This is the most different place I have ever been in... I obviously dont look like I fit - and everyone can spot me out as a tourist even without the camera and map. I sure dont stand a chance of understanding ANY of the language. It is so modern and yet so ancient. This place has a LOT of history.
I am here for a whole week of work but had a chance to go sightseeing yesterday for a little while. It was an experience which I have mixed feelings about. To get the basics down first... I visited:
- the Forbidden City which was the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing Chinese dynasties and called that because as my Lonely Planet guidebook puts it "Entrace without an invitation was priced at your life, today its only $$". It took hours to go through it all as it really is a whole city within those walls... really neat though! And beautiful buildings named things like "Hall of Supreme Harmony" and "Palace of Tranquil Longevity". Pictures are on facebook.
- Tiananmen square, is an enourmous square in the heart of Beijing. Here is where several important historic moments took place (such as the proclamation of the establishment of the People's Republic of China). The square has its name bcuz of the Tiananmen Gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) at the north of it. There are monuments and museums around the square. Oh, they say the square is nice to just sit out... yeah, not in the winter.
- the Temple of Heaven Park which was the place where the emperors who lived in the Forbidden City would go to make their sacrificial offerings in other to bring good harvest. The architecture is outstanding - and much of it is an engineering marvel as some of the structures have no supporting pillars. The place is breathtaking.
Now the architecture was a-m-a-z-i-n-g. There is attention to every single detail, and symbolism beyond comprehension. Really neat! I loved seeing all these places and learning more about the history and culture of China - bcuz if there is one thing I know for sure is that I am so ignorant about it. I just never had real curiosity about the world over here until about a year ago when I read 'Snow flower and the Secret Fan' and 'Peony in Love'... I had always been facinated with the Roman Empire and Greece so when I visited there a couple of years ago I knew what it meant to be standing where I was. Here in Beijing its a little different, I have to do more research and only after do I start to comprehend the significance of things. It is amazing to discover a new world.
Now, the not as great stuff... yesterday was hard and I almost just wanted to go back to the hotel and watch movies. How embarassing! How ignorant! How terribly wrong of me! I have the opportunity of a lifetime and the thought of wasting it is just repugnant. Not that I should make excuses but I think I felt that way because of the utter bitter cold (windy, the 16F/-9 C for most of the day) that burned my skin and left my fingers immobile and in pain all day. It may have been that I was constantly accosted by people ("Art Students") trying to scam me, and by constantly I mean every 20 minutes no joke. It may have been that I understood absolutely nothing (the language, the signs) and it felt that noone was trying to help me. It may have been that I got TOTALLY lost within less than 5 minutes of leaving the hotel. It may have been the jetlag...
As long as it wasnt that Im getting old, boring and not liking change/new-ness. As long as its not that I am ok not learning more. Because THAT is NOT the person I ever want to be.
Anyways.. the sun is about to rise over here. Its time to get ready for work... and dont uknow it, Im tired and want to take a nap. Oh life!
Off I go
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