Blog : Am Back...(Part II)

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11/3/2007 11:31 am

Am Back...(Part II)

Day 3 ‒ Started the day with a tour of a jade factory, where I fell in love with a beautiful jade that was on sale (only 250 US dolla, Madam!). I grit my teeth and told myself I would probably never pass this way again, and decided to make the purchase. Youngyoung, our wonderful tour guide, helped me along, haggling with the salesperson to bring the price down to 200 US. Satisfied smiles all around, until I turned the , and the tail caught at another piece with a resounding plink, then fell off. Horrified silence all around. Youngyoung, quick thinking tour guide that she was, started talking VERY fast and VERY loud. Finally the sales manager comes over, more quick talking from Youngyoung, he nods his head in resignation, and I was told to choose another piece, no extra charge. Apparently Youngyoung told him she knew they would just polish the tail down into an acceptable nub, and that I shouldn't be charged or she would never bring any group back there again. Numb with relief, I clutch my replacement jade back to the bus. Then we were off to the Great Wall.

It was COLD. Bloody cold. So cold I would've worn everything I brought along with me, AND my suitcase, if I could have. The wind was whipping at our coats and my ears felt like they would fall off. Probably balmy weather for a Canadian, but for a girl from this side of the equator, it was effin cold. Hubby and I started to climb some flights up, but after about 4 tiers I finally got winded and took a rest at one of the watch towers. The steps were uneven, some cracked and chipped, and I stare in amazement at some Chinese senior citizens making their way up past us without even being out of breath. Must be something in the tofu, I mutter to hubby.

I have two coats on, the red woolen number and a thin polyester trench coat atop it, scarf wound round my head. I have some pictures snapped in this ridiculous get up and I look like a Midget Sasquatch Bag Lady with a turban (and no, it will never see the light of day, those pictures). Hubby wants to keep going up. I jokingly threaten him with annulment if he makes me hike up another step. He relents and starts helping me down. I descend like an arthritic crab, both hands on the railing, gingerly planting one foot at a time on each step down to the base. The Great Wall takes my breath away. I imagine the Mongol hordes on horseback swarming down, and I feel a sense of awe at the sort of expert horsemanship they must have had, to have conquered these slopes. The mountains around me are covered with fall foliage, and, despite the cold, I find the whole place wildly beautiful.

We take a quick tour of the Ming tombs, but weren't really able to see much of interest. Hated the fact that we were having abbreviated versions of everything due to the delayed flight.

Evening finds us watching a Chinese Acrobat Show. One act had 14 riders balancing atop a single bicycle, and hubby and I snicker to ourselves about how that must've been the mode of public transport before vans and buses were invented. Brother in law remarked that the circus act he saw at the Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas also had Chinese acrobats for the more difficult stunts. I find the whole show fascinating---how quickly and gracefully they moved, how effortless they made everything seem.

Day 4 ‒ Last day in Beijing. We visit the Temple of Heaven, and we finally get to see how Beijing people spend their leisure time. It was very interesting to see people of all ages engaged in physical activity of one sort or another---a group here learning how to ballroom dance, another group there practicing Tai Chi, still another group over yonder refining their wushu moves. I watch another group of older women twirling ribbons, and stop to listen to a male duo playing very haunting music on Chinese string instruments. Groups of no younger than 60somethings playing poker or Chinese checkers, being heckled by their peers. All around us were people, people, people.

And yes, they now have better toilets in Beijing.

I'm dyslexic. I scream Ho instead of Oh God in the throes of passion.