Tuesday May 29 - Beijing

We got up at 6:30.  It's my birthday today and I can't believe that I"m 28 for the 33rd time.  But I"m enjoying this so much.  Life is really good.  This trip was to celebrate 3 things - 1) My Birthday - 2) My Retirement from Corporate life after almost 38 years, and - 3) especially to celebrate the 10 years that Tim and I have been together.  We are so fortunate and are excited about what the future holds for us now.  But now on to our last day in Beijing and our last day in China.

Our hotel is in the embassy districk and the streets are lines with embassies - one after the other.  We walked past the US embassy - it had a Chinese soldier and 2 US Marines stationed out front and it was well fortified.  Also Sandra Day O'Çonnor is staying in our hotel while we are here.

We got on the bus and I had Jennifer report the results of the Ping Pong Tournament - The US took the Bronze, Greece took the Silver, and China won the Gold (David).  David was very pleased with this.

Our first stop was Tienamen Square which means Gate of Heavenly Peace.  The square is large enough to hold 1M Chinese people.  They laugh and say that it will hold 2M Japanese since they are smaller!  Mao's tomb is there (it's huge) and there is a very long queue to see Chairman Mao's mummified body.  David told us that they had to change his "sauce"recently.  They call the use of words like that "Chinglish".  The Chinese National Congress and National Museum are across from Tienamen.  Jennifer showed us where the students protested in 1989 and where the one student stood in front of the tank.  They don't know what happened to most of these students.  The Chinese people also have never been allowed to see the footage of those events but they know the history of the university students protesting against government corruption.  There is a section in the square across from The Forbidden City where the National Flag of China flies and it is protected around the clock by several soldiers.

We had a group picture made of us in the square with the Forbidden City and Chairman Mao's picture in the background.  Jannifer told us more about the period after The Last Emperor in 1911 until 1949 when warlords ruled China.  After Mao defeated Chang Kai Shek in 1949, he announced the formation of the Peoples'Republic of Chinaat Tienamen on 10/1/1949.  Mao then ruled Chinauntil 1976 when he died.  We then went through an underground tunnel to get to The Forbidden City.  There were lots of fountains and viewting stands where the Communiost officials stood to view their military parades in Tienamen Square.  The Forbidden City was built in 1400 and took 14 years to build in the Ming Dynasty.  It has 999 buildings with 9,999 rooms - not 1,000 or 10,000 out of respect for the gods.

People could not go into the Forbidden City because it was only for the emperor and he was like god.  The emperors seldom left the Forbidden City.  We went through 2 large gates before we got into the palance itself as it was built to ensure protection for the emperors.  Also there were no trees inside since people could hide in them.  Our tour took us into a private area where the emperor who lived to be the oldest emperor lived.  They protected this area after he died and it was never used again.  Dung Chou Peng helped ensure that the historical items were preserved and not pillaged by the Japanese.  Every thing was saw here was original and used by this emperor who lived to be 89 years old - quite old for the Chinese. 

We saw a "passport" that was a device givent to the concubine who was chosed by the eunock to sleep with the emperor.  The emperor had 142 xchildren - some by the empresss and most by the concubines.  Only those borne of the empress could succeed the emperor.  Jennifer told us a funny story about this.  At first she confused the English word cucumber wtih concubine.  So she told about the emperor staying with the cucumbers!  The tour group she had then didn't understand and she realized she was using the wrong word.  Cinglish again!

We also heard the story of the Last Emperor.  He was 3 years old when he ascended the throne and he cried and peed on the throne.  This was viewed a very bad omen and in fact the throne was abolished a few short years laster in 1911 when this emperor was in his late teens.  He was playing tennis when he was overthrown by the warlords.

After visiting the Forbidden City, most of the group loaded on the bus and went back to the hotel but Tim and I along with Paul and Belinda walked up Coal Hill - across from The Forbidden City to get a better view from above.  They had told us that it would take 20-40 minutes to walk to the top but it only took 5.  This was aneasy walk compared to The Great Wall.  The view was great from on high looking down on the Forbidden City.  We took pictures of the view and I also got a picture of the Buddha in the temple before the Chinese guard asked me not to take pictures.  We got an ice cream as a treat for walking to the top.  We found another short cut to get down the small mountain and looked at many bonsai plants in the park.  I then hailed a taxi for us and the 4 of us loaded in.  But the driver didn't know where our hotel was (here we go again) so we got out, I hailed another taxi, and off we headed back to the St Regis. 

Tim and I decided to get a small lunch close to the hotel and went to a Tex Mex restaurant of all places as a treat.  It was good - but not like in the US. 

We then went to the Pearl City Silk Market.  It was amazing.  Booth after booth of almost anything you could imagine.  We bought some Armani socks (~$2 a pair) and I bargained for a Beijing Olympics 2008 T-shirt and a Polo shirt (or was it a PoRow shirt?).  I got them for 1/3 of the original asking price.  We then walked back through the many embassies around our hotel and saw a large complex where the Chinese go to apply for a visa to the US.  We passed other shops where I could have gotten my shirts I just bought for cheaper prices.  Oh well!

We took a nap and packed.  Tim was able to get all of my things in his bags (except the Chairman Mao Red Book that he didn't want to carry for political reasons!).  That was nice for him to bring these things on back.  I have to leave the hotel tomorrow at 5:45 am for my flight to Bangkok and then to Delhi so tonight will be an early evening.

We met our travel group in the lounge for cocktails at 5:30.  Clark Kent was there in his butler outfit, complete with tails, serving cocktails.  We took a picture os us with him and he said that he was honored.  We met in the lobby at 7 to go to our farwell dinner for this tour.  The bus took us to the Green T Restaurant - a really WOW place.  We entered through black curtains covering the front entry.  There were beds with cushions lining the outside wall by the front windows.  There was a huge round table t the left with oversized chairs.  We were seated at a long table down the middle of the room with chairs that had backs over 10' tall.  They all had squared backs and were painted black.  The coolest things were the lit candles that appeared to be floating in air over the long table.  They wre suspended from the tall ceiling with the thinnest of wires and hung at different heights.  So cool.

They had interesting light shows going on in various parts of the restaurant.  The mens room was cool too - the sink was a large trough with no visible water supply but when  you stuck your hands under the ledge, a rain shower started.  The womens sink was visible from the hallway leading t the rest rooms but when someone was in the room, the glass turned opague.  So neat.  A restaurant like this would be a huge hit in S Florida!

The dinner was likewise fabulous with peautiful presentation.   We had puff pastry with shrimp, pineapple and other goodines in a great sauce.  This was followed by pumpkin soup and then salmon with black and white sesame seeds.  This was the first meal in China that we didn't feel stuffed.  We had plenty of red and white wine to accompany our meal.

Then they surprised me with a birthday cake and the group sang Happy Birthday.  I made a wish, blew out the candle and then Tim served everyone at our table the cake.  They bought out green tea ice cream to go with the cake and that was yummy.  The ice cream ws in a large bowl with dry ice that steamed up - it was cool.  We had David go ask Jennifer to join us for the cake and ice cream since she hadn't eaten dinner with us.  This was a great day.

Our group filled less than 1/2 of the large center table and Tim and I sat near the middle so we enjoyed watching the dishes that the others at the common table were served.  All so beautifully done.  The restaurant would not let anyone take pictures as their design was their "intellectual property" - but I did sneak one of the floating candles. 

We got to talk to David, Marliss, and Karl during dinner and enjoyed that a lot.  We had a good time also watching the progress of one couple seated at one of the beds in the window.  There was a lot of sucking on fingers and other body parts - and the entire encounter progressed considerably during our dinner.  When we left she was on his side of the bed table all over him.  This was fun to watch!

After dinner we loaded on the bus and David gave us final instructions for our various departuresthe next day.  I am in the early group since my flight leaves a little after 9.  I was scheduled to ride to the airport with several others, so at the hotel I bade my farewells to those who I wouldn't see - Jack & Sally, Dick & Susan, and Paul & Belinda.  I'll tell the others goodbye tomorrow.

Back in the room, Ifinished my packing since my large suitcase is scheduled to be picked up by the butler at 5:15. am.  We went to bed after placing awakeup call for 5 with coffee service.

Last Chinese lesson:  Ma Ma  Who Who means "So So" as in How are you doing?  Ma Ma Who Who.  Also the inflection is so critcal.  We found out that Knee How (down then up on the How) means Hello, while Knee How (flat How) means You're stupid.  Better be careful how you pronounce those Chinese words!

Larry