I am back from China/Hong Kong and I am back on the boat. China was quite an experience! I wont write as much as I did about Japan because 1) I am sea sick (the seas are rough again 2) I started my Malaria medication today (I hope it’s the right time to start it- everyone else who is on Malarone started today) and it is making me dizzy and not hungry and is making me feel a little off.
Day 1 Qingdao, China
The first day we ported at Qingdao, China on the first day. It was by far the dirtiest and unclean port we have been to (see pictures below) you can really see that China is a “developing country”, it was also pouring rain on our first day. Me, Malia, Lauren and Emily had no plans for the day so we decided to go to the Tsing Tao Brewery, which ended up being a splendid choice. We toured the brewery and saw how the beer was made and the history of the brewery, and then you and end at this pub where they give you two free large pitchers of beer. So we were drinking and being merry and all of a sudden about 15 Chinese men and woman surrounded us and started taking our pictures, apparently they thought we were movie stars because we were from the US, and when they found out that me and Malia were from California they about jumped out of their skin. They took pictures of us for a while and then they left and the lady came back and said that they would like to buy us four more pictures of beer. Needless to say, the brewery trip was worth the 5 US dollars that it cost to get in. After that we went to a restaurant where we attempted to order noodles, and got cucumbers and grapes instead, both in which you can not eat in China because of the water that they use to grow the foods. So we made a signal like stir frying something, and they came back with stir fried cucumber, so we ate that. They also brought some beef do we ate that as well. While we were there we saw some fellow Semester At Sea students there who were leaving who told us not to order the chicken, because it comes with its head still on. We took that advice. After we left, we shopped around for a while, and I got a really bad headache/migraine and had to go back to the ship.
Once I got back to the ship my head was pounding so hard, I was nautious and shaky, I was feeling absolutely miserable. My roommate called the doctor and she came to my room and gave me imitrex, two vikoden, and a shot on the butt for my nausea and told me I would be asleep soon because of the vicoden and that when I woke up I should feel better. And I did.
Day 2 Beijing, China
The next morning I woke up and we flew on an hour to flight to Beijing. Yes, I flew on a plane. It was terrifying even though I took a few Valium before hand, it was a tiny plane with lots of turbulence, but it felt good to face my fear anyway. Then we checked into out hotel (Ying Hua), not the best hotel, but it is CHINA, so, it was clean and not too many bugs so that was fine. Then we went to the Silk Market, which was my heaven! Best shopping ever, so cheap, and bargaining was SO fun. Someone would tell you their price, you would say yours, they would say no, you would walk away and then they would literally chase you down and agree with your price. So much fun, I pretty much got everyone I know a present from there. Then we had a banquet in our honor, which included duck, duck, duck, duck, and some water melon. Weird, but the duck was excellent.
Day 3 Beijing, China
Today we went to the Great Wall! It was so much fun. No one tells you how incredibly challenging it is to hike to the Great Wall, so we were all sweaty and discussing by the time we reached the top. The whole thing is stairs and they seem to go on forever. I also had never realized how amazingly long the great wall is. Its absolutely insane. It was a real “Holy shit I am on the Great Wall” moment. Then we drove by some of the Olympic Venues and saw where they Olympics opening ceremony will be in 2008. Very Cool.
This has nothing to do with my day- but I feel like I should write some of my impressions about China. China is defiantly a “developing country”, its not third world, but Beijing is a city under construction, everything is being renovated for the Olympics in a year. It is much dirtier than Japan and the people are very pushy and rude in public, but very nice when you form an actual relationship with them. Oh and also people in Beijing SPIT….all the time. It’s a cultural norm to spit on the streets, loudly too! It is so gross.
Day 4 Beijing, China
Today we visited Tian’anmen Square, Mao’s Memorial Hall, and the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is a complete tourist trap. But the Forbidden City was HUGE, and I mean HUGE, it is literally a city of ancient buildings and temples. It took us over two hours to see the entire city. We also saw the Temple of Heaven, which was beautiful, and HUGE, practically another city to explore. Later that night we went to a Chinese acrobatics show, which was SO amazing, they are so talented and did such amazing things, my photographs do not capture it at all.
Day 5 Beijing, China
Today was our last day in Beijing. We went to the Summer Palace, which was this huge palace built into these amazing rocks and caves, we hiked through that and then headed over to the Lama Temple. I thought we would actually see Llamas (like the animal) there haha, but this was actually my favorite temples that we went to. It was the least touristy and there were actual people and monks praying. There were insense burning areas where you could pray, they told us that this was probably the most sacred and holy spot and that many prayers made in the Lama Temple come true. After that we went back to the airport for our 3 hour flight to Hong Kong.
Day 6 Hong Kong
Our flight last night got in at 3:00 am, so I decided to sleep in and ended up sleeping until 1 in the afternoon (I guess I was worn out haha), then I went out with Malia, Lauren, and Emily to Lunch, Shopping, and also found an internet café. I didn’t get much time in Hong Kong because I spent so much time in Beijing, but I did get to see the Hong Kong skyline which was beautiful. In less than two days I will be in Vietnam, and then one day after that I will be in Cambodia. I am very very excited. Thank you to everyone back home for your letters and packages! I love coming home back to the boat and having your letters and packages to keep me company!
And here is what you have all bee waiting for….the pictures! There were so many it was hard to choose, but these are what I chose to spend my precious internet time downloading…..so enjoy!
This is the gorgeous Quingdao!
The Brewery
Me and Malia at the brewery
Japanese men taking pictures with us
Me, Emily, and Malia at the Brewery
Emily, Malia, and Lauren
Free beer!
Lunch (Me, Malia, Lauren, Emily)
Facing my fears!
The Chef preparing our duck
Apparently western (non squat toilets) bathrooms are only for old men!
Me and Holly before climbing the great wall
On the way up….
A donkey we saw on the way up the wall
I made it!!!!
Me and Holly on the great wall
Me and Fefe on the great wall
great wall
After climbing the great wall
The “Birds Nest” where the Olympic ceremonies will be held in 2008!
Me in Beijing
Part of Mao’s Memorial in Tian’emen Square
Another part of Mao’s Memorial
Me and Holly at Mao’s Memorial
Hey look! I look a picture of something related to the Chinese Military and I didn’t get put into jail or have my camera destroyed! Yay!
Me at the Forbidden City
Forbidden City
Me in the Forbidden City
The ceiling of one of the temples in the forbidden city
Olympic stuff was everywhere in Beijing
Holly, my new friend (I am so bad with names) and I at the gates of the temple of heaven
Me at the Temple Of Heaven
The Temple Of Heaven
The Chinese Acrobatic Show…
Me lighting my incense at the Lama Temple (My favorite place)
Ps. I prayed for you to get better Mom! And no more Chemo ever!
The view from the Summer Palace
A roof top at the Summer Palace
Summer Palace
Did I mention that the Summer Palace is half cave half palace? So cool.
Cool wall of Buddha’s
Me on a window sill of the summer palace
Beautiful!
Roof top of a part of the Summer Palace
Random Olympics Sign
Another amazing ceiling
The view from the Summer Palace
Beautiful!
That’s it folks….this just took me way too much time and money to post this! So comment! And I miss you all !
4 comments:
Hey Miranda - Mom just showed me how to leave a comment. I was lost. Your China pics are great. I see what you mena about the steps getting to the Great Wall. Wow. I see you spent some quality time at the Tsingtao Brewery. Nice two-fisted drinking style. Maybe that's where the migraine came from ;-) -- So now you're heading south to Vietnam. Have a nice trip. Much love, Dad
Wow!!! I love reading your descriptions of the hilarious adventures, the California fans, the stir fried cucumber. And then your photos! My favorites, 2 beers, airplane wing - made it real for me. You with the umbrella. Scene through the arch and the acrobat photo. But the one that really did it was you with the incense and what you prayed for. Both Dad & I started crying. We Love You So Much! We are so proud of you. Love, Mom
Wow - the pics from China, etc, are wonderful. Your descriptions so interesting. What a treat for me - seeing the world thru your eyes. Precious pic of you praying for your Mom.
Tears here, too. Can hardly wait for the next chapter. Love you and so glad you are making the most of this experience. - Grandma
Dear Miranda,
Can't believe how much you are seeing and experiencing! We just had Taco Temple with your mom and dad, yummy and fun. They are so proud of you and we are too! The China pictures are so neat. You look good out in the world girl! Hope you will be feeling better from the malaria med soon. Its fun to read about your travels Love,Janice and Danny
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