china

It was about time that I traveled to China and saw what the big hubbub was all about.. I admit, I was a little disappointed though. To me, the cities all had the same kind of look and feel, it reminded me of Taipei. Not to mention the horrible air quality, I felt like it would have been a very bad thing to take a really deep breath, probably would have ended up coughing and hacking or something.. And the second week I was there it was Golden Week, meaning EVERYONE had the week off and was out and about... it was sooo crowded everywhere.. sheesh, never again.

I thought Beijing was cooler, having all the historical sites. But the historical places seemed kind of poorly kept and kind of random at some points. The gardens in Hangzhou were pretty cool, really big and maze-like.. Me and my cousin got completely lost and almost missed getting back to the bus on time. That was fun.. sort of.. running through all these tiny garden rooms filled with tourists milling about and trying to ask people (who ignored us) how to get out.

Climbing the great wall was a lot of fun.. quite the exercise though. When I was running down the steps, it was funny seeing all the mostly Chinese people climbing up huffing and puffing and wheezing and gasping for air haha. I'm sure I was like that too when I was going up.

Surprisingly enough, the people weren't AS rude as I had expected, though I had started out with pretty low expectations. What's with people thinking cutting in line is a perfectly decent thing to do? I remember reading in the NYT about how the government is trying to promote teaching manners programs, and putting up billboards about not spitting and lounging about in public wearing pajamas.. All so that China can put up good appearances for the 2008 Olympics. They still have a loooong way to go.

Also, I thought the Chinese guys there were cuter than the ones in the US. I think it's because everything is made for them, their physiques, hair, etc.. The clothes and haircuts were flattering on them as opposed to here where abc guys have to fit in with the american standard that's not really intended for them.

ok so pictures..






[This plate was so cool, the picture doesn't do it justice. Apparently the technique of stamping the clay so that the details were that crisp and perfect was lost forever.. So does that mean it's impossible to make even today?]

[Court ladies back in the day playing golf. hehe]

[fields of tea plants]------------------------------------------------------------------^

[the coolest parking lot ground tiling i've ever seen]------------------------------------^

[harvesting silk from silk worm cocoons]

[haha look at the hot pot, it had its own special tin hat.. i want one]

^---[soup served in a seashell on a bed of sea salt kept warm by sterno fire.. so cool!]^---[for fellow engrish enjoyers]

[cloisonne vases in the making]

^-----------["i climbed the great wall" award medals][more wonderful engrish]-----------^