Beijing

We got to our lodgings, a place recommended by our friend from the train, and I went out to explore the city while Katie took a nap (the train ride was not as kind to her as it was to me). I saw some old buildings and bought some delicious dumplings for breakfast. We met back up and started the walk towards the forbidden city. We visited two old bell and drum towers that used to pound out the watches both day and night kept in time by a mechanical water-clock. We ended up in Beihai Park. It used to be the imperial gardens and was magnificent. We saw some older Chinese ladies playing a game with a bunch of feathers reminiscent of a shuttlecock. They invited us to play with them and fun was had by all, except for possibly the shuttlecock.

We then walked up a big hill in the center of the gardens and caught our first glimpse of the forbidden city. It spread as a walled jumble of clay roofs and regular roads. We saw it from the vantage of a great bronze Buddha that kept watch over the city from a temple on the top of the hill we climbed. We then walked to the walls of the forbidden city to check the opening time. We were followed there by a pleasant enough rickshaw driver who was very helpful. In retrospect...a little too helpful.

For anybody out there who desires a bicycle rickshaw ride through the “historic” Hutang neighborhood of Beijing, please send me a twenty dollar bill an do the following:

1. Close your eyes and imagine a one-story china town

2. Sit on a park bench that's missing some slats

3. Get satellite TV and listen to a TV show that you don't trust in a foreign language that you do not speak that discusses history

4. Occasionally mist your face to mimic the expectorating of a shady tour guide

5. Stop every few minutes and try to talk yourself into paying extra money to visit the “Historic Emperor's ice house” and museum.

Following our experience with the rickshaw from down under, we made the rule that we would categorically reject anyone approaching us offering something. I would suggest that to any traveler to China. The people in general are wonderful, honest, and friendly. The people that approach you with something you can never be sure about. Stick to brick and mortar storefronts and you will avoid some educational experiences.