We decided to not go to the Badaling section of the Great Wall since Chris and Keri and already been there. Instead, we went to Mutianyu. It was about a 90 minute ride from the Fragrant Hill area, but pretty smooth going.
Once you get to the Wall, you're surrounded by the trinket sellers. We decided to take the cable car to the top and then walk around. There was still a Beijing haze over, but the sky did peek out a bit. We pretended it was just fog.
We took the cable car back down, but then decided to walk back up to go down the alpine slide (yes, hard to believe). We left Chris at the bottom and scaled the approximately 11,364 steps to Tower 6 and then walked along to Tower 8 only to find the slide closed. Luckily, we were able to take the ski lift back down.
Bought some tee-shirts, found our driver, and back into downtown Beijing (a mere 2.25 hours later - most of which was the last couple miles in downtown traffic).
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Night riders
Can't imagine riding at night, in the dark, in the haze, in the traffic. These were just a few in the line of cyclers zipping past while I was waiting for a cab.
I like the way this picture turned out with the lights and the haze
I like the way this picture turned out with the lights and the haze
Proustian Olfactory Memory of Beijing
I think that the smell that I'll most remember from Beijing is the smell of burning coal. When I turned the corner in my Xiangshan neighborhood one morning, I found a lot full of these trucks being loaded with coal.
The coal, burned in the open, also explains the massive air pollution.
The coal, burned in the open, also explains the massive air pollution.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Hazy Beijing Day
For the first four days I was here in Beijing, I was treated to beautiful, clear blue skies. I was wondering where the famed pollution was. Well, it arrived today.
The sky was a dull red/yellow, in the afternoon when the sun started to set, it was a huge, dull red ball in the sky.
As it turned to night, it was like a heavy fog, but you could almost tasted and feel the air.
The sky was a dull red/yellow, in the afternoon when the sun started to set, it was a huge, dull red ball in the sky.
As it turned to night, it was like a heavy fog, but you could almost tasted and feel the air.
Smithsonian at Institute of Botany Library
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.
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:
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