Winterless Hotel Beijing

... night market. However, things went a bit wrong on the subway (two stops on different lines beginning with the letters "Deng" were to blame) and it took a lot longer to get back than I'd thought. I was exhausted and just laid down on my bed at around 7:30 pm and when I woke up it was 2:00 am! So much for the night market - maybe tonight!

Not sure what my plans are for today. First I need some breakfast! More (and pictures) to come!

... to connect the Walls of all the kingdoms together to create on single Great Wall which marks the border of the new empire.

After the introduction I had around 90 minutes to explore the site on my own. So I explored one side of the wall and climbed up part of it until the public access ended on the top of a small hill. From there you had a wonderful view over the area and you could cleary see the stonewall wriggle through the landscape. A really stunning moment!

When ...

... driver for 420 yuan, and I probably could have gotten it for 200. Grr. I want a new driver. The purchase of the day was a pair of terrific Bushnell Binoculars for 95. Actually I also got a head lamp thrown in because Kristen wanted one for Nepal. Bargaining can be fun. After leaving the market we went back and changed for the big final dinner. Peking duck of course! I love when there is a place really known for a certain kind of food and you ...

... tem um focinho, um rosto que parece um gato, com linhas bem definidas e a boca pequenina que sempre alinha ao queixo pontudo... Uma das minhas melhores amigas é sino brasileira. Filha de mãe japonesa e pai chinês, é de uma harmonia tão rara quanto a mistura de seus pais. Ela tem um rosto parecido com o das mongols, com os lábios grossos e rosto redondo, mas com os olhos nipônicos. Linda. Tanto que nem eu sei ...

... en**gy and self-reliance of the Chinese. Throughout the stricken zone I found soldi**s, contractors and volunte**s clearing rubble, restoring s**vices and **ecting vast tracts of temporary housing with astonishing speed. Even more striking w**e the victims. Far from succumbing to self-pity or despair, or waiting for gov**nment assistance, they w**e striving to rebuild and recov** as fast as possible, setting up makeshift shops, restaurants, surg**ies and even ...

... have to admit there is some truth there. The four of us drove across town to a divey but incredibly good Chinese BBQ that was in a back alley hutong. We chatted and ate dozens of the spiciest barbecued wings I'd ever had. I forgot my camera in the car, but picture a wing absolutely covered in red pepper flakes - above other spices. As we drove back through the city streets at night, listening to 1930s Jazz of all things, I thought I must be dreaming.

... by a visit with a local family....sounds kind of touristy - but truly one of the highlights so far...an elderly couple - tea in their living room with a translator - it allowed us to sneak a peek into the lives of the people who live in this area of old Beijing.... before being taken to our new (old) hotel - I think it is 600 years old....we stopped for a Traditional Tea service and tasting....I think I am off coffee for good - it was so good - I ...

... of Beijing. First built in the mid-6th century during the Northern Qi, Mutianyu Great Wall is older than the Badaling section of the Great Wall, and less touristy so I'm told. Rachel helps us buy our tickets for entry to the Wall and the cable car required to get up to the Wall. The cable car allows for some wonderful views. At one point, the journey up is so steep that I can't look so I am most relieved when we reach the top. The photography starts almost immediately ...

... some which were original. Unfortunately, during the last 2200 years, people came to take some stones from it for private use. Fortunately, there weren't so many and most of the wall is still standing, though some of it is restored. Along the way it was not rare at all to find Chinese peddlers, mostly women, begging to sell us drinks, ice creams, souvenirs, and many other unuseful products that may remind us the Great Wall. Anyway, after long and strainful 4 ...

... route (such a coincidence!) and chinese singers that influenced the chinese music scene in the past 20 years. i must say that chinese documentaries are v well-made productions. Northwest Yunnan Day 4 ~ r&r in shangri-la and resolved to improve my diet joined some in the group for breakfast, before setting off for the tibetan cultural and heritage centre, a govt-funded place. it was q educational, with a ...