We were able to get the bus back to Gushi on Tuesday; we relaxed at home for a few days and planned the rest of our time with Lidia. By the way she is one of our Guatemala daughters that is on her 5 years of international studies in Taiwan.
We left Gushi on Tuesday, January 28 and headed to Zhengzhou we arrived the evening of the 28th; the taxi driver told us it was 85 KM away from the city; he said 300 RMB; we said 200 RMB and he said OK. After we arrived; it was only 35 KM so we paid him 100 RMB; half the miles; half the cost; he wasn't happy. The next day we figured out the bus system and were able to get to the city for 5 RMB. This is what happens when you book a hotel that says it’s in Zhengzhou but it was a different district (who knew?) While we were in Zhengzhou; we went to a museum; walked through a park; walked around the city. We had Hot Pot (an experience); when we get to the restaurant; they give you a menu and you pick out the meats and vegetables that you want and they bring a big pot to the table with a heater underneath and then you add the meat and vegetables to this boiling liquid broth until it’s cooked. Then you use your chopsticks to pick out what you want to eat. The owner of the restaurant could see that I (Sue) was having problems with chopsticks so they went down the street and bought a fork just for me; when we were leaving the restaurant; they gave me the fork to keep; what a memory!
On Sunday, February 2; we boarded the bullet train (bullet for shape and speed) for Beijing. It was only a 2 hour ride; after we arrived we had to figure out where Yanqing was. This is where our timeshare was. After many questions; Lidia figured out that we needed to take an additional train. Lidia now knows; Spanish, English, and Chinese. After we boarded the train; we were sitting next to a young lady so we asked her if this was the train to Yanqing and she said yes. Her Mother, Father, and sister were sitting in the seat right in front of us. Her sister Beth was very happy to have some Americans to talk with to be able to practice their English. We talked for the entire 1 ½ hour train ride. We found out that Yanqing was the city that this family lived in. When we arrived in Yanqing; Beth helped us get a taxi; (she was concerned that we would be charged too much); she went with us to the resort and helps us get checked in. Once we reached the resort; our room wasn’t ready so they gave us 2 separate rooms (one for us and one for Lidia); they said our room would be ready tomorrow but it wasn’t so we stayed in these rooms all week. This was a 5 star resort built for the 2001 Olympics but no money has been used for repairs or updates. I guess it is now a 2 star resort. The girls asked what we were planning to do this week; we said sight see the area; visit the Great Wall; sight see Beijing and relax. They said they had a car and would pick us up on Monday morning and they would take us to the Great Wall. WOW!!! We said that would be great but we didn't want to inconvenience them.
Beth and Clara picked us up at 7:30 AM and we drove to the Great Wall; we bought tickets and proceeded up the Wall. We climbed up (I never knew there could be so many steps) and back down. What an amazing site. We climbed for about 2 hours and took lots of pictures along the way. People kept stopping Dennis and wanted to have their picture taken with him; several children also because they said he looked like Santa Claus.
It was cold and windy so we were bundled up with hat and gloves. I would recommend not going in February; wait for warmer weather. After climbing down; we went for some coffee, tea, and hot chocolate to help us warm up.
That night Beth and Clara wanted to take us for Hot Pot for supper; we had a wonderful time together. I did much better this time with the chopsticks.
On Tuesday; we went to Beijing to visit Tienanmen Square, The Palace Museum, a shopping street, and enjoyed being in Beijing.
On Wednesday; Beth picked us up and we climbed to the top of a pagoda; you could see the entire city of Yanqing. We then went to a traditional Chinese restaurant and had very traditional food for this area of the country. We sat at a table with a turntable on it. They placed 12 different dishes on
the turntable and we began to eat; it was very good. Sometimes I had no idea of what we were eating; maybe I don’t want to know. We were given a drink that looks like milky tea; it was good; I found out later that it was a tofu drink.
After lunch we headed out; we visited Guyaju (Ancient Dwelling Site) Cave Houses; these were houses build in the side of the mountain where people lived; it was very interesting.
After visiting the Cave Houses; we then traveled to the Ice Museum; they had statues made from ice; including a house, animals, and lots of horses because this is the year of the horse. Everything was lit up with lights. We were there around 4:00 PM and Beth said let’s wait until it gets dark because it is much nicer at night.
We found a little restaurant where we had some hot chocolate, and then some orange juice; well surprise the orange juice was served hot. Most drinks are served hot. When it got dark; we walked around and saw all the different things made from ice; they all had lights and it was beautiful. It was so cold; but well worth it. Beth suggested we take the back roads home as the highway would be very busy. OK picture a country road such as Greiner road; now picture this road with cars parked on both side that for some odd reason; I am guessing most don’t want to get their tires dirty and park on the payment. Now picture cars going east and west with occasional walkers not getting their shoes dirty. Someone decides to do a u-turn or better described as a triple W turn. We are not sure how busy the highway was but we can only assume faster than this, although not as entertaining.
On Thursday; we took the train to Beijing and went to an Antique Coin Museum. Dennis enjoyed this so much and Lidia was along and helped to explain the different dynasties and information that was only written in Chinese. After the museum, Lidia and I split up from Dennis and he went to find another coin museum (you can only look at old coins for so long) and we went to find Silk Road (a 6 story building full of shopping). On our way; we found a Mexican Restaurant and had lunch there; it was pretty good for being cooked by Chinese people. Afterwards, we went shopping and found souvenirs; DVD movies, and a typical Chinese shirt for Dennis. We met Dennis and took the train back to Yanqing. We then took a taxi to Longlongchang Restaurant where we met Beth and Clara and had Peking Duck for supper. This duck is served sliced thin, with onions, cucumbers; a special dark sauce and you put this altogether in a thin tortilla and eat it like a burrito. It was very good. Afterwards we went back to the hotel looked at pictures; played Chinese chess, and talked. We finally went to sleep around midnight.
On Friday; we slept late until 10:30 AM. We went to Wal-Mart and then walked home. We enjoyed our walk around the city and our relaxing day of do nothing. We bought the fixings for a salad and had that for supper that night in the hotel and then Dennis and Lidia played Chinese chess.
On Saturday, we enjoyed the day of walking around the city and just looking. We once again bought the fixings for a salad and made this for supper again (We are missing having fresh salad because in our city you can’t buy lettuce.)
We packed our suitcases and got ready to leave on Sunday morning; we were taking the train to Xi’an (pronounced She On.) We would spend 5 nights here. We saw the Bell and Drum Towers, some of the several hundred as big as 8 feet. the Wild Goose Pagoda, the Terra Cotta Warriors. We also enjoyed walking around the city. The Terra Cotta Warriors were amazing and so life like.
We boarded the overnight (sleeper) train to head to Hefei on Friday, February 14. We had a soft sleeper; still hard by American standards. There for 4 beds in a room 2 uppers and 2 lowers; there is a small table with a thermos bottle for hot water (the Chinese drink hot water; they believe cold water is bad for the stomach. There was heat on with no way to adjust it; we were sweating. We arrived in Hefei at 6:00 AM; took a taxi to our hotel again in Hefei but in a different district; once again a 30 minute taxi ride.
We took a bus (the wrong way) and then got on the bus going the right way; we were leading towards Carrefour (an international store with western products.) We got off the bus; asked a few people; and walked a few blocks; we finally found it. After shopping, we went back to the hotel and relaxed. Lidia left on Sunday morning and we took a bus back to Gushi.
We are back at teaching school getting ready for our next adventure this summer.
1 comment:
Looks like you had quite an exciting time! So many fun adventures and things you won't soon forget! :) We sure would love to have you visit us, but doesn't look like it will happen this time around, huh? Guess you'll just have to stay for another year!
Post a Comment