Lama Temples, An Elevator Phone and Paddling in the Summer Palace

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It was WONDERFUL to get out of the (well, the more) polluted metropolitan areas. As a group, we made our way on an eight hour bus ride to Chengde, a "small" city north-east of Beijing. It actually has about 360, 000 inhabitants, but in China that's nothing. We stayed at a pretty nice hotel in downtown Chengde, and made it to two Lama temples- Putuozongcheng Temple and Puning Temple, the Sledge Hammer rock hike, and the Imperial Summer Palace and Gardens. It was nice just to get away from busy cities, so much pollution, and see the Lama temples especially.

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Comments

[Nancy Rosecrans]

Unbelievably Beautiful
Kenny: Looks like your trip is going well. I'm so glad you have the computer literacy (and the inclination and energy) to set up this blog so we can all enjoy your travels. The photographs are so beautiful, it's hard to believe these places are real. They look like paintings. Enjoy and be careful. Fondly, Nancy; Friend of Ishmael

[Erin]

I just happened across your blog and I am in awe of what you are seeing! The sights are just beautiful and I can only imagine what it's like to be there. Hope you find what your are looking for in your journeys and remain safe throughout your travels!

[Aunt Karen]

Wow! What an adventure of a lifetime. The pictures are amazing and it sounds like you are having a great time.

[Mom-the nag]

?
Kenny, I am confused! I thought you added more to the blog. Where is it? How are you feeling?

[Laura]

beautiful
Kenny---THanks for telling me you had a blog...pshh i would have been all over this months ago. I am guessing you are in Singapore now and I hope its amazing. These pictures are beautiful, I miss Chengde. I stayed there for a week and I really loved that city, it wasn't too big so I felt like I could have so many more adventerous outings rather than just touristy ones. Your picture of the sledgehammer---do you remember when I was telling you about when we climbed that?? Did you climb it? We were so dead tired and this old Chinese woman told us that she was 80 years old and we were teenagers and she grabbed our hands and led us up the rest of the way. Keep having an amazing time, call me whenever you have a chance. Miss you Laura