Beijing

Thu, 26 Nov 2015 14:30:00 +0800

Packing ... Ugg

My Mama

Saying goodby to Mama

Took Carson and Chloe bowling!

Playing pool

Belinda staying up all night befire we leave

Snuggling with my girl

Midnight...

Driving to Boston

14 hours to go

Pollution.

Welcome to Beijing, China

Mí Cháng Fèng....Belinda's mom

Belinda's Mom and brother making jiaozi (dumplings)

Dinner (Sunday) parents and Wang Bin (brother)

Wáng Fèng Xiān...Belinda's dad

B's father grew these, chinese cabbage. He had a beautiful garden.

Belinda's family..her mom in red, brother Wang Bin and sister-in-law Li Huan

Supermarket..Beijing

Today Belinda's friend, Liu Yang, came to visit and we spent the day together. They were neighbors so have known each other since children.

Food is amazing

Liu Yang brought these flowers for me!

At the resort

This pool was very hot outside

The temp outside was about 20 degrees

B..haming it up!!

Liu Yang took us for lunch at their favorite restaurant

Friends and you can see some of the food we cook.

Ok the thing about China that is totally amazing is the food. This was my food...love it, my favorite.

This restaurant only has huǒguō which is hot pot. Each person has a pot on a burner with a broth and spices on it, then they bring you each a platter of fresh veggies and one of noodles and one of shaved lamb. Each person cooks their own food. So cool.

Homes here usually have a small porch type balcony inside the home because they do not have dryers. So it's 11:30 and we must end the day after hanging a load of clothes. Sleeping is still not easy from the time change.

Today we took a bus and went shopping also both got a manicure for $4...but that's the only thing that's cheap. Every other item like clothing is twice ad much as US.

Streets of Beijing

Had a wonderful time experiencing Chinese life. I feel so bad for the people here

Busy..busy..busy... Féichéng máng

Today pollution is very bad, we decided to wear masks today.

December 2 -Wednesday. Today is beautiful no pollution this was very early this morning.

Little did I know because of the pollution that this beautiful mountain was right in our backyard

Belinda's cousin Di (Wang Di) brought us for lunch and also brought us to an outlet mall she is very very sweet. I think they look very much alike and she adores B because she is younger than her and always looked up to B.

This was a lunch a wonderful mixture of fish in all kinds of vegetables and then we also had something like a fried rice

Belinda and Di at of course...Starbucks. Tricia wish you were here...I know it's your favorite.

We then decided to go for a massage and facial so we spent three hours there so so nice

I think I fell asleep three times...sisters remember when we did this in SC?

Visiting Belinda's friend today. She had a baby 2 months ago...Eric. She came to US with Belinda and stayed in Texas because her husband had business. Now back on Beijing. Began studying in Texas and we will have a lesson with her today!

This is CiCi with B and the baby. Her husband cooked us a feast. I will post pics...yumm

We studied for over 2 hours and is determined to continue even though it is difficult to do so in China . She has met a teacher there and will continue. Because her baby was born in US he cannot go to school without much expense in China so they would like to come back here but visas are difficult

CiCi's dog Neu Neu

Sweet little baby Eric

This is the menu they prepared

Cc with her husband he prepared a beautiful meal for us the Chinese are so gracious and modest

It is so crowded at one point you're up against the window

Hurried off for a 45 minute ride on the subway to get to the meeting

After the meeting a 20 minute wait for the bus outside it was really cold 15 minute ride on the bus and then a 10 minute walk home they work so hard here we are very very spoiled

A couple from another country invited us to stay with them.This is their modest dining room. At 10:00 pm it would be an hour and half ride home for us. They are here especially to help.

Of course they get up early in the morning and made us some wonderful breakfast it's amazing what they eat for breakfast greens a vegetable salad and some soup seaweed soup it was all very delicious

Was able to Skype into the daily text with Eric

This woman was a "Christian "because they are registered with the government she was preaching to us we had to run away she wanted us to come to her church they are very forceful

After breakfast we went to visit people and we ran into two friends at the bus stop.. Busy busy

The men play this game on the sidewalk..at one point the sounded very angry at each other

They had a beautiful get together for us of course more food and they really entertain you while you're there he was showing us some opera ha ha he is funny another sang for us

Some Friends enjoying each other's company

The couples home that we went to for the gathering made a beautiful lunch for us all...noodles, veggies, mushrooms and a luscious sauce.. It was so good.

I am getting pretty good at using chop sticks. They did have a fork for me but I chose to give my fingers exercise.

Some friends

She is singing for us.. A special Chinese type of singing...they are very close.. family and can only assoc. with their group. It was so very warm and loving.

My newfound friend he can speak some English he's learning and his job is making candy

View from their apartment on Beijing

After lunch and entertainment we watched a movie about the ocean life . Truly amazing creation , very interesting to do but they don't get to build faith looking at the beauty like we do it is all apartments for miles and miles..and this really was encouraging to do together

Goodnight...preview for tomorrow........THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA

This is Belinda's older cousin and husband and daughter, Emily. They treated us to the most amazing day of visiting the Great Wall, a safari, lunch, dinner and sights of the city Bejing. From 10 am to 10 pm! They appreciate what we do for Belinda.

The Great Wall is threatened by erosion, northwestern sections are deteriorating so quickly it is believed they may disappear within 20 years due to nature and humans.

It was very cold snd many of the stairs were iced.. Some of it was frightening We held on to eachother!

He who comes to China but has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man', this is a famous proverb spread in the world as well as in China

Like a giant dragon The Great Wall winds up and down accross desserts, grasslands, and mountsins for approximately 13,170 miles from east to west of China.

Over 10 million people visit the great wall each year with the most famous section being Badaling , which we visited. Many heads of states visit from around the world.

With a history of more than 2000 years, some sections are now in ruins or have disappeared .. some destroyed by man such as during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) many bricks were taken to build homes, farms or reservoirs.

The Great Wall labor force included soldiers, forcibly-recruited peasants, convicts, and POWs.

Besides the soldiers, almost every emperor forced (male) farmers to help build the Great Wall. Many peasants were worked to death and were buried inside the wall.

During its construction, the Great Wall was called “the longest cemetery on earth” because so many people died building it. Reportedly, it cost the lives of more than one million people.

Our shadow on the steps ... Made from granite slabs

Contrary to common belief, the Great Wall of China cannot be seen from space with the naked eye. It can be seen with aid.

There are also some real characters in China. This guy had music blasting and was curling weights while climbing!

Watchtowers were built at regular intervals along the Great Wall and could be up to 40 feet tall. They were used as lookouts and fortresses as well as for housing garrisons of troops and stockpiled supplies

Oh yes....then there was food

This is "hot pot" a rice soup and this one had shrimp and crab in it. Everyone loves "zhōu" as they call it.

Wanted to put full size pics of the buildings because they are so beautiful in color. They change colors too.

semi-transparent "cube", with "bubbles" spread out all over its surface, is a shape very similar to the structure of "H2O", the outlook for the National Swimming Center at the 2008 Olympic Games.

National Swimming Center "Water Cube"

Ling Long Pagoda

The Ling Long Pagoda or Linglong Tower "Ling Long" (玲珑) means delicate, and is referred to as the Delicate Tower in Chinese.Multifunctional Studio Tower[5]) (玲珑塔[6]) houses a part of the International Broadcast Center (IBC)

Olympic Observation Tower

Completed and opened in 2014, the 246.8-metre-tall (810 ft) Olympic Park Observation Tower's five circular roofs are meant to evoke the Olympic rings. It is the sixth tallest observation tower in China and the 22nd highest in the world

National Stadium "Bird's Nest"

Went to my favorite place and even commented twice...they said I spoke well but feel like they probably didn't know what I said. Just want to speak it ......

A group of friends took us for lunch

There were 15 of us and probably as many types of food. Very different from what we get in US Chinese restaurant and very delicious.

After lunch we met Ivy, a friend of someone in US. She was sweet, traveled by dìtiě (subway) an hour to see us. Our friend in US made the hat for her and she loves it.

I couldn't resist this face of a child in KFC where we met Ivy. The children here are beautiful...well they are everywhere but this little girl was so cute. This is for you, dk2dk xxoo

Today we went shopping in Nanluoguxiang, it's a one of the best preserved historical areas in downtown Beijing and it's famous for its little shops clothing handcrafted things .. many silk shawls.. local artist put handcrafted items in shops or on the streets. architecture is of the Yuan Dynasty 1271-1368

Entrance to Nanluoguxiang shopping

Streets of Nanluoguxiang.. So fun

Of course lunch... Delicious fish and none other than "pizza" it was good

Sweet Di...B's cousin took us. She can drive, although I don't know why you would... It's so different and scary, but all what you get used to.

Thought this old bike was cool... They actually use them

Some buildings are not kept up

It has made me think of how wet tend to care for things more than some.. This is not a rare sight. A worker uses this but probably has no place to clean it so there it stays and this I show it is used.

A little 'market' in a courtyard. Probably only 4' x 8 ' Interesting

People find ways to make money..the guy in black will let you take pics with him for $

These little carts are everywhere. Hundreds of them, it is how many make a living.

One child

Something that I've come to notice is the one child families. Only time I saw 2 children with family was twins. They carry child everywhere like a prized package, as it is! I'll post more as I see them everywhere.

On our way home!!! Di can drive in this..

Belinda's cousin and wife took us out today to a ... like barbeque buffet. Each table had a grill thing and you choose food and cook it at the table. I had fish and veggies and actually they had a salad too. Seldom have salads here so i was happy.

Belinda with Emily who parents took us to Great Wall and cousin's wife with their 2 year old. Names are difficult here. And they use their whole name when speaking of each other. Like B calls her brother Wang Bin .. Wang is their family name.

Cousin and other cousin's husband. . That took us to great wall. They are so kind and generous.

We went to her uncle's house after. Lives in a building on the main street of the area and her aunt has a fabric shop on the first floor and they live upstairs. She also makes quilts in the shop. Not like sis's Cindy's quilts.......love my sis

These tiny taxies are everywhere. This one is beautiful but some are very scary.Belinda won't use them bc says they are dangerous.. crazy driving here, almost like no rules but never see accidents.. no sirens, few police . So different.. The mayhem just works for them??

The streets all have people trying to sell their goods or people selling cooked foods. .there is something everywhere.

Another 1 child with mom and grandparents. Here in China the grandparents are very much a part of the child's life and families are very very close. People in general are very cold bc there are so many people and they are just surviving.

Off to Beijing Center to my favorite place tonight.. :) Subway...people, people, people

People, again getting to wherethey need to be

Starbucks .. Everywhere

Entrance to a mall...a little time to shop but bought nothing. Twice as much as US butmade here

One child with grandmother

Traffic at 6:00 as we walked to tonight's gathering

Subway home 1.5 hours then a taxi bed at midnight.!

Next morning on a train to Jinan to visit with one of my students.

Out the train window

Shawn and Michelle Shawn is continuing her study in China. Janet... It's amazing what is happening from your hard work. Thank you.

Shawn' s husband, we named Joshua, is an associate professor at Shandong University . His field is quantum physics.

Joshua is amazing with Michelle and a wonderful guy. He appreciates our teaching Shawn because he said it has helped her to be a better person, with a positive attitude.

Jinan, capital of Shandong province which has history from the earliest beginnings of civilization often referred to as the "Spring City" for its well-known72 artesian springs. Population..6,813,984 (2010) Everywhere in China they are removing the villages and erecting apt. Buildings.

We spent the weekend with Shawn and her family in Jinan.. this is center of the city.

The children ride on motor bikes, back of carts, or even in cars without seat belts! All in crazy traffic.

Her baby, Michelle, almost a year.Shawn got pregnant just when we began her on line study. Michelle will be a year January 19. Out all day and she never cried once.

A beautiful garden with canals with fish and also otters

Beautiful garden in Jinan

Pools of fish everywhere, just beautiful.

Yes.... Walmart, but quite different from US.

Wang Bin picked us up at train station and we went for food and shopping. He and Belinda are very close but fight like brothers and sisters do.. she's the boss.

In the mall where we ate they have all sorts of activities for children.

Funny.. many times see people sleeping in public. They are hard workers and most work 6/12 hour days

Grandmother

Had lunch at grandmothers' today. She is not well so Belinda's mother and aunt go everyday to care for her.

Aunt and uncle.

December 14o

December 15....finally clearing pollution, my throat is not good so happy it is clearing up. Just stay home, clean, laundry and study today.

At our friends in Center Beijing for 4 days. Today we go to Temple of Heaven sightseeing.

Will spend 4 days with friends in Center Beijing. Getting ready to go sightseeing one day.

The Temple buildings and the parklands reflect ancient Chinese religious beliefs that imagine heaven as round and earth as square. Thus, the buildings in the temple are constructed on a central axis. The temples themselves are round and the bases square

Went to visit Temple of Heaven.. Constructed in 1400's. A massive complex where emperor would come to pray for a good harvest without which he wouldn't be considered favored by god.

Beautiful tiles everywhere.. All roof tiles are blur representing sky.

Emperor would sacrifice to god hoping for favor in harvest

People gathered everywhere, singing, dancing...performing a very social place. Older ones come to dance and exercise together. Younger perform their talents.

Beautiful

Friends

Beautiful ceiling tiles and columns everywhere

Very different...Chinese parents want their children married.. There were rows and rows of parents with papers on the ground describing their perspective marriage partner hoping to find a match for their child..only the children won't go along with arranged marriages anymore!

Met up with one of Jim King's friends..Wei

After our day of sightseeing went out with my friend to teach .. This mother loves to study and her child is amazing with understanding. I spent some time also helping her to read English. Got a big hug when I left...

A good breakfast before Saturday work. First a bus ride to the group then all day service.. "party" tonight...they work very hard. We are babies.

Another street food place...kinda like a bakery I guess

Early morning

Every street lined with sellers of goods.. Early Saturday morning.. All day 7 days a week to make a living..

Food on the street

Lines, lines and more lines. Wherever you go you must wait for transportation, but they do it quietly and patiently because it is what they must do. Although you don't cut a line you would get pushed out!

Great food....amazing friends

One thing very hard for me because of my "unbalanced" love of animals. Many don't have homes and animals don't have rights in China so have cried and must put out of mind some scenes

Of course break for lunch with group had a great morning met 2 nice women in stores that took some reading material.

Selling fruits till late night

Still selling goods at 9:30 at night and they will be out the next morning. There are hundreds and hundreds of these on the streets.

After party..people always selling and eating all times of the day. Most don't cook at home and street food is the norm.

This is the "parking lot" at Temple Heaven... Try finding your bike after your tour!

Belinda's parents drove to pick us up which saved us from buses and subways... Then dinner. :)

Monday we had to do errands.. I would never get used to the public bathrooms here... Yeck!

As we were walking down the street had to take this pic.. Another sleeper. . I see a lot of this ...life here is hard.

Today we went to Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City with Belinda's parents

The views must be beautiful on a clear day, but that's not been the case for our visit.

On the north side of the Forbidden City is Jingshan Park with a 150 ft. hill constructed from soil excavated in forming the moats of the Imperial Palace. Claiming to the top was like climbing Mount Major( at least for me!)

Tiananmen Square is at the north gate of the Forbidden City, said to be the largest square in the world and can hold one million people

Picture of Mao Zedong on Tiananmen gate. He was the founder of the People's Republic of China (1893-1976)

The square itself is open with neither trees nor benches and is lit with large lampposts which are fitted with video cameras

The area is heavily monitored by uniformed and plain clothes policemen. Outside China, it is best known for 1989 protests which ended with the shooting of several hundred, or possibly thousands of civilians by soldiers and a declaration of martial law.

The Forbidden City is very large consisting of 980 buildings separated by many courtyards and hallways. Named "Forbidden" as none were allowed in or out without the emperor's permission.

Gilded lion in front of one of the many palaces. Similar ones are throughout thought to be guardian lions.

Imperial roof decoration

These bronze vats are throughout the city, both for decoration and reservoirs incase of fire. Each weighs 4 tons and can hold 4 tons of water. There are 308 vats in the Forbidden City.

So many large buildings used for ceremonies and all having a throne inside.. They were very repetitive ..and intricate no wonder he didn't want the poor peasants to see how he lived. His family of wives etc. and servants lived within the city.

This is how the sun looks because of pollution and could barely see the airplane above us

Out to dinner with Belinda's family.. Last night

Beijing Airport is so open with lights and high ceilings, very beautiful.

Landed in Chicago 9:10 am to people..people.. people.. Ice storm and storms out west and holiday caused a mess. People sleeping everywhere for days.. Probably not getting out of here tonight :(

Our Trip to China

Journey End,

Beijing