This was a fabulous trip; 2 months in China, a week in North Korea, a week in Hong Kong, and 2 weeks in Egypt.
China was a wonderful place. It was relatively easy to get around, the metro systems were very simple and new so they were clean and ran on time. Yes, they got crowded, but hey, it is China!
Being in Beijing during Golden Week was amazing. Watching people move like liquid down the street because there were so many of them. Experiencing aggressive grandmas at the Terracotta Warriors, being hip checked out of the way so they could see. (They were all about 4' 7" tall, so the only way they could see anything was to be at the rail!. If you were taking a shot with your camera, they would barge into the shot and push you out of the way. I understood, only the most aggressive could secure scarse resources, but, China doesn't seem to be wanting for much.
The biggest rant I have is that air quality in China is really appalling. Beijing is really bad. Fall is supposed to be the "good" time for air, but I had to be masks that will strain out particulate that can embed themselves deep in your lungs. Just what an asthmatic needs!
If China can clean up its environment and loosen its controls on individuals there will be no stopping its economic power and reach. I hope the president elect takes notice of the sleeping Tiger there!
I encourage everyone to find some time to visit China. The cuisine never got old, it is so varied and delicious, dumplings never fail to make me smile, ma po dofu never fails to make me think....Jeez this is so much better than mine, simple steamed and quick friend veggies highlight their tastiness, and pork in a bazillion different ways. Ahhh, I love Chinese food.
Sigh!!
China was a wonderful place. It was relatively easy to get around, the metro systems were very simple and new so they were clean and ran on time. Yes, they got crowded, but hey, it is China!
Being in Beijing during Golden Week was amazing. Watching people move like liquid down the street because there were so many of them. Experiencing aggressive grandmas at the Terracotta Warriors, being hip checked out of the way so they could see. (They were all about 4' 7" tall, so the only way they could see anything was to be at the rail!. If you were taking a shot with your camera, they would barge into the shot and push you out of the way. I understood, only the most aggressive could secure scarse resources, but, China doesn't seem to be wanting for much.
The biggest rant I have is that air quality in China is really appalling. Beijing is really bad. Fall is supposed to be the "good" time for air, but I had to be masks that will strain out particulate that can embed themselves deep in your lungs. Just what an asthmatic needs!
If China can clean up its environment and loosen its controls on individuals there will be no stopping its economic power and reach. I hope the president elect takes notice of the sleeping Tiger there!
I encourage everyone to find some time to visit China. The cuisine never got old, it is so varied and delicious, dumplings never fail to make me smile, ma po dofu never fails to make me think....Jeez this is so much better than mine, simple steamed and quick friend veggies highlight their tastiness, and pork in a bazillion different ways. Ahhh, I love Chinese food.
Sigh!!
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