Thanks so much for visiting us during our journey, Danny, Sally, Daniel and Carmen!
February 22, 2009 More Beijing!
Good Morning to you and good night for us!! Let me say first how awesome it has been to receive your e-mails. As soon as we get back to the room, we check first for words from home. I have to tell you --- We have been on some fabulous trips in our marriage but this is one for the record books. With each day and the things we see, smell and experience, I wonder “now, how am I going to tell anyone about this?”…..there’s just no way. Not long ago, we visited the Creation Museum in KY and some of what we experienced made us realize just how insignificant our little lives are in this huge world. Coming here has made us realize that once again. You just can’t believe this side of the earth! And having said all of that, we are reminded that our God does know us and all that we are (and aren’t), and that in all of this, He loves us and is guiding every step of our path. Look where he’s brought us now!!! I hope that makes sense but it’s on my mind and it just overwhelms me to think of it!
Our day started with a trip to Tiananmen Square. You may remember it from the student protests years ago. It was surreal to be standing there. Tiananmen Square is also at the south end of The Forbidden City which is where we went next. The Forbidden City is literally a city within itself among gates and moats where the last 24 emperors of Chinese dynasties and their families lived and ruled. It is exquisite and somewhat intimidating at the same time. We walked from the south end to the north and saw as much of the 9,999 rooms and buildings as we could. Everything related to the architecture and decoration is significant from the bright colors signifying royalty and stature, to the types and numbers of animals on display, the doors made of gold, the moats and bridges surrounding it for protection, etc. I could go on and on but it was just incredible!
After that, we went on a Hutong tour in a rickshaw. Hutong actually refers to small alleyways of a certain width – hence you need either a bicycle or rickshaw for transportation down them. These rickshaws were just like you’ve seen in the movies with the canopy over the top of a two-seat buggy that is pulled by a man on a v-e-r-y old bicycle (at least they’re not running and pulling them anymore!). It seemed so authentic and we loved riding thru the alleys and seeing the everyday life of average Chinese people. Along our way, we were able to stop at the home of a Chinese family who welcomed us inside. We sat in their living room and through an interpreter she told us of her life there growing up and how it is now. Again, it was amazing. Also, we learned that this little home that had been in their family for generations and about the size of a small two-bedroom home in the U.S. --- would be valued at $8,000,000 USD!! They were a proud family and it was humbling. The next stop on the Hutong tour was at a tea shop of sorts where we went into a room and were taught about a true Chinese tea ceremony. We learned about and tasted the different teas of which there are 3,000 varieties! Did I say this has been amazing??!!
Well, our day ended back in the Jin Ya Du Restaurant where eleven of us ordered and shared a variety of authentic Chinese dishes. Yes, I even ventured away from plain fried rice tonight but not to the eel and Peking duck that some were eating. They (Shane & Jason) are looking for stomachs and feet in the next province. As the Chinese might say…..”CRAZY Americans”!!!!
By the way, the bargaining with street vendors has been interesting and we are getting the hang of it. Danny & I had a group following us thru the entire Hutong tour today. They seem to know “Hallo” and “cheaper??”. It’s really funny.
We get up at 4 a.m. tomorrow to catch our flight to Guangxi province where we get our Carmen tomorrow afternoon. It’s hard to believe we are finally here and gotcha day is just a few hours away…. The next post should have what you are waiting on …. her pictures!
Danny & Sally in front of Chairman Mao's picture at Forbidden City
Danny across the street from Tiananmen Square
Getting started in our rickshaws!
Little boys playing a game --- their board is the sewer top
This is the lady who invited us into her home (house in the background)
