Made in China
Trip Start
Jul 24, 2007
1
46
50
Trip End
Ongoing
Beijing,
Beijing,
China
Friday, May 16, 2008
Everything is geared towards the Olympic games, starting in August. I think they still have a lot of work to do, there are 3 metro lines which are still not completed, including the line out to the stadiums (or is it stadiiii?)
The main stadium, known as the Bird's nest due to it's radical design is a top class piece of workmanship. Apparently it's Ying complements the aquatic centre's Yang??
We hit the star attractions straight away, the Forbidden city is just amazing, a labyrinth of palaces and temples which for centuries were off limits to us poor people and the home and playpen of the emperors and their concubines
9,000,000 bicycles and 1 trike in Beijing
. Then it was on to Tianemen Square, the largest public square in the world and very strictly marshalled. You daren't put a foot out of line or you would be like an Olympian...........for the high jump!! Most of the square is closed off at night, just after the flag lowering ceremony, exactly at sundown. The bottom part is open and this is where the locals like to hang about and literally fly their kites every night.They are very resourceful here, the youngsters trousers have the backside cut out of them so they can just 'go' wherever they please, why didn't we have them when I was a wee lad?? We had a brill time dandering around the old Hutongs (alleyways) where it looks like time had stood still for years. A bit like discoteques in Carrick:-) There is still a great community spirit among the hutongs, many of which don't have plumbing and everyone uses the communal bogs on the corner!!!! These people must be socialable, hole in the floor toilets and no doors or cubicles, you can just imagine the banter in there on curry night:-(
In the run up to the games the authorities have been dishing out "manners classess", teaching the Beijingers not to be mingers. Boy do they need the lessons!!! Everyone just barges you out of the road, young and old they all get the elbows into ye
another "tower" block
. Although the main problem is spitting, they gob, ying and hackle their way through everyday. All you hear all day is people hawking up a big greener or doing a Carragher style snatter canon......Yuk!!!We did an incredible hike along part of the great wall...........WOW absolutely mind blowing!!! We covered 8 kilometres of extremely undulating wall and towers, most of it seemed vertical and we now have calfs on us like Mary Peters:-) We even got to set foot either side where it has crumbled, so we were in China and Mongolia on the same day. I know you can see the wall from space and I'm pretty sure yesterday you could also see my tomato-esque coupon.
We have sampled loads of unusual grub here, most of it I DON'T want to know what it was!!!! On one visit to the night market I sampled a pretty rare dish........Not wanting to be constricted by the norms, I slithered over and asped yer man how much they cost..........well, I didnt want to get my eye viped you know. It wasnt dear so I thought I would give it a rattle, watching the calories though as it all adders up!!!! (can ya tell what it is???)
We were out for a nice meal the other night and I noticed a pot on one of the other tables and every so often the lid would lift and you could see 2 big eyes looking out, then the lid went back down. I called the waiter over and asked him what it was..........................................................wait for it ...........................................................................................
He says " Oh that's just the PEEKING DUCK"
Well, time to head to the continent where we set off for a wee waltz around, then it's over to Morrocco..............................then it is HOME time ;-)
Next stop: Helstinki, Finland
