I read my Frommer's, Lonely Planet, and Fodor's guides but nothing quite prepares you for the sheer "urban-ness" (yes, I am a Social Studies teacher) of Beijing. Despite being a 4000 year-old city, the skyscrapers betray the city's true age. In India, there are still loads of scooters and bicycles that mix in with the auto and bus traffic. Not the case here. And the roads are so nice. I know that much of this might be in preparation for the Olympic Games next summer but it is still amazing.
I am also a little weirded out about how lost I feel here. I know that it is an ignorant American attitude (hereinafter IAA) to assume that everyone speaks English but really - NOTHING is in English and even getting this computer at an Internet cafe was a ordeal in translations. We feel a bit helpless as a group of Am-ree-kans.
And the smoking. Everyone smokes all the time, everywhere. The guy sitting next to me is puffing away and blowing smoke in my face as I type this. My IAA is missing the smoke-free public spaces of the West.
But enough about all my complaining. . .
***EW. He just spit on the floor next to me. . .My IAA is freaking OUT.***
Ok. I'll move on. . .
We went to the Lama temple today. It is the largest such temple in Beijing. Did you know that Lama means "teacher"? It was once afforded only to the high ranking monks but now refers to all monks. The temple itself is amazing. Apparently, it had fallen into ruins but the government took great steps in the middle of the 20th century to restore it. Inside one of the pavilions there is a huge (18m) statue of Maitreya Buddha. More astounding is that it was carved from a single piece of white sandalwood. Check out the link above for some really good pictures.
Tomorrow - the Great Wall. It is a little surreal that I am going to see the Great Wall tomorrow. I am unable to see my comments right now so I have no idea if you are leaving me any (but you should!). I could change my Preferences to notify me if you comment but since this entire site is in Mandarin (other than what I am typing), I am unable to navigate through. I will catch up on them as soon as I can. In the meantime, if you have a question, please feel free to email me.
***btw-more hacking from the young man who is next to me. On that note, I bid you good night.***
hahaha - ew spitting and hacking - just wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have an incredible journey through China - how awesome that you are out there.
I cant wait to read more about your trip!
wow, im also totally jealous!! have a great time and i look fwd to reading and hopefully seeing all abt it!!:)
ReplyDeleteyikes! 'smoking and spitting', in an internet cafe o_O, OK thats strange.
ReplyDeletehey, but i am sure you'd have lots and lots of fun during the trip (and keep posting). the great wall, that'd be awesome! do post some pictures when you can.
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ReplyDeleteoops, i accidentally deleted my last comment. ranj, you'll be standing on the only manmade structure visible from space! (my nerdiness is never very well hidden, is it?)
ReplyDeletei dont' think anything can quite prepare a traveler from the West for traveling in teh East. It really is a totally different world. Sorry to hear you have to put up with teh smoking!
ReplyDeleteFrom now on I shall refer to you, my sister, as the Ranju-Lama! :D
ReplyDeleteIAA - LOVE it! You crack me up with your creative quirkiness...and that is precisely WHY I adore your munkee-buns!
Yeah, I was surprised to find what a high incidence of smoking, heart attacks and hypertension for the youth in Asia (yes, I was trying to be punny...yet serious).
Smoking = BAD!