A Proper Beijing Post
I loved my time in Beijing. I should say so since I actually went there twice in a month!
So what did I do in Beijing? I visited my buddy Scott, his family, and his friends. I explored the city on my own and saw the old and the new.
I went to the Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven, the assorted Hu Tongs, and of course WangFuJing.
So here is a recap of what I found in Beijing.
I saw Chairman Mao abt 20 years earlier and here he was again. Not much changed from what I could remember. Just be respectful while you are there since this may be literally the longest running funneral in the world. People were laying flowers in droves and some were even crying or offering prayers.
Here you'll find dumplings, seafood, sweets, BBQ, snakes, insects, scorpions, sea urchins, and a lot more. If you aren't sure if it is edible, just see if it is served on a stick. If it's on a stick, it means its digestible. Ever consider eating a starfish? I did....it tastes almost as good as it sounds. Bleah...
One night he and his friends took me out for Peking Duck (Beijing Kao Ya). Of all the places to go, they took me to what was the most famous duck restaurant in China. This caligraphy was written in praise by Zhou En Lai who was Mao Ze Dong's second in command. He loved this place so much, he wrote this commemoration and it hangs on the wall of the dining room.
Though old and dusty, these Hu Tongs are beautiful. If you walk through them you will experience a lot of quiet and peaceful contemplation. You will take a walk through time and imagine how life might have been during the Cultural Revolution. Or you just might comfortably get lost for awhile.
The temple itself is where ceremonies would be held. The platform is where the Centre of the Universe is and the Heart of the Universe Stone marks the exact centre. This is where the emperor would stand to make himself heard to Heaven.
I stood on this stone and looked above. From this spot I stood where the emperors had stood and saw the same sky which they prayed too. Amazing.
And what did I think of while I was there? Home, people in my life, and what to eat for dinner.
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