Here is a break from the China update.
Came across an interesting article....
Check out the link....
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20100415/874/twl-more-cell-phones-in-india-than-toile.html
More phones then toilets.... OMG....
That explains all the guys peeing on the side of the road... while talking on their cell phone!! : )
More China updates coming soon!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Stop # 3 - Lhasa, Tibet
Day 5 we arrived in Lhasa, Tibet
It was about 4 in the afternoon when we arrived, and our tour guide advised us to relax in our hotel room for the evening, and avoid any strenuous activity so that we could get adjusted to the altitude change. We were in the one of the highest cities in the world!!! We were at about 4000 meters above sea level. This was almost 2.5 miles!! Yes, Miles!! Also, the air was very thin here... they say that there is 35% less oxygen in the air at this altitude then what you would get at 'sea level'.
So we did as we were told and chilled out for the evening. The hotel was OK... it was only a 3-star and it showed. The heating system was weak, and it was very cold, especially at night and we felt it!!
Day 6 started with a full day of sight seeing. We first went the Summer Place for the Dalai Lama. This trip was filled with bits of Chinese History... I did not know that the Dalai Lama (the 14th one) escaped out of Tibet in 1959 when China took over. He is now living in India in Dharamsala. The take-over by the Chinese has really disrupted the peacefulness and simplicity that was once there in Tibet. The Tibetans have been told to call the take-over a 'peaceful liberation'..... Well, after the 'peaceful liberation', now there are Chinese military and army casing the entire city. It is quite a disparity between the locals and the army folk.
The Summer palace was nice. Our tour guide was very well versed on the history of the dalai lama and Bhuddism and he was able to tell us about how the origin of Buddhism links back to India.
After the Summer Palace, we went to a monastery to see the monks. It was again, very peaceful. The people are so dedicated. After the monastery, we were then off to see a Tibetan house. As part of the tour, we were taken into the house of one of the local families. Again, the simplicity in there life was seen with the way that they live.
Day 7 we went to the Potala Palace, which is also know as the winter palace for the Dalai lama. This palace was nested on the top of a hill. We had to climb over 370 steps to get to the top. Let me tell ya, with 35% less oxygen in the air, we definitely felt winded... after just 15 steps.... it took a long time to make it to the top... many breaks were needed, but we all made it.... Even Mira and Milan!! They were such troopers!
Here we saw the tombs of the Dalai Lamas from the 5th to the 13th... that then begged the question.... when the 14th Dalai Lama dies, will his tomb be placed in Potala Palace?? Each of the tombs were made of pure gold and jewels... Supposedly the tomb of the 13th Dalai Lama is made of 1-ton of gold... yep, that is a lot of gold!!
After the trip to Potala Palace, it was a quick dash to the hotel to grab the bags and a quick lunch and then we were off to stop #4 - Shanghai!!
This is a view of Potala Palace. A shot of us after we climbed up all the stairs!!
Another View of Potala Palace also know as the Winter Palace
Here are people doing prayer (full lay down, to standing up) towards Potala Palace. They do it repeatedly for an entire day. Only taking breaks for food. This is real dedication!!
Another view of Potala Palace
Here is a view of the mountains that surround the Winter Palace... It was beautiful...
Vim with a great backdrop view.
Tibetan Monks.....
Here is the Potala Palace before we started the climb.... Notice the snow on the trees.... yes snow!!
A view of the snowy mountains....
Views were amazing
Who is that cute kid??? The black mark on the nose was a blessing that he got from the Sera Monestary. This is supposed to bring him good luck for a year....
A view of the town from the Summer Palace
Awwww......
The summer palace.........
This is a Tibetan local dog breed that is supposed to be very ferocious. It has been know to attack a lion and actually win.... At least that is what our tour guide told us...
It was about 4 in the afternoon when we arrived, and our tour guide advised us to relax in our hotel room for the evening, and avoid any strenuous activity so that we could get adjusted to the altitude change. We were in the one of the highest cities in the world!!! We were at about 4000 meters above sea level. This was almost 2.5 miles!! Yes, Miles!! Also, the air was very thin here... they say that there is 35% less oxygen in the air at this altitude then what you would get at 'sea level'.
So we did as we were told and chilled out for the evening. The hotel was OK... it was only a 3-star and it showed. The heating system was weak, and it was very cold, especially at night and we felt it!!
Day 6 started with a full day of sight seeing. We first went the Summer Place for the Dalai Lama. This trip was filled with bits of Chinese History... I did not know that the Dalai Lama (the 14th one) escaped out of Tibet in 1959 when China took over. He is now living in India in Dharamsala. The take-over by the Chinese has really disrupted the peacefulness and simplicity that was once there in Tibet. The Tibetans have been told to call the take-over a 'peaceful liberation'..... Well, after the 'peaceful liberation', now there are Chinese military and army casing the entire city. It is quite a disparity between the locals and the army folk.
The Summer palace was nice. Our tour guide was very well versed on the history of the dalai lama and Bhuddism and he was able to tell us about how the origin of Buddhism links back to India.
After the Summer Palace, we went to a monastery to see the monks. It was again, very peaceful. The people are so dedicated. After the monastery, we were then off to see a Tibetan house. As part of the tour, we were taken into the house of one of the local families. Again, the simplicity in there life was seen with the way that they live.
Day 7 we went to the Potala Palace, which is also know as the winter palace for the Dalai lama. This palace was nested on the top of a hill. We had to climb over 370 steps to get to the top. Let me tell ya, with 35% less oxygen in the air, we definitely felt winded... after just 15 steps.... it took a long time to make it to the top... many breaks were needed, but we all made it.... Even Mira and Milan!! They were such troopers!
Here we saw the tombs of the Dalai Lamas from the 5th to the 13th... that then begged the question.... when the 14th Dalai Lama dies, will his tomb be placed in Potala Palace?? Each of the tombs were made of pure gold and jewels... Supposedly the tomb of the 13th Dalai Lama is made of 1-ton of gold... yep, that is a lot of gold!!
After the trip to Potala Palace, it was a quick dash to the hotel to grab the bags and a quick lunch and then we were off to stop #4 - Shanghai!!
This is a view of Potala Palace. A shot of us after we climbed up all the stairs!!
Another View of Potala Palace also know as the Winter Palace
Here are people doing prayer (full lay down, to standing up) towards Potala Palace. They do it repeatedly for an entire day. Only taking breaks for food. This is real dedication!!
Another view of Potala Palace
Here is a view of the mountains that surround the Winter Palace... It was beautiful...
Vim with a great backdrop view.
Tibetan Monks.....
Here is the Potala Palace before we started the climb.... Notice the snow on the trees.... yes snow!!
A view of the snowy mountains....
Views were amazing
Who is that cute kid??? The black mark on the nose was a blessing that he got from the Sera Monestary. This is supposed to bring him good luck for a year....
A view of the town from the Summer Palace
Awwww......
The summer palace.........
This is a Tibetan local dog breed that is supposed to be very ferocious. It has been know to attack a lion and actually win.... At least that is what our tour guide told us...
Thursday, April 8, 2010
China Trip..... Stop #2 - Xi'an
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| Terracotta Warriors |
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| Wild Goose Pagoda |
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| On the City Wall |
Day 4 started with the trip to the see the Terracotta Warriors. Now, let me be very up front, I only added this stop to the itinerary because Vim wanted to go there. I had not done much research so I was essentially going into it a little clueless. Let me just tell you... our tour guide (Ruth) was amazing and she explained all the detailed history about the warriors.... wow!! Just in case there are a few of you out there are a little 'clueless' too about the history of the warriors, let me fill you in. Essentially the first emperor of the Qin dynasty built over 8000 Soldiers out of terracotta clay. Each soldier is over 6ft tall. Essentially these soldiers were built as part of the preparation for the emperors' afterlife. They were placed in underground pits all around his tomb. The tomb, the pits and the warriors, were constructed in 246 BC. They were only discovered in 1974. Ironically, they were discovered on March 29, which was the same day that were were there..... 36 years later. So even though they are so old, they escavation sight and discovery is very new. From here we went to see the Wild Goose Pagoda and the City Wall. The day ended with a dumpling dinner (or dunkling as Milan was calling it) and a Dance show. A lot packed into a day!
Day 5
We had a trip to one of the local museums and then it was off to our flight. This was taking us to Lhasa in Tibet.
Overall Xi'an was very peaceful, in an almost eerie kind of way.... The city only became big (or known) because of the Terracotta Warriors. This is the main attraction in this town. There is currently a lot of construction going on, a lot of tall building are going up everywhere.
China Trip..... Stop # 1 - Beijing
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| Tianamen Square |
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| Forbidden City |
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| Temple of Heaven |
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| Kung-Fu Tea Service |
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| Peking Opera |
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| The GREAT WALL!!! |
The day was hectic, Vim and I had work, the kids had an evening program at school (I will post the details and pictures of the program), and we had to leave for the airport straight from the school. Needless to say, it took a lot of planning to get everythign in order, we ran out of the school as soon as the program was over and headed to the airport. The whole way, I was thinking that we were insane to cut it so close. Funny thing, we get to the airport and Milan's friend Sonia (yes, the Sonia) and her family did the same exact (insane) thing!! They were on their way to Tokyo and Bangkok.
So, we landed in Beijing on Thursday afternoon... completely exhausted.
Friday was DAY 1 of our touring:
We started off in Tianamen Square. This is the largest 'city-square' in the world. However, it did not seem to have the feel that I would have expected for a city square. Essentially inside they had the building where you can see the body of Chairman Mao, they have a few towers, and states. But no real bustle of of city square. To the North of the Square was the Forbiden City which is palace during the Ming Dynasty. Then we went to Temple of Heaven which was used by emperors in the Qing and Ming dynasties to pray to heaven. Last stop for day one.... a Peking Opera. It was a full day of adventure and we were out and about all day.
DAY 2:
Here we started off with a trip to the Ming Tombs. Yes, just as the name suggests, the burial places of the Ming emperors.... Then it was off to the GREAT WALL!!! It was amazing.....over 6000km long..... Built to keep the Mongolian Army out of China. The Great Wall is considered a 'Wonder of the World'. Day 2 ended with a trip to the knock off market. Mira and Milan were introduced to the Converse High Top - knock offs.... by the time the trip was over, Milan got 3 pair and Mira got 4 pair.... I got a purse (come, one that was a given, right....).
DAY 3:
Here we went to the Summer Palace and the Beijing Zoo to see the Pandas. And then it was off to the airport to catch our flight to Xi'an.
Overall, Beijing was a nice city. Looking back, a nice blend from the big city feel of Shanghai and the small town feel of Xi'an. Seeing the Great Wall was the best part. The weather was chilly.... it was a high of 50's and it was a little cold for us... but we survived.... Our tour guides were Cindy and Catherine... they were great. It is really hard to get around in China without knowing Chinese. English is not commonly spoken or understood.
Check out the pictures!!
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