The Great Wall of China

This is a section of the wall called Juyong Guan. Supposedly not so touristy as the most popular spot called Badaling, but there certainly was a good crowd there. Being that the wall goes on for several thousand miles most of it is not restored and we had requested to go to one of these sections for a more authentic experience. Unfortunately our guide wouldn't take us for "insurance" reasons, he said someone died trying to hike an unrestored section. Over cautious Chinese is a common theme here. In all honesty, when I got there and took on the steep climb I was happy to have stable footing.

Travel buddy Simon, don't worry not me Mom.

The higher you got the more the crowds thinned out.

Preparing for the Olympics

I am in love with these Olympic Mascots. They're so cute and clever. Our tour guide Micheal was annoyed with us girls because every time we saw a Olympic store we wanted to go in and he hated these mascots. Olympic Scrooge! He believed it's a mascot and there should be only one, but as a team they're a perfect representation for the spirit of the games. Each the color of the Olympic rings-Beibei the fish, Jingjing the Panda, Huanhuan the Olympic Flame, Yingying the Antelope and Nini the Swallow. Putting the names together Bei Jing Huan Ying Ni means welcome to Beijing. They seek to unite the world in peace and friendship though the Olympic Spirit. One world, one dream is the 2008 motto.This is a New York Times photo, I didn't get to climb any scaffolding:( But the picture I took in passing didn't come out so good. This is the Olympic stadium which they are calling the birds nest, just like our theater. Not that I'm biased or anything but I think our theater is much prettier. I got to look into it, it must be the same architect. The blue cube in front of it is for the aquatic sports. Now that's very cool, close up it looks like a mix between seran wrap and bubbles. Water will flow between the walls. I guess it's the most expensive structure of it's kind.

Hanging in the Hutong

We stayed an extra day in Beijing which left us to find our own hotel the third night. Emily and I ventured into the Hutong, to find ourselves some accomadations.

We found a spot that would suffice for one night. Worth the experience but wouldn't care to stay there longer. A room equipped with a toilet and shower in one, but hey at least it wasn't a squat. And the room being ten dollars, I'd still say it was a deal. No it wasn't your usual hotel service, when Emily and I returned to the hotel that evening the lights to the lobby where off and a man was sleeping in a bed that had been rolled out from who knows where. I thought is that our security? Before we went to bed we put our bags against the door, just for a little shuffle warning should someone try to get into our room. Sure enough early in the morning I hear the door rattling, next thing we know the window next to the door is being slid open and we see an arm reach around to open the door from the inside. I jumped up to open the door and said excuse me. It was a confused Chinese man and women looking at me so I just gave them a confused look back and shut the door. And, that was that, I just went back to bed without any more disturbances.

Door Knockers

They certainly have a lot of door knockers around Beijing, but they don't really vary too much.

The can't help themselves to be soo sweet

The last few hours in Xi'an

By the city wall we met a local who was eager to show us around his city and practice English. We had our heart set on going to Hua Shan, a scenic mountain spot, or to a Panda Hospital but there just weren't enough hours in the day. So a nice alternative he took us to this park. Simon bought this umbrella to help shade her from the sun, which all the Chinese do. Not so much these old fashion ones, usually just a common ol' umbrella. But these work just as well, perhaps just a little cheesy.

This is our local friend, western name Richard. He brought along his cousin who didn't have western name and can't even try to say what it was. A lot of Chinese come up with Western names. Actually there's kind of a cute thing on Youtube about it. There's this girl who is doing a take off of Sex in the City- it's called Sexy Beijing and this particular episode she is asking people about there "Western" names. It's pretty funny.

Kids in Hamster Balls

The Biggest Water Show in China

By the Dayan Pagoda Richard took us this water show.