Beijing Tours - Day 1

Over the past two days we have seen some amazing sites here in Beijing. We have stood in places that up until now we had only seen in books or on TV and we have done the things that we have talked about for over 4 years. It has been an incredible experience.

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Yesterday we left the hotel by bus at 8:30am. Apparently we are staying at the farthest point from where these sites are located because it seems like we drove forever. For me, the getting there is half the fun. I just love how much of the city we have actually gotten to see, even from the window of a bus. I am still amazed by the ways of life here.

Our first stop was Tianamen Square and the first thing you notice are the crowds! Our guide, Sim, said that July and August are the height of domestic travel here in China. Chinese families like to come here and visit together. We did manage some pictures in front of the wall with the photo of Chairman Mao. Chairman Mao led the Communist Party from 1949 and formed the People's Republic of China. Although they promised a nation in which everyone would be equal it was during that time that China became cut off from the rest of the world.
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As you cross over from Tianamen Square you enter Forbidden City. While waiting for our guide to purchase the tickets to enter we found out how right Noah was yesterday when he said everyone was watching him. There are 11 of us all together in our tour group, Noah & Nicholas are the only children, and we all pretty much stick out like sore thumbs. I was also right when I said that the Chinese people are as fascinated by us as we are of them, especially the younger high-school - college aged kids. It didn't take long for the first person to ask to take a picture with the boys and from then on they became "Rock Stars"! People would ask, mainly by hand guestures and pointing to their cameras, to take pictures with the boys, they wanted to touch their hair and face and one teenage girl even gave them each a little gift. Most of the time Nicholas was oblivious to their smiles and laughs at him but every now and then he became very shy, especially around the teenage girls, and that only set the girls off to lots more giggling over him. It has all been quite funny!

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After our walk through Forbidden City, which is a palace complex that was built for the emperor's family during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), we got back on the bus and headed to lunch. It was of course a Chinese restaurant with a buffet. The smells and taste of the Chinese food here is quite different from home. I think it has something to do with the spices they use and it doesn't always smell very appetizing which has helped us to not be too hungry. We can always find plain white rice and watermelon to eat. Today we also had noodles followed by gelatto for dessert!

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After lunch we went to Summer Palace. During the time of the Qing Dynasty, the emperor commissioned work on the imperial gardens and gave this area to his mother in 1752 in celebration of her 60th birthday. According to our guide, the number 60 is cause for celebration among the Chinese people. Most of the time the empress would have walked the long corridor (the longest corridor in the world) along the Kunming Lake alone, a view that I couldn't imagine having all to myself!

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We left the Summer Palace and went to a Chinese Acrobats show. As Nicholas said "these people are professionals". It was an absolutely fantastic show! If Eva has any of their flexability she will definitely be a world ranked gymnast!!

On our way to dinner the boys, David included, fell asleep on the bus. David wasn't hungry so he stayed on the bus and let the boys sleep. I really didn't want to eat either but it was nice to sit and visit with the other couples to talk and share pictures of our daughters. We are all going to different provinces but will all be back together in Guangzhou.

Thirteen hours later we were back in our rooms and ready to crash!!

The boys have been fantastic throughout all of this, even the other couples have commented on how well they have handled the long days. Noah is having a hard time though with all of the "poor people". There are lots of beggars on the streets, esp. around the tourist sites, and it's different then when we see people on the side of the interstate at home holding signs. Most of these people are physically handicapped in one way or another so it's hard, for even us adults, to see. He and I have prayed about it and I just ask you that you pray for him and his tender heart. I want Noah to take away with him the things he sees to be used for good one day, but not let the negative images be the first thing he remembers about China.

I know this has been a long post so I thank you if you are still reading....now on to Day 2!!