Beijing Days 3-5 (lots of images)

[dtbh]

To complete my traveloque here are the rest of the images.

I did not get many good images on Day 3 when we visited the Great Wall. This was mainly because the sun was out at full force and trying to take images when one is climbing those steep steps is a great challenge. To me anyway as I was carrying my Lowepro Computrekker with the 70-200mmVR, and the D2x+17-35 round my neck.

When we arrived at the Great Wall we had a choice to climb the segment to the right, which apparently was the easier one, or the one on the left. To my "horror" my kids wanted the challenge and selected the latter. :mad: On retrospect it was the wrong choice not because it was tiring but mainly because we later found out that the Miss World Pagent participants came not long after we started our climb....and they took the right segment! What luck! Otherwise I would have had a go at them with my 70-200.

#1 As mentioned it was a bright and sunny day. It was still quite cold as it was very windy as well. Notice the steep slope.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2335/2085513773_2f0b99d663_o.jpg

#2 From the left segment looking towards the right less challenging climb.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2363/2085514275_97a4050e97_o.jpg

#3 Another image to show the steepness of the climb
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2211/2086297248_1e5fd13409_o.jpg

#4 There were many vendors selling their craft there.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2195/2085513865_ed03b05e06_o.jpg

#5 Here is one demonstrating how he could paint from inside a small bottle.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2289/2085514189_4886f04a91_o.jpg

#6 Even the Great Wall is not immune to this
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2152/2086297420_3b98ac258c_o.jpg

#7 This gentleman was practising what the Olympic motto said in the background "One World One Dream". :biggrin:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2201/2085514007_f4a57ab25e_o.jpg

That's it for our visit to the Great Wall. We did a bit of shopping in the evening and I wouldn't bore you with the images I took then. Days 4 next.

[dtbh]

On Day 4 we visited the Forbidden City which to me is another must see for any tourist. Unfortunately some of the areas there were under renovation and to make matters worse the sky was really hazy. Here are some images that I would like to share.

#1 As you can see renovation was in progress getting it to be ready for the Olympics, and the sky was hazy
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2269/2086300692_7c9b8c70af_o.jpg

#2 As there wasn't any point taking this reno in progress we chose areas with less tourists to get some images. This was taken from the right on entering the complex.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2234/2086300578_0ce011aba9_o.jpg

#3 One to show the canal within the complex that apparently was constructed for feng shui reasons
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2188/2085519985_b7c9bb2209_o.jpg

#4 Some to show the elaborate designs common during that era that was fit for the palace.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2247/2085519665_c102b6029d_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2110/2086303024_050dc3a534_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2182/2086303306_9ef36e96d0_o.jpg

#5 I find the oxide red colours are good for background

My son Sheng Rong carrying his "burden"
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2220/2085520081_9c45697ee9_o.jpg

Daughter Shao Wei
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2061/2085516567_a926eea226_o.jpg

Youngest son doing his "Matrix" pose...
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2074/2085517721_59ec6e4ccb_o.jpg

...and playing with the columns
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2093/2086301480_924aeac175_o.jpg

#6 Tourist walking thro's a gate that was once used by the emperors and high officials
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2366/2086301974_7af84f20af_o.jpg

#7 Those bright coloured structures I showed earlier are restored ones. Here is one that needed restoring.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2383/2086302306_17fe38ef8e_o.jpg

#8 These protruding structures have holes in it that was for drainage purposes.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2060/2086302438_f9361bde99_o.jpg

#9 One to show some roof tiles used in this complex
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2016/2086300820_4255a66c43_o.jpg

[dtbh]

#10 This type of container has an interesting story to tell. The palace used to have iron containers to store water all over the palace compound in case of fires. One of the emperors (can't remember which one) was made to believe that solid gold containers were good feng shui for him(I think...please correct me if I have this fact wrong). As such he ordered many to be built. Little did he know...

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2103/2086300250_5b3273c4d9_o.jpg

...that they were only gold plated although he paid for the price of solid gold ones! The "robbers" found that out when they took over the palace at the end of the Ching Dynasty.

Note the scraping done on this one.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2038/2085516741_c76d72788c_o.jpg

Another one to show the non-gold platted one. Note the floor tiles which was 15 layer thick all throught the Forbidden City. This apparently was to prevent invaders from digging a tunnel into the palace.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2316/2086300040_804ea4ceee_o.jpg

#12 One to show the inside of one of the Halls used by the emperors. Note the huge mirror on the right.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2129/2085518215_c6b9ae3ede_o.jpg

#13 A man and his bicycle just outside the Southern Gate (our exit).
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2415/2086301282_d9ce888005_o.jpg

#14 One of the many vagabonds plying their "trade" at the exit
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2135/2086303854_d185ff92de_o.jpg

#15 An uncommon sight...policemen having their entertainment
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2223/2086302174_b9afb3ef9b_o.jpg


These are the images I got for Day 4. Day 5 after this.

[dtbh]

For Day 5 we visited this Tibetan Buddhist Temple reputed to be the biggest outside of Tibet. This temple used to be a palace that belonged to a prince before he eventually became the emperor. It was then converted into this temple.

#1 Very similar structures seen at the Forbidden City
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2303/2089821559_31f8ce4246_o.jpg

#2 Walkway on entering the main gate
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2198/2089830023_73fe299ca5_o.jpg

#3 Lion "guarding" the main entrance in highkey. There is always a pair of these, one male and the other female. This one is a male. The female one is always seen playing with her baby.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2342/2089822753_f015a456b0_o.jpg

#4 Lighting of incense
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2018/2090605194_7eebc3c139_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2395/2090604374_1250c1079e_o.jpg

#5 My group praying
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2360/2089825053_a43b14e3f6_o.jpg

#6 Shooting inside a hall that house the Buddhist idols were strictly prohibited. I took a shot at the back of it instead.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2410/2089820213_45c045cdeb_o.jpg

#7 Sheng Rong was too tired to walk (I got him to carry my gears!) and needed a rest
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2179/2089828813_3b9d30271d_o.jpg

#8 Some silhouette shots
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2066/2090616852_16b00247d5_o.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2389/2089827189_7f21a5c818_o.jpg

#9 One on reflections...my wife and daughter
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2136/2090613832_f2ebf5534a_o.jpg

#1 The best of "friends" :biggrin:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2285/2089817565_f181399329_o.jpg


That's all I have for this holiday. Thanks for your time.

[Fishhook]

good to go with family also ahh..to carry things and be model:D the emperor lost cause of bad fungshui:Dsince only gold plated..luck last awhile only:tongue_roll:

[sampoerna]

Climbing those steep steps at Great Wall is more challenging when there is frozen ice at the steps.

I felt a few times when I was there :(

[mki88]

Great travel photos. Love them all. Sharp and crispy. Good work.

U must have been enjoying a great time with family there. Thanks for sharing.

[Later]

Like the travelogue photos to showcase your holiday.

Thanks for sharing the photos.

Do enjoy your holidays.

[dtbh]

good to go with family also ahh..to carry things and be model:D the emperor lost cause of bad fungshui:Dsince only gold plated..luck last awhile only:tongue_roll:

Climbing those steep steps at Great Wall is more challenging when there is frozen ice at the steps.

I felt a few times when I was there :(

Great travel photos. Love them all. Sharp and crispy. Good work.

U must have been enjoying a great time with family there. Thanks for sharing.

Like the travelogue photos to showcase your holiday.

Thanks for sharing the photos.

Do enjoy your holidays.

Thank you all! Better to let the kids work since I had to pay (for the hols)anyway. :D

[macdude]

Great sharing! Thanks doc :)

[dtbh]

Great sharing! Thanks doc :)

My pleasure Macdude!

[transit2]

Thanks for bring me to watch the great wall of china. Hope one day can have chance to be there. ;)

[dtbh]

Thanks for bring me to watch the great wall of china. Hope one day can have chance to be there. ;)

This segment of the Great Wall is situated in Baidaling and is the most popular and well preserved one. The segment I visited 10yrs ago was somewhere else (can't remember) and even more challenging; the steps were so steep that when you are on top of one you may not see the bottom of the steps. Imagine how difficult it would have been for the builders then without modern equipment.

Thanks for viewing.