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China Memoirs'
Had a long, great day. Saw Tiananmen
Sq, sent picture of us at the Forbidden
City. We took a rickshaw ride thru the
Hutong, which is the old Beijing. Gov-
ernment owns most of these old, small,
dilapidated buildings and rents them out to families who
pass them down to their kids. Very very small. So unlike
our homes. The lady who gave us tea in her home was very
proud of it. In the Forbidden City, there were toilets that
were rated 4 Star - a joke - no seats, no toilet paper! We
also went to a tea ceremony and tasted many teas (thought
of Meg). Then went to a Kongfu Show (very similar to
Cirque du Solei ) and ended the day at a very fancy restau-
rant (in our shorts!!) for Peking Duck. Cyril didn't do his
math right and ended up with a $200 dish - oops!! Today
we head to the Great Wall. I don't I will gain any weight at
this rate!
>Love to all -
China Memoirs'
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China Memoirs'
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Had a long, great day. Saw Tiananmen Sq, sent
picture of us at the Forbidden City.
We took a rickshaw ride thru the
Hutong, which is the old Beijing.
TheGovernment owns most of these
old, small, dilapidated buildings and
rents them out to families who pass
them down to their kids. Very very small. So unlike our
homes. The lady who gave us tea in her home was very
proud of it. In the Forbidden City, there were toilets that
were rated 4 Star - a joke - no seats, no toilet paper! We
also went to a tea ceremony and tasted many teas (thought
of Meg). Then went to a Kongfu Show (very similar to
Cirque du Solei ) and ended the day at a very fancy restau-
rant (in our shorts!!) for Peking Duck. Cyril didn't do his
math right and ended up with a $200 dish - oops!! Today
we head to the Great Wall. I don't I will gain any weight at
this rate!
Love to all -
Sent from my ASUS Eee Pad
China Memoirs'
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Hi All! We are having so much trouble
with the internet!!! ugh! I have sent a cou-
ple of whatsapp messages to Katie to pass
along, but am sure she doesn't know exactly
who all to send them to. Doug, Dick - I will
send some pics your way via whatsapp soon.
We had a really great time in Beijing - did
the Great Wall - amazing!! - Now in Xi-an
and saw the Terracotta warriors today. They are really un-
believable. Took lots of pictures. Tomorrow we will do the
old city wall, "climb" Mt. Haushan (see U-tube for video).
We keep practicing our chop sticks lol B/c of the demon-
strations here over the conflict with Japan, we were told not
to wander outside tonight. Interesting...We are really getting
a lot of Chinese history and customs. We leave here in 2
days to go see the pandas. The time is going by so fast...
Hugs to everyone.
XOXO
Sent from my ASUS Eee Pad
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Page one of one
Paul, I hope all is well on your end.
Sorry I've not written but it has either
been too late or no Wi. Jean & I are
having a great adventure. We feel like
VIP's with our translator & guide. The
last 2 nights we've been in a hotel that caters to tourist &
it's not been as much fun. We like not having English spo-
ken. It's been fun to be the only white couple in a restaurant
& to have to point to pictures on the menu to order food.
Tonight we walked a couple of blocks from the hotel &
had a great meal of sweet/sour egg plant & a plate of fried
rice... both delicious ! + a large bottle of beer, tea & no tip !
all for &7 US ! It's been fun to have no idea what you've or-
dered until it comes. People stop & stare at us, surrepti-
tiously take our pictures & on 3 occasions have come to us
& asked to take a picture of them..... with us ! like they have
never seen a white guy & gal before. Today we went hiking
in the Sacred Mountains. It was somewhat like Yosemite....
except the trail was jammed packed with people & it was
raining & foggy.
The l was literally carved out of the
mountain with steps & a metal hand rail
& a little Buddhist temple at the top.....
just to let us know that we're not in Cali-
fornia. Jean 'loves' the traffic.... especially the chaos of
motor bikes, pedestrians, cars ..... all going in different di-
rections !
Tomorrow we're off to explore the Muslim quarter of Xiam.
It's only a couple of blocks from the hotel. Our guide said
not to go there tonight because of the world wide uproar
over the US video on Mohammad.
Sorry we've not sent any pictures. We've tried but todate have
been unsuccessful linking them to the email. A couple of
times I just wanted to pick up the phone & call you cause I
knew you would know the answer.
I'll try to write more tomorrow. The Wi -Fi on this end has
been limited to the hotel lobby ... which has been a pain.
They have the old phone modem outlet's but I don't think
it's possible to link to my tablet. Any thoughts ?
I'd wish to a good night... but I think we're about 12 hrs
behind you.
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China Memoirs'
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Forward of today's note via whats app:
Hi hon- last day in Beijing. Did the Great
Wall- amazing! Getting better at ordering
food lol Picture of food stalls at night that
sell some very" special" food like donkey,
centipedes, spiders, anything imaginable.
Walked down a walking mall near hotel, very expensive
stores like Rolex, Gucci, Hermes. Please share this email
with siblings and aunts, uncles. Internet doesn't seem to
work for email...?...hugs. Plz call Robbie to check on him.
Thx
Sent from my iPhone
China Memoirs'
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On Sep 20, 2012, at 8:56 AM,
[email protected] wrote:
> Hi All! We are having so much
trouble with the internet!!! ugh! I
have sent a couple of whatsapp
messages to Katie to pass along, but am sure she doesn't know
exactly who all to send them to. Doug, Dick - I will send
some pics your way via whatsapp soon. We had a really
great time in Beijing - did the Great Wall - amazing!! -
Now in Xi-an and saw the Terracotta warriors today. They
are really unbelievable. Took lots of pictures. Tomorrow we
will do the old city wall, "climb" Mt. Haushan (see U-tube
for video). We keep practicing our chop sticks lol B/c of
the demonstrations here over the conflict with Japan, we
were told not to wander outside tonight. Interesting...We are
really getting a lot of Chinese history and customs. We leave
here in 2 days to go see the pandas. The time is going by so
fast... Hugs to everyone.
China Memoirs'
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Version: one
Just a quick note. These are some
shots I just took in the lobby of our
'hotel' It's beautiful.... an open court
yard in the center... the sound of
water & birds.... Asian music.....very
peaceful. The hotel is surrounded by
a typical Asian market with narrow streets & numerous
vendors selling all sorts of brassware, food , jewelry etc. We
are the only Westerner's around. It's great not hearing any
English spoken. In fact I'm finding myself getting resentful
when I see a 'white' face...... because I feel like they're in
fringing on my space.
This morning we went & saw the Panda's. Very interesting....
I thought it would be boring.... but we got there just at feed-
ing time. They eat nothing but bamboo & huge am't of that.
Then the adults go to sleep till the next meal... but the
young ones become playful. I hate to use the word 'cute'...
but ... they're cute
Jean has booked our schedule so tight that this is the first
time since we left Virginia I've had Wi-Fi during the day &
could compose & send something all at one time.
Time to go to the Chendu opera..... Love to all...
China Memoirs'
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Version: two
Just a quick note. These are some
shots I just took in the lobby of our
'hotel' It's beautiful.... an open court
yard in the center... the sound of
water & birds.... Asian music.....very
peaceful. The hotel is surrounded by
a typical Asian market with narrow
streets & numerous vendors selling all sorts of brassware,
food , jewelry etc. We are the only Westerner's around. It's
great not hearing any English spoken. In fact I'm finding
myself getting resentful when I see a 'white' face...... because I
feel like they're in fringing on my space.
This morning we went & saw the Panda's. Very interesting....
I thought it would be boring.... but we got there just at feed-
ing time. They eat nothing but bamboo & huge am't of that.
Then the adults go to sleep till the next meal... but the
young ones become playful. I hate to use the word 'cute'...
but ... they're cute
Jean has booked our schedule so tight that this is the first
time since we left Virginia I've had Wi-Fi during the day &
could compose & send something all at one time.
Time to go to the Chendu opera..... Love to all...
China Memoirs'
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Page one of two
I already 'sent' an email earlier today with
multiple attached photos... but... it didn't go
through. So I'll try again ... this time w/o the
photos. Today we started off with breakfast at
the hotel... always a buffet... which means all
you can eat. I'm enjoying the Chinese noodles.. very taste
with a little egg. Bokchoy I've found edible but kind of
strange for breakfast but I'm trying. You can see the British
influence ... cold baked beans every morning. Last night we
did a Hotpot dinner... a large 2 ft 'bowl' with a central
smaller 'bowl' .... both filled with oil & different seasonings.
Then we ordered different meats, vegetables & noodles ... &
cooked them with our chopsticks. Yummy ! Mom says my
eyes are already beginning to look slanted.
Today was a trip to see the Pandas. They have a research
'zoo' where they're kept in a natural habitat. I't the nicest
'zoo' I 've ever seen. We got there just as they were being fed.
Panda's eat nothing but bamboo... lbs. & lbs of the stuff.
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After that, they sleep till the next meal. Ap-
parently there are 2 types of Pandas .... the
giant & the red. The red are much smaller ...
like big raccoons... & are much more active. I
don't use the word 'cute' much... but these
little critters were CUTE !
Tonight was a Chinese 'variety' show....some of it I could
make no sense of at all .... but it included a world class
magic show, an interesting puppet show that at least I could
follow the story line, a clever pantomime show where the
performer used his hands on a black lighted screen to make
'animal pictures' & tell a story . It also included a perform-
ance by a classical 2 string Chinese 'violin'. I've never
heard such a wide range of sound from such a simple,
stringed instrument.
Tomorrow... back to the airport. I'll try to send another note
tomorrow.
Love to all....
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Yesterday was a day of travel. We flew
from Chendu to Guillin & then drove
to Yangshou . Last night we finally got
to bed after midnight.... thus no email .
As we drove down, Mom wanted to go
to the 'Pearl Factory'. So we stopped at the 'Pearl Museum'
where we got a lecture on pearls that may have lasted all of
5 minutes & then..... we were shown the 'tasting' room'
which made up most of the museum..... where Mom just had
to do some shopping. Of course none of this was planned.
Today was amazing... went on a 'raft' trip' down the Li
river...just Jean, myself, our guide & the 'boat captain'. A
little out board motor mounted on 4-5 pieces of large plas-
tic tubing , a couple of benches & a canvas roof. For the next
4 hrs. we motored through the heart of the Krast rock for-
mation with these huge tower like mountains coming out of
nowhere. The river was remarkable clean/clear & was lar-
ger (x3) & faster flowing than the Shenendoah R. Today
was foggy & at times drizzly... so I don't know how the pic-
tures will turn out ....but the scenery was just like the classi-
cal Chinese paintings... fog shrouded mountains rising up
out of mist.
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We also got to visit an ancient
riverside village. Talk about
China being a land of contrasts !
Beijing was as sophisticated as
New York City.... no wonder the
rural folks want to move to the cities. Except for the village
having electricity, it could have been back in the 1400's ...
which IS when it was built.
Tonight we're in our hotel room with the windows open
onto a narrow ,Venice like street , with music floating in,
mixed with the muted sounds of Mandarin. This location
would make a great 'base camp' to explore the surrounding
country.... it abounds in picturesque villages, rice fields,
water buffalo.... all easily reachable on foot or bike. Any
takers ?
Mom's choice of China Odyssey has been superb ! Not only
has it been less expensive but we've been able to adjust our
schedule on a whim & have had the complete attention of
our guide. Our schedule for tomorrow calls for a trip to the
Mud Caves & a 'mud bath'. No thanks ! Can you picture
Mom taking a MUD BATH ! She wouldn't even go for a
massage!
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Our guides have all been 20 some-
thing student types, with fair to good
English skills/ knowledge of China. It's
been interesting getting their perspec-
tive on their country & it's history. I
can tell you that there is no love lost
between them & the Japanese. To them, the dispute with
Japan over a couple of small uninhabited islands is a big
deal. They see a war with Japan as fairly likely. It will be
interesting to see how things play out.
I've been amazed at the signage here. Many businesses & al-
most all the roads are 'subtitled' in English...which cer-
tainly makes travel easier.
I hope everyone is well. I'll try to write more tomorrow.
China Memoirs'
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Real quickly....I'm sitting in the
lobby waiting for Jean & our
guided to show up. Our accommo-
dations have been superb. We
would never stay at places like
this at home... much too nice. A 4 star in China is clearly a
4 star anywhere.
Breakfast buffet today must have had a least 50 possible
choices. Jean tried a couple of 'new' items including some
sort of seaweed ... which was tied in a small little bow. Cute
but ... no thanks! She has always been the more adventure-
some when it comes to eating.
Yesterday ,visited a farmers home ... built 400 yrs ago. A
pump in the court yard for water, chickens in an enclosure
off the 'kitchen'.... no heat but they did have electricity.
We'll show pictures on our return. Of course a large chair-
man Mao picture in the 'living room'.
More later... the guide is here.... off to rice fields today.
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Another day.... more new experiences.
Today was a trip to China's 'classic'
rice growing area. It's high up in the
mountains & took the Chinese over
200 years to construct. First ... a 2 hr
van ride... second a tortuous 30 min-
ute twisting bus trip up a mountain... third... a 45 minute
steep hike up a mountain. Now... the unusual part. .......Once
we arrived at the hiking area we were accosted by multiple
'vendors', who spied Mom's brace, leaped to their feet &
convinced her that she needed to be CARRIED to the top!
Sure enough, she opted to ride like a Princess ( or British
Royalty ) on a custom, padded 'bed' all the way to the top !
Two guys carried her on their shoulders with no shoulder
padding. All of the padding was under Jean's touche! I even
had to buy the porters tea so they could finish the climb.
160 Yuan or about $25 not counting the tea & a tip.....It was
worth it, if just for the pictures! Oh, yes, I did ask.... there IS
a maximum wt., & it costs more to go uphill than down-
hill & the charge rises proportional to ones body mass in-
dex.
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Most of the roads in the big cit-
ies have been as good or better
than any in the U.S. I've been
surprised at their interstates/
beltways. No pot holes etc. Yes-
terday & today we had to trav-
erse 'construction' sites, each
about 20 miles long. Sections were like traveling on a
poorly maintained Forest Service road.... & based on the near
complete absence of work crews... it looked like it might be
years before they're fixed. The only construction I saw was a
machine shaped like an asphalt laying machine, but in-
stead of laying anything it had 8-10 one foot by one foot
'pile drivers' that were tearing up the road. I rated them an
A+ in road destruction & F minus in road repair.
I've been impressed with the Chinese driving. No speeding,
very relaxed, no regard for passing lanes, road signs etc....
but lot's of common sense.. you pass when no one is coming
& the way is clear.....you stop when something/one is in the
way. Even in heavy city traffic, no weaving in & out... &
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a sign of care & concern. My only grip is
they try to get into 4 th gear as soon as
possible. At 15 mph they're chugging
along & the poor engine wants to stall
out... & just crying to be down shifted.... Oh, well.
UPDATE: It's now Friday night & after another 'hard day
'we're sitting in the hotel bar. Mom has gone upstairs to the
room. I'm determined to finish this E-mail....... So I'll finish
now... & tell you tomorrow about the silk factory,
Love to All, CB,
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Today has been real low key. A boat trip
on a canal in the Venice of China, a
walk through the 'Humble Administra-
tor's Garden'....I can tell you there was
nothing humble about this man... & a quick tour of an an
adjoining museum showcasing the art of Shanghai from
3000 BC to about 1600 A.D.
We're now sitting in the hotel lobby where we've got Wi-Fi
doing some messaging. We'll leave soon to do some exploring
on foot & russle up some dinner. I've been trying to catch up
with Maddy & her eating experiences.... so far I've imbibed
ginkgo nuts, snails, river shrimp (where you have to bite
their little heads off), lotus root & a bunch off other things I
decided not to ask any questions about. The local markets
have an abundance of items like snakes, frogs, spiders, cen-
tipedes, skates, jelly fish etc which would put me leagues
ahead of Maddy... but in my old age I don't care about being
first in anything any more. Maddy, your reputation is safe.
More random observations on China.....
At home I'd usually see 2-3 animals dead on the road be-
tween home & the hospital. None here. Does that mean there
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is little local wildlife? Probably so.....
I don't think things here are as bad as
West Virginia where the state legisla-
ture has made it legal to eat road kill.
The people here seem happy.
Either they're not much interested in politics or they're
feigning disinterest.
There is huge discrepancy between the life style in the ru-
ral villages vs the big cities. Probably like the U.S. 30-40
yrs ago. The villages are POOR. In the big cities everyone
seems to drive a new car... Audis, Mercedes etc.
China is primarily a capitalist country. Socialism died after
Mao & the Cultural Revolution. Yes, the airlines,trains etc
remain government owned but entrepreneurship is alive &
well with more little shopkeepers than you can imagine.
Wait till Walmart moves in & puts all the little guys out of
work.
The Chinese hate the Japanese because of the atrocities
committed against the Chinese people prior to & during
WWll. They're pushing their leadership to take on the Japa-
nese over the disputed off shore islands. They're in favor of
war.
Time to go... Mom's getting cranky.... Love Dad