I can't believe it's day twelve already! It actually seems like time is going by really slow...considering I'm going to be here for another 45 days. Either way, fast or slow, today was a landmark on my trip calendar. It was the perfect mix of work and play.
The first thing we did this morning was a visit to a retirement home about thirty minutes outside of the city called Sun City. The hope of our visit was to learn more about China's growing aging population to develop better insight for our future trip to Hainan. In Hainan we will be advising top architects on elderly issues they may want to address when developing blueprints for their expansive retirement community. Anyways, we took a tour of the retirement community grounds and then headed back to Downtown Beijing.
On the way back we drove by the 2008 Olympic Stadium, called the Bird's Nest, and a special district designed to coincide with its Asian ethnic minority constituents. When we got back to Beijing half of the group got off at the Forbidden City. The rest of us continued to the hotel to drop off equipment and change clothes. Once we re-situated my friend Jen and I hired a taxi to go to a Confucian temple I had been looking forward to visiting.
On our way out we learned that there was also a lamasery in proximity to the Confucian temple. The lamasery had nearly a hundred elaborate Buddha statues. As we walked back through the rooms of the temple the Buddhas got progressively bigger and bigger. The final Buddha was a whopping four stories tall. Unfortunately all the Buddhas were indoors and we were unable to take pictures of any of them. It was even more unfortunate that the Confucian temple was completely under construction! We took a couple of pictures in front of some Confucius statues but were unable to see about 90% of the temple...(tear).
After visiting the temples we joined the rest of our group back at the hotel. We hired another set of taxis and went to the Temple of Heaven. The buildings and surrounding park were very beautiful. Locals strolled the gardens and gathered around elderly musicians. I was lucky to have a voice recording device to record some traditional Chinese songs.
After our visit at the Temple of Heaven we went back to the Silk Market so that some of the girls could do some more shopping. We then finished the day with a Beijing Duck dinner. Like I said, a very eventful day. Evie I love you, happy graduation!
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Friday, June 8, 2007
Day Eleven
It was a little more difficult to get up this morning than the last couple days but I was able to sleep during the van ride to the Great Wall. To get to the Great Wall we had to walk up a sidewalk that was lined with arts and crafts shops. At the top of the shops street we bought great wall gondola and admission tickets.
The weather at the wall was hot and humid. As soon as I saw another guy with his shirt off I followed suit. Our group walked for a half mile or so down the Wall at which point the group grew a little tired. I noted the highest point on the wall up the mountain. I ran ahead of the group so that I could take some pictures. When I reached the top I was completely out of breath and energy. My friend Suvag tried to keep up but he got a bloody nose halfway up. I took some pictures and relaxed before going back down to meet up with the group.
We had lunch in a restaurant that was situated in a shaded green house (w/ air conditioning). After lunch we came back and napped and then went out for dinner at Pizza Hut. Right now we're drinking coke floats and then going to sleep because we need to meet with our instructor at eight in the morning. Night!
The weather at the wall was hot and humid. As soon as I saw another guy with his shirt off I followed suit. Our group walked for a half mile or so down the Wall at which point the group grew a little tired. I noted the highest point on the wall up the mountain. I ran ahead of the group so that I could take some pictures. When I reached the top I was completely out of breath and energy. My friend Suvag tried to keep up but he got a bloody nose halfway up. I took some pictures and relaxed before going back down to meet up with the group.
We had lunch in a restaurant that was situated in a shaded green house (w/ air conditioning). After lunch we came back and napped and then went out for dinner at Pizza Hut. Right now we're drinking coke floats and then going to sleep because we need to meet with our instructor at eight in the morning. Night!
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Day Ten
Last night I actually got to sleep in a bed (the night before I actually slept on the couch)! Before I started to get ready I ran up to the lounge and grabbed some breakfast for everyone. Our group got ready and then met up in the lounge to leave to hotel.
The first part of the day we went to Peking Union Medical College (PUMC). It was at PUMC that we met with the university's vice president, Liming Lee. Dr. Lee was the former head of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Lee lost his job along with the entire CDC staff after the SARS outbreak. He will supposedly become China's next Minister of Health. It was really a privilege to be in his company. Dr. Lee did a combination powerpoint on public health in China and PUMC's history. After his presentation he received questions from our group. To end our meeting he hosted our lunch at a popular Seshuan restaurant called South Beauty. We were given a private room. The meal was probably the nicest meal I have had thus far.
After lunch we hired some taxis to take us to the China CDC office. It was at the CDC office that we were given two presentations on tobacco control in China. Dr. Jiang Yuan, the deputy director of the CDC tobacco department, answered our various questions after her brief presentation and gave us each a small gift.
Once we finished our day's business we came back to the hotel to rest and relax. We went back to Houhai lake for dinner. It has definitely been quite a long day. I hope I have a little more energy tomorrow so I can be more uplifting in my journals...but we're going to the GREAT WALL!!!!! We're going to do a lot of walking but I'm really excited!
The first part of the day we went to Peking Union Medical College (PUMC). It was at PUMC that we met with the university's vice president, Liming Lee. Dr. Lee was the former head of China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Dr. Lee lost his job along with the entire CDC staff after the SARS outbreak. He will supposedly become China's next Minister of Health. It was really a privilege to be in his company. Dr. Lee did a combination powerpoint on public health in China and PUMC's history. After his presentation he received questions from our group. To end our meeting he hosted our lunch at a popular Seshuan restaurant called South Beauty. We were given a private room. The meal was probably the nicest meal I have had thus far.
After lunch we hired some taxis to take us to the China CDC office. It was at the CDC office that we were given two presentations on tobacco control in China. Dr. Jiang Yuan, the deputy director of the CDC tobacco department, answered our various questions after her brief presentation and gave us each a small gift.
Once we finished our day's business we came back to the hotel to rest and relax. We went back to Houhai lake for dinner. It has definitely been quite a long day. I hope I have a little more energy tomorrow so I can be more uplifting in my journals...but we're going to the GREAT WALL!!!!! We're going to do a lot of walking but I'm really excited!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Day Nine
I woke up this morning around 9 o'clock. Our instructor had scheduled an orientation for 10am so we ended up meeting at that time to do a brief orientation. We discussed our trip itinerary and project goals. All in all, we hope to complete a focus group project based on previously collected data, a tobacco cessation project based on our qualitative analysis and research, and a couple short documentaries centered on aging in China, environmental issues in China, and tobacco use in China.
After orientation we went to lunch as a group in the neighboring mall. We came back and gathered our gear and then headed out to China's WHO Collaborating Center for tobacco cessation. The office is situated in the Beijing Hospital, about a fifteen minute taxi from our hotel. It was at the center that we met the chairman, Dr. Xiao Dan. Dr. Xiao Dan explained her organizations current work and accomplishments. She then received questions from us. A hospital administrator also talked with us, she discussed the hospital's plans for development and expansion.
We exchanged small gifts with our hosts at the hospital and then came back to the hotel to rest and relax. Around six o'clock we hired a couple taxis and went to a noodle house down the street. Time to go to sleep, tomorrow is booked full!
After orientation we went to lunch as a group in the neighboring mall. We came back and gathered our gear and then headed out to China's WHO Collaborating Center for tobacco cessation. The office is situated in the Beijing Hospital, about a fifteen minute taxi from our hotel. It was at the center that we met the chairman, Dr. Xiao Dan. Dr. Xiao Dan explained her organizations current work and accomplishments. She then received questions from us. A hospital administrator also talked with us, she discussed the hospital's plans for development and expansion.
We exchanged small gifts with our hosts at the hospital and then came back to the hotel to rest and relax. Around six o'clock we hired a couple taxis and went to a noodle house down the street. Time to go to sleep, tomorrow is booked full!
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Day Eight
I awoke to the noise of jackhammers and traffic this morning! I think I forgot to mention it, but yesterday another tourist booked my room before I told the concierge I was going to extend my stay. The room they moved me to was on the other side of the hotel and it had a lot of service vehicle traffic and building construction.
After I packed everything up and figured out where the Courtyard Marriott was I walked down the street and hired a taxi. I got to the hotel around 10:30am and was treated with great care. Our group was very fortunate and was upgraded to an executive/penthouse suite room for free (regulary $1000 a night)!
When the other students arrived I felt obligated to share my fortunate experiences with Luting. I first took them to the Wangfujing Mall. My friend Chris unlocked his phone and I bought a Chinese SIM card (In case of emergency my local Chinese cell phone number is #136-9363-4837, but I will still use my US SIM card to call home). Once we situated our phones I took everyone to the Silk Market again, (I bought Mom and Evie really nice scarfs).
I also took everyone to the snack street, (with the exotic foods), and then we came back to the hotel to have a nice buffet with our instructor and teacher's assistant. I think I'll probably stick it out in the hotel for the rest of the night and probably read. Night!
After I packed everything up and figured out where the Courtyard Marriott was I walked down the street and hired a taxi. I got to the hotel around 10:30am and was treated with great care. Our group was very fortunate and was upgraded to an executive/penthouse suite room for free (regulary $1000 a night)!
When the other students arrived I felt obligated to share my fortunate experiences with Luting. I first took them to the Wangfujing Mall. My friend Chris unlocked his phone and I bought a Chinese SIM card (In case of emergency my local Chinese cell phone number is #136-9363-4837, but I will still use my US SIM card to call home). Once we situated our phones I took everyone to the Silk Market again, (I bought Mom and Evie really nice scarfs).
I also took everyone to the snack street, (with the exotic foods), and then we came back to the hotel to have a nice buffet with our instructor and teacher's assistant. I think I'll probably stick it out in the hotel for the rest of the night and probably read. Night!
Monday, June 4, 2007
Day Seven
For the first time since I got to China I actually sat down this morning and "orient"-ed myself...get it? haha. I woke up this morning a little earlier than I have been and read for an hour then took out my China travel guidebook. After getting a sense of where I was and where I'd been I walked down the street to a local farmer's market.
Last night, I talked to a vietnam vet/NY firefighter named Billy who had discovered the market with his girlfriend the day before. The market was situated in a large wherehouse in the middle of a residential district (very isolated and without tourists). I bought a bunch of bananas, as a breakfast and walked back to the hostel to figure out what I woud do for the rest of the day.
I ended up just reading up more on the history of China and specifically Beijing's history. Around noon-thirty I walked around the lake near my hostel to a main road. It was on the main road that I got a cabbage and noodle stir-fry lunch. I brought the food back to the hotel to eat.
Once I finished eating I gathered my stuff and headed out in a taxi to the Tian'anmen Square. The plaza is known for its grand size. Throughout Chinese history city and town squares were avoided because they allowed people to gather, potentially in anti-government groups. The square is surrounded my the National History of China Museum (west), the Hall of the People (east), The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (south), and the entrance to the Forbidden City (north).
After taking some photos from the center of the square I walked into the Forbidden City through the Tian'anmen Gate, famous for the massive Mao portrait over it's entrance. The Forbidden City was basically the Imperial Palace to a multitude of dynasties. There are countless palaces within the gates, each serving a different purpose to different emperors. I paid for an audio tour which explained some history of each palace.
I exited the Forbidden City from the north gate and caught a taxi to meet up with my friend Luting (at her internship). The place she works is above the mall that we watched Spiderman 3 (Wangfujing Mall). We walked around the Imperial Palace, and actually back through Tian'anmen Square. Once we got back to the street we grabbed a taxi to Houhai Lake.
Houhai Lake is a beautiful area with bars and elegant restaurants lining the walkways and bridges around the lake. Most bars and restaurants had red Chinese lanterns and/or neon signs that beautifully illuminated the opposing shores. We had a wonderful 'spicy' dinner [fish head (actually extremely good), green chili eggplant, mushroom stew, and iron pot beef). After we ate we walked around the lake and I bought Brandon and I a couple t-shirts that were custom designed by a shop owner and of a limited supply. Tomorrow I plan on going to the Temple of Heaven and then checking into my new hotel to await the arrival of my teachers and colleagues.
Last night, I talked to a vietnam vet/NY firefighter named Billy who had discovered the market with his girlfriend the day before. The market was situated in a large wherehouse in the middle of a residential district (very isolated and without tourists). I bought a bunch of bananas, as a breakfast and walked back to the hostel to figure out what I woud do for the rest of the day.
I ended up just reading up more on the history of China and specifically Beijing's history. Around noon-thirty I walked around the lake near my hostel to a main road. It was on the main road that I got a cabbage and noodle stir-fry lunch. I brought the food back to the hotel to eat.
Once I finished eating I gathered my stuff and headed out in a taxi to the Tian'anmen Square. The plaza is known for its grand size. Throughout Chinese history city and town squares were avoided because they allowed people to gather, potentially in anti-government groups. The square is surrounded my the National History of China Museum (west), the Hall of the People (east), The Chairman Mao Memorial Hall (south), and the entrance to the Forbidden City (north).
After taking some photos from the center of the square I walked into the Forbidden City through the Tian'anmen Gate, famous for the massive Mao portrait over it's entrance. The Forbidden City was basically the Imperial Palace to a multitude of dynasties. There are countless palaces within the gates, each serving a different purpose to different emperors. I paid for an audio tour which explained some history of each palace.
I exited the Forbidden City from the north gate and caught a taxi to meet up with my friend Luting (at her internship). The place she works is above the mall that we watched Spiderman 3 (Wangfujing Mall). We walked around the Imperial Palace, and actually back through Tian'anmen Square. Once we got back to the street we grabbed a taxi to Houhai Lake.
Houhai Lake is a beautiful area with bars and elegant restaurants lining the walkways and bridges around the lake. Most bars and restaurants had red Chinese lanterns and/or neon signs that beautifully illuminated the opposing shores. We had a wonderful 'spicy' dinner [fish head (actually extremely good), green chili eggplant, mushroom stew, and iron pot beef). After we ate we walked around the lake and I bought Brandon and I a couple t-shirts that were custom designed by a shop owner and of a limited supply. Tomorrow I plan on going to the Temple of Heaven and then checking into my new hotel to await the arrival of my teachers and colleagues.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Day Six
Today was a little bit more eventful than yesterday. Luting came over and picked me up around 2pm. We then went to the Silk Market. The Silk Market is an infamous flea market in Beijing known for its wide and large variety of dirt cheap knock off products (just to name a few: polo shirts, burberry ties, and countless fake watches). The market used to be on an alley but because of its high demand it is now a 4 story building with escalators and elevators. We walked around the market for a couple hours and didn't buy anything.
After we left the market we went to Starbucks and then went to street known as the "Snack St." The Snack St. is known for its exotic snacks. The most exotic to me were the "scorpion on a stick" and the " deep fried starfish." Again, these were only the tip of the iceberg.
Fortunately I still had an appetite after visiting the Snack St. so we went to Pizza Hut for dinner. After dinner we just walked around central Beijing until I jumped into a taxi to come back to my hostel. I think I'm going to lay low tomorrow and probably just read one of my books and skim through my tour guide book a little more. night!
After we left the market we went to Starbucks and then went to street known as the "Snack St." The Snack St. is known for its exotic snacks. The most exotic to me were the "scorpion on a stick" and the " deep fried starfish." Again, these were only the tip of the iceberg.
Fortunately I still had an appetite after visiting the Snack St. so we went to Pizza Hut for dinner. After dinner we just walked around central Beijing until I jumped into a taxi to come back to my hostel. I think I'm going to lay low tomorrow and probably just read one of my books and skim through my tour guide book a little more. night!
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