Tokyo!!!

Our first day in Tokyo. Its mind boggling. Its so big you can't imagine where to begin. When we were on the airplane, the flight attendant kept asking us what city we were going to. Tokyo, I replied. This happened many times until Jason and I figured out that Tokyo is so big, really only the city center area is referred to as Tokyo and the rest of the areas (or cities) are referred to by their district names.

Anyway, there we were. Here's the view from our hotel.

Endless. Buildings as far as you can see!

What about below ground you ask? Its the same mess. Here's the train map. Jason and I stood in the station for a good 15 minutes to try and sort this one out! Not to mention that if the subway can't get you where you are going -- there are elevated trains and overland trains. It makes for the messiest map!

Here's the subway map alone!

Since Tokyo isn't the most historic or charming city -- I have included some humour for you. We have tried every Japanese snack and soda we can get our hands on. Jason is particular to Calpis, whereas I like Asahi. You may think of Asahi beer, but in Japan, there's Asahi everything!

And finally. That big city, that crazy map, Japanese characters everywhere -- well, we did what we know. The Crown and Rose Pub. Shiodome, Tokyo. For a pint of course. We knew we were in Japan though, because our pints cost us about $9.00 each. Well, the cost, and the fact that after our pints we headed out for sushi, sake and beer! Such a perfect afternoon!

Ode to Mothers.

Before I continue to Tokyo -- my mom gets honourable mention. Our flight from Beijing to Tokyo was canceled. There were language issues -- and consequently all we knew was that we were walking to reclaim our bags and told to follow a woman possibly to the check in desk, where every attempt (possibly) would be made to put us on a different flight. I am guessing at this, but it sounds right.
Our flight was filled to capacity, and not interested in staying in Beijing or waiting at the check in desk with 200 of our closest friends, I phoned my mom.
In the most extraordinary telecommunications feat (in this lovely modern world), she called the airline, spoke of our plight and before our bags were even off the old plane we had a new reservation and a pass to the lounge.
And what a reservation it was. On Japan Airlines, economy was empty. We had rows upon rows to ourselves, the flight attendants were charming -- one even gave me playing cards and origami paper -- and the food was so yummy.
I highly recommend the airline. I highly recommend my mom's assistance (she's amazing) and I highly recommend calling the 1-800 (0800) number before ever waiting at the check in desk.
All in all catastrophe averted -- thanks to Gayle!

The Summer Palace! Beijing.

From the guidebook: "A sprawling lanscaped park on the edge of the city, the Summer Palace was a seasonal imperial retreat from the stifling confines of the Forbidden City. It was the favoured haunt of the fiercesome Empress Cixi, who had it rebuilt twice: once following its destruction by French and English troops in 1860, and again in 1902 after it was plundered during the Boxer Rebellion."

I object to two parts of this description. First, thinking it was a retreat from summer heat, I expected it to be much cooler. It wasn't. At all. Okay, maybe there was a small breeze -- but hardly enough to call it a retreat from the heat!

Two -- Stifling Forbidden City? If we are talking air, then yes. There was no breeze and the air didn't move around that much, if at all. If we are talking buildings and grounds -- I don't think so. At 700 buildings and 9,999 rooms, the Forbidden City is hardly stifling in size!

Regardless, the Summer Palace was a favourite of mine. Its park like, there are theatres, boats, temples and flower gardens -- anything you can think of -- the palace has!

Jason is standing at the entrance to the palace!

Just some shots from around the grounds and buildings!

This is a open air theatre where the Empress Cixi had nightly performances.

Marble bridges are everywhere on the grounds!

The long corridor. The ceilings and beams are decorated with over 14,000 paintings. Its also a lovely way to walk across half way across the palace grounds in complete shade!

Marble. Marble. Marble everywhere!

A view from the top of the temple next door. Mind you its nearly like where we are -- only we can't take photos of our temple!

As we climb higher and higher!

The shopping street. Suzhou street. Left exactly as it was when the palace was in use, it is now two streets on either side of canal filled Chinese handicrafts. It
made for a lovely morning shopping stroll!

And as we climbed, so did the temperature! I am looking a bit hotter here! It was funny -- one of the most popular things to do on the street was to don period clothing and have your picture taken on the street. I couldn't imagine anything hotter -- so we passed. Instead, I love this picture of Jason!

A final view of the shops and we get ready to head out!

The great Empress Cixi had some good ideas and some not so good ideas. Here's a not so good one -- this is the marble boat. The super-structure of the boat is made of wood and painted to look like marble. Apparently her love marble drove her to create this monstrosity! She also paid for the boat with
funds earmarked for the modernization of the Imperial Army!

Wanting a different path out -- we opted for a boat ride across the Lake. Such a good idea! Though not the marble boat, ours was just as lovely!

Finally, the seventeen arch bridge. On the balusters on the top of the bridge (there are 544) and different lion is said to be on the top of each one! Jason likes this artsy photo -- and so do I!

The Great Wall!

From the guidebook: The Great Wall snakes through the countryside over deserts, hills and plains for several thousand miles. At its closest point it is less than 40 miles from Beijing. The wall was created following the unification of China under Qin Shi Huangdi (221-210 BC). Today, only select sections of its crumbing remains have been fully restored.

So here we are! Finally! Everything I had been waiting for! The Great Wall. Oh and its great and a wall. :)

Jason says "It was GREAT!" He is in a more dignified pose -- just touching the wall before we were climbing!

Side view. This is an important view because you cannot imagine how incredibly precarious the wall is. It is built on a ridge line that is so incredibly steep on either side. Tens of thousands died building the wall -- they would simply slip off -- and from this picture its easy to see how!

And just so you know its windy up here!

Jason joining the masses for a well timed photo!

My favourite picture!

The view from afar.

When you are on the wall or near the wall, you see it in every direction all around you. Its everywhere!

More Jason. If the weather hadn't been so polluted you would see that there is so much of the wall all over the ridge lines in this picture. But eh! It was still a magnificent sight!

In contrast to Jason's dignified pose (touching the wall) -- I chose to hug the wall. It was a fitting goodbye!

The Ming Tombs.

Just outside of Beijing -- where we thought the pollution might get better (it didn't) was the Ming Tombs. From the guidebook: "The resting place for 13 of the 16 Ming-dynasty (1368-1644) emperors, this is China's finest example of imperial funerary architecture. The site was selected because of tis auspicious feng shui alignment, a ridge of mountains to the north cradles the tombs on three sides, protecting the dead from the evil spirits carried by the north wind."

Interestingly, the pollution has been such an issue around the tombs for quite some time. There are unopened tombs, that the archeologists cannot open because once the polluted air hits the treasures inside -- it will disintegrate the cloths, rust the metals and tarnish the silvers. Its really sad. The ones that are open had a number of items salvaged from them, and they were certainly wonderful to look at!

Jason is standing in front of the Chang Ling tomb. His was the oldest and greatest tomb. The tomb of his wife and 16 concubines is nearby his, but has never been opened.

The money burner. This is a money burner for offerings to the emperor. At the time we saw it -- it was fulled with half burned yuan (Chinese currency).

This is the hall of Eminent Favor. The 32 cedar columns supporting the roof actually come from Chengdu in the Sichuan province. (Where the earthquake was...)

There is no real reason for the picture -- I just like it!

Temple of Heaven 2

Convinced to close my brolly -- we continued our exploration of the Temple complex -- heading to the marble platform!

This truly is a classic Meghan photo. The brolly (normally just out of the camera range), the sweat bandanna, hair up, flushed and my Chinese addition -- my air conditioning system. Around the sights in China (because it was that hot), the vendors sell frozen water bottles. On this day I bought two. One became my air conditioning -- I walked with it, held it on my neck, kept in the crooks of my arms -- it was lovely. The other -- I drank and occasionally used it air conditioning as well. All in all -- very successful sightseeing!

The gate to the round altar. The altar is where the emperor would carry out the sacrifices for the good harvest!

Jason is standing on the altar. Turns out the actual spot of the sacrifices is a great one of Chinese tourist photos -- so we took ours on the edge of the altar sight -- it was much too hot to wait our turn!

The gate on the way back down! Awfully similar to the one on the way up! Don't you think???

The Temple of Heaven (Beijing)

The Temple of Heaven. From the guidebook: "It was here that the emperor would make sacrifices and pray to heaven and his ancestors at the winter solstice. As the son of Heaven, the emperor could intercede with the gods on behalf of his people and pray for a good harvest. Off-limits to the common people in the Ming and Qing dynasties, the temple complex is now fully open to the public and attracts thousands of visitors daily, including many local Chinese who come to enjoy the large and pleasant park in which the monuments are set."

One thing I thought was lovely about the Chinese is their interest in their own history. Jason continued to remind me that there are a lot of people living in China and therefore most sights are packed with Chinese. We were easily, easily outnumbered wherever we went. I thought it was more than that though -- it was charming to see the young and old exploring what to some of the old had been off limits to them their entire lives.

The hall of prayer for Good Harvests. The most striking fact about this hall is that it was constructed without the use of one single nail!

And the umbrella remains a fixture in my Asian/South East Asian life. I find it foolish at times, but heaven most of the time. Its my ow portable shade. :)

Jason is far braver than I in the sun!