July 9, 2010 - Beijing China

"He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a true man."
~Mao Zedong

China and Google have been playing political chess for months. It has quickly become clear there is no access to Blogspot, and some other Google ran websites, from this part of the world. Instead, my summer-saviors, Kendra and Evan (caring for Jack and the house), are going to upload my entries via email.

Having to choose between ascending the Great Wall by hiking, a gondola, or a chairlift, we opted for the chairlifts. Once on the wall, heading left keeps tourist on the restored wall. However, to the right is an incredibly steep hike past Watchtower 6 to a sign that says, "Not open to the public, No admittance." This was an open invitation to get-off-the-tourist-beaten-path. Immediately finding solace from the raging heat and away from the masses, I was alone on a crumbling wall covered in lush foliage with lizards scampering across my feet and butterflies floating into my eyes. After hiking to the point that bush-whacking was required, I decided to sit and take in the scene. Most think that the Great Wall of China is one wall. In reality, it's a number of walls randomly positioned throughout the hills to keep out the Mongol Barbarians. Perhaps they don't call them the Great Walls, because there is no plural in Mandarin. On many a Bucket List is to walk China's Great Wall. Today I made another check off the list. Unexpectedly, we also slid off the Great Wall of China on a toboggan.

Part of Chairman Mao's Cultural Revolution was to seek out and destroy the Four Olds.

+ Old culture

+ Old customs

+ Old habits

+ Old ideas

In the afternoon, the monsoon rains came and didn't let up until evening.  Through determination in a torrential downpour, we found the perfectly preserved 10th Century Cow Street Mosque, complete with an astronomical Wangyuelou (Moon Observation Tower), which for some reason was not destroyed by Mao's Red Guard. 


Learning a new language, is comparable to finding a new world. Attempting to maneuver Beijing with a cab-driver who doesn't speak English, we found ourselves in a scuffle of yelling, which led to some minor shoving, all because we tried to tip for his services. We still do not understand how we offended him. More than ever, I would like to learn Mandarin. Of the three banquet style meals eaten thus far, these are my favorite dishes:

Sweet n' Sour Pork at Laobeijing Zhajiangmian

Lemon Chicken at Xiao Wang's Home Restaurant

Sweet n' Sour Chicken at Xiaolongpu Restaurant

Apparently, I enjoy deep-fried meat marinated in congealed sugar.

Dhanurasana, 
Wheel Bow on the Great Wall