China Chapter 3

Where to begin today…

Well first off, we had breakfast again, and again it was wonderful. We ventured off on our merry way (and it was still early enough for us to be merry at this point). We headed toward the Great Wall at Badaling, as well as the Ming Tombs and the Sacred Way.

The first stop, however, was to a cloisonne factory. This actually was on the tour as part of the itinerary, unlike the pearl stop yesterday. It was fascinating. The intricate details, the coloring, the piddly time it takes just to make one cloisonne object was simply stunning, not to mention interesting. There were many things for us to buy in the factory store (surprise…surprise), and really, some of the stuff was really beautiful. And, it was pretty damn expensive. But, we were again whisked away so that we could get to the Great Wall before we were even able to really get into the shopping mode.

We got to the Great Wall at Badaling. It was about an hour and 15 minutes by car northwest of Beijing. I know from some of the tour books, this particular entry point is very popular among tourists, and is probably the most famous. I didn’t mind. Hell, it really is one of the only spots in the world that I have really wanted to visit. And my pictures really do not do the Great Wall the justice it deserves. It’s truly one of the most incredible things I have ever seen in my life. Just thinking of the number of years, and the number of people that had lost their lives making that wonder of the world is mind boggling. No more mind boggling than the actual climb on the wall itself. I would say that “dizzying” is a much better descriptor for what we climbed. In all of its unevenness of steps, the steep inclines in a couple of sections, not to mention the people pushing wheelchairs (of all things) up it, it was really remarkable.

What made it the most dizzying was the fact that you’re climbing a wall on a steep cliff, and there is no such thing as the steps being level, so everything looks a little crooked as you climb to the top. Annie, our tour guide, insisted that this was the “easy” climb of the Great Wall. Sir Edmund Hillary would have needed his crampons to climb this thing....using the difficult section. Eegads!
We got to the top of the Great Wall section, and had a great panoramic view of the Yan Mountains, and the Wall traversing the mountains as far as the eye can see. And it was pretty damn windy too. At one point, mom accosted an unsuspecting older Spanish grandmother who you could see was shivering. I don’t know if the look on that woman’s face was to say she was amazed at the kindness, or wondering “what the hell are you doing, don’t touch me!” Even though it was chilly, climbing the Wall was enough to make anyone warm, except for the twosome we’re travelling with. After all, they’re from the warm climates. In fact, I did happen to get a picture of them walking down the Great Wall, in their winter wear. They were bundled up like eskimos from Nome. I can understand wearing a jacket, but I think the raspberry beret, gloves, wool coat, scarf, and ski cap were a bit much, considering that the temperature was about 62 degrees.

Our knees were very shaky afterwards, so we went to one of the gift shops and ended up buying t-shirts, and some official Beijing Olympics wear. I was a little put off by the size, as I had to buy a 4XL shirt to find one that would remotely fit. I think the clerk was passive-aggressively telling me that I was fat. Hopefully eating Chinese food day in and out will get me down to a 3 and a half XL. One can only hope.

We went to lunch, and lunch was great. We then ended up doing a bit more shopping at the Dan Yi Friendship Store, where mom proceeded to find silk fabric for a quilt. From the looks of the clerks in the store, they probably thought that mom was on crack for the small amounts that she needed to buy for this quilt. I still haven’t gotten anything other than the two t-shirts so far (perhaps it is the trauma of it). But if I find that guzheng, I will more than make up for the difference.

We then went to the Ming Tombs and the Sacred Way. Probably the best word to describe it was that it was peaceful, and it was another glorious day outside. We then traveled to the tombs to see some of the relics. At this point in our journey, is probably the first point where I got extremely irritated.

Annie, our tour guide, asked mom and I if we wanted to go on the Hutong optional tour tomorrow. Mom and I told her that we really didn’t discuss it much and asked how soon she needed to know. She told us that she needed to know as soon as possible.

About 10 minutes later, all the while Annie was walking along with us mind you, she said that her tour company called and wanted to know if anyone was going on the tour, and that she needed to know now. Not ONCE did I see her answer her phone, and mention anything. I didn’t like feeling lied to.

After that, and then having Annie tell mom that she needed to pay in cash, and not a credit card, our mind was made up.

We’re not seeing the Hutong. Another thing, I don’t think I could handle another propaganda sales pitch for goods and services that we don’t need!

We then travelled back to the city of Beijing, and went to a Kung Fu show. I pooh-poohed the kung fu show prior to the trip. However, I will be the first to admit: I was DEAD WRONG. Actually it was quite cool, acrobatic, and was like a modern dance with kung fu in it. It was very enjoyable.

We then went for dinner to a popular restaurant in Beijing. The interesting thing about it was that none of the tour groups were seated upstairs in the main dining room. We all were relegated by the restaurant to be seated in the basement. And, to top it all off, we were told that our food would be the same as the the lunch we were served. Oh goody…

I think the thing that was the most offensive was that here we were tucked away in the bowels of this restaurant basement, and the dinnerware we were served on looked like my niece’s play kitchenware (you know, the plastic kind that’s been mentioned in the news lately?).
After eating dinner, and heading out of the restaurant, I found it very unsettling that Annie pulled me aside and asked me if I would be willing to write a comment letter about our experience with her. I don’t know if she thinks that I would be the nicest or what, but I really felt it puts me in a very awkward position. I am going to write a letter, but unfortunately for Annie, it’s going to have some very “constructive” things included with it.

After getting back to the hotel at about 9 p.m., mom and I decided to retire to our room, we cracked open a couple of beers, and relaxed before retiring for bed. Tomorrow is another day, and I’m sure will have more interesting experiences to share.