North Asian Adventure 1

For my trip to China, I took care of practically everything: getting my visa, booking my flight, arranging to stay over at my friend Lesley's in Beijing. When I got there, my feeling overall was: it felt strange but familiar at the same time. The roads were just wider and there were more cars and bikes and people. I daresay, maybe Beijing (or China in general?) is the Texas of this part of the world--everything is bigger!
I went to Wudaokou (the university district), Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City. And yes, finally bought myself my own Red Guard cap. (Abby bought me one before, but it made more sense to buy one on this, my first visit to China. I couldn't stop taking photos to share with everyone. And really, the reason it took so long to make this entry is because I couldn't figure out which photos to include and which not to. Finally, I decided I had to skip the toilet photos!--all but one, that is!:P

I liked riding the buses and trains--beats sitting in the taxi fidgeting over the traffic!

unfortunately, i wasn't able to ride a bike through the streets of beijing. sayang, i wanted to try following the "bike stoplight"! it's so cool that they even have a lane on the overpass for bikes and other "wheeled" items.:D

had to try the streetfood, of course. not such a fan of the "boiled in broth" ones. but the griddled ones were ok.

can you imagine how excited i was approaching this???

some parts of the forbidden city are under renovation.

cute! kids getting a "high-tech guided tour" of the forbidden city. i was too kuripot to try that!

tiananmen, here i come!!!

because of the stretches of land, practically everything grows in china! loved the pears!

most of the people now live in high-rise apartment buildings like these. i want huttongs!!!

pretty much everywhere, this is how it looks when you have to "go". and really, i'm doing you a favor, this is one of the nicer looking ones (no smell!).