Our 2nd Beijing day was at the Summer Palace...being Aussies, we came in the 'other' way, climbed a squillion very tall and shallow steps (NOT designed for this short lady) and were greeted with a stunning panorama...worth all the whingeing on the stairs!
So many older Chinese were doing Tai Chi, others exercising in a very vigorous manner and, most impressively for me, part of a 'band' that was being conducted in an amazing building playng ansd singing traditional Chinese folk songs. All for the joy of it and keeping a fresh and invigorated brain as they age.
Back soon
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Monday, September 7, 2009
More OIC
Finally left the south...known as one of China's cauldrons with very good reason, and flew to Beijing to meet up wth our son.
We stayed in traditional 'suburb' of Beijing in a hutong in a non-tourist area of town. Local food and shops, walking distance to Tian An Men square...what a place. Big in all senses of the word...wide majestic streets and busy and bustling even at midnight.
Off to the Forbidden City our first day in Beijing...we didn't realize that 4 million people (or so it seemed) would be there at the same time!!!!!!!!!! Crowds, heat and crowds and heat...not my favourite combo at the best of times. Went walking to escape the crush, seemed my legs were walked off up to my knees that day. But the food.....I am ruined for Chinese food outside China now.
More tomorrow
We stayed in traditional 'suburb' of Beijing in a hutong in a non-tourist area of town. Local food and shops, walking distance to Tian An Men square...what a place. Big in all senses of the word...wide majestic streets and busy and bustling even at midnight.
Off to the Forbidden City our first day in Beijing...we didn't realize that 4 million people (or so it seemed) would be there at the same time!!!!!!!!!! Crowds, heat and crowds and heat...not my favourite combo at the best of times. Went walking to escape the crush, seemed my legs were walked off up to my knees that day. But the food.....I am ruined for Chinese food outside China now.
More tomorrow
Saturday, September 5, 2009
O.I.C....Only in China
Back last Thursday from China: have spent the last couple of days with family and ordinary things such as buying food! And planning and preparing for our daughter's 21st birthday celebrations.
China...WHAT a place. Our Mandarin speaking (reading/writing too) son Dirk made a potentially challenging country so simple for us. I cannot believe his skills and patience, translating back and forth for us and our Chinese acquaintances. And just how much fun we had as an unlikely family troupe (age-d parents/independent travellers)
First stop, Just my hubby and I on a boat cruise down the Yiangtze river. We flew to Beijing then directly to Chongqing (pronounced Chong Ching) to see the 3 gorges and dam project...how inspiring! The river is immense, the rate and scope of building astonishing and if anyone has doubts about China becoming the economic juggernaut of the world, just go there! Modern roads everywhere! And the scenery...powerful combo plus the fabulous people we met on board. Going through 4 of the 5 lochs is astounding too.
Will continue the China Saga over the next few days as I don't want to clog the arteries of the blog with too much too soon!
China...WHAT a place. Our Mandarin speaking (reading/writing too) son Dirk made a potentially challenging country so simple for us. I cannot believe his skills and patience, translating back and forth for us and our Chinese acquaintances. And just how much fun we had as an unlikely family troupe (age-d parents/independent travellers)
First stop, Just my hubby and I on a boat cruise down the Yiangtze river. We flew to Beijing then directly to Chongqing (pronounced Chong Ching) to see the 3 gorges and dam project...how inspiring! The river is immense, the rate and scope of building astonishing and if anyone has doubts about China becoming the economic juggernaut of the world, just go there! Modern roads everywhere! And the scenery...powerful combo plus the fabulous people we met on board. Going through 4 of the 5 lochs is astounding too.
Will continue the China Saga over the next few days as I don't want to clog the arteries of the blog with too much too soon!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Jig Saw Year
Well, the puzzle that is my year of 2009 continues. I had an unplanned trip to Canberra with ATASDA, www.atasda.org.au assisting them with their travelling display, then rapidly off to Melbourne and back, seeing family.
It was eerie as we went through the horrendously burnt areas of Kinglake, as we returned to Sydney via Yea: the last time we were through was 2 days after my mother's funeral and 2 days before the firestorm. We drove through fog with the burned, naked trees looking like a forest of ghosts. The countryside everywhere was beautiful, lush and green, perhaps telling a few fibs about just what is happening to the land at the moment.
We are off to China tomorrow evening to visit our Madarin speaking son who will be a perect tour guide. Perhaps a chance to relax and gather all the marbles I've dropped this year
It was eerie as we went through the horrendously burnt areas of Kinglake, as we returned to Sydney via Yea: the last time we were through was 2 days after my mother's funeral and 2 days before the firestorm. We drove through fog with the burned, naked trees looking like a forest of ghosts. The countryside everywhere was beautiful, lush and green, perhaps telling a few fibs about just what is happening to the land at the moment.
We are off to China tomorrow evening to visit our Madarin speaking son who will be a perect tour guide. Perhaps a chance to relax and gather all the marbles I've dropped this year
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Interstate Bound
Am off to Canberra unexpectedly this Thursday through to Sunday at the Quilt and Craft Fair, helping out the shorthanded troops--flu ravaged-- on the ATASDA (Australian Textile Arts & Surface Design Association) display stand. Come along and say hello and catch up with me...bring hot chocolate or coffee for me if it's cold! Milk no sugar please.
After that off to Melbourne briefly to catch up with family and then back home to pack for 2 weeks in China with our son...am taking the computer to all places but China where I intend to catch up through Internet Cafes. And take lots of photos of textile related things for us all!
After that off to Melbourne briefly to catch up with family and then back home to pack for 2 weeks in China with our son...am taking the computer to all places but China where I intend to catch up through Internet Cafes. And take lots of photos of textile related things for us all!
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