dtbh
11-30-2007, 11:05 AM
I took my family to Beijing recently for the school hols. This was my 2nd trip there and boy how much Beijing has changed after 10 yrs. Besides the many new developments esp with the Olympics next year, I noticed there were far fewer bicycles on the road, the street vendors were less aggressive, the food had vastly improved (pleasant surprise...had great meals everyday) and things not unexpectedly have increased in price. Well, one habit among mainland Chinese had not changed though; they still spit everywhere! If their spit was acidic one will see many potholes along all pathways. :D Century-old habits are hard to change.
Anyhow I found trying to get good photographs with the family tagging along was really hard. These are some snapshots I thought I should share with you guys. I'll add whatever info I can remember of them; these will be in bits and pieces as I was concentrating on getting the photo rather than listening to our guide. BTW this was a custommade tour for 10; we wanted to have a relaxing tour rather than one where we had to get up early and wait for everyone if you know what I mean.
Here I go. We boarded the early morning flight (0030hrs) from KL International Airport and arrived at Beijing Int Airport at slightly after 6am. The local guide Sally met as at the arrival hall and took us to our 1st fantastic meal...a dim sum breakfast. As we had time before we could check-in we got Sally to take us to Tiananmen Square.
#1 Soldiers were everywhere. And so were the Police force. A group of M'sia school children learnt the hard way when they were almost run down by a police van honking frantically at them when the kids were spotted holding a banner posing to have a group photo taken. Apparently banner was a no-no at the square. Sorry for the kids!
Soldier with one of the Forbidden City Gates in the background.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/2075137088_f1b0d39b5d_o.jpg
#2 With a zillion people there it is hard to have great shots of the place. And the bad air didn't help. Just have this monument to show.
Monument.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2018/2074345515_0da77f3774_o.jpg
After about an hour we checked into Jin Xiao service apartment on the east side of Beijing just within the 2nd ring road. FYI Beijing is surrounded by 6 ring roads. Understandably the nearer you are in the centre the more expensive will be the place.
We rested a while, freshened up and went for another sumptious meal. I think I have said enough of the good food and will not mentioned it again. Just thinking back on the meals I can almost feel my weight gaining. :D
Our next stop was visiting the Hutong. The are many Hutongs surrounding the Forbidden City. These were the settlements inhabitted by servants of the emperor in ancient times. Some of them may be very old and rundown but they can fetch millions of RM each!
#3 Cyclist
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2121/2075141162_8731ab3d7d_o.jpg
#4 One of the nicer courtyards
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2145/2075147440_b608bf0ed8_o.jpg
#5 Shy to say I don't know what these words mean but I like the colours. Seen at an entrance.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2214/2074353665_d2b8902bc2_o.jpg
#6 Door handle
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2391/2075145258_4acbdbdddd_o.jpg
#7 Motorbike in the store
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2074347509_f15f2f372b_o.jpg
#8 Of course we travelled by trishaws at the Hutong.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2021/2075132816_6002e9f1c9_o.jpg
#9 Trishawman
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2217/2075134002_3d1c4dd0a2_o.jpg
#10 It was very cold at this time of the year in Beijing as is seen by my son's attire here.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/2074351669_7468e29007_o.jpg
#11 Son busy playing with friend's videocam
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/2075143268_6d17f44434_o.jpg
We left the Hutong and then walked towards Bar Street, so named because the are may bars and cafes there. A nice place esp in the late evenings if you ask me.
#12 Shop front on the way to Bar Street. Pardon the blown highlights.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2082/2074360145_50032e428e_o.jpg
Anyhow I found trying to get good photographs with the family tagging along was really hard. These are some snapshots I thought I should share with you guys. I'll add whatever info I can remember of them; these will be in bits and pieces as I was concentrating on getting the photo rather than listening to our guide. BTW this was a custommade tour for 10; we wanted to have a relaxing tour rather than one where we had to get up early and wait for everyone if you know what I mean.
Here I go. We boarded the early morning flight (0030hrs) from KL International Airport and arrived at Beijing Int Airport at slightly after 6am. The local guide Sally met as at the arrival hall and took us to our 1st fantastic meal...a dim sum breakfast. As we had time before we could check-in we got Sally to take us to Tiananmen Square.
#1 Soldiers were everywhere. And so were the Police force. A group of M'sia school children learnt the hard way when they were almost run down by a police van honking frantically at them when the kids were spotted holding a banner posing to have a group photo taken. Apparently banner was a no-no at the square. Sorry for the kids!
Soldier with one of the Forbidden City Gates in the background.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2147/2075137088_f1b0d39b5d_o.jpg
#2 With a zillion people there it is hard to have great shots of the place. And the bad air didn't help. Just have this monument to show.
Monument.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2018/2074345515_0da77f3774_o.jpg
After about an hour we checked into Jin Xiao service apartment on the east side of Beijing just within the 2nd ring road. FYI Beijing is surrounded by 6 ring roads. Understandably the nearer you are in the centre the more expensive will be the place.
We rested a while, freshened up and went for another sumptious meal. I think I have said enough of the good food and will not mentioned it again. Just thinking back on the meals I can almost feel my weight gaining. :D
Our next stop was visiting the Hutong. The are many Hutongs surrounding the Forbidden City. These were the settlements inhabitted by servants of the emperor in ancient times. Some of them may be very old and rundown but they can fetch millions of RM each!
#3 Cyclist
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2121/2075141162_8731ab3d7d_o.jpg
#4 One of the nicer courtyards
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2145/2075147440_b608bf0ed8_o.jpg
#5 Shy to say I don't know what these words mean but I like the colours. Seen at an entrance.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2214/2074353665_d2b8902bc2_o.jpg
#6 Door handle
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2391/2075145258_4acbdbdddd_o.jpg
#7 Motorbike in the store
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2256/2074347509_f15f2f372b_o.jpg
#8 Of course we travelled by trishaws at the Hutong.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2021/2075132816_6002e9f1c9_o.jpg
#9 Trishawman
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2217/2075134002_3d1c4dd0a2_o.jpg
#10 It was very cold at this time of the year in Beijing as is seen by my son's attire here.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2280/2074351669_7468e29007_o.jpg
#11 Son busy playing with friend's videocam
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2310/2075143268_6d17f44434_o.jpg
We left the Hutong and then walked towards Bar Street, so named because the are may bars and cafes there. A nice place esp in the late evenings if you ask me.
#12 Shop front on the way to Bar Street. Pardon the blown highlights.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2082/2074360145_50032e428e_o.jpg