquake damaged the undersea cable for the internet and phone lines... Its abit funny because the government call it the Province of Taiwan here...LOL... Later we went to the Military Museum... This place showed all kinds of Tanks and planes and the odd Missile... They even had some US armor from the Korean War.... In the evening Michael a German and 3 Swedes and I went to an underground Punk Rock bar... It was fun there... The sure knew how to play a guitar but they really sucked at singing...LOL... Later the Swedes and I went to a Night club... Now this was so much fun!!!!! We danced and danced so much... The funny thing was now I was really liking Chinese girls.... I mean I don't think asian women are all that attractive... But Lately Im really liking them... And Beijing has a lot of Hot Looking Women.... I need to work this out...LOL... But hat whole night was a blast and I got abit drunk which for me is funny because I don't drink but felt that one night of letting
my hair down would be a good thing...When leaving the club it was so great to see snow on the ground as it would be snowing for two days here...
The next day I tried again to do the e-mal thing but with little success... I went to see the Forbidden City again to check out the places that I missed... I then went to Tiananmen Square to get some pics of the square with snow... In the evening we went to check out another punk rock bar that Michael found on the internet... But when we got there we found a Massage Parlor instead...LOL... But this was a high class parlor and not for hanky panky either... So we just went back to the other place and watch the guys play that guitar.... and they could play... We then went to the hostel and shot some pool and called it a night....
Today was New Years Eve and I had a ticket to Shanghai for the overnight train... So I went to the internet place again and had a bit of success with it...I just walked around the rest of the day untill it was time to
take the train.... Now the train to Shanghai cost 500Y or about $75us... It takes about 12hrs and let me tell you that it must be the nicest train I have ever been on.... They give you a first class meal for free too.... But if you want this type of train you must get a Z number train... It is a bit more then the other trains but I wanted to spurge it on myself... On the train I had a Chinese lady with her 6 year old daughter with me in my compartment... And thast kid was so cute... He knew more english than her mother...lol...We made faces on the slippers that the train had supplied for the passengers...It wasn't a big bang of a New Years but I wouldn't have missed it for anything...
I would like to say something about Chinese people... They all spit everwhere and the women do too... The also must have gold in there nose because they are all digging in it.... And trust me you don't want to use a Chinese tolet... They are the most dissuting thing on earth...I wouldn't let an animal shit in one...LOL
Im so
ready to get out of Beijing and can't wait to to check out Shanghai...This is the longest I have stayed in just one place since I started my Travels...I hope you all have a great New Year and still enjoy my Blog.... Take Care...Michael
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Francis Theoret
non-member comment
Bonne Année !!
Hey Michael, you are making me somewhat jealous. China looks amazing. I am now back in Quebec and there is no snow here, still it is one of the best place on earth ;) Enjoy the continuation of your trip !! Francis T.