Come to Beijing With Us

Ok, Ok so it's been a couple months since we've been home.

But I have some super awesome adopting friends that will be heading to Beijing SOON!

I'd love to give you a little glimpse of what we love so much about this amazing city!

We were spoiled right away as we checked into the beautiful Sun World Dynasty

We checked in at a separate time from most of our agency group, so

we had a look around on our own.

This is a look down onto the interior court.

At the far end of the tables is where the breakfast buffet is located.

There is an indoor pool, but it was under repair while we were there.

We had a beautiful room!

It looked out on to this church square. 

We opened the window at night and sat on the sill to listen to the choir sing.

As the night went on they moved on to a flash mob dance.

Loved sitting there watching them.  I was very tempted to join in.

These ladies also had beautiful movement.  You will continue to see these groups in city parks as you travel to the other cities.  I wish I would have stopped and watched them longer, it was beautiful!

 

So lets talk about food options near our hotel.

Nate and I are fairly adventurous eaters.

Those of you that know Nate may laugh a bit at that statement, as any amount of spice sends him into a tailspin.  But I was quite impressed with his adventurous spirit in China.

Here's some drink options at one of the kiosks at the mall nearby.

Hmmm... a SERIES of Salted Cheese drinks. 

We passed.

yep. we are soooo adventurous. Ha!  

The mall is located just passed the church square. The local Apple store is the entrance.

We were so thankful that one of the other experienced adoptive parents in our group told us there is a

Pizza Hut in the mall!

It's set up like a rather nice restaurant.

We walked around the mall with Jonathan and Julie.

I purchased a cute little bunny for Tessa at a stuffed animal kiosk.

We located the Starbucks as well.

Purchased our first gifts there for family.

So the pizza menu...

There are many interesting combinations, but we stuck with the Hawaiian pizza.

This lovely salad was brought to our table while we waited for our pizza.

We still don't know if we had to pay extra for it.

And we still don't know what these clear Jell-O-like cubes were IN OUR SALAD.

And guess who had no problem taking a bite?

Jonathan.

Yep...we are super adventurous eaters!

Nate, Julie and I just trusted his opinion that we should pass.  

Also...note: it may not be a good idea to eat fresh veggies that you have not washed yourself.

Just a little tip.

At this point, we had been in country for a few days (we came in early to visit "friends")

We were still getting used to the time change, 12 hrs difference. sigh.

We didn't have trouble during the day, but kept waking up at 4am or so, ready for the day.

 

So here we are, the next morning, meeting up with our team and heading out to tour

We kinda took over an entire tour bus!

 

First stop was just a few minutes from our hotel

Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City

 

Prepare yourselves for ALOT OF PEOPLE!
I love people, love to people watch.  This is a great place for that!
I'm pretty sure I've never been in a place with so many people!
and it was HOT!
We learned our first mandarin phrase before we got off the bus.
Our guides taught us how to say "I don't need, thank you."
And you will use that phrase all day.
Unless you DO want to purchase an rainbow umbrella hat.

Did I mention I love to people watch?

I snapped this quick pic of these ladies taking a break from the tour and the heat.

Grandma was letting her grandbaby use the restroom as well.

Don't step in puddles in China. Split pants are everywhere! 

You will also see THIS everywhere.

Men need to air out their mid-sections.

And pat their bellies.

Maybe it aids in digestion? 

Nate wanted me to make this clear...he is STICKING his belly out.

He's naturally more svelte than this.

Let me take a sec to say... there is ALOT of walking here, it's WAYYYY bigger than I thought.

Still adjusting to the time, trying to stay hydrated etc, well it's a big day!

After you see one "most important building" after another,

you do come to what you think is the end.

It's not.

Then you walk through a beautiful garden area.

And more people to navigate through.

Really amazed by the square and Forbidden City!

And the day is far from being done!

Our kids would have melted by now!

I was so impressed with the families in our group that brought their children along.

They were such troopers!

Never once complained!

Really amazing kids!

After we hopped back on our bus, we traveled just a few minutes to a older part of Beijing.

Really beautiful!

Each couple had a rickshaw waiting for them.

We had a short tour of a quaint neighborhood.

we stopped at a local home where we enjoyed a authentic Chinese meal.

Those that were vegetarians ate in a separate home.

Us meat-eaters squeezed into this generous family's living room.

  We filled up every available space!

We had options to drink Sprite, Coke, or a local beer.

The food was served family style, and there was PLENTY to eat!

Simple, fresh and flavorful with out being spicy.

Nate ate until he couldn't eat another bite!

Would it be rude to ask for a take-home box?

Sooooo good!

Around their room were interesting framed pics of their prized pigeons.

A close-up pic of each pigeons' eyes identified who was who.

There was a trophy case full; clearly these little friends were quite important.

Thankful for this unique experience!

Back on the rickshaw.

Had a moment of feeling like we were on the Amazing Race!

Loved looking at all the little shops along the way.

This was Nate's fav.

 

So back to our hotel.

And our guides offered to arrange massages!

I jumped on this really good deal! And it was GLORIOUS!!!

I highly recommend it!

As I was getting my in-room massage, Nate was having a hard time finding something to watch on TV.  This was an option.  Just so you know.

Nate opted to have his massage the following day, after our Great Wall tour.

Smart man. (he climbed to the top of the Wall)

 

So that evening during our free time we walked over to the street food market.

It's located across the street from the Apple store.

This was about as normal as it gets there.

Glazed fruit on a stick.

The white things behind them are coconuts that you can drink out of.

Here's some protein options.

 

I love him.

Oh I wish I knew what she was saying.

And who knows what that is she is trying to get her to eat.

Spiral Potatoes should be safe.

And yet...

We just couldn't bring ourselves to trying ANYTHING.

So adventurous! geesh!!!

 

Day 2 ~ The Great Wall!

And let me stop for a sec and talk about our AMAZING agency guides.

Seriously these two sweethearts are THE BEST!

They offered to take our group pic with all of our cameras or phones.

OH THIER NECKS MUST HURT!

 

 

Here's the pic they took...guess they've done this before.

I look at our agency group now and see WHOS MISSING...

All of our precious babies!!!!

Uh...I walked  hiked up there!!! 

If you want to partake in the lock of love tradition...

You can purchase a lock there up on this section of the Wall,

or bring a cute little heart lock...

Or a Master lock from your backyard gate back home.

That's true love right there.

Wished I would have taken more pics of the signs through out the country.

Love the translations!

Mentally prepare yourself for the climb up.

It's nuts!

People of all shapes, sizes and ages were climbing, so I had to get my act together.

I made it to the first tower. And done.

O H I O

This HAD to happen.

We are Buckeyes!

Nate and a few others went wayyyyy up to the very top.

No thanks.

There were some cute little shops and a coffee shop calling my name at the bottom.

The walk down was JUST AS CHALLENGING!

How is that possible??

 

From the Great Wall we headed to a cloisonné factory. 

 What a beautiful art form.

So many details and steps.

It was an option to purchase a piece in their very large gift shop.

Even a 4in high piece was around $40 us!

Upstairs was a very busy restaurant.

It was nice to have a room to ourselves.

Again, a HUGE family style meal.



 

In the evening there was the option to go to a local acrobat show.

It's an extra cost, but worth it!

 

Looking back over all these pics, I'm overwhelmed with emotion.

We both fell in love with this beautiful country!

Soak it all in! Take a million pics!

You will want to go back!!

NEXT POST...

Leaving Beijing and flying to Zhengzhou in Henan...GOTCHA DAY!