Beijing
23-Jan-01 thru 24-Jan-01
BeijingIn preparation for the Transsiberian, we met up with our friend Dave Crane. Just some scenes of us around about town.
Engrish street signEven if this sign was spelled and hyphenated properly, it still wouldn't make sense
Soldiers marching on Tianemen
| Show Larger | "Dave Crane", , , , and SaraGrace Keenan. Taivaallisen rauhan aukio, Beijing, Beijing Shi, China (Tiananmen Square, 北京, 北京市, 中国) | Show on map |
These locals wanted their pictures taken with us.SGK and I made it a habit to reciprocate whenever a stranger wanted our photo, we would insist on getting theirs.
Looking at the forbidden city
| Show Larger | "Dave Crane", , , SaraGrace Keenan "SGK", , Michael Alessio "MRA", and . Taivaallisen rauhan aukio, Beijing, Beijing Shi, China (Tiananmen Square, 北京, 北京市, 中国) | Show on map |
More locals
Flying Mao's flag
Cattle ProdHotel security had this item.
Kicking back in our room
It's cold so I'm drinking teaI normally do not like tea.
Chinese New Years
24-Jan-01
It was Chinese New Year. Year of the snake. We decided to see what sort of celebration we could see, and ended up in a neighborhood festival. I don't remember exactly how we ended up there; so much of our travels around Beijing were blurry in mutual language incomprehension; but somehow we managed.
Chinese New Years
Dancers
These dancers were in the lobby of a big tourist hotel around the corner from our budget backpacker hotel. We would go into the big hotels in order to get a taxi,, or other service. Everyone just assumed that we were staying there since we were obviously "foreign devils"
Crowd waiting to get into the fair
Giant, inflatable snake in honor of the year
She had her own balloonsThis is one place that I didn't need to hand out balloons; even if I could tie them as elaborately as this!
Announcer
Decorated tree
PrizewinnerThis boy won a hamster in some sort of a contest. He was very proud. I'm surprised that the rodent didn't freeze to death as it was very cold out.
Baloon recipient!We tied these balloons to ourselves so we could more easily find ourselves in the crowd
Balancing actThat thing is about 20 feet tall, and he's balancing it on the tips of his fingers!
Parade dancer
Inflatable castleJust goes to show that colorful, bouncing adventures is cross-cultural
Goldie locksNot sure if these red ringlets were attached to the hat or the girl.
Queen of the faire
Chengdu Market
21-Jan-01
Chengdu Market We went to the Chengdu market expecting a typical third world marketplace, complete with stenches and flies. What we found a very clean place full of weird food.
Chengdu market
Willow fronds
DucksThe black ones are smoked
WormsYes, they eat these here. In soup.
Vegetables
Limpets
Shrooms
Odd garlic like bulb
Fish does not get any fresher
live eels
Balloons!
Snakes
Terrapins
Weird root vegetables
SquidNow we're talking!
BrainsZombie food
Chicken feet
Not sure what this was.
Smoked pork jowl
Cheng Du
11-Jan-01 thru 21-Jan-01
Cheng Du Cheng Du is a city in south western China (Schezuan) that no one has ever heard of even though it is the size of Los Angeles.
It is one of two places in China that you can depart from to get to Tibet (the other being Golmud). It is also the departure point for the 3 gorges, and home to the place that rents pandas to zoos around the world.
It was also the cleanest city in China.
Jam packedSaraGrace wanted to show off her packing job
DisinfectedGood to know.
Penguin trash canWe loved these kitsch trash cans.
Red Bull "Super Vitamin Drink"So I guess that ephedrine, caffeine, and guaifenesin are classified as a vitamins in the PRC?
Chop makerThis guy sold "chops" - personalized stamps for marking correspondence.
Reaching for me
We just liked this little guys sense of dress.
Spicegirl clubGinger?
Street scene
Balloon merchant
Paul's Oasis Home away from homePaul's was the only backpackers bar in Chengdu. He was also likely the only non-westerner in the whole province to speak English comprehensibly.
KokopelliPaul encouraged us to add to the graffiti on his tables
SGK and Paul
Another balloon merchant
Smoking opium
All content including images copyright 1999-2014 © SaraGrace Keenan and/or Michael Alessio Permission to use only granted with permission
MRA
SGK
Michelangelo
Isabella
Posts
