Tomorrow, Joe and I check out at 5:30am. (yikes.) We head to the airport for a three hour flight to Chengdu, Sichuan. We will meet our guide, review the schedule for the week, shop (water!) and rest as we prepare to meet Levi on MONDAY.
It feels like we've been gone for weeks--yet this is only our third night in Beijing. It feels like we've done, seen and experienced so much--but we've only been warming up for the main event.
Please pray for Levi, that God will prepare his heart for a smooth transition to our family. Please pray for me (and Joe) that we can be servant-hearted and show Levi the great love of Jesus from the moment we meet him.
We are still a little jet-lagged, but I feel better than I remember feeling the last two times through. I still feel apprehensive about this next part without Jessemyn's great skill as a mom. However, Joe is a great help. And I've got two rounds of "gotcha-day experience" to help me through.
AND I have a great Father in heaven and the support of your prayers.
8.22.2015
The Great Wall of China
We were privileged to climb on the Great Wall of China today. An amazing day to be sure, enhanced by amazing weather. Our guide kept telling us how good (and rare) such a day is. Very sunny and clear blue skies.
Remember that Military review that shut down Central Beijing, causing us to change hotels for tonight? Apparently, it may be responsible for the lack of smog. The Government ordered no BBQ, or factory work in the area since they decreed the shut-down plans, and it has helped to clear the skies. Cool.
Please remind me of this when (also because of the shut down) I have to take a 9:30PM-12:30 AM flight into Beijing on the way home in a week and a half (with Levi!) :-)
The Great Wall is simply astounding. It is another incredible accomplishment built literally on the backs of millions of commoners, soldiers and convicts. Our guide said it is called the "wall of bodies" because of the vast number of people who died and were basically buried among its stones during its construction over a 1600 year period. Did the people building this appreciate their service to their homeland? curse their lot? imagine that one day people would marvel at the results of their labor?
It truly is a wonder.
Joe and I took a cable car up to the main section of the wall with our guide. She walked with us for a while and took leave for us explore further along on our own.
This section is one of six "gates" around Beijing and the furthest away from the central part of the city. It's highest sections are over 5,000 feet above sea level. The map shows 23 signal towers on this section. We explored the sections between towers 12 and 23.
It was hot. We sweat buckets and drank almost all of the water we carried. Portions of the wall are incredibly steep--70 degrees? It's a great work out climbing stone steps unevenly spaced.
And what views! Simply spectacular. Whether looking down into the valleys, across to other mountain peaks, or out over the expanse of the Wall continuing in both directions, the views are breathtaking. You can see across to other towers, the roofs of which are now sprouting greenery from years of inactivity, the sections of the wall in between demolished.
Here are a few pictures:
Remember that Military review that shut down Central Beijing, causing us to change hotels for tonight? Apparently, it may be responsible for the lack of smog. The Government ordered no BBQ, or factory work in the area since they decreed the shut-down plans, and it has helped to clear the skies. Cool.
Please remind me of this when (also because of the shut down) I have to take a 9:30PM-12:30 AM flight into Beijing on the way home in a week and a half (with Levi!) :-)
The Great Wall is simply astounding. It is another incredible accomplishment built literally on the backs of millions of commoners, soldiers and convicts. Our guide said it is called the "wall of bodies" because of the vast number of people who died and were basically buried among its stones during its construction over a 1600 year period. Did the people building this appreciate their service to their homeland? curse their lot? imagine that one day people would marvel at the results of their labor?
It truly is a wonder.
Joe and I took a cable car up to the main section of the wall with our guide. She walked with us for a while and took leave for us explore further along on our own.
This section is one of six "gates" around Beijing and the furthest away from the central part of the city. It's highest sections are over 5,000 feet above sea level. The map shows 23 signal towers on this section. We explored the sections between towers 12 and 23.
It was hot. We sweat buckets and drank almost all of the water we carried. Portions of the wall are incredibly steep--70 degrees? It's a great work out climbing stone steps unevenly spaced.
And what views! Simply spectacular. Whether looking down into the valleys, across to other mountain peaks, or out over the expanse of the Wall continuing in both directions, the views are breathtaking. You can see across to other towers, the roofs of which are now sprouting greenery from years of inactivity, the sections of the wall in between demolished.
Here are a few pictures:
8.21.2015
Hutong Tour
This is old Beijing. Many of these areas have been demolished for new apartments and buildings. Some are being preserved by the government. At first glance, one might think this a place of desperate poverty. The buildings are small. They do not have their own toilets or showers. Everyone must walk about 200 meters to use the communal toilets and showers. (every. single. day.) The streets often have a measure of refuse, and the summer heat brings out a distinct odor that was missing in February.
But don't be fooled! Step behind the walls and you find an oasis. Both experiences were different and yet similar. These are people who appreciate the arts, who are refined and dignified. You see it in the beautiful courtyards carefully arranged and decorated. You see it in the antique furnishings, the artwork on the walls. You hear it from the ones who live there. Today, our hostess sat and played her (for lack of a better term, I can't remember the right name) "harp" and it was AMAZING. (video loading on FB: I'll try to load it here later.) You see it in their care for animals. (last time, homing pigeons; this time a cockatiel, grass-hoppers and a turtle.)
Unlike most apartments in Beijing (essentially on lone from the government for 70 year periods), these homes are able to be passed from generation to generation. (This one was in its fourth generation). And.....apparently they are quite expensive.
Get behind the walls. What's inside might surprise you.
The Dragon Line
The Dragon Line refers to a straight line across Beijing from South to North in which the following are all lined up a distance apart: Tienanmen Square, the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park (A high vantage point in the city) The drum tower, the bell tower and the Water Cube and the Bird's Nest (the latter from the '08 Olympics.) (It's all believed to be good for the Feng Shui)
Today we saw the Bell Tower and climbed into the Drum Tower. These buildings are hundreds of years old. I believe the bells would be rung in the morning and the drums beat in the latter part of the day to mark the time.
Here are some pictures of the towers, the climb to the Drum Tower, the exhibit in the tower, and the views of Beijing from the Drum Tower.
We were in for a surprise treat! Five performers played the drums: wow! You could feel it in your chest. I will attempt to upload video here or on FB, but it doesn't do it justice. It was a cool experience.
Today we saw the Bell Tower and climbed into the Drum Tower. These buildings are hundreds of years old. I believe the bells would be rung in the morning and the drums beat in the latter part of the day to mark the time.
Here are some pictures of the towers, the climb to the Drum Tower, the exhibit in the tower, and the views of Beijing from the Drum Tower.
We were in for a surprise treat! Five performers played the drums: wow! You could feel it in your chest. I will attempt to upload video here or on FB, but it doesn't do it justice. It was a cool experience.
Dumplings!
Guide: "Would you like to go to a really great place for dumplings for lunch?"
Me: "Yes. Yes, I would."
Vegetable Dumplings and pork and black mushroom dumplings. FANTASTIC!!!
Me: "Yes. Yes, I would."
The Forbidden City
I was able to see the Forbidden City in 2012 with Jessemyn. We went in February and it was cold, not as green and less crowded than today. Today was PACKED with people, HOT and lush with vegetation.
I will not attempt to repeat the excellent and extensive history lesson we received today from our guide. (Google will help I am sure if you are curious.) :-) I'll share a few pictures (more on Face Book) and a couple comments.
It took 14 years to build this massive dwelling quarters for the emperor, his queen, his concubines, their children and attendants. Two dynasties ruled from here. It is vast. It is splendid. And it was built on the backs of an estimated 1 million commoners, criminals and slaves.
It is amazing to walk on stones and to see structures that are 600 years old, to see trees that are 2-400 years old. It makes one feel small to stand in the midst of so much history.
It is also a haunting reminder that empires rise and fall; That cruelty and abuse are often thrown off for good reasons, but then replaced with cruelty and abuse in a different guise.
I will not attempt to repeat the excellent and extensive history lesson we received today from our guide. (Google will help I am sure if you are curious.) :-) I'll share a few pictures (more on Face Book) and a couple comments.
It is amazing to walk on stones and to see structures that are 600 years old, to see trees that are 2-400 years old. It makes one feel small to stand in the midst of so much history.
It is also a haunting reminder that empires rise and fall; That cruelty and abuse are often thrown off for good reasons, but then replaced with cruelty and abuse in a different guise.
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