Sabonim is handing me my belt! Can you tell how elated I am??
I look so pleased with myself as I tie that belt. It felt really good to have worked hard at something and succeeded, language barrier and all.
Chumbae! (Not sure what that translates to exactly but it's like a 'get ready, fists up!' sort of thing.)
Image via Wikipedia
Back in the day, this long covered pavilion used to have lots of functions but lately it seems to get used most by elderly Chinese people playing card games, singing, or just hanging out.
See, lots of people playing card games. I wonder if they are playing for money...
An absolutely refreshing thing about China: every 8 year old didn't have a cell phone. It was awesome. Errr, so look at the middle aged man using a cell phone!
Look up man and take in that pretty ceiling! But where is the park you say? Don't parks usually have trees????
So the park part of the park was not that interesting. Rows of trees upon rows of trees. However, the air quality was magnificent and I greatly enjoyed all of that oxygen.
See the middle white path? This is only for the emperor. Every time I see tourists on it I either think, "Bolshevik!" (...which in China should really be something like MAO FOREVER) or "delusions of grandeur much?" It's not a big deal anymore but it feels a little strange to tread on ground that for years was reserved for a single person.
See all of those tourists on the middle strip? Dead, totally dead...if they'd lived a few hundred years ago.
Pretty dome. Though I must say, the decorative motifs start repeat themselves after you've seen a few temples.
And voila! I think one more blog entry on China should wrap it up and then I shall get back to my life in Korea! If you haven't taken the time to vote on my poll (right side of the page) click away please! It only takes a minute and I'm really curious as to what everyone thinks.
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!
Why yes, I did line up with an obscene number of people through the Gate of Heavenly Peace, under Mao's nose (the IRONY people, the IRONY) to enter the Forbidden City. I have to admit, I'm glad I did the touristy thing and paid for the audio tour (which is equipped with a light up map and shows you where you are and where you've been already). It is overwhelmingly large and stunning and I wanted to know more than the little signs tell you. The only downside of my day here (and it did take most of a day to explore) was how hot and humid it was. I kept drinking water and couldn't seem to stay hydrated. Alternating bottles of waters with fruit juice helped (discovered by observing Chinese tourists). 
I couldn't get over the number of people there. If you ever get a chance to visit Beijing, go during an odd month like November or something. On the other hand, it was great for people watching during water breaks and 'dear god I spot some shade' breaks. 
I loved the architectural details. I don't know much about it but it certainly has a sense of balance and austerity. The restoration work on the ceilings and roof work was also phenomenal.
These little guys help keep away evil spirits and such.
I love the lions. I took a silly number of pictures of lions at every palace and temple I went to. Ah the joys of digital cameras, I can just edit them out!
I also took a ridiculous number of pictures of doors, more specifically door knobs and knockers. Obviously my fascination is in the blood, long live Karpen Steel Products.
My third photography obsession, ceilings. I love how they painted all of the exposed beams.
See those giant bucket/pot things in front of the wall? Each of those weighs around a ton and was filled with water in the advent of a fire. Fires were lit under them in the winter to keep the water from freezing.
Some lovely art.
Look at those mountains! Other people from the hostel, among them several other English teachers from Korea. We even had a mutual friend back in Korea.
My first view of the Great Wall, still a long ways to go though.
Fighting!
Our guide.
Finally on the wall!
Notice how ridiculous the smog is? That's not fog. That is smog. Even a couple of hours outside of Beijing the sky doesn't completely clear up. There was one day where I saw blue sky and it was magnificent. The large building in the background here is the Gate of Heavenly Peace, an entrance to the Forbidden City. Does anyone else find Mao's portrait over it just a bit ironic? You can't quite see it because of the smog but it's there.
It actually got worse as they put in pipes. There was no place cordoned off for pedestrians so you just sort of had to pick your way. They put down some planks so you didn't have to leap over the trenches though on the second day. I feel bad for the people who tried to get to the hostel with rolling suitcases instead of frame packs.
