Day 17

Day 17
Just an other manic Monday. It actually was pretty calm. I woke up. Did my chore of showering and shaving. I wish I could bottle the smell I get after I turn the water off. I am not sure who plumbed this place but they need a lesson. I got a new crew of 7 boys for class. We are making ice cream again this week. Lunch was a new adventure. I think I finally had intestine.

My exploration of the campus still continues. I try not to stray from my usual path but curiosity is getting the better of me. They have basketball and tennis courts. They had a big camp of music/drama/art? here using it.

I have been looking for the way into the hatch through this mural.

Again it's very beautiful on the outside.

This is the front side of the corn field. 

We made wallets in class. Last week, we had a kid lose some money so I thought it might be handy. One kid made a red envelope. It is a gift they give.

My trip to China has been made. This guy is outside the gates all the time. He runs the little red taxi. We finally had opportunity to take a ride with him. It's electric and has a fold down jump seat. That's Amy, she is the other teacher we are here with.

It was a ton of fun. We hopped on the subway and went south 3 or 4 stops to the nearest civilization. We found a little chain restaurant with bread and soup dumplings.

I finally had my first chopstick malfunction. Soup dumpling dropped on the floor. It sucked because it was hot and very delicious.

So I knocked another thing off my I need to go list. This is Wumart not to be confused with Walmart. It's the equivalent of Google to Baidu. This was a small one. I believe Wumart has better fruit than Walmart.

I saw these when I was looking for milk, which I did not find. It reminded me of Indi and Winter's love of Ramen. These were fresh and refrigerated.

I was able to buy a bag to add to my grocery bag collection. If you want any type of bag at a store you have to buy it. Plastic bags cost a 1RMB and this cost me 2RMB. 6RMB equals one dollar. 

When we got back to camp, Party Rock was happening. This is the music camps' celebration. The DJ and lights looked fun and cool. They played all American music. Lots of Bruno Mars.

Day 16

Day 16
It's my last full day in the city. Back to the 6th ring of hell tonight. We didn't have any plans to sight see. Both Danielle, one of the other teachers I am with, wanted to get a few more things to bring back home. I also had a shopping list to fulfill for the girls and Kara. I noticed that my new shoes are no longer new after 16 days here. I am sure I have put a few miles on these bad boys.

 This is the shower in the hotel room. Friday night when I got here was one of the best showers I have taken in my life. This photo was taken from the bed.

 It was a great little hotel room. Everything you needed, clean, right across the street from the mall. After being in the 6th ring of hell this place was awesome.

 Sunday was a perfect day here. The photo below is the mall near both hotels we stayed at in town. On the other side of the tunnel in the middle is where I worked the first week. The challenge in Beijing is to take a photo without someone in it. This one is an epic fail.

 I saw these and thought I could make them. Cute little fish.

Danielle wanted to head back down to the Pearl Market. We were on a pedestrian bridge to avoid the crazy intersection.

 This is also from the bridge. I was talking to one of translators on the way down into the city Friday night and he said the divide between the rich and the poor is starting to become even greater. Just down from this I saw an electrical pole going into the house that had a gazillion wires and part of the house had scroched. It did not look good but they had laundry hanging out so someone lived there.

 Typical traffic.

 Danielle and I were fortunate to have our ride be later than originally scheduled, which happens a lot in China, so we went to dinner. We picked a hot pot place. You order the stock in the pot, meat, veggies, and dipping sauce. It was fun and tasted awesome. Our wait person was awesome. She managed to communicate and educate us as to how things worked. It was a lot of fun interacting with her. Danielle even got ice for her drink. That is only something found at KFC.

 After dinner, we went to a whole foods type place. It was more expensive and nicer than a normal grocery store. They even had live sturgeon. Then it was back to the salt mine. I knew the way back better than our substitute driver.

Day 15

Day 15
A full day of running around Beijing. Have I mentioned this place is huge? The plan is to get to the forbidden palace.

 Here in Beijing not much is open early for breakfast. So we opted for the only choice we could order from. Good old McDonalds. This place was insane. You can order from kiosks, go to the counter or have it delivered. Watching your number come up was a lot like watching Keno. Danielle got a bottle of moisturizer with meal. It was kind of like an adult happy meal. The best thing is the OJ was cold and the hash browns were yummy. I feel no shame.

 This place is old and doesn't get old for me. I could wander around anytime.

 The view from the watch tower in the front of the palace.

 They had an exhibition in the watch tower about the silk road. These are all things traded on the silk road. Incredible craftsmanship.

 If you can, zoom in.

 There are lots of people here. On a side note, we learned the hard way that you need your passports to get a ticket they issue it in your name(s). I made the mistake of waiting in line and didn't know enough to grab Danielle's passport so I had to wait in a 20 minute line twice. Also get there early, they close around lunchtime.

 The view from atop the guard wall.

 Guard tower.

 How they built it.

 Kara said to take artsy pictures. This is one attempt.  Another tip, charge your camera before you go. Mine ran out of juice so these are off my phone.

 Every roof here has versions of these. Very intricate.

 Another guard tower. Pardon my finger.

 Close ups of the statues on the roofs.

 How they made the art on everything. Unbelievably beautiful.

 This is just a guard tower.

 One of the numerous courtyards.

 How many feet have walked over these stones in the past few hundred years?

 Temple of something or another. I forgot which one.

 Lots of people.

 Street light.

 I was trying for the roof tops but got this kid. I think he should smile.

 The garden has artwork in the walkways.

 Sorry Indi, No climbing here.

 This is the back gate looking up at Behai park, I think.

 It was perfect weather for a popsicle.

 We wandered up to the hutong by the Drum Tower.

 Ate at the Brain Factory. They had 2 for 1 German beers.

Another blue sky moment. 

 The hutong was hopping.

 We were close to Great Leap so we stopped in for a brew to wait until it got darker to go over to Wangfujing Street.

 The hutong is so cool. They have a nice vibe.

 This is Wangfujing. It was slightly busy.

 This is the food street to get the crazy foods.

 It was pinball.

 I was too chicken to try but I imagine it tastes just like chicken.

 They love skewers here.

 Indi would love this place. Peaches are a common site.

 I was brave and tried some Beijing rolls. Tasted good. I am not sure what was in it.

 Crazy puppet guy.

 Everyone out enjoying the evening.

 Tea store with a tea house in the upstairs.

 A Rolex store!