Beijing: Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City

newbiexnomad — Sat, 9 Jul 2011 09:22:00 GMT

In all honesty, right now I'm feeling pretty cynical. The day rushed by in a blur and I can't believe the speed at which we zoom through things. So here goes the day: woke at 6 30 to the subtle roar of the Beijing commute, scampered down to a unique breakfast: veal sausage, dried tofu strips & congee (also a kelp salad which was pretty good though the deep green strips were thicker than I expected); continued on to Tian An Men Square to be accosted by less-than-honest people (selling fans at 50 yuan a piece, or 8 USD for poor quality souvenirs), saw Mao still exalted on the famous gate and meandered into the fabulous Forbidden City. While inside, magnificent palaces with intricate blue, teal, and emerald designs across elegant pagoda roofs grace the eyes; and there are photo ops galore. We were even invited for a shot with the natives! The greatest disadvantage was background. A few exhibits were scattered throughout and I simply could not fathom their importance. For example, while brass statues of ancient deities, with impeccable detail are delightful, I lack the knowledge of what each god & goddess meant to the people. After encountering an alluring stone hill upon which the emperor's mistresses lived their lives, we headed out to lunch. This meal was the second to be served in a lazy-susan-buffet style. Vegan entrees included a cucumber-kelp concoction, fried eggplant, American fries with ketchup and a fourth utterly immemorial dish. As this was a tasting of China's bland fraction of their typically decadent munchies, a Luna Bar saved the day (and my stomach) once all restaurant staff were sufficiently out of sight and I was in the cushioned comfort of People to People's designated bus. Another slow-moving journey through Beijing's traffic left us at Beijing's culinary school for high school students (their official name has been omitted due to security and memory issues). Escorted by our amiable tour guide Jack, we were greeted indoors by a banner and message board welcoming our group to their school, a jaw-dropping awe-inspiring sweet gesture. Snapping a few photos as we strolled, we joined three women dressed in traditional Chinese blouses, shaded in pinks and greens; a tea connoisseur, who also appeared to be the fashion it-girl; and smart-looking management, who assumedly runs the school. Four teas were downed in twelve sips (traditionally in China, one drinks tea in 5 mL gulps as this was proven to be the way to obtain the most nutritional value from the tea), which was pleasantly interrupted with two graceful tea ceremonies performed by the students. Although I believe such ceremonies would be tedious in an everyday setting (as was likely only possible for emperors), the blatant elegance and masterful execution of this ancient tradition -tea culture goes back 5000 years!- is humbling, while provoking a certain little green monster in the mind. In order, our delegation was presented with Dragon Long (insert rest of name here) tea, which is the most popular in China and possesses a subtle flavor; followed by black tea, a crowd-pleaser among Americans, the strong tea was less bitter than I find similar types in America to be; oolong tea was next, a light tea I purchased and is the favorite tea of our tea connoisseur; last was jasmine, a flowery tea that frankly had a better scent than taste but was nonetheless quite tasty. Chef mania followed, and our group split into two (divided odds and evens), one learned the art of miniature dough roses, while mine rolled dumplings. While the miniscule task may be simple to the Chinese, I personally experienced difficulty gauging proper amounts of filling. The carnivores devoured their mid-afternoon snack and the bus departed for dinner. Upon arrival, Jack explained in detail the Chinese zodiac. Shockingly, he informed us that names are used more commonly in Chinese matchmaking than zodiac years, though both are used. Consuming a bit too many oil-soaked vegetables, we finished dinner and returned to the comfortable four-star Ariva hotel to have my patience tested by two of the slowest, yet most appreciated Macs computers I have ever been cursedly blessed to know. Here are some general cultural realizations:

Q: Do the Chinese have dogs?

A: Yes, indeed, they walk them along the sidewalks of Beijing.

Q: Do the Chinese own guns?

A: No, guns are illegal; even cops don't carry any, such weapons are locked away in their arsenal.

Q: Do the Chinese have parasols?

A: Yes! Including gorgeous umbrellas with embellishments that shimmer in the sun.

Biggest mistake: Clothing. Beijing's women are fashionable!

Funniest character: male vendor bouncing bouncy balls while singing "one dollar to one dollar"

Best experience: Tea time

Lots of love to home,

Sydney <3

Bound

newbiexnomad — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 04:17:00 GMT

Bound. One word to encompass everything that is me. Bound to a quaint Midwest town with a homogenous ethnicity and language. Murmurs of Mandarin never echo the perfectly paved streets in this land known notoriously as "The Bubble". In the future brochures of our town I imagine the following concise, albeit politically incorrect paragraph:

Welcome to the Midwest! While exploring the lush 26 square miles of this town, you will discover a plethora of interesting things to do. Begin in the "downtown" area with a scattering of shops that will be of interest for all of one day. Then travel two miles down the road to our park, blessed with a petite lake and marvelous trail, which has been traveled at least 40 times by local residents. You will be amazed that they continue to find this trail delightful after numerous repeat visits. After the refreshing walk, venture down to the local grocery store to pick up the two ingredients necessary for a scrumptious supper: meat and buns. We hope you enjoy your stay among our "diverse" inhabitants.

Hopefully, this accurately portrays my point. While home is claimed to be where the heart is, such a dullness has worn drastically at my patience to travel. And finally, God has sent me a one-way ticket out! My apologizes. I meant round-trip. Apparently not all of a sixteen-year-old's prays can be answered. Yet as I am bound to my bubble, I am bound for a world of new wonders, namely the People's Republic of China. It's full, official name seems to only stimulate the allure of such a foreign land. Instead of dreaming of sugarplum faeries and candy canes, I am dreaming of tofu, rice paddies, and Mandarin Chinese. And in eight days, I will sprint, to the dismay of all present security, onto a plane. A plane that will take me on my first journey of a lifetime.

China: Cultural Complications of a First-Time Traveler

Beijing: Tian An Men Square and the Forbidden City

Bound