The Forbidden City - Unforbidden!
Trip Start
Unknown
1
9
10
Trip End
Ongoing
Beijing, China
Monday, July 26, 2010
Yesterday was our first day in Beijing. We left Tianjin about 11:20am and hopped on a bullet train for a 25 minute ride into the city traveling at about 350 km/hr (or about 217 mph).
Got off the train, hopped on over to our hotel and settled in. Never in my life have I used so many taxis. It is just so common and cheap around here! Once we arrived at the hotel we made our way to the forbidden city and Tianamen square. Steve took all the photos so unfortunately I won't be uploading them on this post, but I did take several videos which everyone should check out. All I can say is that the city is... large. And forbidden. I think that's about as in depth as I can get. It speaks to the level of grandeur the Chinese emperors enjoyed.
Once we got back we relaxed at the hotel a little bit and met Steve's friend Maggie for dinner at this place called the "Kro's nest." It was basically a delicious pizza place. We stayed there for 2 hours or so just talking and then I went back to the hotel while Steve caught up with her a bit more.
I've decided I don't like Beijing. Why, do you ask? I see foreigners like me everywhere! I saw more decidedly non-chinese people in Beijing in 1 hour than I have on my entire trip. It's kind of like... I don't know, you don't go to China to see white people. It takes away the mystique of being in a totally different country with a different language when you see people like yourself going around. That's when you just feel like a total tourist. And no, Pilar, I don't need to be reminded that I am in fact a total tourist.
Anyway - enjoy the videos! I'm about to leave to see the Great Wall (which Maggie says is decidedly boring).
Zai Jian!
Phil
