Under My Umbrella

  Beijing, China
June 06, 2009

Bill was awake (and woke me up) at 4:30, but we went back to sleep. We were up again at 7:00, had a shower, ate breakfast and used the internet. I had a pork dumpling, cereal, beef sausage, salami salad, sautéed mushrooms, fruit and tea. Bill had watermelon, croissant, walnut bread, juice and tea.

We confirmed directions to the University for Ultimate Frisbee pick up and then headed out into the rain.

We walked to the Mao Mausoleum today because it is only open on Saturday. It is free to visit Mao, but you have to declare your cameras, check them and check your bags. All of that cost us 25 yuan! We had our bags screened twice and had to show our passports a few times.

We did not have a long wait to see Mao. At first it looked like his head was lit up from inside, like a glow worm, but as we got closer, we could see that they have lighting on him. He is in a glass topped casket and is surrounded by glass. It did not take us very long once we were inside the building and we saw Mao for a few seconds (just walked by). In the room outside of his casket there was a large statue of him.

We reclaimed our bags and went to the Forbidden City (along with thousands of others). Along the way we were bumped and hit with umbrellas (usually in the head).

It was 200 yuan for entrance and the guides. We had to pick up the guides at another counter.

The Forbidden City is 72,000 square meters, has 8,700 rooms (some say 9,999), was home to 24 Emperors during the Ming and Qing Dynasties over a 491 year period that ended in 1924. It was built from 1406 - 1420 when the capital was moved from Nanjing to Beijing. The site was constructed by over a million people and was made with pheobe zhennan wood (from jungles in SW China), marble (from outside Beijing) and gold bricks (from Suzhou), It has received the name, Forbidden City, because only the Emperor could give permission for someone to enter or leave the grounds.

We first saw the Meridian Gate. Certain entrances were used for royalty only. There was a special entrance that could be used by the top 3 scholars in the country. It was the site for heaven and earth ceremonies.

There are 5 marble bridges over the water that comes from Jade Mountain. It was used for putting out fires and for drainage.

The Gate of Harmony was the site of morning court during the Ming Dynasty. This is where state affairs were attended to.

** I will have to watch the video and add some details. It was difficult to write because it was very crowded, you are not allowed to enter many of the buildings, it was raining and people kept hitting us with their umbrellas!

We walked back to the hotel at 1:15. If Ultimate pick up is going to take place, we are not going to be there as it is still raining. My hands and feet are prune-like and cold and I would like to dry out...

We tried to find the Peking Duck restaurant that the Portuguese family had recommended. We were close, but not quite there. We wandered for a bit and then tried a couple of other places. One was a giant food court but, Bill freaked, so we had to leave. We tried a Muslim restaurant, but it was hot pot and not middle eastern food, so we left.

I ended up trying some chicken gyros, but it was really fatty and the sauce was ketchup, so I picked at it and threw most of it away (it was only 5 yuan). I then tried a veggie crepe - carrots, onion and bean sprouts for 5 yuan. That was OK, but very bland. As I was eating it, Bill spotted the Peking Duck spot. So, I tossed out the rest of my crepe.

The Restaurant is called Beijing Wanyfujing Quanjude (Quanjude is the most prominent word on the sign). It took 5 people to show us to our table (we were sent to the 3rd floor). There were 58 tables in our room and 33 staff. That still amazes me!

We ordered 1/2 of a Master Duck for 99 yuan. It is extra for the pancakes, sauce, garlic, cucumbers and sugar. Bill ordered a beer for 20 yuan (yikes) and I ordered a Coke light. They also brought sweet wheat sauce, scallions and white duck broth to the table (don't think I ordered it, not sure if we were charged for it). The chef brought the duck to the table and carved it for us. Two people from another table came over and watched him (weird). The waitress prepared the first pancake for me.

The duck pancakes (like a burrito) were really good. I had one bite of the cracklin', but it was really fatty and I ate the duck brain. It did not taste like anything really.

We went back to the hotel to dry out. Bill went to the room first and I went to the internet.

At happy hour we had spring rolls, patties stuffed with pork, pulled pork salad, corn salad, fruit, peanuts and raisins. I had a vodka soda and Bill had wine.

We went to bed early. Bill watched Blond and Blonder.