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1 Jul 06 - 9 Jul 06 Pg 7 |
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As
the end of "our" Beijing is coming near, we excitedly
approached THE highlight: The Great Wall.
After recovering
from my fever (a Chinese Pharmacist thinks it was dehydration),
my body was significantly weakened. I know this because
I wasn't in the mood for more beer (it was at most a large
bottle a day). Read LP while watching reruns of Germany
Italy semi-final on TV (hotel reception wasn't too helpful)
and decided to go for the nearest (but the MOST touristy)
portion of the Great Wall, Badaling.
Had a piece of wheat
pancakes (RMB1 each) with eggs and fresh lettuce. Although
it was smeared with a sweet sauce, it tasted really like
Roti Prata.
After that wonderful breakfast, we took a train to Deshengmen,
at Beierhuan (northern Second Ring Road) and looked for
the bus service 919 to Badaling. For whatever reasons, there
were several 919s along the road and they all went to different
locations. Asked around and got conflicting instructions.
Again, the loud hailer came to rescue after I heard constant
repetition of "Changcheng (The Great Wall), Badaling,
Changcheng, Badaling". Boarded the bus (RMB30/return
trip) and saw a whole load of eager folks asking the driver
in 5 minutes interval on when the bus will depart.
A
sunny Thursday morning, 0830hrs. The bus started its journey
out of downtown Beijing, towards Changping, via the Badaling
expressway.
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A lady
(at the end of a narrow walkway in between 2 buildings of
a Hutong) enjoying the cool breeze of a summer afternoon. |
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Do
not park your car HERE, or else you will have to responsible
for whatever happens - along one of the inner lanes in Dazhilan
Hutong. |
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A visit to the jeweler
factory is a MUST for folks who join a tour group: this
was the second stop after a stupid visit to some poorly-maintained
wax museum (RMB40) on the Ming Dynasty.
There were more of these
to come, including a visit to a medicine factory and a shop
selling Beijing specialty foods. These stops really waste
a lot of time and I can’t wait to get out of it (that
is why I will never join a tour group if I can).
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Admission
fees for a touristy climb at Juyong Guan costs us RMB45/person.
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As
we didn't bring any food (the others all brought whole loads
of food like instant noodles, hotdogs, potatoes chips),
we ate at a nearby eatery (RMB15/person). It was not exactly
a buffet, but one was able to take whatever he/she can eat
though there wasn't much meat. The stir-fried tudoupian
(potato slices) was pretty delicious. |
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Beijing
Juyong Guan Changcheng (Juyong Guan Changcheng). Took a
picture with the 2 souvenir tickets and a section of the
Great Wall. Who cares if it is bloody touristy? We are here,
finally! |
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Mum doing
a touristy shot with a stone monument of the Great Wall.
She didn't have coffee that morning and thus she was feeling
a bit grouchy. |
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Hordes
of tourists (ok... we were tourists as well) invade the
Great Wall daily. The souvenir shops complete the picture.
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An alternative
view from the Great Wall. The Badaling Expressway cuts through
the hills like a river flowing in a valley. |
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Me and
the Great Wall. Got an American guy to take the picture.
There is a popular Chinese saying: "If you do not climb
the great wall, you cannot be considered as a hero".
I guess I was a hero, just for one day. |
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Pg 6 |
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