Butts, Bellies, and Balls in Beijing

(bare butt babies - they just go anywhere; saves on buying diapers)

(bare bellied men - cools them down but not so easy on the eyes)

(balls - the city was decked out in sport paraphernalia)

Tuesday:
1. Arrived and found our hostel after getting a taxi driver to call (using a gesture of “telephone") our hostel for directions
2. Went to an Acrobatics Show – it was wicked awesome and cheap!

Wednesday:
1. Tianamen Square – largest public square in the world; hailed to Mao and took a few photos. Nothing too exciting
2. Forbidden City – was “forbidden” due to renovation so we got sucked into shopping instead. I was told I look “Chinese” and that I’d get a special price…. What store people will do for a sale.
3. Silk Market – I got a Ralph Lauren Polo shirt, 100% silk tie, army style hat, Roxy designer t-shirt, Dolce and Gabana short sleeve shirt, and 2 other button down shirts for less than $100 …. Then I donated it to a stranger after I left my bag at the food court. Feel free to give me crap for that!
4. We ate at subway and had a beer in a sweet mug that I ended up stealing (I have an obsession with beer mugs from foreign places if you didn’t know) so that made my day a bit better.
5. Chinese Opera – only cost $15 for 1st row on the upper balcony. However, the singing wasn’t the best (in my opinion) so I give it a “C” – costumes were sweet though.

Thursday:
1. Ming Tombs – Chang Tomb; pretty but nothing to write home about
2. Jade Factory – on organized tours you get sucked into going to places so people can sell you stuff; I didn’t go for it.
3. =The Great Wall of China at Badaling – Kristen and I climbed for about 45 minutes up and down the wall. Despite the rain and the fact I was wearing flip flops and a jean skirt, it was pretty awesome! The only down side was when we got into a small fortress, it smelled heavily of URINE. I guess the signs saying “Do not relieve yourself” didn’t do very much good.
4. Olympic Stadium – couldn’t see much due to security and it being blocked off to rehearse for the opening ceremonies
5. Chinese Massage – “A” for price, “F” for ambiance. I paid about $23 for a full body and foot massage and a facial which was good. However, Kristen and I shared a room, there were at one point 5 women in the room giggling and talking. People popped in and out and just because my eyes were closed they thought I was sleeping – if they only knew I was trying to drown out their voices.

Friday
1. Journeyed to Fengtai Softball Complex where the Olympics would be held. Again couldn’t get inside but walked around. I miss softball!
2. I thought I’d be smart and save some money to get a bus back so I found one that takes me to Tianamen square. I got in and realized it went the wrong way so I got out crossed the street and got back on the same bus going the other way… or so I thought! It kept going the same way! So I gave up and got a taxi to the nearest subway station.
3. Hou Hai Bar Area – bars all around a man-made lake. It was pretty cool to people watch and it was very pretty. We went with a 19yr old English lad and a 48yr old Belgium man and had a Tsingtao beer outside on a fluffy couch. I felt young going out to the bar and then felt old after we left after one beer at 11:00pm.

Saturday
1. Panjiayuan Jiu Huo Shichang Market – I tried another shopping experience and this time left with what I bought. I went small though and just bought my birth brother a silk tie since he drove me to and from the airport.
2. A Fun Ti Carnival Restaurant – table for two; set menu of lamb, roast beef, potato salad (aka mashed potatoes in clumps with jam on top), tea, salad, etc. It was a middle eastern theme with dancing, kung-fu fan dancing, snakes, and interaction with the guests. A good last night in Beijing.

Sunday
1. Back to reality after a great week of sight seeing, reading, and relaxing

Beijing 2008: ONE WORLD, ONE DREAM (Olympic Theme)

Check out the pictures to see one of my taxi drivers, my breakfast one morning, and watch videos of acrobatics and the opera: http://community.webshots.com/user/megshep09