Day 3 - The Wall
10/09/2009 06:56:00 PM
Our day started out at our usual jet lagged 4:00 to 4:30 wake up, seems our bodies have not adjusted yet to the time change. Tricia said since we are going to the Great Wall and doing a bunch of hiking, we don’t need to go for a run. We are using the running to make up for our loss in our work out schedules. The hotel has an exercise area and pool, but it’s open from 10 to 10 (not sure if they really don’t want us working out – LOL)! It’s not the usual open at 5:30 in the morning, so the crazy Americans can get a work out completed. But since the day is scheduled for hiking the wall, she wanted to use that as our work out. Little did I know she had this planned all along; she took her GPSr and running shoes with a change of clothes. She’s not going to miss a change to “run” on the Great Wall of China!
Our small group (there are only 13 of us on the tour) is now getting to use to each other. Martha and Dwight are retired from the Army from Seattle; Chet, a vascular surgeon and his wife Preyaratt originally from Taiwan now living in Pittsburgh (we have gotten into a great discussion regarding Health Care); Martha, Mercedes and Paola, all originally from Columbia and now living in San Francisco; Allen, an older gentleman from the east coast who constantly flirts with our local guide; Elyse and Jaime, sisters from Virginia; and the crazy Castells.
![]()
As we are all experiencing the new sights, smells and sounds of China, it has become apparent who are the adventurers of the group and who are the more reserved. Only one really stands out right now and at dinner last night Elyse must be starving. We ended up at a great restaurant somewhere down town to feast on Peking Duck and a full blown Chinese duck dinner. Just about everything from the duck is used to prepare the meal. I found in the potato noodle soup the feet, neck and another part from the duck. Spooning it all into my bowl, Elyse simply would not look over at my end of the table to watch. Honestly, minus the bones, the soup including the other parts was great! I’m tempted to ask Elyse and Jaime to come along with us on our free day to the Wang Fu Jing night market to enjoy the scorpions on a stick dinner Sean and I are attending to enjoy!
![]()
We got to visit the Temple of Heaven where the emperors preyed and made animal sacrifices to ensure successful harvests for the coming years. The main temple is built without a single nail, simply notched and interwoven locked wood structures. The pictures simply do not it justice. All the fine details, paintings, carvings, etc. just can’t be captured on digital format. After seeing the temples and buildings we made our way thru the park area where all the older Chinese (retired) come to play cards, dominos, sing songs, practice ti chi, and sell goods to the tourist. This was where you definitely noticed the unique smells of other cultures.
Following the temple the tour made its first mistake in my mind. Stops at a “Jade Factory” were we got to find out how to tell the difference between real and fake Jade. It was really a tourist trap to sell us jade jewelry and other jade goods along the way to the Great Wall. I guess you have to expect that on a guided tour like this – LOL!
![]()
We finally made it to the Great Wall of China and as planned Tricia made her run on the wall. There was a geocache located on the wall (virtual) was I needed to get a photograph of a specific point and of course it was located on the hardest portion of the wall. We were the only ones of our tour group that took the “hard route” up the wall. You had a choice to walk two directions and ours was the steepest section of the wall. The engineering that went into this structure just amazed me. Thinking about the time that the walls were built (all the way back to 700 bc) just blows me away. If you get a chance, you have to come see this!
![]()
One of the things we promised our Starbucks friends was to take photos of the new Starbucks Via instant coffee at the Great Wall for the picture contest they are having. Tricia and I even located a Starbucks at the Great Wall, so we purchased a mug and I even got my Venti Vanilla Latte to go along with the picture! You just have to love the capitalism in a communist country!
![]()
After the wall, we got to stop at the 2008 Olympic area where we saw the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube. We paid the $10 to go inside and visit the Olympic pool which made Tricia really happy! Seeing where the Olympics happened last year and actually visiting the same areas that we watched on TV was really cool. Sean is now wanted in China for breaking the seat in the Water Cube where he sat down! We need to make sure he gets out of the country okay - LOL. There were even two Geocaches we tried for in the area, but could not get to because of the tourist activity. I now have DNF’s in China!
Everywhere we go, Sean is getting all the attention. All the Chinese think he is just the "thing"! So far I've seen several folks taking pictures of him and we have even had two ask that they get with him for photos and one couple even wanted him to hold up there kid while they took his picture. It's just hilarious to watch! I've always given him a hard time at Sushi Garden cause the waitress always tell him he's so handsome and good looking. I guess we better watch out for him or else some Chinese girl is going to snatch him away.
The camera started acting up and we are not sure what is going on with it. So now we have started taking pictures with our phones. I’m hopeful that on our day off, we might be able to locate an electronic store where we can get a back up camera!
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
Our small group (there are only 13 of us on the tour) is now getting to use to each other. Martha and Dwight are retired from the Army from Seattle; Chet, a vascular surgeon and his wife Preyaratt originally from Taiwan now living in Pittsburgh (we have gotten into a great discussion regarding Health Care); Martha, Mercedes and Paola, all originally from Columbia and now living in San Francisco; Allen, an older gentleman from the east coast who constantly flirts with our local guide; Elyse and Jaime, sisters from Virginia; and the crazy Castells.
Following the temple the tour made its first mistake in my mind. Stops at a “Jade Factory” were we got to find out how to tell the difference between real and fake Jade. It was really a tourist trap to sell us jade jewelry and other jade goods along the way to the Great Wall. I guess you have to expect that on a guided tour like this – LOL!
Everywhere we go, Sean is getting all the attention. All the Chinese think he is just the "thing"! So far I've seen several folks taking pictures of him and we have even had two ask that they get with him for photos and one couple even wanted him to hold up there kid while they took his picture. It's just hilarious to watch! I've always given him a hard time at Sushi Garden cause the waitress always tell him he's so handsome and good looking. I guess we better watch out for him or else some Chinese girl is going to snatch him away.
The camera started acting up and we are not sure what is going on with it. So now we have started taking pictures with our phones. I’m hopeful that on our day off, we might be able to locate an electronic store where we can get a back up camera!
In front of the Water Cube
Yeah - he broke it!
That's a feast!
Yummy - feet and other parts!
Outside the Temple of Heaven
Gates leading to the Temple of Heaven
Garrison along the Great Wall
Sean's first Chinese Girl Friend
He's getting famous in China!
One of the many locals outside the Temple of Heaven
Steve would be proud! Typical Chinese "parking lot"
|
The food brings back fond memories of Korea and Japan. I know Sean is enjoying the food, but how does Tricia like it?
Indee! bikes are better than cars any day