3.20.09 Good Morning Beijing!

We managed to get some sleep last night after waking up in the middle of the night and was up for 2 hours before we can go back to sleep. The queen size bed we have is comfortable but the white comforter is thick and it gets hot! We got up again at 5:00 am(30 mins before the wake up call... we did not need one, afterall). We headed down to the hotel's breakafst buffet on the second floor at around 6:30 am (it is included with the price of the room). Henry and I are very hungry at this time. We were pleasantly suprised to find out the food being served is much like home including some assortments of Chinese food. We were both very happy with our breakfast meal and we are now ready to go sighsteeing in Beijing.
We met 2 other CHI families (Dale and Greg, and David and Deanna), and 2 CHI China employees, (Jessie and Cindy) in the lobby at 8:30am. After paying our dues (this is an optional tour), we hopped in the van with the 2 couples including Cindy our tour guide. Our first stop was at the Temple of Heaven. We arrived there at around 9:00 am and found the place is already packed with mostly Chinese older people, Cindy then mentioned they are mostly retired citizens.
There were different groups doing different things everywhere, so chaotic. One group dancing the tango with their partners in public, another group doing tai-chi, others doing other kind of dances. We continued walking through the hallways of this one huge building and we saw mostly men playing cards, some singing, some doing any other types of entertainment. I did not see people playing madhjong though, Henry and I would have joined them, ha, ha.
Did you ever see a "split pants"? Well, this little boy was wearing one. He squat to pick something up on the ground and was not expecting to see it was open in the middle. Could not believe what I saw (2 others in my group saw it, too). Yes, it is what you are thingking. These kind of pants are made for a reason. Just thought it was weird.
We continued walking through the park, it is getting chilly, temp in the high 40's and a little breezy. I have to wear my gloves I brought to keep my hands warm. We finally reached the temple.

The Temple of Heaven (The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests) is the magnificent centerpiece of the complex, which lies within 267 -hectare park, south of the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square (we will see these 2 places on Saturday). During the Qing Dynasty, this was the site of the Emperor's most important annual rituals. We learned that the Cypress trees are over 200 years old and every tree has red tags . These trees are being preserved and well protected by the government. "Homemade Rolex" anyone? or Gucci purse for half price... Sound familiar.

After venturing the huge park of the complex, we thought it was an amazing and fun sightseeing! The driver picked us up at the other end of the park because it would take us long if we had to go back where we came in. Cindy took as to a Chinese restaurant that looked like a rain forest. We got there early so we took time to eat our lunch. There were also Chinese dancers to entertain us while we are savoring the so many dishes served for us. After their performances, each one of us got a red thread on our wrists which we later tied them on the branches of the cypress trees outside the restaurant for good luck.

Next adventure was the Hutong tour. Before we got into the rickshaw, we went inside the Bell Tower with Bob, the Hutong Tour guide. Accross the Bell Tower is The Drum Tower but was closed for renovation. To get to the Bell Tower, we have to climb the steep concrete stairs, maybe about 50 steps all together. In the ancient times, clocks were not available so the bell was used instead to let the people know of the time. We got to the top to see the view of the hutong community, it was a great view.

(Sorry folks, just too many things going on and also a lot of times we have internet connection problems, so it is a little frustrating.)

Anyway, the Hutong tour...

Each couple in the group rode on a rickshaw (Chinese pedicab) and they took us around the Hutong community. One of the three stops we had and probably the most memorable one for us is the Kindergarten school. The guide told us the parents bring their child to the school on Monday and they stay there for a week. The parents will then pick them up on Friday afternoon and bring them home and does the same routine every week. We get to meet some of these kids ages 3-5. We thought they all look alike and we are picturing Maelyne will look like them when she's at their age. They are very friendly and we hated to say goodbye to them.

We were also brought this place where there are over 200 bars but of course we did not have any drink, we just walked around. It is now time to head back to the hotel. We had half an hour to rest before we go and see the Flying Acrobats Show at 5:30 pm. When we got there, all tickets were sold out for the show so we have to wait for the 7:15 show. We had enough time to have dinner at the KFC (not as good as the American KFC though). The menus are all in Chinese so we just point at the picture to order. We headed back to the theater for the show. It was spectacular! I would watch it again!