I woke up a bit disoriented this morning. I lost a day in travel having left at 3pm on Thursday afternoon from Beijing and arriving at 2:20pm on Thursday afternoon in Toronto. It is cold and snowy here and everyone seems to have adjusted to the new weather. I feel like I am in the twilight zone.... again.
The last two days in Beijing were spent doing touristy things. We went to Ti an an Min square and other than the impressive facts that is can host 1 million people and houses Chairman Mao's mausoleum I could have given it a pass on that freezing December day. The Forbidden city was interesting, but again cold and crowded and really somewhat repetitive - seen one room seen 'em all - in its hugeness. I am sure it is much more impressive, and crowded, in the spring. Shopping was fun and we had a few more taxi adventures but, for the most part, everyone was keen to get their new families home.
My cousin and her daughters felt that they had accomplished what they came for and were keen to go home and see their father whose business requirements allowed me to be the replacement. I found the whole experience very educational from a myriad of perspectives. I learnt a lot about adopted families, different parenting strategies and reactions to children's personalities, what it is like to travel with someone else's children under fairly stressful circumstances and to observe another country and culture, not so much as a tourist, or an ex-pat, but as a outsider looking in. I was most impressed by the generosity and genuine welcome we received from all of the Chinese people that we interacted with. I was also impressed by the effect that man can have on his environment and felt that China should serve as a warning to the rest of the world of what will happen to all of us if we don't take the negative impact we have on our environment seriously.
Bye for now. Thanks for reading. Until the next travel adventure.........
Friday, December 7, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Day 12 - The Great Wall of China
What a day! We started out at 9:30 and drove just under two hours to a fairly remote section of the Great Wall. As we left the city and approached the wall we could see jaggedy mountain and bits of the wall as it snaked its wall across the highest points of each mountain. From the parking lot at the bottom we still had to climb a steep cobble stone road to many, many steps before we could access the cable car that would take us most of the way to the top. For many able bodied people this is a hard breathing climb, but for us it had its own unique challenges. The only male in our group of eight certainly had his work cut out for him as the remaining seven females consisted of four children age 3, 5, 7 and 11, two middle aged women each with their own aches and weaknesses and one middle aged very fit, but confined to a wheelchair, woman. As Christo pushed Marg up the gauntlet of aggressive souvenir sellers we sucked in the cleanest air so far this trip as we panted our way to the bottom of the stairs. The stairs presented yet another enthusiastic challenge for our group as Christo and I carried Marg and chair up to the landing pad of the cable car, while Steph herded our group of girls up.
The cable car was great fun. Once again Steph and young females took one car, while Christo carried Marg and I carried chair into the cable car ridden in by none other than Bill Clinton on his visit to the same locale. On arriving at the top of the pretty ride we were presented with more stairs to the lookout just beneath the wall itself. Huffing and puffing and quite pleased with ourselves we all gazed out in wonder as we unpopped our ears and took in the fantastically rough vista. Then it was the stairs of the wall itself. Each step was a different height and sometimes more then knee height in rise. I realised that I couldn't help Christo with this task so he put Marg on his back and the two of them laughed their way up the difficult rise. I carried the chair and Steph herded the girls who climbed any way the could up the stairs and onto the wall itself. We made it! And it was well worth the effort. We all glowed with our accomplishment and marvelled at how the Mongols could possibly have overcome the 2400km long towering wall through this unbelievably harsh terrain.
Walking along the wall was an almost spiritual experience. Because of the time of year and the weather there were few other walkers besides ourselves and I could hear each of my footfalls and the swish of my bag as I gingerly stepped up and down the ramps, steps and ladders. The cool clear air was invigorating and the view of the Wall stretching as far as the eye could see in either direction was amazing. Too soon the children had had enough and we all made our way for the equally exciting challenge of getting down. Despite the cold Christo peeled off his outer coverings and carried Marg first on his back and then in her chair down the hundreds of stairs, in and out of the cable car, and down the incredibly steep cobbled road to the bottom. We were all thrilled about our excursion and stopped along the way at a pretty restaurant to talk about it.
Upon returning to Beijing the other three adults headed off to the Markets to complete their Christmas and family gift shopping while I took the four girls swimming. And now three hours later we are getting ready to head off to our favourite Mongolian restaurant. A fitting place to spend the evening given the events of the day.
Take care and see you soon.
The cable car was great fun. Once again Steph and young females took one car, while Christo carried Marg and I carried chair into the cable car ridden in by none other than Bill Clinton on his visit to the same locale. On arriving at the top of the pretty ride we were presented with more stairs to the lookout just beneath the wall itself. Huffing and puffing and quite pleased with ourselves we all gazed out in wonder as we unpopped our ears and took in the fantastically rough vista. Then it was the stairs of the wall itself. Each step was a different height and sometimes more then knee height in rise. I realised that I couldn't help Christo with this task so he put Marg on his back and the two of them laughed their way up the difficult rise. I carried the chair and Steph herded the girls who climbed any way the could up the stairs and onto the wall itself. We made it! And it was well worth the effort. We all glowed with our accomplishment and marvelled at how the Mongols could possibly have overcome the 2400km long towering wall through this unbelievably harsh terrain.
Walking along the wall was an almost spiritual experience. Because of the time of year and the weather there were few other walkers besides ourselves and I could hear each of my footfalls and the swish of my bag as I gingerly stepped up and down the ramps, steps and ladders. The cool clear air was invigorating and the view of the Wall stretching as far as the eye could see in either direction was amazing. Too soon the children had had enough and we all made our way for the equally exciting challenge of getting down. Despite the cold Christo peeled off his outer coverings and carried Marg first on his back and then in her chair down the hundreds of stairs, in and out of the cable car, and down the incredibly steep cobbled road to the bottom. We were all thrilled about our excursion and stopped along the way at a pretty restaurant to talk about it.
Upon returning to Beijing the other three adults headed off to the Markets to complete their Christmas and family gift shopping while I took the four girls swimming. And now three hours later we are getting ready to head off to our favourite Mongolian restaurant. A fitting place to spend the evening given the events of the day.
Take care and see you soon.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Day 11 - Shopping in Beijing
For those of you that know me, you will know that I hate shopping. I don't even grocery shop unless I absolutely have to. So you will be amazed to know that not only did I spend the entire day shopping, but that I attended two of the biggest Markets in Beijing and took great pleasure in haggling. In fact I was able to purchase almost all of my Christmas presents in addition to the obligatory returning home gifts.
This shop was somewhat different in that I set out in the morning with my cousin and her two daughters. We taxied our way to the Ya Xie Market where all of the local people and ex-pats shop. There we met Margaret's brother and sister-in-law, their eleven year old daughter and their newly adopted three year old daughter. Normally I wouldn't even consider this type of shopping with my own children let alone a three year old. Yet somehow the excitement of the bartering experience and the exotic items on offer made the whole adventure great fun for everyone. After lunch we headed off to the famous Silk Market. Seven floors of packed flea market type stalls. By four thirty I was sure that my arms were six inches longer and my feet considerably flatter. With the exception of three year old Zhu Wei the other girls were still game for more shopping. But we called it a day and headed back to our hotel where we congratulated each other on our successes and oohed and ahhed over the various novel items we had discovered and acquired. What fun!
For the first night in eleven days the eight of us called in room service and I listened while Margaret, Christo and Steph remembered fondly their past and present adoption experiences. They talked about their groups that travelled together and still have annual get-togethers. They discussed the various up and downs, thrills, joys and fears that the adoption experience involved. As a mother of five natural children I could have never imagined the very special experience that the adoption process is - and watching the love and closeness of the adopted daughters and their parents I know that adoption is truly a gift for everyone involved.
Tomorrow we are off to the Great Wall. We have discussed the various options of places to see it. We have chosen a medium distance location, not as popular with the tourists and full of difficult approaches with cobbled stones and may stairs. Christo will piggy back Marg if necessary and Steph and I will guide the children and carry the wheel chair. We are all keen to take on our next adventure together.
I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow..
This shop was somewhat different in that I set out in the morning with my cousin and her two daughters. We taxied our way to the Ya Xie Market where all of the local people and ex-pats shop. There we met Margaret's brother and sister-in-law, their eleven year old daughter and their newly adopted three year old daughter. Normally I wouldn't even consider this type of shopping with my own children let alone a three year old. Yet somehow the excitement of the bartering experience and the exotic items on offer made the whole adventure great fun for everyone. After lunch we headed off to the famous Silk Market. Seven floors of packed flea market type stalls. By four thirty I was sure that my arms were six inches longer and my feet considerably flatter. With the exception of three year old Zhu Wei the other girls were still game for more shopping. But we called it a day and headed back to our hotel where we congratulated each other on our successes and oohed and ahhed over the various novel items we had discovered and acquired. What fun!
For the first night in eleven days the eight of us called in room service and I listened while Margaret, Christo and Steph remembered fondly their past and present adoption experiences. They talked about their groups that travelled together and still have annual get-togethers. They discussed the various up and downs, thrills, joys and fears that the adoption experience involved. As a mother of five natural children I could have never imagined the very special experience that the adoption process is - and watching the love and closeness of the adopted daughters and their parents I know that adoption is truly a gift for everyone involved.
Tomorrow we are off to the Great Wall. We have discussed the various options of places to see it. We have chosen a medium distance location, not as popular with the tourists and full of difficult approaches with cobbled stones and may stairs. Christo will piggy back Marg if necessary and Steph and I will guide the children and carry the wheel chair. We are all keen to take on our next adventure together.
I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow..
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Day 9 & 10 Chang Sha to Beijing
I have to combine today's as yesterday the results of my second attempt at eating Sichwaun food came in. Whatever spice that is added to the food, definitely does not agree with me and it was touch and go as to whether I would actually be able to get onto the plane. Fortunately the security guys let me through and with great self-control I made it to the plane. We did make it to Beijing by mid-afternoon, at which point I was well on the way to recovery. Needless to say that night I was pretty careful about what I ate!
Today we had a thoroughly touristy day and it was great fun. We spent the morning at the Beijing Aquarium and Zoo. The Aquarium was most impressive boasting a dolphin show, a shark exhibit and a magnificent coral exhibit that you can walk under, through, around and view from above. The rich coral was amazing complete with many different species of fish, sea turtles, rays, eels and other reef animals. Riding the escalator which goes through a glassed in tunnel through the reef was spectacular. The kids were as enthralled as we are. Unfortunately the Zoo was not as careful with the animal habitats and it was quite disheartening to see single elephants in iron bar cages. Even the Pandas were in pretty bleak enclosures. Quite a contrast to the Aquarium.
In the evening we took in the Chinese Acrobatic show and I have to admit to a bit of anxiety for the safety of the performers as they completed acts that did not look humanly possible. The set changes and music was spectacular and it was an exhilarating act. Dinner tonight was more Mongolian hot pot. Yummy.
Tomorrow we are off to the various street markets to buy Christmas presents while Christo and Steph take their new daughter for her health exam in order to get her passport. Five days until we leave and still so much to see!
Today we had a thoroughly touristy day and it was great fun. We spent the morning at the Beijing Aquarium and Zoo. The Aquarium was most impressive boasting a dolphin show, a shark exhibit and a magnificent coral exhibit that you can walk under, through, around and view from above. The rich coral was amazing complete with many different species of fish, sea turtles, rays, eels and other reef animals. Riding the escalator which goes through a glassed in tunnel through the reef was spectacular. The kids were as enthralled as we are. Unfortunately the Zoo was not as careful with the animal habitats and it was quite disheartening to see single elephants in iron bar cages. Even the Pandas were in pretty bleak enclosures. Quite a contrast to the Aquarium.
In the evening we took in the Chinese Acrobatic show and I have to admit to a bit of anxiety for the safety of the performers as they completed acts that did not look humanly possible. The set changes and music was spectacular and it was an exhilarating act. Dinner tonight was more Mongolian hot pot. Yummy.
Tomorrow we are off to the various street markets to buy Christmas presents while Christo and Steph take their new daughter for her health exam in order to get her passport. Five days until we leave and still so much to see!
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