Ray, Silk Road. Beijing Monday 31st and Xian on June 1 and 2.
Just had the foot massage…oh my God! What a jolt of energy from the right foot. At times hurt and others pleasant….energy came from a pain area, even the masseuse laughed. Would do it again when possible…cost was $22 for an hour.
Last eve the acrobatic show was worth ever Yuan (200). How does one get the body to twist in such ways? And the strength….4 people piled on top on one person’s head …they stand one one foot and other foot is directly above their head…two couples stand nose to nose with feet like that and two others do head stands on their head and on their feet two others hanging off with one more standing one he head and all are twirling pillows with the free feet or hands. Some slim and others built like “brick shit-houses” (Old Norwegian saying).
Last eve bought polo shirt and pair of shortened pants for 200 Yuan ($28). Starting to throw out other stuff I brought. Most clothing is 50-70% less…shoes, packs, etc. and that is in Beijing in the good stores.
Spent time at Summer Palace…filled with families again…very crowded …this is where the last emperor was under “house arrest” by his mother the Dowager Queen. What a bitch! He was in a beautiful place, confined to one house (of 50 or more available) and she had the windows painted and all doors but one bricked up. He was finally poisoned by her 2 days before she died. And then the revolutions/civil war began and lasted till 1949 except for several years of fighting the Japanese.
Chris and Vero a good way to save on diapers…go Chinese. Got a great shot of Chinese baby outfit…open back, no diaper and they carry the equivalent of a “doggy bag” or use their hand to catch the deposit and depose of….where???....can’t figure it out but did see the latter occur on the street.
Saw the first outburst of anger today…our bus driver was cut off by another…he boxed the guy in and got out and after much waving of hands and yelling he returned and off we went. The guide just laughed…no problem just venting. Ah road rage in China.
Went to a tea tasting afterward…very fine flavors and all very different. Am bringing back some names and descriptions. By the way we do not prepare our herbal and green tea properly. Water should be slightly more than 185 degree. They make it hotter, then pour it into another container and wait. After a while they add the tea, swirl, wait 10 sec. and pour away the water saving the leaves to which more water is added, wait 20-30 seconds and drink. With black tea use the same process but use very hot or boiling water. If water is too hot for green or herbal tea it destroys the ingredients that are medicinal.
Tonight the Muslim quarter and then the train.
Saw my first and 2nd beggar and found the slums in Beijing….about 3 square blocks…but vibrant, safe, walked through many times and eat there twice….more old Chinese than slum, not as in the US, more like any 3rd world country.
Julie I am taking pictures of Chinese wedding dresses…..a display of traditional and color. Wow.
And the train station…could hardly breath, so many people in line waiting and then 9:30 load and gone. 4 bunks…me, a nice couple of Auses and the “dragon lady from America”…first thing she says is I snore so hope you don’t mind!!. Turns out she did not snore but the other 2 did…thank god for ear plugs. Train was quiet and pleasant but we are confined to the compartment….no club car etc. We traveled about 1000 miles SW last eve.
Ah XIAN….the center of Chinese history and glory…..this is the area of ancient man and many of the “golden dynasties as well as the traditional start of the silk road. It is considered the “real China”.
Foot massages are now catching on and receiving rave reviews…I may have set a trend..up to 4 converts.
I note the Chinese are a happy and laughing group of people. Easy to smile and have a lot of fun with their games. They often walk in groups laughing and joking. While the Japanese walk stiff, in a straight line and are very serious. However on crowded streets the Chinese are all business…either move, get out of the way or get bumped with some force….have had old ladies walk right through me and never an apology or even give a look of anger or disgust..Just a habit of survival in a crowded country.
Went to another show last eve…another great meal (steamed dumplings…about 15 different kinds and all formed to resemble an animal….duck, pig, cow, birds, turtle etc) followed by a dance story of the golden dynasties. Beautiful costumes of silks flowing in the dance. A nice sound, color and light show…but while the shows are all different they have a sameness to them….sort of for tourist consumption, they lack the specialness of a local ethnic performance.
Walked through one of the many parks to and from the performance..Everyone playing, music groups, a group walking on a foot massage path and lots of young making out in the dark. Seems the young make out and the older people play games.
Returned from the Terracotta Warriors…amazing 8th wonder of the world. It covers 56 KM underground, much of which has not been excavated. They are more than life size and each one has a different face. They had thousands of artisans produce the faces (a separate item that was inserted on the statue. They have different expressions, facial features etc. All done by 720,000 artisans in 200 BC. It took 35-40 years to build. The king at that time had a palace that was 51 KM long…yes that is not a mistake, I double checked. They chromed their swords and arrow tips for hardening and sharpness (a process that was developed in Germany and US in about 1935). They used bronze at the time. And all warriors were painted; some have been excavated with the colors intact. All were buried in dirt and wooden structures, which of course did not last long. You can see the timbers (petrified) still in place…and all floors were paved in fired brick. They have opened 4 pits…each is about 500ft by 300feet and they have built a climate controlled building over each of them. 3 are open and one is for professionals only. After the king died many of the chambers where opened in a revolt of rage by the workmen and burned which helped preserve some of the artifacts. You can still see the charcoal burns.
Last eve the acrobatic show was worth ever Yuan (200). How does one get the body to twist in such ways? And the strength….4 people piled on top on one person’s head …they stand one one foot and other foot is directly above their head…two couples stand nose to nose with feet like that and two others do head stands on their head and on their feet two others hanging off with one more standing one he head and all are twirling pillows with the free feet or hands. Some slim and others built like “brick shit-houses” (Old Norwegian saying).
Last eve bought polo shirt and pair of shortened pants for 200 Yuan ($28). Starting to throw out other stuff I brought. Most clothing is 50-70% less…shoes, packs, etc. and that is in Beijing in the good stores.
Spent time at Summer Palace…filled with families again…very crowded …this is where the last emperor was under “house arrest” by his mother the Dowager Queen. What a bitch! He was in a beautiful place, confined to one house (of 50 or more available) and she had the windows painted and all doors but one bricked up. He was finally poisoned by her 2 days before she died. And then the revolutions/civil war began and lasted till 1949 except for several years of fighting the Japanese.
Chris and Vero a good way to save on diapers…go Chinese. Got a great shot of Chinese baby outfit…open back, no diaper and they carry the equivalent of a “doggy bag” or use their hand to catch the deposit and depose of….where???....can’t figure it out but did see the latter occur on the street.
Saw the first outburst of anger today…our bus driver was cut off by another…he boxed the guy in and got out and after much waving of hands and yelling he returned and off we went. The guide just laughed…no problem just venting. Ah road rage in China.
Went to a tea tasting afterward…very fine flavors and all very different. Am bringing back some names and descriptions. By the way we do not prepare our herbal and green tea properly. Water should be slightly more than 185 degree. They make it hotter, then pour it into another container and wait. After a while they add the tea, swirl, wait 10 sec. and pour away the water saving the leaves to which more water is added, wait 20-30 seconds and drink. With black tea use the same process but use very hot or boiling water. If water is too hot for green or herbal tea it destroys the ingredients that are medicinal.
Tonight the Muslim quarter and then the train.
Saw my first and 2nd beggar and found the slums in Beijing….about 3 square blocks…but vibrant, safe, walked through many times and eat there twice….more old Chinese than slum, not as in the US, more like any 3rd world country.
Julie I am taking pictures of Chinese wedding dresses…..a display of traditional and color. Wow.
And the train station…could hardly breath, so many people in line waiting and then 9:30 load and gone. 4 bunks…me, a nice couple of Auses and the “dragon lady from America”…first thing she says is I snore so hope you don’t mind!!. Turns out she did not snore but the other 2 did…thank god for ear plugs. Train was quiet and pleasant but we are confined to the compartment….no club car etc. We traveled about 1000 miles SW last eve.
Ah XIAN….the center of Chinese history and glory…..this is the area of ancient man and many of the “golden dynasties as well as the traditional start of the silk road. It is considered the “real China”.
Foot massages are now catching on and receiving rave reviews…I may have set a trend..up to 4 converts.
I note the Chinese are a happy and laughing group of people. Easy to smile and have a lot of fun with their games. They often walk in groups laughing and joking. While the Japanese walk stiff, in a straight line and are very serious. However on crowded streets the Chinese are all business…either move, get out of the way or get bumped with some force….have had old ladies walk right through me and never an apology or even give a look of anger or disgust..Just a habit of survival in a crowded country.
Went to another show last eve…another great meal (steamed dumplings…about 15 different kinds and all formed to resemble an animal….duck, pig, cow, birds, turtle etc) followed by a dance story of the golden dynasties. Beautiful costumes of silks flowing in the dance. A nice sound, color and light show…but while the shows are all different they have a sameness to them….sort of for tourist consumption, they lack the specialness of a local ethnic performance.
Walked through one of the many parks to and from the performance..Everyone playing, music groups, a group walking on a foot massage path and lots of young making out in the dark. Seems the young make out and the older people play games.
Returned from the Terracotta Warriors…amazing 8th wonder of the world. It covers 56 KM underground, much of which has not been excavated. They are more than life size and each one has a different face. They had thousands of artisans produce the faces (a separate item that was inserted on the statue. They have different expressions, facial features etc. All done by 720,000 artisans in 200 BC. It took 35-40 years to build. The king at that time had a palace that was 51 KM long…yes that is not a mistake, I double checked. They chromed their swords and arrow tips for hardening and sharpness (a process that was developed in Germany and US in about 1935). They used bronze at the time. And all warriors were painted; some have been excavated with the colors intact. All were buried in dirt and wooden structures, which of course did not last long. You can see the timbers (petrified) still in place…and all floors were paved in fired brick. They have opened 4 pits…each is about 500ft by 300feet and they have built a climate controlled building over each of them. 3 are open and one is for professionals only. After the king died many of the chambers where opened in a revolt of rage by the workmen and burned which helped preserve some of the artifacts. You can still see the charcoal burns.
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