Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Back in Beijing
My postponed trip finally happened - at a very inconvenient time, of course! I'm trying to make the most of it, and hopefully return early.
Today I spent the day exploring the area around the hotel. I started the day by going down to the Tiena mien square area. Right outside the hotel, I ran into Jamie and Xao (sic?), who were visiting from Shanghai. We threw our lot in together and headed down the road. I've been very surprised this trip by how friendly everyone is, and how eager many are to speak english with anyone willing to talk back. Xao is a surgeon, and Jamie just graduated with an english degree.
Here I am in front of the Gate of Heavenly Peace, where Mao climbed up and proclaimed the People's Republic of China. It's also the entrance to the Forbidden City.
This is the mausoleum that holds Mao's tomb. It was closed. Supposedly it's open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. However, it looks closed for renovation. The National museum, also on the square, is closed and has a huge countdown timer for the olympic games. Less than a year to go!
On a less festive note, this is the section of Tiena mien where the student massacre took place. My friends were quite willing to talk about this, and described it as a "secret" that people could only talk about in private.
After the square, they showed me around the Hutong area behind it. These are traditional people's accommodations - courtyard houses in very narrow alleys. Some are totally squalid - and some are being completely renovated. They reminded me of some of the things I've seen in thailand, but on a massive scale.
Next, we went to a tea house for a nice cup of tea. A traditional tea ceremony, we learned, has 8 teas. We gave up after 6. We tried!
After that, lunch. We ate at a "hole in the wall" (almost literally) in the Hutong.
Here's Jamie, some Hunan Duck, and fish soup.
Yanjing is one of the names of Beijing, from ancient times.
After this, they had to go, but I was determined to see the Forbidden city. The crowds were much too large in the morning, but they were manageable by 2:30. I agreed to let a tour guide show me around, although she really wasn't all that helpful since I had already read about the palace and gotten a tour of a similar (but much smaller) palace in Seoul.
Conditions were not good for pictures - hellishly hot and humid weather and the traditional total smog out conditions.
After showing me around, the tour guide sent me out a different entrance. I had no idea where I was, and I was exhausted. So, I took the offer of a rickshaw ride back to my hotel. The driver took me on a super long ride through the Hutong, looking out for police, and then finally ditched me "5 minutes walk that way" from my hotel. Needless to say, it was more than 5 minutes, and I'd have gotten lost if I hadn't known my way around. I was quite happy to find my hotel, and I haven't left it since!
Today I spent the day exploring the area around the hotel. I started the day by going down to the Tiena mien square area. Right outside the hotel, I ran into Jamie and Xao (sic?), who were visiting from Shanghai. We threw our lot in together and headed down the road. I've been very surprised this trip by how friendly everyone is, and how eager many are to speak english with anyone willing to talk back. Xao is a surgeon, and Jamie just graduated with an english degree.
Here I am in front of the Gate of Heavenly Peace, where Mao climbed up and proclaimed the People's Republic of China. It's also the entrance to the Forbidden City.
This is the mausoleum that holds Mao's tomb. It was closed. Supposedly it's open on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. However, it looks closed for renovation. The National museum, also on the square, is closed and has a huge countdown timer for the olympic games. Less than a year to go!
On a less festive note, this is the section of Tiena mien where the student massacre took place. My friends were quite willing to talk about this, and described it as a "secret" that people could only talk about in private.
After the square, they showed me around the Hutong area behind it. These are traditional people's accommodations - courtyard houses in very narrow alleys. Some are totally squalid - and some are being completely renovated. They reminded me of some of the things I've seen in thailand, but on a massive scale.Next, we went to a tea house for a nice cup of tea. A traditional tea ceremony, we learned, has 8 teas. We gave up after 6. We tried!
After that, lunch. We ate at a "hole in the wall" (almost literally) in the Hutong.
Here's Jamie, some Hunan Duck, and fish soup.
Yanjing is one of the names of Beijing, from ancient times.After this, they had to go, but I was determined to see the Forbidden city. The crowds were much too large in the morning, but they were manageable by 2:30. I agreed to let a tour guide show me around, although she really wasn't all that helpful since I had already read about the palace and gotten a tour of a similar (but much smaller) palace in Seoul.
Conditions were not good for pictures - hellishly hot and humid weather and the traditional total smog out conditions.After showing me around, the tour guide sent me out a different entrance. I had no idea where I was, and I was exhausted. So, I took the offer of a rickshaw ride back to my hotel. The driver took me on a super long ride through the Hutong, looking out for police, and then finally ditched me "5 minutes walk that way" from my hotel. Needless to say, it was more than 5 minutes, and I'd have gotten lost if I hadn't known my way around. I was quite happy to find my hotel, and I haven't left it since!
Curtains - A murder mystery
I got the chance to see Curtains on Broadway last week. This is David Hyde Pearce's first leading role, alongside Debra Monk (George's mom on Grey's Anatomy). It's a "backstage murder mystery" in which the (really suck and hated) star of a new show is killed during the premier. DHP is the Boston detective brought in to solve the crime. Along the way, he helps re-invent the play and eventually makes his musical debut (oh, and, of course, wins the heart of a lady).
If I'd left after the first act, I would have to say that I'd have given the play a pretty negative review. Although the acting and dance were great, the songs themselves were often less than inspiring.
However, one of the sub-plots is the improvement of the show. As this subplot evolved, so did the quality of the songs. So In the first act, DHP was quite reserved and the show was a little less captivating, but by the middle of the second act, he was running (both) shows and the pace picked up considerably.
I'd recommend it. Not the best show I've ever seen, but well worth you time.
If I'd left after the first act, I would have to say that I'd have given the play a pretty negative review. Although the acting and dance were great, the songs themselves were often less than inspiring.
However, one of the sub-plots is the improvement of the show. As this subplot evolved, so did the quality of the songs. So In the first act, DHP was quite reserved and the show was a little less captivating, but by the middle of the second act, he was running (both) shows and the pace picked up considerably.
I'd recommend it. Not the best show I've ever seen, but well worth you time.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Wednesday, July 04, 2007
My students
I just heard that the girls I tutored in reading this past year, have greatly improved. They improved reading scores more than a grade level each! I'm delighted and proud, and I miss them!
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