China, My Far East Experience in Otober 2012



Great Wall of China (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

To enjoy a visit to Beijing, China you must be willing to accept and submit to the assault this city will be sure to have on all of your senses.  Don’t fight it…just give in! The sights will astound you, the sounds will excite you and the smells…well the smells can best be compared to the shock of an ice cold shower when you first awaken.  All of this before you even leave the airport.  You must also be willing to accept these elements very quickly or else you will be left in a head-spinning, tailwind going nowhere.   To understand China a little more, you must also be willing to put aside a lot of what you’ve become accustomed to in the West, and be open to the experience you’ll be sure find severely different in far East.  If you have the opportunity to go to China, especially Beijing, go with an open mind.  I went there not expecting anything and left with a new-found awareness for the Chinese culture.

Emperor's Silk Robe (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

Being alone in such a megatropolis is one of the most intimidating situations to be in.  You become lost the moment you step into the bustling crowds.  If you don’t know a few key survival words, you’ll be lost.  Be sure to learn some if you plan on visiting.

My Beijing experience begins with a tour of the Ming Tombs.  I visited Chang Ling (where the first Emperor Yongle in Beijing and his Empress Xu are buried).  The tombs themselves are not open for public viewing, but the museum and monument to the Emperor are quite fascinating.  There is an impressive statue of the Emperor in the middle of the museum.  You can’t miss it!



Emperor Yongle (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

My excitement was uncontainable as the next experience was the Great Wall  of China.   Did you hear me?  I visited the Great Wall of China!  The Wall (1,700 years old) at Badaling (this section is from the Ming Dynasty), is the most famous and best-preserved section of the Wall.  The moment you see the first sighting of the Wall, it’s breathtaking!   Once you are one the Wall, it’s one of the most surreal experiences you can have.  Nothing can prepare you for the feeling you get once you are there.  There are expansive views that go on as far as the eye can see through the mountains.   I tried hard to block out the hoardes of tourists who were climbing the Wall and tried to envision it in its purest serenity.  I could just have stared at the Wall for days and still not believed where I was.  The Wall is approximately 6,000 miles long, but only a mere faction (one mile) of that distance is open to tourists.  During building, it is reported that about one million people died and are buried in the Wall.

After the excitement of the Great Wall, I saw a Chinese acrobatic show.  The Chinese take this craft very seriously.  The show was fascinating.

Next day was a city tour beginning in Tian’anmen Square.  The 1989 incident, which I had only seen on TV and read in the news, was amplified by the expansive area that is Tian’anmen Square.   Right next door is Chairman Mao’s mausoleum.   Experiencing this with hundreds of thousands of other people was mind-boggling.  No one can speak freely of the “incident” that happened in the Square, but being there and knowing the history took me back to the time when the event happened.

Nine Dragon Screen (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

The Forbidden City...wow!  Where to begin is exactly the feeling when you start exploring this area.   It is an endless expanse of temples, gardens, land and more gardens and land.  As I wandered around the compound, I was taken back to my childhood days growing up in Trinidad, running around with no shoes.  The temples stand impressively as you approach them, and they invite you to peek in and see what stories they tell about events that happened hundreds of years ago.  The Summer Palace (largest imperial garden) also known in China as a museum of gardens.  The Temple of Heaven is also a sight to behold.  The Nine Dragon Screen of the Place Museum is a display of nine dragons each painted with a different color.



Jade Chinese Cabbage (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

I visited a jade factory (government-owned and operated, of course) and learned how to tell the difference between real and fake jade.  Jade is a living organism and needs water or moisture at all times.  There were many exotic creations at the Jade Factory which were made on-site.   The pieces were very creative and represented many of the things that the Chinese people believe.  For example, the color green means good luck, a Chinese cabbage is supposed to bring you good luck, etc.

Visiting the silk factory was also amazing.  I saw how silk thread is turned into the most beautiful pieces of fabric used for linen and clothing.  The work to turn the threads in fabric is cumbersome and much patience is needed.

Driving is pretty intense on the highway.  In most countries, the shoulder of the road is reserved for emergencies and the like, but in China, the shoulder apparently serves the purpose of a passing lane.  On any given day, there are hundreds of fender benders in China.  I witnessed several dozen during the National Day holiday on my way to the Great Wall.  There are so many cars on the street, and the streets are so congested that this is not so surprising there are not many, many more accidents.

I visited a traditional Chinese medicine shop (which was one that used to provide herbs and medicine to the last emperor of China) where a Chinese doctor took my pulse and was able to tell me a couple of things that were going on in my body.  He was exactly on point with his diagnosis.

I saw a traditional Peking Opera at Liyuan Theatre.  Honestly, it took a lot of effort to sit through this opera.  To Westerners, this show would be unbearable because of the tones used by the performers, but the Peking Opera has a very long history and played a very serious role in entertaining the Emperors.  The performers take their craft seriously and are very meticulous in applying their makeup and getting dressed, before the performance begins.  The Chinese language is very tonal, and these tones carry over into the performance of the actors.  They are not tones that a Westerner has ever heard nor is accustomed to.

Sleeping Panda at Beijing Zoo (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

We all know that a visit to China without going to a panda house, would be a unheard of.  Seeing the Pandas in the Panda House at the Beijing Zoo was thrilling.  Even though they were mostly sleeping or just lazing around, it was exciting to see them in China in their original habitat.  The Chinese are very proud of their pandas.

At the Yonghe Lama Monk Temple (Tibetian style Buddhist temple) the strong smell of incense reminds you of where you are.  The fires burning in the huge pits give you a chance to make an offering to Buddha.  Don’t forget to rub the laughing Buddha’s belly for good luck (another Chinese ism).  There is a commanding 18 meter Buddha statue inside the Temple that is a sight to see.

Visiting old Beijing and riding in rickshaws in lanes where only the rickshaws and pedestrian traffic is allowed was very relaxing on the Hutong tour.  These were not traditional rickshaws where the driver is on foot, these rickshaws were attached to bicycles.



Temple/Forbidden City (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

I also visited a Tea House and learned how to pour tea from a teapot and how to hold a tea cup to drink tea.  The most important part of making tea is the temperature of the water.  The Chinese use a “pee pee” boy (a gadget) to test the water temperature.  When drinking tea, a woman should point her fingers one way and a man should point his fingers another way.   I saw tea that was 50 years old, which is an acquired taste, but the health benefits are said to be superior.

Water Cube (Aquatic Center) is spectacular on the outside.  I did not go inside, but heard it is the same on the inside.  There is a kaleidoscope of colors on the outside of the cube.



Dragon Boat/Summer Palace (Photo by TriniDiva a/k/a NSL-R)

The Bird’s Nest (Beijing 2008 Olympic Stadium) is now a tourist attraction, but is an amazing and commanding sight from the outside.  It truly looks like a birds’ nest for a teradactyl.  The location of the Bird’s Nest is expansive and you can check out the inside for a fee.

Pedestrians cross anywhere in China.  Crosswalks would be useless there.  Personal space is at a minimum, almost non-existent.  You will get bumped and bruised when you are out and about, but don’t expect an “excuse me.”  This is just the way things are and is quite normal.

Very apparent is the age of China’s workforce, which is very young.  When shopping in stores in China sales people are pushy, eager and will try to sell you something you did not even know you wanted.  They approach you when you’ve barely entered the store and are all over you before you’ve had a chance to look at anything.

This blog has not even scratched the surface of my experience in China, but it captures enough of what I experienced while I was there.

Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 2/1/13. All photos taken by and are property of TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R)

Cycling, boating, eating in Bavaria! May 2012

5/25/12 – my non-English speaking in-laws picked me up at the airport in Munich.  Neither one of them speaks any English, so needless to say, the ride from the airport was quite interesting.  This was a very exciting event for them as they don’t typically venture too far away from home.  Airport road trip!

5/26/12 - today was a very enjoyable day.  I had the most fun I've had in a long time.  I went cycling in a small town near our apartment in Reichertshofen.  The scenery was great and the ride itself was invigorating.  I had not been on a bicycle in many years and was a little apprehensive about going for ride.  But I did not regret my decision.  I rode for about 16 kilometers (roughly 10 miles) along a scenic route and stopped for lunch at Hexen Haeusl (witch's house) but alas the witch was not home, so I continued on my journey.  Stopped for bad Chinese food afterwards and regretted it. 

 5/27/12 today was another great day.  Had a traditional Bavarian breakfast (brezen,rolls, marmelade, tee/coffee).  Went to the city of Alt Meuthal (located in the mountains) for the afternoon.  Did a fabulous riverboat ride, where I saw old castle ruins and the longest wooden bridge in Europe.  I also went to a Kristall Museum (very interesting) and then had a walk through the gardens, which will was filled with flowers, ponds and little waterfalls.  While I was there, I also learned that you can tell what the weather is going to be by the condition of a donkey's tail.  For example, if the donkey's tail is wet, it's probably going to rain; if the donkey’s tail it white, it’s probably going to snow; if the donkey’s tail falls off, there’s probably going to be an earthquake, etc. Well, it was very entertaining anyway!  My trip there was short but sweet. 

 5/28/12 today I left Deutschland. ):  Alas another aufwiedersehen (goodbye).   They get harder each time.  The typical routine is to check me in, then get something to eat.  Today I had fries and currywurst.  Typical Bavarian fare, I kid you not and yes I said "curry."  Go figure!  Then it was the usual kiss kiss, miss you, icy liebe dich, bis morgen call me when you get home!  The flight back home was uneventful except for the swervy landing which the captain totally played off with his lackluster humour.  Where to next? Stay tuned!

Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 6/2/12.  All photos taken by and are property of TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R)

Germany/Sicily. Mama mia! - April 2012

Just got back from Germany and a few days in Sicily too.  So awesome!  The short time in Sicily was hardly enough to be teased, but I made the best of it! Sicily has so much to offer that I could hardly keep up. So much energy, so much life, so much zeal, so much wine!

Mt. Etna was a commanding presence from up in the air and she gave a show while I was there. She was not to be outshined by any other attraction and her performance was enough to grab my attention. She was spewing lava for a couple of hours at night! Red, hot lava! What a sight to see (from far enough away of course…mamma mia!) while sipping on some of Sicily’s finest wines!

I visited Taormina and watched and listened to the waves at night, checked out the open market  and Elephant Piazza in downtown Catania, drove a good way up Mt. Etna to some of her snowy peaks, and walked through ash from Mt. Etna on the sidewalks of Acireale!  

While I was in Sicily, it was Italy’s Liberation Day holiday.  Some newly found friends planned a day outing at the base of Mt. Etna. They prepared food in the true spirit of an Italian family! There was so much to eat and I got so caught up in the moment that I accidently ate horsemeat!  (No need to re-read, I said I ate horsemeat.)  Yikes!  Then, I intentionally ate horsemeat.  Yes, don’t ask.

One morning I had pastries drenched in some type of alcohol and canoles for breakfast, drank more wine than the actual time I spent on the island, and tried some of the best pasta I’ve ever had.  I got hooted at on the streets of Acireale (I still got it…hubby was happy to hear this), stared at a magnificent ocean early in morning and had the best family time.  It was really good big fun!

I would go back to Sicily tomorrow!

Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 5/6/12 All photos taken by and are property of TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R)

SNOW TUBING...FIRST TIME EVER!

I recently went snow tubing at Round Top Mountain resort in Pennsylvania for the first time. I was immediately a little intimated by the size of the hill I would have to conquer, even though a six year old was ferociously excited about it. (Whatever…youthful innocence!) (: I grabbed my tube (an orange one) and headed for the top of the hill. The long and arduous escalator ride did not help to relax me for what lay ahead. Once at the top, I reluctantly positioned myself inside the tube and asked for a push off the ledge! (What the heck!) However, I held on tightly to the fingers of the two guys who were helping me and started to panic at the last moment. (OK…”held on” is not quite accurate, it’s more like I put the jaws of life grip on their hands! Yikes! What was I thinking?) There was a perfectly warm lodge nearby serving hot chocolate and tea, but instead, I was considering being pushed off the ledge of a snowy hill at night. There was even a bonfire nearby, but I was in the compromising of potentially crashing in to another snow tuber because all that separate the lanes was a barely “one foot” snow bank! (Really?) Anyway, I eventually freed my mind of the grip that fear had on me, and gracefully maneuvered the tube down the hill. (OK, wrong again, I hollered like a banchee as I was pushed off the ledge and slid down the hill, legs in the air and all!) LOL! Once I got the bottom, I thanked God for keeping me safe along the long and treacherous journey I had just taken, spinning, bumping into the banks that separated the lanes, going backwards and not knowing what lay ahead, going over small bumps, going airborne a couple of times, then a big dip and not know whether or not I would survive the journey. (OK, the whole ride took about 30 seconds, but it FELT like 30 minutes! LOL!) Then I did it about four or five more times! It was exhilarating and I had a blast! I did have hot chocolate and am looking forward to snow tubing again!

Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 2/5/12 All photos taken by and property of NSL-R.

New Year's Eve 2011 in Times Square, New York USA

Times Squares New York for New Year’s Eve 2011 was quite an experience. People, people everywhere. The city was alive fresh off the Christmas festivities and preparations were in full effect to ring in the New Year. The weather was great (for December) and this made the mood of the city even more energized! Security measures were in put in place from early in the day, but this did not stop the excitement the city was preparing for. It seemed like the city was busting at the seams waiting for the midnight hour with all the preparations. We walked a lot around the city during the day, ate, went window shopping and checked out the Christmas decorations that were still displayed on some of the building and around the city, like Macy's, Saks, Lord and Taylor. We decided to go back to the hotel for a rest before the big Times Square reveal, but ended up resting for too long. We had a late dinner, but by the time we decided to head back to Times Square, most of the city was secured and blocked off. So close and yet so far. (-: We missed the big ball drop but had a great time being in the city anyway. I love New York! The trip was great and we both enjoyed our time and celebrating New Year's Eve there!
Written by Screenname TriniDiva (a.k.a. NSL-R) on 01/20/12 All photos taken by and property of NSL-R