Beijing 2008

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  Beijing, China
Monday, July 21, 2008

Today marks 42 days down and 41 to go.  That's right, I now know when I'll be home--September 3. 

According to Lonely Planet, spending a day in Beijing is the equivalent to smoking 70 cigarettes a day.  So far we have spent 5 days here, you do the math.  Honestly, my lungs feel no worse in this city than they have anywhere else.  The sky is pretty hazy though.
Beijing (and the rest of China) are nothing but excited to be hosting the Olympics.  The militia has been called in to control every underpass and overpass.  Thousands of volunteer guards are on the streets to keep order and help out those who are lost.  Buildings are taking shape as we watch.  The transportation system is being perfected.  T-shirts, hats, pants and mugs are being sold with the Beijing 2008 logo on them.  China is anxious to show the world just how great of a nation it is--poor human rights record and all.  Good luck China, it will be tough.
Monday evening I got money out of an ATM, but in typical Lance fashion, I left my card in the ATM, totally forgetting about it until I tried to buy my plane ticket that evening.  In the morning, I went straight back to the bank to see if it was still in the ATM and if they could help me.  The kind lady at the service desk was happy to help out.  First, she showed me what number to call for help.  This did me no good, because I don't have a phone.  So she walked me out the building and around the block to a public phone.  She got someone on the line for me who could speak English, and they said they could get me my card in five business days.  Sadly. I couldn't wait that long because, we will be on our way tyo Mongolia within that time.  So, with a little bit more pushing, I convinced them to come earlier.  They said they would be there in half an hour.  I walked back with the service lady who explained to me that this was just a summer job, really she was a student.  I sat in the little cafe in the bank lobby eating a croissant and struggling to read Chinese magazines for about 20 minutes.  Then a man came over to me and waved me toward an open ATM.  My card was right there in another man's hand who was filling out all sorts of forms.  He examined my passport, and the signature on my passport which he compared with a signature that he had me sign on one of his forms.  And finally, after about five minutes of scrutinization, he handed me my card. I shook both of the mens' hands to show how thankful I was and then walked out the door.  There was a huge military-style vehicle parked in front of the bank that the men jumped into.  It was complete with soldiers with automatic weapons and bullet proof vests and helmets.  And they had all just made a special trip just for me.  Thank you Chinese taxpayers!
Tuesday was spent exploring Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City.  Both were impressive, but the Forbidden City was the highlight.  It really is a beautiful area with huge courtyards and fancy buildings.  At one end, there was a park, full of ancient trees and ponds with fish.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone spending an afternoon in Beijing.
Wednesday we went to see the great wall.  We took a bus about halfway, then caught a taxi the rest of the way.  The taxi driver wanted 300 yuan (a little over $40) for his services, but we read that it should only cost about 120 yuan.  Alban translated my German to Phil, and Phil's Spanish to me as we decided on a price among ourselves (in a language the driver could not understand) that we thought would be more reasonable.  I first tried for 100 yuan, but that didn't fly, so then I said we woulkd go no higher than 150 yuan.  He said 160, so we started walking away.  At this, he said okay, 150 would be fine.  The drive to the great wall was scenic, and we arrived about an hour later. 
It turns out, the part of the wall that we went to was ideal.  We walked about 11km along it up and down steep portions of the wall.  This is the kind of place that can make anyone's photos look good.  The first part of the wall was restored wall, definitely the best-looking part.  Next, we walked along ruins.  This was a more accurate idea of what the wall really looked like.  It was a really hot day, and there were locals walking along the wall selling ice water.  We declined for a long time, but soon I decided I needed water.  All I had left in my wallet was Cambodian money.  I asked if the man would accept the rest of the Cambodian money that I had which was worth only a little bit less than what he was asking.  After telling him the real value of the money, he thought for a bit, then gave me the water.  What a gentleman!  We settled down for a break then, and played a game of rummy on the great wall.  The wall was super neat!  Even better than I had expected. 
Yesterday, we took Phil to the airport and said our good-byes as he left for home. It is going to be just Alban and I now until we get to Istanbul.  Kind of a new phase of the trip. 
Tomorrow morning we are heading into Mongolia!

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