Forbidden City entrance
Beijing, China
July 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
The Great Wall of China
What's a visit to China without the Great Wall?
I jumped at my first chance to walk on this magnificent piece of history. We hired a taxi driver for the day, to take us to two different sections of the wall: Simatai and Jinshaling, which are about 130km northeast from the center of Beijing. With our taxi driver skilled at passing every car that was on his way, be it windy and narrow, we could fit the visit in one day, despite having had to hold onto our lives with the broken seat belts.
Pictured here is the Jinshaling section of the Great Wall which was surprisingly deserted of tourists. There was one local who seemed to be collecting plastic bottles from the trashcans in each watch tower. Who knows how many miles he has been walking all day?
Looking at what seems to be a never-ending stretches of the wall across ranges of mountains really does make one feel so small, awed at the work of human hands that have built it thousands of years ago.
Beijing, China
July 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Cycling peacock
We attended this amazing acrobatic show at the Chaoyang theater in Beijing. It's really a must if any of you head out there. I couldn't believe my eyes for some of the things they could do, like picking up five noodle bowls and a spoon on their head, all in order, launched from the end of a plank, while standing on five levels of rolling cylinders! Even here, can you count the number of girls on this bicycle? I'm not even sure how the "driver" could see the way. Quite impressive!
Pékin, Chine
Juillet 2009
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
DaDaph
From the temple situated on the hill across from our apartment in Komegafukuro.
Sendai, Japan
Juin 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
giant cocktail umbrellas
Colorful parasols for sale, for the wonderful 37°C weather! Seen on the way to the Summer Palace
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Beijing, China
Juillet 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Japanese doll
Here's a bit of dabbing to commemorate my summer in Japan. It turns out that with all the traveling and Japanese studying I've been doing, I haven't had much chance for more.
We saw this doll in a glass display case of a hotel lobby while waiting for our bus in Sakunami mountain village where we enjoyed some great Japanese outdoor onsen. There was the picturesque setting of a quiet brook spotted with playful fishes, flowing next to the bath which was well kept hidden by a crowd of tall pine trees. The doll was about the size of Barbie, carrying a blue cocktail umbrella, and dressed in a lovely silk kimono.
We don't have access to a proper scanner here, so I don't think the color is true to the painting 100%, but you get the idea.
Sendai, Japan
Juillet 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Olympic Stadium
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We spent the last few days visiting Beijing, China. Of course one of our first stops was the Olympic Stadium, specifically the Bird's Nest and the Cube. The lighting of each structure in the evening was pretty, and I was surprised to get some decent shots without a tripod.
The weather was so hot (over 36°C with 70% humidity) that day that we hibernated indoors during the day and slowly sneaked out upon the dusk. It turns out that we were not alone with this idea. The entire square was full of people, just hanging out, licking ice creams, taking pictures, flying "panda" kites, and enjoying the little cooling down one could feel after the sunset.
Being in this city, I could still feel the Olympic spirit almost everywhere, or rather be harshly reminded of what I've missed last summer. The 5-color ringed banners still linger in the streets and the flat screens in the subway cars continuously replay the emotional game scenes.
The number of visitors on this Olympic square definitely showed that the pride of the 2008 Olympic still lives on, and a tinge of nostalgic amber still glows.
Beijing, China.
Juillet 2009
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