I always like looking at old card catalogs and finding "Smithsonian" entries. This one is from the library at the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Master Control box for the electronics in room 539
At first I thought that this master control box in the Fragrant Hills Empark Hotel was a bit silly. But now, after a couple of days, it's really nice to be able to turn on and off all the lights and switches from one handy spot. No more forgetting to turn out the foyer lights and having to get out of bed. Simply press "foyer" and boom boom, out go the lights.
So what if the clock is wrong and I can't instantly know the time in Bangkok, I have the power!
So what if the clock is wrong and I can't instantly know the time in Bangkok, I have the power!
Meow
An amazing number of cats here at the Institute of Botany. These two handsome white cats really wanted to come inside. Meow!
The East is Red
Remember that great old ditty, "The East is Red" from the days of the Cultural Revolution? Well, today, the East looked pretty red as the sun rose over Beijing on a crisp and slightly foggy morning.
Chicken Crackers and Baiju
Best place to learn about a country is in the grocery store. Here in Beijing, we decided to skip dinner (after a big lunch) and just did some shopping for snacks.
So, who could resist "Chicken Crackers"?
Also available was a full size selection of alcohol, including a wide selection of "Baiju", aka "Chinese Water" or "White Lightning"!
So, who could resist "Chicken Crackers"?
Also available was a full size selection of alcohol, including a wide selection of "Baiju", aka "Chinese Water" or "White Lightning"!
Monday, November 15, 2010
Stick out your Yuan, here comes the Yam Man
So, what could be better for breakfast than a freshly baked, steaming hot yam?
Look no further, here comes the Yam Man!
I almost walked past the Yam Man, but the smell of hot sweet potatoes (they're not really yams you know, whole other root vegetable that we rarely eat) said that I had to stop.
I pointed and gestured "1 yam", he pointed and gestured "2 yuan". Deal done. He grabbed a yam stuck it in a plastic bag, yuan changed hands and off I went with my hot, charred, and very tasty yam.
Look no further, here comes the Yam Man!
I almost walked past the Yam Man, but the smell of hot sweet potatoes (they're not really yams you know, whole other root vegetable that we rarely eat) said that I had to stop.
I pointed and gestured "1 yam", he pointed and gestured "2 yuan". Deal done. He grabbed a yam stuck it in a plastic bag, yuan changed hands and off I went with my hot, charred, and very tasty yam.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Fragrant Hill Empark Hotel, night
The well lit sign to the hotel. The guards at the front station are always friendly with a cheerful "good morning" or "good evening"
Na La Restaurant
Had braised spicy lamb (very good), spicy egg plants with buns (very good), crispy prawns (ok), pea shoots with carmalized onions (very good), rice (best steamed rice I've ever had!), dessert with dragon fruit, and a bottle of Dynasty Dry Red Wine. Very nice.
Our greeters at the door:
Our Mongol door man:
Our greeters at the door:
Our Mongol door man:
Wofo Si
Temple of the Reclinging Buddha (Wofo Si). Nice temple (filled with VERY FAT CATS), the Buddha was quite spectacular, 15 feet long, all bronze and the largest in China.
Hot Pot Spot
Stopped along a little alley way for lunch and had a hot pot for lunch. You picked out the pot you wanted (each and everyone slightly different) and then they cooked it on the propane powered burners.
You then went to go sit in this little room on the otherside of the alley:
Here we are sitting along the wall, it was packed when we got there. I promptly knocked over a big baking tray of rising dough, but picked it up and put it on the side (it was later used, so no harm done).
And here's the finished hot pots:
You then went to go sit in this little room on the otherside of the alley:
Here we are sitting along the wall, it was packed when we got there. I promptly knocked over a big baking tray of rising dough, but picked it up and put it on the side (it was later used, so no harm done).
And here's the finished hot pots:
Atop Xianglu Peak
Chris and I, as the only two Western men caused a photo frenzy when we posed on top of Xianglu Peak. Keri took the photo because she didn't want to add to the frenzy.
a "Good Wall", not a "Great" Wall
Went to the top of Incense Burner Hill (Xianglu Peak, one of the highest points in Beijing), we took the cable car (ski lift) and didn't walk up. There was a nice wall though along the route, good, but not great.
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