Another full day- Day 2 of touring Beijing

Tian is determined to use chopsticks and if all else fails ,she stabs the food with them.
This is the entrance to the temple
An incense altarThe incense altar for the Emperor This is a wheel that common people would spin in lieu of reading the scripture...Tj thinks he could get his reading done everyday
We don't ahve any pictures of Buddha as it is considered disrespectful to take pictures inside the temple- we cheated and Trevor got this one from the courtyard


Today we had another unbelieveable day.

No fun at breakfast - the boys knew what to expect, Tian slept better - so it was a good start to the day! We started with a tour of the largest Llama ( sp?) Temple in Beijing. It was amazing. I think the boys were a little overwhelmed. There were monks there chanting, people there praying and burning incense and leaving offerings of fruit and money. I think they thought people only really worshipped golden statues in the Old Testament times... The shrines were beautiful - filled with golden statues and artwork. This one in Beijing was built to improve relations with Tibet and India about 400 years ago. It is very impressive - many buildings, a beautiful courtyard and at least a dozen various statues of a variety of Buddhas. I think the boys were most impressed by the last building - it had a plaque on the wall from the Guiness Book of World Records - the building houses the largest wooden statue from one piece of wood - it was incredibly tall - at least 100 feet and another 10 feet below ground - of course it was a statue of Buddha. Tian did okay - she thougt it was a little boring, but as usual made sure she attracted a crowd of curious people wondering how she fit in to our family.

Then, onto the silk carpet factory. I had no idea...we had a quick review of silk history. According to our guide every Chinese child is well versed in the importance of silk, the history of it and the silk road and has a basic understanding of its production since it is so importsnt to their economy. Some businesses are regulated by the government and that way quality is insured and prices are also regulated. Each of these rugs ranged in 100 - 2000 knots per square inch - all done by hand!!! They were gorgeous. A large rug - of high quality can take 2 people over a year to complete. However, the dye is all natural so they rugs will never fade and should last 30 years. I found a small wallhanging I really like for only $7000 - Tom was so mean he wouldn't buy it for me! It was a scene of China. Ty was most impressed by the fact that as you moved around the rug the colors changed -- it was really amazing.

The silk ready to be tied into a rug or wall hanging

A rug in progress - all done by hand the pattern on the back is exactly the same

A hand knotted wall hanging

Then we headed to a Tea House. Tian was very excited for her "tea party" I think she was a little surprised it did not include Vanilla wafers and water, however, there were tiny little cups. We tried several herbal teas and when they asked Tian what she thought she told them it was very nasty...so much for her future as a tea conniseur.

Then we headed for the moment we had all been waiting for - we headed for the rides in the rickshaws in "Old Beijing" or Hutong. This is where all the government officials used to live and perhaps some of the Emperor's childen as well. The homes were set up in a courtyard configuration - the south area was for the servants, west for daughters, east for sons and north for the head of the houseThe houses were built over 2000 years ago with very narrow streets, so we were driven through town not by hand pulled rickshaws, but by bicycle powered ones. They drove us through town - so Tian could shout "Ni hao" ( hello) to everyone. We then were brough to a local home for lunch. It was not as scary as one would think. However, their house was as small as an American bedroom. Our group consisted of us, a single young woman from Austrailia and a couple from Russia - we filled this small one room home. We had fish with the head and tail still intact, vegetable - my new favorite garlic stem (they are green, sliced into 1 inch legths - the look like green onion tops, but they are solid, crunchy aand have a mild flavor), peanuts , cauliflower in a spicy sauce, pork and soybeans, a choice of a local beer or Coke to drink, fresh tomatoes and oranges for dessert. Needless to say, we didn't try the beer, but we tried everything else - it was quite a feast and I don't think people really eat like that on a daily basis...After luch we toured a courtyard area owned by a family who had purchased it in the 1940's ( most of the families have passed down the property ) A local man told us about his family and - it was touristy, but fun. Ty got to feed a someone's bird mealworms and Tian and I wanted a little white blue eyed kitten that was hanging around. Then we were attacked by local peddlars trying to sell us everything form "Rolex" watches to postcards. It was fun, but hard to say no as you wondered what kind of quota they each had met....
lanterns hung for the lantern festival - the 15 day for Chinese New Year - the fireworks went on unitl midnight, but no parade...

the rickshaws

the streets in the courtyard

look -they ate with the locals and lived!!!

Our hostess for lunch

The kitchen - shown to us after lunch! ANd I complained about the one in Wisconsin...

Ty and Tian feeding a bird

It really wasn't as frightening as I look....here we on our way back to

Then we headed off to the Beijing Zoo to see the Pandas. They had 4 pandas who all performed for us. They look as cuddly as they do in the pictures. We got to watch one eat bamboo - as Tian put it, "That's was too much in your mouth!" They peeled off the bark of the bamboo very quckly - with a bite and then pulled strips off with thier teeth, they they chewed the stalks, then took handfuls of leaves they pulled off and shoved them in their mouth other time he held the leaves in a bunch and took huge bites of the tightly held bundle.. It was not a neat process and a lot ended up all over him, the ground etc - so there is a lot of wasted bamboo. They did seem as if you could just grab one and hug them though. The zoo was very different from zoos inthe US - you could get relatively close to the pandas and the walls were not very high...it makes one wonder if the Chinese public has more common sense than we do...they know better than to jump in an enclosure with the bears...

I thought it was only the Romans who ate lying down.... he kind of rolled around while he ate

We then had some extra time and got to spend some time at a local department/grocery store. They boys had never been before so it was fun. 3 levels of shopping..."I pods" for $50, fresh fish, duckheads, chicken feet, a virtual Chinese Wal-Mart. By the way, Wal-Mart has invaded China.

Chinese parking lot

the deli counter

Following the shopping excursion we saw an acrobatic show - WAY COOL. The boys and Tian were all amazed ( as were Tara and I ). Ty announced he's going to sign up for acrobatic lessons. We saw tumbling acts, juggling acts, many tricks involving ropes, straps, nets, and poles, and an act involving traditional chinese masks.

We all really had a fun day! Tomorrow we leave Beijing and head for the baby's province - Guiyang.

We'll attach pictures tomorrow and send more blog info....

Friday

Today we are going to tour the Llama Temple, Hutong - tour of old residences in beijing via rickshaw, and seeing the Panda's at the Zoo.

We had a great time yesterday at the Great Wall!

We'll post more with pic's later...

Beijing day 1

The lobster at breakfast

The gang

Smaller hall at the Ming Tombs

What a day!! We started out at 3 am here - Tian could not get back to sleep. It was a long morning. We headed down to breakfast- wish you all could have seen the boys' faces...I forgot to remind them about Chinese breakfast. It is kind of like dinner. Soup, meat dishes, dumplings. They were all set for an American buffet - eggs , bacon, cereal- they were good sports though and tried some new things- soybean sald, fish for breakfast, dumplings. In the dining area they also had tanks of fish, lobsters and crabs - 2 of the lobsters were among the largest I have seen. We didnt ask how much they were :o)

Our guide met us at 7:30 and we headed for the Ming Tombs. This was very similar to the Forbidden City in style- they were commissioned by the same emperor(3rd of the Ming dynasty) The tombs were built as a place for the Emperor and Empress to spend their afterlife. In fact, there is gate in the courtyoard to symbolize the entrance from the mortal to the spirit world. The area is surrounded by mountains ( we could only see some due to the heavy smog) and many evergreen trees- it was very peacful. Inside the great Hall ( which is as large as the Great hall of the Forbidden Palace) there were glass cases filled with relics - gold plates, bowl chopsticks for the Emperor, silver for the Empress, Gold and silver ingots,gorgeous silk robes, head pieces, armor and Ty's favorite - a giant staue of the emperor. Tian commanded great attention for the other tourists as she danced around and shouted when we grabbed her(armour for Emperor).

This is a shaft believed to be escape tunnel for those who buried the Emperor

Then for the most exciting part of the day.... we headed back to the tour bus and several police officers followed us and questioned our tour guide and bus driver...Our guide assured us this happened occasionally as they were checking to make sure our guide was licensed- a crowd began to gether and we began to wonder...then we had to get off the bus ...our driver did not have the proper paperwork! Luckily we were able to join another group to head to the Great Wall. I am not sure they were glad to add 6 more to their group, but they were good sports.

On the way tto the Wall we visited a Jade factory - in other words we toured a jade factory so they could convince us to buy large quantities. The jade was gorgeous - I didn't remeber that jade is nearly as hard in diamond and can scratch glass. We saw an artisan shape a bangel and another polish a dragon figurine. Then we toured the shop...we made it our the door empty handed :o( It was VERY expensive, but the jade was gorgeous ranging in color from pure white - to deep green - to this year's trademark - a red agate. The jade is supposed to release minerals to you as you wear it so many people wear it for theapuetic benfits - the jade also turns a deeper green the more it is worn. It is tradition in China for a mother to give her daughter a jade bangel when she becomes a woman....when we came to China the first time we purchased a bangel to give Tian when she turns 16 - I will keep you posted when she asks if she has to wear it :o)

Next, we headed to a enamel pot factory - did you know that those vases are copper inside then they glue on pieces of copper wire for the design, fill it by hand with enamel, fire it, refill the empty spots, fire it again and then polish it ? It was amazing - this was an interesting tour and then we headed upstairs to the restaurant, but not before Tian got to see her first Chinese toilet...her workd summed it up "What's that? Why?" she was a good sport!

Lunch was great - typical Chinese style lunch, many dishes to try on a lazy Susan in the center of the table - Tian wanted tea, but informed the waitress, " That coffee is NASTY!" She loved the soup ( hot and sour), ate a plate full of oranges and made sure she had some of everything on her plate. It was fun and when the guide asked Ty if he would have rather gone to Pizza Hut - he said, "No way!! This is a treat" It will be interesting how he feels about that next week.

On to the Great Wall - we passed the section that Tom and I saw last year and headed for the older section Badaling - it is twice as high and longer. It was built over 2000 years ago. I can't wrap my head around it - just conceiving of the idea and thinking it was possible blows my mind. Looking at it in person - winding up these steep mountians - doubling back over itself is amazing it was surreal. Although TOm and I had already seen it - it was as amazing as it had been the first time. If only we could all have the vision of an emperor.... At this section of teh wall you can ride a cable car up ( see the picture) The boys loved it - especially going down. We were able to climb a fair amount before Tom nearly died carrying Tian. She is no light weight! The steps are all uneven and let's put it this way - it would never be open to the public in the US - many dangerous spots and after me freaking out several times as Tian peaked and ran she finally had to be strapped into the baby carrier and thank goodness Tom offered to carry her. The views were breathtaking!!! but heights and my children standing on ledges aren't a good combo - I was glad to head back down... AT this section of teh wall they also have among MANY shops - several enclosure with bears. Tian couldn't get enough of them. They were VERY animated and they allowed people to throw fruit them so the would stand on their hind legs and patted their paws together - it was very cute.

They boys experience the hard sell today - people following them - nearly begging them to buy anything. Tom ended up with a tshirt he didn't really want...he is a little too soft hearted. Tian manged to get a pretty little purse and Ty bough himself a wooden sword with a wooden sheath - pretty impressive for $1.50!!

bears - oh my

The scary trolley ride - operated manually with a handbreak onthe way down....

Too bad teh pollution was so bad you couldn't see the mountains....

Can you imagine building this - or even thinking it was possible now ...2000 years ago??!!! The precarious perch

On the way home we had one last commercial break as one of our fellow tourist called them , at a silk factory. I had no idea...did you know that first they use the silkworm dropping for traditional chinese medicine and the dead caterpilalrs for headaches??? Remind me not to go to the pharmacy here. I also did notknow that 2 silk worms often join up to make one cocoon, the color of silk can naturally range from white to deep yellow dependent onthe diet of the worm. Now, for me the most fascinating of all was the process in which they harvest the silk - the cocoon is boiled unitl it is soft, the caterpiller(s) are removed and then the cocoon is streced, like a purse over a hoop. This is repeated 25 times, then it is allowed to dry . Once dry it brought to the factory, where 80 of these "purses" are stretched out like quilt batting on a frame. SO it is layered - this makes the lining for silk bedding. It is very strong, won't bunch up when youwash it and won't hold dust - it was really neat. The silk fabric ahs to spun and woven...and is not so cheap( even in China) needless to say I didn't come home with the gorgeous bedspread I really wanted...

On our way back to the hotel we were able to drive past the facilities or the upcoming Olypics here in Beijing - WOW!!!

bubble building is the aquatics center -it was being used today for an international competition

FInally we headed home and evryone is passing out getting ready for our next adventure

We Made IT

Thanks to neighbor we made to China. It's a long story, but I managed to leave my passport in the scanner at home...I got busy with a kid - Tom picked up the folder and I completely forgot...Anyway to make it even more stressfull the plane was sceduled to depart 30 minutes early - whose plane leaves early?!! Our neighbor went to our house, got the passport and delivered to me at the airport. Tom had checked in with the kids and needless to say he was a little stressed that he was going to end up in China and I was going to stay home and relax. I ran ( security was even nice to me!!) and not only was I the last one on the plane - they had to kick someone off!

Tian was a dream!!! Yes, it's true. She played, she slept. she sang songs.... We did however use the bathroom excessively - she was completely fascinated with it. She even found a little friend - Alex who was going home to China. He was the same age as Tian and his poor mother spent the flight chasing him down - he finally came and sat with us for a couple of hours and played Play-doh, cars etc. He spoke no English, but they seemed to have fun.

The boys were great - except TJ did not sleep a wink - he looked a little rough( or like a drug addict- he was painfully bloodshot. We are all up early - it is 6:15 am and we are waiting to go eat breakfast. Our tour leaves at 7:30. Today we see the Great Wall and the Ming Tombs. The weatehr is going to be in the 50's today!!! We can't believe our luck.

I have to comb Tian's hair... Hope you are all healthy and safe.

Tara

More Silly Stuff

Ty's latest project...fake blood
Tian and Bootsy Barker - doesn't the kitty look like she is enjoying all that love?

Could we get any stranger?

Tian Loves dancing....ask TJ about his many (young)admirers...
Ty took second place in Pinewood Derby - YEAH

Tian LOVES her doll house

Okay - as many of you know we have made it back to Iowa (old address - new phone number), we are on our way back to China (eventually - we hope to leave the 20th of February barring any other misadventures) to pick up our son.... A year ago I would have laughed someone had told me this is where we be. Life is crazy. I figured we would at least put in some pictures of us before we go completely insane with 2 toddlers running the house Tian is 2 1/2 and our new son is 19 months.

I haven't got a picture of TJ yet...he had his wisdom teeth out Friday ..I will keep chasing him with the camera. Trevor is hanging in there waiting to turn 14...24 more days.