I'm a bad blogger!

Usually I manage to post a couple of times a week but I must say, I don't love picture posts. They aren't fun for me to do though the finished product looks cool. I like writing much better. Yesterday I accomplished something big (for me): I walked into what the book and came out within the number of books I said I could get! One new book, Kafka on the Shore by Murakami, and a used book, The Pauper and the Prince by Mark Twain. More on books later, for now, yet MORE picture of my adventure in China!

The Summer Palace
To escape the heat in the summer of the Forbidden City, the royal court removed to the Summer Palace. It was the only day I saw a truly blue sky in China and it was beautiful. The summer palace was burned down by Allied Forces in World War 2 but the Chinese government managed to stabilize the building and then spent a fortune restoring it before the Beijing Olympics. They did a really fantastic job on the restoration, making sure everything was how it was before the fire. Beijing understands how to make an international tourist site: proper signage in MULTIPLE LANGUAGES! That is my main beef with all of the beautiful things to see in Korea, lots of signs but only in Korean.My first view of the palace...it must have gotten blue later in the day because this sky, not exactly smog free.The area around the moat has been converted into small shops and restaurants. I ate some very yummy, reasonably priced lunch here. Have you seen Kung Fun Panda? Know those buns he is always chasing after to eat? That's what I had. Very yummy.
Look, look! I exist! I didn't just pull these photos from a google image search!Cool detail of the side of a wall. Hello Buddha!
A cool view from the top of a spire from another building peeking out. I like the contrast between ancient temple and the modern city that you can see in the background.A cool pavilion thingy.
The ceiling on the inside. Look at that detail!The lake! See those awesome big yellow roofed boats? I WENT ON ONE! It cost about a dollar and was a lovely respite from the heat/sun.View from the lake!

Our boat!

Honesty: I have about 60 more photos from this day, a good 10 of which would probably be killer for the blog but I'm hungry and want to go out to eat since as usual, there is next to no food in my apartment. Why cook for myself when it is CHEAPER TO EAT OUT?! Also...far superior in terms of tastiness.