Lunch in a Private Home near The Great Wall

We descend the Great Wall...if you look in the middle of the photo, you will see a pathway to the right, which we took up the first mountain that you can see to get to the Wall...

Our path is the one that circles the top and goes down out of sight of this angle...

It is a long, steep climb and descent of rock steps placed into the side of the mountain...all different sized....very natural with whatever bushes that grow there..not an easy path.

The name of WILD GREAT WALL is fitting.

At the bottom, we were thrilled with the sense of accomplishment as we continued down the long dirt path to where the bus was parked.

There, we loaded on, congratulating ourselves for everyone in our group of 14 making it to the VERY TOP!

We reached for the bottles water~ Water ...ahhhh what a wonderful, wonderful feeling!

We rode to a nearby village where we were invited into a private home for lunch. We were greeted by their hanging vegetable garden.

In China, they use all available land around their homes to grow food.


We are seated in the largest room of the 2 room house.

I can't believe I don't have more shots of the outside of the house...but now you see the indoor shots.

They have posters to decorate the walls here.

The kitchen was small, however, the owned of the home had created a wonderful lunch for us to enjoy.

We enjoyed a nice lunch and stories of her home. Most of all, we enjoying seeing her kitchen and small home. The bed was a roll-away rolled against the wall. They did have a TV and comfortable chairs in the room.



Back on the bus, we went back to Beijing and there we droves as close as we could for views of the "Bird's Nest" of the Beijing Olympic Games.

The building below is where all the water events were held. The building is made of unbreakable glass or some kind of material that won't allow anything at all to stick or stay on the sides. It is forever clean. (I want this for our house, don't you?)

Last but not least are 4 buildings which look like four computer towers...well

that's what the are...the buildings are giant computers that ran all the Olympic Event.

We so enjoyed seeing how the Olympic Games bettered this City and made me so happy that Beautiful Rio de Janerio, Brazil will have this too.

The Wild Great Wall of China ~ Most Authenic

Photo of our FABULOUS, FUN GROUP who shared our lovely, fantastic adventure in China, '09
Story below with other photos...

How far from Beijing to the Great Wall?
About an hour by bus. From our bus, we
began to see parts of the incredible Wall ~ meandering over mountains and dropping into valleys and then going on ~ and on. History has the Great Wall to have been originally be some 6,000 miles long, however today there is said to be 4000 miles left.

We drove past the entrance for most tourist and continued on to seek out the WILD, and natural part of the Wall. Perfect, as no one was there except the 14 of us and 2 Chinese Soldiers.

From any angle, it was as expected from photos and TV specials.

I thought of the little girl crouched on knees exploring the National Geographic Magazines and reading about and seeing exotic places
that would go on her Wish List ...now referred to as a "Bucket List." (Things you would like to do before you die.)

In my memory, the little girl was then about eight years old and loved Aunt Zora's collection of the National Graphics.
They took her to places that didn't seem possible to be part of this world.

This Wall was the most unlikely to really see, as China was a closed and well guarded country at the time. My list...

The Amazon River,

The Nile River and Pyramids,

Hawaii, and The Great Wall of China.

This was the entire list

for the little girl who loved National Graphic Magazines.

Now that little girl was going to see not only the Great Wall, but a most important part~

We were going to a part of the Great Wall which is known as "Wild."
To see the WILD GREAT WALL is to see how it stands today...un-restored for tourism.
WOW... the original and authentic ...Only added wooden steps to make it safe to climb up the mountain to the peak.
WOW...going to climb up THERE?

Off the bus and walking up the dirt trail ~about a quarter of a mile, we

passed by part of the Wall that has collapsed and piled in a heap of rubble of stone

This is part of the Wall which has fallen and stacked back out of the way of the path.

This photo shows our path to a roughly constructed rock steps, outlined with hand rail which was our path upward to the Wall. Not these stones...but farther down the path...Climbing up to the Wall was no easy feat. About 100 steps...and then...900 more steps to the top of the mountain...1000 steps we were told was the climb~

If you notice a little extra weight around the waists...that disappeared by the end of the 1st week in China...

The little girl completes her "Bucket List~" I think of being at the top of this mountain and

wondering how it must be when it rains, or snows and wonder the beauty of sunset. I was an exhilarating experience to say the least.

My History teacher once said, "Read, study, and learn so that you will have something to think about when old." She was right.

If you see the opening in the floor of the Wall, we started down to see if the Wall had a room down there, however, were called back saying we would not allowed to go down there. For sure, it is an original staircase to enter the Great Wall. Perhaps soldiers took shelter, slept and lived when they were building or guarding the wall. I still think about that mystery.

Day 3 The Cinnabar Factory PLUS THE GREAT WALL of CHINA

Excited as a person could be over the trip to The Great Wall, I sort of wished we didn't have a morning at the Cinnabar Lacquer Factory, however, later realized it was a perfect plan.


The first thing I see that had always been on my "wish list" was the Screens~ I stood looking at this one. Every aspect of it was totally perfect~ (I shouldn't have gone to this place).

Nothing would do but have it shipped home. Due mid-November...it is taking a slow boat from China.

The next item that I knew was going on with us was the most beautiful Carved Cinnabar Lacquer vase.

The art work that goes into them is fascinating, to say the least...we walked the factory to see Chinese women hand-carving vases...tiny instruments and electric sanders.



On the right I am writing my name on the one that will be shipped to us

. Wouldn't chance carrying it around for the rest of the trip.

Then we go to lunch~ The spread of food for all three meals for the 22 days we were together were beautiful and each meal brought new surprises. They only serve sliced watermelon for dessert.

Eating healthy and walking 3 or so miles per day was the best thing for all of us. I lost 15 pounds.

First Evening ~Dinner on our own ~ Beijing, China An adventure

After a dinner on our own our first night at the Hotel Restaurant~ served by darling young women who spoke not one word of English ~ we were eager to get on with the trip..... The following morning, we visited Tienanmen Square ~ 100 acres~ the largest Square in the world and here is where we begin to understand that to see China will include miles of walking each day.
We also were understanding we would be introduced to many, many different Chinese dishes.
The entire experience was over the top. It was truly an Adventure from beginning to end, not for the faint of heart. We LOVED our group, our Tour Leader as well as each and every day!

Here is a few of the items on the Restaurant Menu~

Cantaloupe and pig face~ Stream pavilion pig hand

Chicken Feet with Pickled Peppers~ (actually America sends all our Chicken Feet to China.)

Donkey Meat ~

Marinated Goose Heads
Broiled Soft Shell Turtle
Fish Heads with garlic

We ordered something that looked like noodles with something....and Chinese Beer, which was very good. We NEVER went hungry and we also didn't run into these dishes above again.

First Days in China ~ Beijing

Beijing, China ~
We had five lovely and busy days in Beijing. The first day was spent acquainting ourselves to this BIG MODERN CITY of 14,000,000. We exchanged the American $ for Chinese and memorized the exchange rates.
The city is crowded but all moving with discipline ~ everything and everyone seemed to have a place. Since the Olympics, the city has changed so very much we were told.
This made me happy to know Brazil will have this same opportunity to become just as fabulous.

Here in Beijing, there is the beautiful new Airport and mass transportation we see are new and built for the world visitors to the Olympics. The city is clean, bright and very progressive. We see happy people living there...it was a wonderful 5 days. China is a communist country, however, they are Capitalists which is working very well. They are hard workers to earn a good life for themselves. They can own their own homes/apartments/condos as we can. They can own anything except the land. The government owns all the land...but that makes no difference as they live free.


This is a photo of our hotel room while in Beijing.












After a lovely Chinese buffet breakfast, we began our day.
We visited the Forbidden City which is full of history and stories too interesting to imagine.







To the right is the moat surrounding the Forbidden City~ The Forbidden City was only open to tourists a few years ago. It is a 9000 room maze of courtyards, palaces and ceremorial halls where 24 emperprs and two dynasties rulled the Middle Kingdom. It is surrounded by a 160 foot wide moat as you see in this photo.

Once inside the gates we stand in the Courtyard where the newest young concubines were brought. The Emperor stood on this balcony to view them as they came through the gates.

Soldiers would go to villages to round up all beautiful young girls to bring to the Emperor and Forbidden City ...he stood on the balcony to view the new group and select any that caught he eye for immediate meeting.

The village people would try to hide their young girls as the life of a concubine was that of a slave. Their role was to be there for the Emperor's pleasure. Most Emperors had thousands who lived out their lives in the Forbidden City.

The favorite concubines of the Emperor was forced to commit suicide when the Emperor died, as were thousands of his soldiers.


To the right is a photo of the Emperor's bed. It is a high platform made of stone. This is where the eunuchs would bring the chosen concubine for the evening to visit with the Emperor. All Chinese sleep on stone or wooden beds with a thin mat.

Their time together was witnessed by soldiers and eunuchs. The eunuch's are the "guys" that lived with and took care of the concubines.

The story went that some of the women hated the Emperor and there was fear for his life and well being. For this reason, the eunuchs would undress the chosen concubine, prepare her, roll her in a rug and carry her across the courtyard so no one could see which concubine had been chosen and to make sure she had no weapons on her.

What is a eunuch? Boys of about age 5 or 6 were castrated so they could never desire or have sex. This was done so they could live among the concubines.

IF the boy survived this barbaric procedure, when they were grown, they were taken in by the Emperor to live with the concubines.

Amazing how one man can own as many as 20,000 or more concubines. There were times when he suspected some of the soldiers were having relationships with the girls and as a result, thousands of the concubines and soldiers would be killed.

That was a horrible time to be alive in China.
More next blog.

Regrets Not to Have Posted Events

On the heels of the China Trip, we have enjoyed fantastic House Guests for the past two weeks.
With mixed emotions, we dropped the last of them at Washington Dulles Airport late today.

We completed their trip by going downtown to see the Holocaust Museum. It is one of those places which holds one spellbound. After seeing more than I wanted to, I began worrying about the future and uncertainty of our own country. We left for a very late lunch in Georgetown.
We decided on Clyde's.
A nice wine with a yummy sandwich of Grilled Portabella mushroom smothered by mozzarella cheese, topped with lettuce and tomato was as perfect as the sunny fall day all abound.

On the way to the airport we called those who were already home and went on to remember all the points of our wonderful visit with many, many side trips.

I so would like to get back to the China trip with photos.
June

A Little of Beijing

Isn't it wonderful to be able to see on a monitor exactly where you are in this world?


Our plane went not-stop from Washington, D. C up and over the North Pole directly into Beijing. See?



You can see, we were right over the North Pole when this shot was captured.



Once on the ground, in Beijing, my camera was clicking at the tune of about 300 photos per day.







We see a City of about 13,000,000 in action as our bus takes us to the hotel.

We were in Beijing 5 days (4 nights) this was our room.




The city is amazing. Crowded, organized, and civilized, we see a beehive of activity. You would be so impressed as we are.

People, people, motorized bikes, cars, motorcycles made into 3 wheeled cars, trucks, and did I mention people? ~ major traffic everywhere. Everyone seems to have a place or somewhere to go ~some location to be...something to do. My grandmother used to say, "Do you think these people actually know where they are going?" (We didn't.)
Thirteen MILLION people ~ can we wrap our head about that number? 13,000,000?


The next day we begin to see and learn about China....beginning with where we where at that time ~
Beijing.

This little guy is visiting Tienanmen Square with his mother when his "pottie training" time arrives.

Babies all over China do not wear diapers;
their little bottoms are left open to the air. This practice is to keep their little bottoms from being irritated and saved the cost of expensive diapers.

Great idea, but I don't know how they handled all the wetting. It must work for them.

We didn't hang around to see if this first little guy is old enough to be covered...I only know that the mother is very patient with him as their interaction went on the entire time our tour leader delivered history of Tiananmen Square. Our Tour Director was doing a good job of teaching us about the past ~ I stood listening, yet more interested in learning about the present. It seemed clear the mother was going to stay there until her little son comes to a decision. As we left, I wondered how long they would stay...at what point does a Chinese mother take charge?

There was much to learn ~ and will share a little here~

Wise Government to only allow one child per woman, however, the guy can father more should he find another to marry. Divorce and remarriage seem as normal as in the States.

Marriage is simple... the couple decide they wish to be married, a paper of intent from the government and then throw a party. There is no religious ceremony.

There are many religions throughout China and all are free to believe what they decide is right for them.
They are free people. They enjoy Capitalism and the right to make what they wish of their lives. They are happy.

OK~ here is a shot of Tienanmen Square ~

someone else had my camera~


Standing in that enormous space called a Square, I couldn't help but imagine it full of soldiers in ancient times. Soldiers serving an Emperor who had to die when he did. Their ancient history is fascinating, to say the least.








Just look at the detail and beauty built all around.












Whew~ lunch time. Looks good, doesn't it? My world savvy husband taught me many, many years ago, "Taste it, if you like it, eat it~ never ask what it is." (We always asked.) The lazy-susan was filled with 9 or 10 different dishes. It was amazing and very generous.