Day 2 : pushing through Beijing...
We're waiting for a train so we have some time to write about Day 2 but we can't upload photos right now
We started the day with a stroll through the "hutong" we were staying in. A hutong is a typical Beijing structure of streets and courtyards. They were built during the Qin Dynasty and run East toWest based on the principles of feng shui. But now, most of them are over-crowded and are miserable according to Western standards. But tourists like them because the nooks and crannies are cool to explore. We ended up in a local market, hot and crowded and noisy. We discovered odors that we didn't even know existed. As well as fruits, vegetables and we also got to see fish being killed and scaled in front of us. We got a lot of 'hellos" from curious locals.
Then it was off to the Forbidden City. After surviving another crazy taxi ride, we pushed out way through the crowds to get to the ticket "line". It was hot and pushy. We were drenched by the time we got in. And to our dismay, half of the palaces were closed! The East and West palaces where the concubines and eunuchs lived were all under renovation. But we got to see the main palaces and the Disneyland-esque gardens behind. Despite it all, the Forbidden City was really amazing and beautiful but we couldn't take advantage of it the way we had hoped because of the crowds.
Then Bo grabbed us a taxi and asked the driver to bring us to a good place. We ended up at a place called "The Noodle King of Old Beijing". What an experience! It's a restaurant where the tradition is rude and loud on purpose. When we walked in, the maitre d screamed "the guests are here". They came to the table and waited while were Bo patiently ordred food. This was some serious sensory overload between the aromas, the sounds, the movement and the people. We started with some noodles, spicey chicken seasoned with star anis and red peper, omlet with some sort of thick leaf (maybe camphor?), a rice-red bean-lotus nut cake, and chicken wings cooked in soy sauce and sugar. My mouth is drooling as I type.
Then it was the White Stupa Temple, which was beautiful and quiet and under renovation...but we got to see a beautiful garden and some nice Buddist statues.
We were tired so we spent the evening in the courtyard of our hotel. Photos to come....
We started the day with a stroll through the "hutong" we were staying in. A hutong is a typical Beijing structure of streets and courtyards. They were built during the Qin Dynasty and run East toWest based on the principles of feng shui. But now, most of them are over-crowded and are miserable according to Western standards. But tourists like them because the nooks and crannies are cool to explore. We ended up in a local market, hot and crowded and noisy. We discovered odors that we didn't even know existed. As well as fruits, vegetables and we also got to see fish being killed and scaled in front of us. We got a lot of 'hellos" from curious locals.
Then it was off to the Forbidden City. After surviving another crazy taxi ride, we pushed out way through the crowds to get to the ticket "line". It was hot and pushy. We were drenched by the time we got in. And to our dismay, half of the palaces were closed! The East and West palaces where the concubines and eunuchs lived were all under renovation. But we got to see the main palaces and the Disneyland-esque gardens behind. Despite it all, the Forbidden City was really amazing and beautiful but we couldn't take advantage of it the way we had hoped because of the crowds.
Then Bo grabbed us a taxi and asked the driver to bring us to a good place. We ended up at a place called "The Noodle King of Old Beijing". What an experience! It's a restaurant where the tradition is rude and loud on purpose. When we walked in, the maitre d screamed "the guests are here". They came to the table and waited while were Bo patiently ordred food. This was some serious sensory overload between the aromas, the sounds, the movement and the people. We started with some noodles, spicey chicken seasoned with star anis and red peper, omlet with some sort of thick leaf (maybe camphor?), a rice-red bean-lotus nut cake, and chicken wings cooked in soy sauce and sugar. My mouth is drooling as I type.
Then it was the White Stupa Temple, which was beautiful and quiet and under renovation...but we got to see a beautiful garden and some nice Buddist statues.
We were tired so we spent the evening in the courtyard of our hotel. Photos to come....
posted by Gros Joe at
6:04 AM
2 Comments:
--------------SIMON HAS BEEN FOUND------------- in a special report today, the return of the cat SIMON was revealed as having taken place on top of a cuboard.------------------ the finder of the classy feline was none other than the looser (of the classy feline)-------------------- his delight was apparent as he announced "this cat really looks like an owl".---------------- the entire team wishes to congratulate all who took part in the adventure, including those who are on the other side of the planet eating dim sum and picking their noses to the rythm of sina-love.
I suggest you adjust the ancient custom of foot binding to boob binding and make sure you keep an eye on that ch'ti exotic looking guy...
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