Tianxing Hotel Beijing

... Warriors. I personally fell asleep about half way through. Oh well, that's for another time.

Dinner tonight was at the Beijing Hotel (where the student stood in front of the tank) where several of us dined at the Outback Steak House. Yes, we finally it the bullet and ate non-Chinese. It was delicious. We enjoyed steak, baked potatoes, and diet coke. What can I say? Chinese food is wonderful, but every now and then you just need some Aussie.

... of luck, as it is only open in the mornings, so we had to be happy checking out the statues around the building instead. Whew, it was a big day... half way! When we struck out with Mao, we decided to see if we could track down the shopping area that Glenn had recommended. I can tell you right now that I am pretty sure we did not. But we explored some really neat alleys and nooks and crannies-I finally felt the surrealistic veil lift-I am in China ...

I had a chance to see some Paralympic events in the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube. The architecture is amazing on these buildings. These buildings were designed by Westerners and are said to be a sign of the Chinese new openess to the West.

... topics. Apparently all the girls are from the city of Yantai and all students on a form of internship with the winery. We leave the chateau and drive back down the hill. We stop at the restaurant and I look at the French menu and then we stopped by the vineyard, surrounded by statues and wine making equipment. On getting back to the mansion at the base of the hill, I go through the gift shop area and then take a few group photos with the girls present. It was ...

... your neck, back, and, arms. Then they work on your feet. We were there for 2 hours and the price is about half of a half an hour back home.All of the Chinese people are really polite and friendly. Most don't speak English, so it's quite a challenge. We have learned to say hello and thank you in Chinese. I hope all of you are well. We'll see if we can figure out how to add some pictures. GO USA!!! Love Geri

... if his group could have photos taken of me. within seconds there was a line of couples ready to have their photo taken with a real foreigner in the forbidden city. this was quite hilarious to the rest of my group who stood there laughing and taking their own photos. Later that afternoon we had a cycle tour through Beijing and through the huotong alley ways, which makes up the ancient part of Beijing. i was quite surprised that other than in this one area ...

... bomb on Beijing. When you go in, you're warned by the tour guides, who are all dressed in army camouflage outfits, that you're not allowed to take photos- apparently this tourist attraction is somehow still a military secret, so it's forbidden! But nonetheless, down we went... The inside is a little creepy. They take you through showing you which rooms were meant to be the hospital, cinema, etc... they apparently had thought of everything... except ...

... the 'old summer palace' but it wasn't on the map and although we tried to walk there, we got lost in a maze of tiny lanes and got sick of walking in the heat. We found ourselves closer to another cache at the peking university so got that one instead, and a very nice uni it is too! Next morning we were up early to get the 7.45 train to UB!

... De gasten zouden ook nog een naamstempel krijgen met hun Chinese naam en in Shanghai krijgen ze nog een sleutelhanger van VW. Op donderdag stond de Temple of Heaven op het programma, en een discovery tour, maar dat wisten de gasten niet. De dag begon gewoon met de busrit naar de tempel en de gebruikelijk tour. Tegen het einde van de tour door de Temple of Heaven werd de gids plotseling weggehaald door twee bewakers en kregen de mensen een envelop in de handen gedrukt ...

... to make money and for many to simply get out of poverty. Definitely an entrepunerial culture about the place, bit like the Gold Rush I would imagine. (2) meeting an American women who insisted she 'did' all Beijing sites in one day. Spending about an 1.5 hour in each which she thought was more than enough time. (3) there does not seem to be any diet Coca-cola and the regular stuff goes flat ...