Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Day 5: Saturday, November 25th
Sleep until 6!
The Temple of Heaven was once used by Chinese rulers to worship the emperor of heaven. Now it is a forum for the Chinese to exercise, sing, dance and play board games. The group watches all this while exploring the temples.
Beijing Railway Station is a monstrous edifice jostling with throngs of Chinese. The platform and train is right out of an Eastern block turn of the century movie/book.
The car’s layout is three berths high- lowest for sitting or sleep and others for sleeping. We are all put off by the arrangement and grittiness but the group’s joviality quickly makes it a fun trip. Stories are swapped generating laughs, food & drinks are consumed and the ladies stress over using an Eastern style toilet on a swaying train. All the while a guard ominously overlooks and the Chinese passengers sleep.
Emerging from the station neon greets us illuminating Ji’nan. Dinner is a banquet at the hotel with entertainment by local music teachers.
The Temple of Heaven was once used by Chinese rulers to worship the emperor of heaven. Now it is a forum for the Chinese to exercise, sing, dance and play board games. The group watches all this while exploring the temples.
Beijing Railway Station is a monstrous edifice jostling with throngs of Chinese. The platform and train is right out of an Eastern block turn of the century movie/book.
The car’s layout is three berths high- lowest for sitting or sleep and others for sleeping. We are all put off by the arrangement and grittiness but the group’s joviality quickly makes it a fun trip. Stories are swapped generating laughs, food & drinks are consumed and the ladies stress over using an Eastern style toilet on a swaying train. All the while a guard ominously overlooks and the Chinese passengers sleep.
Emerging from the station neon greets us illuminating Ji’nan. Dinner is a banquet at the hotel with entertainment by local music teachers.
# posted by Jason @ 12:28 PM 
