David S. Demarest

My first reaction arriving Friday evening in Beijing? They are really right about the smog. It was really bad….

My second reaction? In many ways, a sense of order – unless, of course, you are talking about the traffic….

My third – they will never be ready for the Olympics. Even late Saturday evening, on a major holiday weekend, crews were hard at work up the street at renovations of a major hotel…. and many other places as well…

Getting back to the smog, one of the efforts being undertaken by the Chinese is to make it rain. Yesterday was the jackpot! I woke up to grey skies and dense smog. It wasn’t long, however, until the rumble of thunder started.  During the course of the day it rained, it poured, it rained and poured more, there was extensive thunder and lightning, and wind. Places were flooding, people were buying umbrellas like crazy, and life went on in Beijing. As of this morning, while the skies are still grey, the smog appears to be gone – for now.

The guidebooks say Beijing is not a very walkable city.  I walked anyway.  I also used the subway, and the local buses, to get around.  I must say the subways are very impressive – they are clean, fast, and move a huge number of people.  Coming back yesterday afternoon – the cars were packed – and I think I was the only fair haired person on board!

The guidebooks also say the Chinese are friendly and curious.  Right on both counts.  At one point in the Forbidden City, a young lady and her parents were taking pictures.  I pantomimed if they would be wiling to take mine with my camera, and I would take theirs as well.  I thought I would get a picture of me, but they insisted on being in the pictures.  It did not seem as important that I be in theirs!  Here they are – and all without verbal communication.  (Sally – the picture with the daughter was at their insistence…)

As already mentioned, I walked a lot.  I took the subway to Tian’an Men Square, walked north (it really is huge) to the Forbidden City (the grounds are beautiful, toured the Palace grounds in a pouring rain, lunch north of the Forbidden City, walked and then caught the bus to Lama Temple, and then took the subway back south to get to my hotel which is near the railroad station.  In addition, I walked numerous hutongs – they really are like what you see in the movies!

(Speaking of walking, my ankle has reminded me that it wasn’t all that many months ago that it was badly sprained….)

Here are a few photos from the day:

  Tian’an Men Square       South part of the Forbidden City

  Same fountain, a couple of hours later       Forbidden City gardens

  View of the gardens       Fish for sale       Forbidden City monument

  Lama Temple (most famous Buddhist temple outside of Tibet, and supported in part by the Chinese)

Today – assuming the tour folks show up – I am off to the Great Wall and Mong Dynasty Tombs, flying to Bangkok tomorrow.

A word on managing expectations, which we all hear so much of.  Today’s post may be the exception rather than the norm.  It turned out my hotel room has a computer in it, so I have been able to spend the time necessary to complete this post.  We will see what coming days bring.