A TRIP TO BEIJING

Assalamualaikum..

I’m back after a few weeks hiatus.
Missing..? Nah..just went to China couple of weeks back and also I’m too lazy to update my blog.
So this first entry of the month will tell you of my trip to China.
I went there for 5 days. 2 days for the flight to and from China-Kul and 3 days exploring Beijing. Well not really exploring, more of sightseeing.
Here’s the chronology of event.

DAY 1:
3.00 am – I just start packing my suitcase.

4.30 am – Asked my brother to send me to the airport and reach there at about 5.30 am in the morning. There I met with my tour leaded group Hasniza and checked in my luggage. I did my Subuh prayer while waiting for the rest of the group.

8.15 am – I checked in for boarding and by 9.00am I’m already in the plane (Airbus) to China. The plane took off at 10.00am. The only thing I like about riding in planes is during the take off. You feel the rush when the plane thrust forward to lift into the air. Other than that, it is quite boring.

3.00pm – after nearly 7 hours, I finally reached Beijing International Airport. The airport is quite small for an international one. I’m in the opinion that KLIA is still the better.

6.00pm – our tour leader in Beijing, Johnny, took us for dinner first. The dinner was in a Chinese Muslim restaurant. The dinner was good. Not so much different from our food. Only that ther use a lot of meat, capsicum and egg plant. Looking at the food, I know that it is easy to cook..heheheh..

7.00pm – it was already dark. On our way to the hotel, we pass through the Tiananmen Squre. I never thought that it was so huge. We also pass the picture of Mao Ze Dong hanged on the gates to the Fobidden City. There were lots and lots of people. Some playing kites, some just walking around and some are tourists. I guess the Chinese people like to walk about and ‘lepak’ outside and not in clubs or discos. Didn’t see one anyway.

8.00 pm – We reached our hotel, Bao Ding Centre. I was already quite exhausted and can’t wait to reach my room and fall asleep.Hey..I only had 3 hours sleep the day before.

9.00 pm – Yay!! Finally got into my room, well, not my room. I bord together with 2 friends. I had a quick shower and of to bed by 10.00 pm. Before that we set the alarm at 4.30 am. We were told that Subuh in Beijing is at that time. I had a fitful sleep with no dreams.

DAY 2:
4.30 am – I woke up to the sound of alarm for Subuh. Since we closed the curtain, we had no idea whether its dark or bright outside. What a shock I had when I opened the curtain, it was bright already at 4.30 am!!! Uh-oh..did this mean that I already missed my Subuh? Seems so too. I knew this would happened again after Hong Kong & Shenzhen..*sigh* had to ‘qadha’ my Subuh…

5.00 am – I’m fully awake and so are my 2 other friends. We had shower and by 7.00 am we were already down at the hotel lobby with the other group members. 7.00 am in Beijing is like 9.00 am here in Malaysia. We boarded our tour bus and heads towards the city centre to have our breakfast. Now, I don’t quite remember what we had for breakfast that day. I think it was bread, butter and jam. Also we had rice too. The Chinese sure love their rice.

9.00 am – our first tour of the day was the Tiannanmen Square and Forbidden City. The weather was a bit gray today. I think it’s going to rain. We start the tour at the end of the Tiannanmen Square and proceed slowly to the center of it. There sure are a lot of people. Even in the hazy weather.

10.00 am – we reached the outer gate of Forbidden City fronting the square. There a huge portrait of Mao Ze Dong hangs from the wall of the gate. According to Johnny, our tour guide, the eye of the portrait was painted by the artist in such a way that wherever you’re standing, the eyes seem to bore into you. This I find very true indeed.
By now I have entered the Forbidden City and true to what I read in History of Architecture it is a 3 layer city. The buildings were marvelous and were differentiated by usage according to the no. of animal carvings at the edge of the roof. After nearly walking 3 kilometers, I have reached the other end of the Forbidden City. It was quite exhausting. For photos, you can see my Fotopages.

2.00 pm – After lunch we were brought to Nujie Moque for prayer and then to a massage or medicinal parlour. There we were given a free dose of foot massage for about 45 minutes. While they’re at it a singseh with a translator gave them a pulse reading to inform them if they have any disease (I find it not true what they say..my friends says so too. I think the singseh are just saying it to persuade you to buy their traditional herbs. What’s wrong with Malaysian ones?) FYI I didn’t take up the free massage. I don’t know why, I think I just don’t like people touching my legs.

4.00 pm – We were brought to the Silk Centre. There the sales people explained to us on the making of silk from silk worm. They even show us how the silk comforter was made. I’ve seen this ploy in Shenzhen thus I’m not influenced by the sales people to buy anything. Besides, they sure are expensive!!

7.30 pm – For dinner, we had it at a Xinjiang restaurant. We were even entertained to a cultural show. The food was similar to the ones we had last night. Before we went back for the night, I manage to take a group photo with the front reception. She is so beautiful.

8.30 pm – Back to the hotel and ready for a good night sleep. My room mates went for a walk at the shopping mall near our hotel. Me? My legs cannot carry me anywhere anymore…Oooh yeh..everynight I enjoyed watching the Chinese TV. Even though I don’t understand the language, at least I understand the expression.

DAY 3:
4.00 am – woke up for Subuh prayer. There’s already twilight in the sky. Like it’s already 7 am in Malaysia. After that I went back to sleep for another 1 hour.

5.00 am – the wake up call or knocking came about this time. It was time to get ready for another day in Beijing.

9.00 am - After the usual breakfast we were brought to the Jade Centre. Here we were shown the types and quality of jades and how they are made into jewelries and house ornaments. Still I find the jades here are more expensive than in Shenzhen. I took some photos with mountain lions and ships made of jade.

3.00 pm – After lunch and prayer we brought to The Great Wall of China. This is the ultimate of my visit to China. I have been dreaming to climb the wall since I took up architecture. The Wall was so steep and you could see it spanning the range of the mountain. Johnny said that the beginning of the Wall is near Gobi Desert and the ending by the sea fronting Japan. The length is about 6000 km. We were climbing the middle portion. I’m afraid of heights and further more not fit enough, therefore I only manage to climb to the 1st tower. Most of us do anyway. So the climb was a slow one because the riser of the steps was as high as my calf. There are no landings in between and is quite steep. Although there are handrails on both sides of the wall, I still find it hard to look back. I’m afraid I will fall. You could die falling of these walls. Once I reach the 1st tower, I was already exhausted and lack oxygen in my brain. I had to take a deep and slow breath otherwise I’ll get a severe headache.

4.30 pm – I was finally down at the base of the Wall after agonizing steps climbing down (told you that I’m afraid of height). But hey, I manage to get a certificate near the 1st tower saying that I have climbed the Great Wall on this day (it costs me RM 20).

6.00 pm – We were then brought to a tea house to be introduced to the types of tea. We get to sample a few sips too. But still the tea are expensive compared to Shenzhen.

8.30 pm – Back at the hotel after dinner and am ready for sleep. My roommates are wandering outside again.

DAY 4:
7.00 am – after the usual Subuh and getting ready, I was down at the lobby. I bought some t-shirts from the vendors that have been pestering us since day one.

8.30 am – After breakfast we were shown the Olympic Stadium. Never did I imagine buildings that I only saw in book are now right in front of my eyes!!! It was awesome. The engineering fete achieved was to me quite extraordinary. Near the Olympic ground was a Ruby Centre own by a Malaysian. They are also a sponsor for the Olympic Games 2008. Here, the owner sold us the jewelries at material cost because he was so happy to see fellow countrymen visiting his store. Thus a necklace at RM 1000 can go down to RM 200. Who wouldn’t buy it..ME of course. I’m so not into jewelry. I never liked gold especially necklace. Before we left the owner also gave each of us a free jade pendant.

11.00 am – We are now at the Summer Palace. The weather today was quite good and bright. The Summer Palace is 100% man-made. It was so beautiful. The lake was quite huge and they rear pearl oysters in it. We walk around part of the lake and then took a boat ride across. The lake is only 1 meter deep so there was no need for a life jacket to be worn during the boat ride.

3.00 pm – After lunch we brought to the markets for some shopping. I wouldn’t call it a market though, more of a stalls in a shopping complex form. Here we did our last minute shopping buying souveniers for love ones back home. I spend all my money here..hehehehe..

9.00 pm – Back at the hotel after dinner for some serious packing. I came to China with one bag; I came home with 2 bags. Not so bad compared to my friend who came back with 3 bags.

10.00 pm – Of to sleep.

DAY 5:
5.00 am – The day I’ve been waiting for. I’m going back home!!!. Already we are all in the bus. Our flight is at 9 am. So we must reach the airport 2 hours ealier. It’s like 8 am in Malaysia during this time.

8.00 am – We are already at the airport and checking in our luggage.

9.00 am – I’m in the plane. I got a window seat and already starting to feel sleepy. I can’t stand it anymore and falls asleep. Although I like to watch when the planes takes of from the ground to the air, I have no energy to open my eyes anymore..

3.00 pm – After 7 hours flight I finally reach KLIA. Had my brother to fetch me at the airport.

Overall I had a nice day. Some people complained that they were duped because they were not brought the shopping area or market as suggested in the travel itinery. To me, traveling to a foreign place is not so much about shopping. Some of the things sold can be bought in Malaysia. They think that it is cheaper, they should buy it here. They should plus the airfare cost and think about it again. Traveling to a foreign place is about discovering the culture and way of life there. There is so much to see and smell.

Lets see..where am I going next..