Melissa's Return to China - Page 4

6/20/2006

That morning since we didn’t have to leave to early, I got up and went for a walk around the lake that was in front  of our Hotel.  It had some beautiful views and exquisite scenery and as I walked around the lake there were lots of people out doing morning exercises, tai-chi, walking or jogging, and even some young people were just hanging out chatting with each other.  After the walk I came back by a couple of shops and one guy tried to sell me a memory card for my camera! But I was more interested in breakfast, so I rousted Maureen and Melissa and we headed downstairs for our last meal in Guilin.  After getting all the bags packed and downstairs and getting checked out, we headed for the bus to go back to the airport.  On the way to the airport we saw an accident (first I’d seen while in China) where the car had flipped over and was off the road.

We left our local guide and one more time traipsed thru the airport and were on our way back to Beijing.  We were going back to the  Tianlun Dynasty Hotel where we had stayed before, but this time we were on the 6th floor instead of the 9th.  We had sometime before we were to go to the Acrobat show, but some how we wound up getting started a little be late for the show, and then of course traffic didn’t help us any.  So we missed the first 15 minutes or so of the show, but the rest was excellent.  Your typical acrobat show, with guys jumping thru hoops of all sizes and heights, 15 to 20 people all on one bicycle, riding and walking on a wire 15’ off the ground, etc, but everything was done well, and there were no lulls in the action.

After the show we went back to the hotel and walked to a shopping mall (7 floor building) to a hot-pot restaurant.  This is where they put a pot on the table that has a chimney in the middle and something (steno or whatever) in the middle heating up the water.  Then you put whatever you want in the water and leave it for a minute or so and then dip it out and it’s done and ready to eat.  We had beef, lamb, pork, chicken, fish and lots of different veggies to cook.  Most everyone at our table wasn’t keen on the lamb, but I liked it.  They had even brought out skewers of already cooked lamb that I was about the only one that liked it.

After we finished there we were to walk back to the hotel and we could take our time and go up and down the “Walking Street”, which was kind of an open air mall atmosphere, with places to set and eat, but all the stores were like regular store fronts (for the most part).  Several of us (spurred by the kids) decide to go around the corner to Hagen Das for Ice Cream.  Melissa had two scoops and Maureen and I had one, and it came to 100 Yuan (12.50 US) for Ice Cream!!!!  It was good but not quite the Hagen Das we were use to.  Don’t think theirs was made with heavy cream, or was different some how.  One of the Lady’s want to go back into the building where the hot-pot restaurant was to get a suitcase.  Our girls had gotten so many gifts and with any shopping we did, most people found they were going to need extra luggage to get everything home.  After getting back to the hotel we turned in as tomorrow was a trip to the Great Wall, and it was about 1 to 1 ½ from Beijing.

6/21/2006

Today we were to head north till we got to the Great Wall.  We were on our last day of touring and  had the Great Wall and Summer Palace to get in today.  When we got to the Great Wall we of course had to take the "Great Potty" break! And to be forgotten was the all important group shot with the sign in the background that says, “One World One Dream”.  Then we were off to climb the Great Wall.  Until we started out I didn’t know what they meant by climbing the Great Wall.  I mean what’s the big idea it is a flat surface up about 50 feet or so, but once you’re up there you find out!!  Sometimes you are leaning so far forward going up the slope that you think you can almost touch the bricks in font of you, or if there are steps they are not all the same height and they are steeper than anything I’ve ever seen before.  But we made it!!  To the first guard house/station!! We were heroes!!

And yep, all along the way were vendors!  What a commute to work they had!  Selling everything  from certificates that you had made it to the first guard station, to Beijing 2008 hats, and the trusty ole Rolex.  Coming back down was almost as bad, not as hard physically, but certainly more difficult, because your feet wanted to slide out from under you in spots.  There were places were some people were turning around and walking down backwards.  Mainly because if you fell that way it was only a couple of fee to fall and you’d stop; the other way was more like 4 feet + and a good chance you might not stop until you got to the bottom of the mountain!!

Back down we decided to brave one of the vendor buildings and get some shirts and other souvenirs. We were able to get 3 shirts for 240 Yuan (30 US) and then Maureen so another cashmere scarf like what she got in Guilin.  This lady wanted 80 for it not 20 like in Guilin, but Maureen told her she would only pay what she paid in Guilin.  After checking with her boss Maureen go the scarf, then one of the ladies wanted to by three shirts and told me they were asking 300 for them.  I asked the lady for a good price and said we had paid 240, so she sold them to the lady for 200!! I guess just to show me I didn’t know what I was doing.  Duh!!! That was for sure.  Melissa wanted a fake jade turtle that they wanted 100 for so we got them down to 80 and when we paid with a 100 they gave her a small fake jade Buda and said 100!  Like I said I didn’t know what I’m doing.

It was time to head back to Beijing, so after a couple more group pictures we headed back for the bus and then  on into town.  We had went by the Birds Nest Stadium that is being built for the 2008 Olympics, but could never get a good picture.  So I was hoping that I could get one as we came back.  Well wouldn’t you know it.  As we came up to the intersection where the stadium was we turned right and it was on the left!  Shoot, missed it by that much!  (on the way back form the Summer Place we did go by and I got this shot.)

We stopped across for a entrance for the Summer Palace, at a little restaurant and had lunch, then just headed  over to go into the Summer Palace.  What we could see of it was beautiful, but a lot was under renovation (I’m sure for the up coming 2008 Olympics).  We did come across this big rock that looked like the rocks in the gardens in Wu Xi. And Melissa recognized it an said it was form her home town, so I got a picture of her and Cecilia in front of the Lake Taihu Rock from Wu Xi!  We walked around the gardens and then headed for the boat dock, and took a boat across the lake to another boat carved out of granite! After a few more group pictures we headed back to the bus.  While waiting on everyone a young girl came by with about 2year old that was asleep, asking for money.  After coming from the Orphanages a few days ago, none of us could turn her down and gave her some Yuan (couple a piece).  I know that was her ploy, but it worked on us, with the baby and all.  It wasn’t to long that few others were starting to come over begging.  They were people in obvious need, but luckily everyone was there so we crossed the street back to the bus.  They knew the spots to target, because you didn't see this sort of thing everywhere.

We had a few hours until we had to meet downstairs and go for our Peking Duck dinner, which was at a restaurant just down the block a ways from the hotel.  I had gone downstairs to get the stuff we had checked when we left the first time, and coming back I could here Maureen talking to one of the ladies across the hall.  Seems the plan had changed.  First only a couple of the girls were going to ware Chinese dresses, now only a couple weren’t and they were wanting to.  So Maureen and the lady and the girls all headed down to the shop down on the third floor to see what they could find.  After about ½ hour or so Melissa came up all in a huff, she need her billfold, Mom didn’t have enough money??  (Melissa only had about 15 Yuan in her billfold, but I didn’t argue)  In about 10 mins she as back looking for Maureen’s billfold! (the one she was suppose to get the first time!) It wasn’t money Maureen wanted, it was credit cards, and thank heavens Melissa doesn’t have any of those.

With the dress saga out of the way Maureen only had about ½ hour to get ready herself, but she made it and we  joined everyone downstairs to walk over to the restaurant.  We all had assigned seating again, we were with Tony (one of the guides) and some other man (I’m not sure who).  Since the girls all got to see the Noodle show the first night, tonight they showed them the duck show.  They chef came out and carved the duck for us to eat.  As well as the duck there was tons of dishes to try, and most were very good.  One in particular was beef with green and red peppers (hot) and that was it, but boy was it good.  And after awhile you could tell it was hot,  VERY VERY HOT, but oh so good.  Later one of the books told about this dish and said it was additive! Boy were they right.

Were did several toasts and all had to get up and tell what this trip meant to us.  It was bitter sweet as we knew that after to night we’d not see most  again, other than a brief time in the morning.  After we were done we got to go downstairs and watch the rest of an Chinese Opera, and then the girls got their picture taken with the lady (???) signing.  As we were leaving the restaurant one of the waitress, said for us to wait a minute the restaurant had a gift for the girls.  They have each one a set of chopsticks.  These girls got more presents!!!  We headed back to the hotel with the Princesses in tow..