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(White Rabbits) Smog. Pagoda's. Steep steps. And smog. China so far according to Dan - and therefore Beth. I don't care what Katie Melua says about its 9 million bicycles, there's a whole blinkin' lot more cars. That's a fact!
Despite an inability to see the sky here in Beijing or breathe much oxygen, we actually quite like it (the Government didn't tell me to say that). We ticked off another 'wonder of the world' namely, the Great Wall. We saw it at a touristy place called Badaling and were very impressed. Not least by the number of fat people, from the other side of the pond, who somehow successfully climbed the extremely steep steps. It was a shame that a massive Hollywood style Beijing Olympics advert in white letters adorned the nearby hillside. Get ready London. We'll have to photoshop the blue sky in and the humongous white sign out when we get back! Beth did ask if anyone has ever walked the entire distance of the Great Wall? I haven't but if you do know of anyone please let us know. Forrest Gump? Ian Botham perhaps?
We've also ticked off Tiananmen Sq (massive - don't sit on the grass or a soldier might get in your face), the Forbidden City (massive - lots of pagoda's and large groups of people, with gargantuan cameras and with their socks pulled up, following their flag toting guides around. What happened to the good old umbrella?) and yummy Peking Duck (massive amounts of plum sauce in comparison to what you get at home).
So not much else to do really in terms of sightseeing - or we just can't be bothered. China is quite pricey and there are shed loads of middle class people in the cities, who mostly seem to flit around the ubiqituous McDonalds, KFC and shopping malls. Still, we've saved a heap using the buses to get about as they're only 1 yuan (approx. 7p). Unwittingly, we did manage to spend a little bit on a tea ceremony after meeting a young Chinese couple, 'Tom and Lucy' also holidaying in Beijing. Does this sound like a scam yet? Anyway, I guess you can't come to China and not taste the tea although I do prefer the Indian stuff. It was helpful to have some tips (no pun intended) during the tasting, particularly since it's considered bad news if you drink the cup's contents in 4 sips as it signifies death!
So on that cheery note, ta ra for now, we hope!
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