Okay, here is Mike's attempt at a first "real" post from China. We think we've finally figured out how to post...here in Beijing anyway. There's a slight learning curve to internet use over here.
Today was a very busy day of touring. We had an excellent breakfast here at the hotel around 6:30am. It gave us a chance to meet a bunch of the other families and socialize for awhile. It was interesting, everyone seemed like old friends in a way. I guess it's because we're all going through the same thing and we're all here together in a strange place. After the breakfast we hopped on a bus and went to Tiananmen Square. It's a very large paved open space with lots of history. Our guide Sherry gave us many facts and we were allowed free time to take photos and walk around. From there we cut through a tunnel on foot underneath a busy highway. This leads to The Forbidden city. The architecture we saw there was truly amazing. There was incredible detail throughout all of the construction. The air here is disgusting....thick and smoggy. Tonya says it's messing with her system and giving her headaches. It's also bitterly cold here. The smog kind of blocks out the sun plus it was overcast today with the chance of snow. You see lots of Chinese people riding their bikes and walking around with masks or bandannas over their mouth and nose.
Next we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant. It was good. Nothing like Chinese food back home. Yup, the chicken came head and all as the photo indicates. Following lunch we went to a place where they harvest pearls from oysters, clean them up and sell 'em. We had the entire process explained to us by a Chinese lady who spoke very good English. She let one of the little girls choose a huge oyster. Then she cut it open and showed us the pearls inside. There were many. Tonya bought Noelle a little pearl necklace and bracelet. Robin also bought a bracelet.
We then went to the Summer Palace. This is located alongside a man made lake. It was another place with a lot of amazing architecture and centuries of history behind it. I got distracted taking photos and didn't retain many of the facts that our guide gave us today during the tour. There were also many, many, MANY Asian people touring these sites as well. They definitely do like to stare at Americans! Many, many, MANY vendors approach you. The first thing you learn is to say is "bu yao"....I don't want it.
Our last tour stop was the silk factory where they explained to us all the details on raising silkworms, taking their silk, then taking their eggs so they can hatch into more silkworms so they can take their silk too. This place had a lot of beautiful silk merchandise at really good prices. Tonya found a couple silky pajama-type outfits for Noelle and a silk comforter for our bed. Robin got something to wear too....not sure what it is though. I got a can of Coke with no English on it. The pull tab was different too. It was neat.
We ended the day with a Peking Duck dinner. It was not what I imagined it to be. There was nothing there that looked like duck. Just lots of wonderful oriental food. It was a fabulous experience for my taste buds. It was all really awesome. The women who served the food were dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. They also had on high heel type shoes except the heel part was in the middle. It was pretty strange to see them walking around balancing perfectly. I'll have to see if Robin got a photo of that. I did not.
We were back to the Radisson SAS Hotel Beijing around 7:30pm. Robin wanted to go swimming but Tonya said nope we are going to go "sleeping". I think within 15 minutes of being back in our room they were both out...and still are. We only got 4 hours of sleep last night so this is good. I will join them shortly. I just thought it would be good to get this posting thing down. Tomorrow is another day of touring but more laid back. We'll attend a church service, go to a jade factory, and walk on the Great Wall of China. It seems really weird being here but we are loving it.
Tomorrow is the last day that the Davis Family will be a family of three. That's what it's all about.
Today was a very busy day of touring. We had an excellent breakfast here at the hotel around 6:30am. It gave us a chance to meet a bunch of the other families and socialize for awhile. It was interesting, everyone seemed like old friends in a way. I guess it's because we're all going through the same thing and we're all here together in a strange place. After the breakfast we hopped on a bus and went to Tiananmen Square. It's a very large paved open space with lots of history. Our guide Sherry gave us many facts and we were allowed free time to take photos and walk around. From there we cut through a tunnel on foot underneath a busy highway. This leads to The Forbidden city. The architecture we saw there was truly amazing. There was incredible detail throughout all of the construction. The air here is disgusting....thick and smoggy. Tonya says it's messing with her system and giving her headaches. It's also bitterly cold here. The smog kind of blocks out the sun plus it was overcast today with the chance of snow. You see lots of Chinese people riding their bikes and walking around with masks or bandannas over their mouth and nose.
Next we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant. It was good. Nothing like Chinese food back home. Yup, the chicken came head and all as the photo indicates. Following lunch we went to a place where they harvest pearls from oysters, clean them up and sell 'em. We had the entire process explained to us by a Chinese lady who spoke very good English. She let one of the little girls choose a huge oyster. Then she cut it open and showed us the pearls inside. There were many. Tonya bought Noelle a little pearl necklace and bracelet. Robin also bought a bracelet.
We then went to the Summer Palace. This is located alongside a man made lake. It was another place with a lot of amazing architecture and centuries of history behind it. I got distracted taking photos and didn't retain many of the facts that our guide gave us today during the tour. There were also many, many, MANY Asian people touring these sites as well. They definitely do like to stare at Americans! Many, many, MANY vendors approach you. The first thing you learn is to say is "bu yao"....I don't want it.
Our last tour stop was the silk factory where they explained to us all the details on raising silkworms, taking their silk, then taking their eggs so they can hatch into more silkworms so they can take their silk too. This place had a lot of beautiful silk merchandise at really good prices. Tonya found a couple silky pajama-type outfits for Noelle and a silk comforter for our bed. Robin got something to wear too....not sure what it is though. I got a can of Coke with no English on it. The pull tab was different too. It was neat.
We ended the day with a Peking Duck dinner. It was not what I imagined it to be. There was nothing there that looked like duck. Just lots of wonderful oriental food. It was a fabulous experience for my taste buds. It was all really awesome. The women who served the food were dressed in traditional Chinese clothing. They also had on high heel type shoes except the heel part was in the middle. It was pretty strange to see them walking around balancing perfectly. I'll have to see if Robin got a photo of that. I did not.
We were back to the Radisson SAS Hotel Beijing around 7:30pm. Robin wanted to go swimming but Tonya said nope we are going to go "sleeping". I think within 15 minutes of being back in our room they were both out...and still are. We only got 4 hours of sleep last night so this is good. I will join them shortly. I just thought it would be good to get this posting thing down. Tomorrow is another day of touring but more laid back. We'll attend a church service, go to a jade factory, and walk on the Great Wall of China. It seems really weird being here but we are loving it.
Tomorrow is the last day that the Davis Family will be a family of three. That's what it's all about.
