GCDS Does China - Day 2 - Beijing

In the spirit of Zagat's...

The long awaited trip to the Great Wall "did not disappoint" and "surpassed expectations." Most of the group refused the cable car ride and enjoyed the 1100 step climb up to the wall where we then climbed at least as many more. The Sumatai section, where we visited, is largely considered an "off the beaten track" section to visit. The 90 minute drive from Beijing and rigorous climbs keep the hoards away. We woke up with sore legs and declared "we don't need Equinox at home, we need a Great Wall!" We climbed to the farthest possible point (of our refurbished section, not all 4000 miles) and had "great views in all directions." DYK: "if the wall had been built as a three foot tall and wide structure with the same number of stones, it would circumnavigate the globe at the equator!" After the cable car ride down, many of us had our first venture into the intense world of bartering, learning such beginner mottos as "barter at the bottom," "be willing to walk away," "start at 10% of the initial offer," "don't show your want," and "don't claim you don't have enough money as you take a picture with your $1000 camera."

Our "cultural fill" for the day came at the Buddhist Lama Temple. We navigated through the complex of 5 worshiping dwellings, trying not to disturb the many worshipers, who "burn incense to carry their prayers up to heaven." The colorfully and intricately designed walls were fitting tributes to Buddha. The coup de gras was a 60 ft Buddha hand carved out of a single trunk of white sandle wood. It took three years to cart it from Nepal over rolling rocks and man-made ice roads.

The Chinese Acrobat Show was "a cross between Ripley's believe it or not, The Ringling Brothers, and some virtual land where Newton's laws don't exist." The names of the acts, such as "hoop jumping," "ball catching," "balance skill," and "bicycle skill" are comically simple relative to their jaw dropping displays. "Balance skill made Greenwich yoga look like a walk in the park!" Bicycle skill included a ten person human pyramid on top of one female cyclist. Hoop jumping is pretty accurately named, though "the acrobats made Donovan look like he has cement shoes" as they flew through ten foot high hoops. Ball catching featured a juggler...who juggled up to 9 balls at once...while doing his best Michael Flaherty impression. "Not bad."

Though exhausted after another wonderful day, many of us ventured to the open markets before bedtime. The food market delivered some of our favorites from home, including fried scorpion, skewered silkworm, crispy sea horse, juicy tarantula, and, of course, sheep penis. This variety was a welcomed change for a few travelers who had already declared that "the novelty of authentic chinese food has already worn off," "I wish I brought a second bag of beef jerky," and at this point, "I'd prefer sheep penis to more Kung-Pao chicken." Students, parents, and chaperones alike bravely sampled the local delicacies. The souvenir market, "Longchamps lunacy," "laser tag," and the Nike store rounded out a fun excursion and another memorable day.

Love,
All of us in China

P.S. We are being incredibly well fed and successully avoiding all allergies :)

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