Walked and Walked and Walked Some More
Trip Start
Unknown
1
6
14
Trip End
Ongoing
What I did
Toured historical sites, "shopped" for pearls and ate Peking Duck
Beijing, China
Saturday, June 25, 2011
We went to see "The Summer Palace" and it was beautiful in its own way. And to think it was not open to the people for so long - only the Emperor and his family. Now-a-days, families come to "The Summer Palace" for picnics, walks and boat rides. We walked around to see all the various structures. I almost got left behind when the group went to board the Dragon Boat. The ten minute break was more like five minutes. Luckily, a few others were "left behind" and they found us in time to catch the boat and ride across the lake.
Next, we went to Tiananman Square - hot and flat concrete. It was not too humid but it was hot. Surprisingly, no one got sunburned.
Finally, we went to the Forbidden City. Now that is a lot of walking!
Did you know - the people in China drive on the right side of the road, the solid and dotted lines on the roads are only suggestions and traffic lights are only strong suggestions? Drunk driving is treated harshly here. You will serve a two week jail term if caught driving while drunk and you lose your driver's license - forever!
We went to a pearl store and were given a little information on how oysters make pearls. Do you know 15+ pearls can be found in 1 oyster? The "good discount" wasn't a bargain for me so don't expect me to be bringing back some pearls as gifts. Tai gui le (very expensive)
Dinner was at a restaurant that served us Peking Duck. Luckily, I had "Googled it" before I left and knew how it would be served and eaten. It is duck sliced very thin (the chef comes out and cuts it up in front of you) and you wrap it up with your chop sticks in a pancake-like soft tortilla. It is good and not as greasy as I thought it might have been.
Not sure if I'll have time to find a WiFi place tomorrow so I can upload pictures but will try. Facebook is blocked everywhere in China, not just in schools.
Off to The Great Wall tomorrow. Tune in to see if I did indeed slide down the wall.
Zai jian
