Monthly Archives: February 2015

Much like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall of China beggars belief. Eli & I hiked up and down it for a few hours.  And now our watch is ended.

Stumbled on this technological cul-de-sac:  an automated library.

Randomly, found an Umbrella Corporation vehicle parked on the sidewalk in Beijing. Alas, no Milla Jovovich.

The Forbidden City is more impressive than I could have imagined.  I was simply awestruck.  The recent snowfall made everything all the more impressive. I was particularly tickled by the lofty names of all the halls and pavilions. From every … Continue reading →

The train between Shanghai and Beijing is about five hours.  Our Peking duck dinner at Da Dong — from check in to bill (pun, of course, intended) — was about four hours. Worst. service. EVER.

Xiaohan found us a funky, cool boutique hotel in Beijing called Hotel Éclat.  Here’s my room…And its nice (indoor) balcony area…Although I find lots of modern Chinese art terrifying……some of it, like this steampunk whale/sailing ship hybrid, is amusing……as was this adorable Chinese soldier…Plus, … Continue reading →

Cruising to Beijing at 300km/h on a bullet train.

Based on the ads I’m shown, Hulu thinks I’m really, really, really interested in hormonal birth control.

Per national tradition, CCTV1 is broadcasting — and families across China are all watching — a four hour live variety show. It’s all very vaudeville. Or America’s Kidz Got Signing.

Fireworks! Fireworks sold everywhere!Just don’t use them.But I did get to watch fireworks over the skyline out my bedroom window……and living room window…Happy Chinese New Year (he said, sheepishly…)

The word “hippopotamus” is from the Greek “hippos” (meaning “horse”) and “potamos” (meaning “river”.) In my list of animal names I forgot my favorite.  The Chinese word for “hippopotamus” is 河马 (hémǎ) which means “river horse”, too.  It’s also fun … Continue reading →