Beijing...Part Two

On our list of things to do was the Forbidden City. This is located right in the centre of the city and a 20-25 min walk from where we were staying. We didn't walk - too cold and would have gotten lost plus there was lots of walking on the agenda - we were thinking of Hannah's legs !!!

What an AMAZING place !! It was incredible. It was vast. Alot of work had been carried out on some of the buildings for the Olympics - colours on the building decoration and some of the buildings had been restored. Didn't think that the colours could have stayed like that for the few hundred years that they had been up for !! There were alot of people visiting here and the entrance was very crowded. But once you walked through that gate it all disappeared. The number of people couldn't really compete with the sheer size of this place. We had the buggy for Victoria so we took the route that had ramps instead of stairs so I think this also make it quieter as the majority of people went through the middle. We weren't keen on the stairs !!! We didn't see all of it either and we did spend abit of time wandering around about 3-4 hours.....

The Forbidden City (or the Imperial Palace) is at the northern end of Tianamen Square - right behind the building that has the picture of Mao on it. It covers 74 hectares (183 acres), with lots of buildings and rooms AND lots of open areas. Walking around this place was mind-boggling - the history and what went on here since it was built in the 1300's I just couldn't comprehend. Let's just say if the walls could talk.....

Our first view of the Forbidden City

The Southern Entrance known as Tianamen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace)

Inside the First Courtyard (there are 5)

A couple of girls came up and offered to take a family photo of us (I was abit worried as to what they wanted in return or they'd run off with the camera). What they wanted was a photo of them with Hannah and Victoria. Don't think there photo would have turned out too good as both Hannah and Victoria did what Hannah did below....this was her standard pose

Looking back at the entrance gate still in the first courtyard

In the second courtyard

Trying to capture space

On our buggy friendly path..

An example of a building and it's artwork restored - even the gold roof was treated

One of my arty shots - this decoration can be found on the 4 corners of EVERY root in the Forbidden City and on other buildings in different parts of Beijing. I think it's to do with the ruling Emperor of the time but not sure...

Victoria helping us with directions....

At the northern entrance of the Forbidden City is Jingshan Park. If you walk up to the top (we didn't) you can get a bird's eye view.

Having a rest...

The trolley buses that Wellington needs...

Beijing...Part One

Note : our trip to Beijing is going to be broken up into 3 or 4 parts. Means that I can put up more photos. It was hard working out what photos to include as we literally have hundreds....hope they give you an idea though.

This time last week we were in Beijing. We took the girls and had a family holiday for 4 days in the 4th largest (it ain't the biggest which I was surprised to find out) city in China. Beijing including the greater area has a population of 17 million, Shangai has more and 2 other cities have EVEN more. We had SUCH a wonderful time and Paul and I kept saying to each other "I can't believe we're here". It was a city that neither of us thought we would ever get to. And what a city it is !! The space that was there I couldn't get over - the roads were wide (they drove on the wrong side which we weren't expecting) and went for miles and were BUSY. Because there is so much space we never had the feeling of it being busy and crowded - don't get me wrong it is but it certainly didn't feel that way.

It was cold !! Highs of about 22 degrees celesius and down to about 10. But it was just so pleasant and refreshing. We knew that the girls would attract attention (and we weren't disappointed) but it wasn't as bad as we envisioned. On the whole the majority of people did ask if they could take a photo (which we were surprised by). Those from Beijing weren't too fazed by them but those from the country - well, that was a different story. I have to say with all the attention the girls got they took it so well. We didn't have to worry about others taking their photo as when Hannah saw a camera she would put her hands over her face and Victoria would say "NO PHOTO". Victoria was in the buggy so she more of a target as people would come up to her and encroach on her space. It was the touching of the hair and the face that we objected to - it didn't happen often but it did. People were so excited to see these 2 blonde girls that I honestly think that they forgot that they were children.

We flew out Sunday 25th Oct at night which meant that we had four action packed days to see Beijing. We had the best location and accomodation - staying right near the city centre with the Forbidden City and Tianamien Square not that far away.

Our first stop was the site of the 2008 Olympic Games - National Stadium or as commonly referred to as the Bird's Nest since that's what it looks like. On a side note, guess that means the Cake Tin is aptly named !! I was just so overwhelmed with a sense of space - not only here but everywhere we went. Everything is on a really large scale and is just poles apart from the lifestyle of Hong Kong that we know. We were so impressed with the Olympic area - they were doing something in the middle of the stadium but you could get an idea and a feel for it all. Timing wasn't on our side last year as we arrived in HK after the Olympics but it would have been magic to have been able to go. Right beside the stadium is the Water Qube - which is another amazing building. I tried to get the photos to show that the "bubbles" on the side of the building are raised. Apparently the Chinese and Australian designers took their inspiration from the soap bubble. We couldn't go in - it's just a swimming pool inside - but it's the outside that you really want to see.

The first view of the Bird's Nest

The area outside the Olympic Area. You can just imagine it teaming with people.

Map of the Grounds

Even the light covers were in the same design as the stadium

Inside the stadium - Victoria on seat 2 and Hannah on 4

The Water Qube

Role reversal

Hannah wearing her pink Tiki T-shirt

Just like in HK, you're not allowed to walk on the grass in Beijing....

Next stop after a lunch break was Tianamen Square. This was only 3 kms from where we were staying but we took a taxi so that we could figure out how to walk back. The blocks in Beijing are HUGE- I would say that each block would have been about 1 km in distance. We'd had a late start to the day since we didn't get in til really late so we got to the Square about 4pm. You can tell it's late in the evening but the sun - it was dark by 5.30pm (it's dark by 6pm in HK now). Tianamen Square is the largest public square on earth - it covers 40 hectares (99 acres). We started at the southern end of the square at one of the gates and walked to the northern end.

The Southern Gate

Looking up the West side

Monument to the People's Heros on the west side of the square.

Walking up the East side of the square

The famous picture of Mao at Tianamen Square

Traffic Control

Streets at the northern end of the square looking west then east. We headed east to go back to our accomodation.

I'll do another post tomorrow. There's still lots more to come.

Victoria's new trick

Victoria can now say her name - the proper name and not a shortened version of it either !! The first few times was very cute to hear but a hundred times later not so...

Catching up...

My goodness it has been a while since I've done an update. We've had a busy time this month and it ain't over yet !!

What I've been meaning to do for a while now is to post some photos of the Mid-Autumn Festival or known as Lantern Festival. That was at the start of the month - so better late than never. A friend and I took our girls on an outing and after we'd seen HK at it's best - refer to the posting that has the photos of HK on a clear day. After our visit here, we went on a red mini bus to Sheung Wan - the other end of the island to where we are. My friend had seen these shops when she went past a few days before and thought it would be fun to take the girls to. There were about 4-5 shops just full of lanterns - all different colours, shapes and styles. It was very colourful to see and the girls just didn't know where to look. Hannah and Victoria both got a lantern each - a Hello Kitty one that had a light and music. Let's just say the batteries got removed earlier rather than later...I have yet to take a photo of the girls with their lanterns, I know slack.

To celebrate the festival Victoria Park was all set up with the lanterns. I didn't take the girls there on the actual festival day as the number of people would have been overwhelming but we went there before the big day when it was rather quiet. They were still setting up the park area so these photos were taken in the process....

My mum has been over for a visit and it was wonderful to see them and to spend some time with them. Spent time seeing the sights of HK and also got over to Macau for the day. That was fun as spent some time doing some shopping in the Venetian (Next had a sale on - VERY excited) and doing the "Lally walking tour of Macau". Time went really quickly and before we knew it it was time to say goodbye.

Hannah has had this past week off from school on mid-term break but on the last day of school they were celebrating Diwali - an Indian fesitval. One of the highlights was that the kids were able to have henna tatoos on their hands. As you can imagine, Miss H was rather excited about it....

The next fesitival that we're celebrating is Halloween. It's quite a big thing here so have got the cupboard stocked as the kids in the building go trick or treating. Paul wasn't here for it last year so am wondering if he'll be around to experience it this year. The girls are having dress up parties at pre-school and playgroup - they've got their outfits and the hat to go with it !!!

Over the mid-term break we went to Ocean Park with friends. Our annual pass was about to run out (it now has) so thought should make the most of it. They're doing so much over there and it really is alot of fun. We went on some rides that we hadn't been on before and they just loved them. Unfortunately, Victoria was too short to experience them but next time.... They'd set up the park for Halloween too - the "scary" rides aren't open til after 5pm so didn't get to go on them.

Best get back to the packing and sorting - we're extending Hannah's mid-term break and are off to Beijing tomorrow for a week. I'm really looking forward to it as it's one city I thought that I would never get to - let alone stand on the Great Wall. We're looking forward to some cooler weather to - means can get out the winter woollies - we've got soft though as it's still a high of about 22 degrees - now in theory that would be warm but I suspect WE might find it a tad cool....

Bedtime

Had to share these photos as they just cracked Paul and I up. The girls had gone to bed and I went to check that they actually were asleep and they were ok. Victoria was snuggled up with her blanket and her Winnie the Pooh - one down. When I opened Hannah's door this is what I found......






....yes, sound asleep. Two down !!