tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-352939922024-03-06T04:41:22.980+01:00Living in China<center><i>Photos and stories about my expat experience in China, currently in Bejing.
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See more pictures on:<br>
<a href="http://bfokke.redbubble.com/">My Rebubble site</a></i></center>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.comBlogger84125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-86920221295103564362009-12-19T08:07:00.000+01:002009-12-19T08:07:34.968+01:00My blog has moved!Due to the restrictions of the Chinese government on this website, it is too much trouble to keep posting on this blog. <br />
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I have made a new blog, which you can find here:<br />
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<a href="http://guanxi.blog.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">http://guanxi.blog.com</span></a><br />
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Mijn blog is verhuisd, aangezien het te moeilijk is geworden om op deze websites te blijven schrijven. Zie bovenstaande link voor mijn nieuwe blog.Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-76509902381910710612009-11-21T07:51:00.000+01:002009-11-21T07:51:40.656+01:00Misty days in Tianjin2 Weeks ago the weather changed here. One day it was comfortable and warm, and the next day it snowed!<br />
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A while later the temperature rose to 1-2 degrees again, but there was a thick fog.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDp6PLQyZcPThXoMje8jpwvLjTOTmeowM2rlj9871U_z9JxvOf7wav25JQmwvHerDUDmlv8zD_5svdk0Xfz1tUZ-K10fA6LWObzsF-M74jKdOaFfPqinw39iEHe6ieNJwbz3vn/s1600/Tianjin+missle+silo+1+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDp6PLQyZcPThXoMje8jpwvLjTOTmeowM2rlj9871U_z9JxvOf7wav25JQmwvHerDUDmlv8zD_5svdk0Xfz1tUZ-K10fA6LWObzsF-M74jKdOaFfPqinw39iEHe6ieNJwbz3vn/s320/Tianjin+missle+silo+1+small.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBM3pUBibIl5cCVwA3Zp8AE-JgJk0S3zRriEpmp9gBy7vTQcLtz7wC0D4gKRFBMG6iQYNBuMMgVGPekcMqKqGpmU8OwGfudjq3awRJGpcRzqestYJucbt4fBdx416fGP_pCi3/s1600/Troubadour+in+the+clouds+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqBM3pUBibIl5cCVwA3Zp8AE-JgJk0S3zRriEpmp9gBy7vTQcLtz7wC0D4gKRFBMG6iQYNBuMMgVGPekcMqKqGpmU8OwGfudjq3awRJGpcRzqestYJucbt4fBdx416fGP_pCi3/s320/Troubadour+in+the+clouds+small.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTptRt1sjgdUnLRKUBn0npxNj2hwVEtqIijUcsxF1iIOnf5R9o8Qf-01IFd3dTJkTypWdoIJ7nJWDinkzcZ9kbKFDSuw7Jf3YwMNGPsDqapW-mgYfVpiDnLOOJQU3kRpk1VZv/s1600/Tianjin++bridge+sunset+1+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTptRt1sjgdUnLRKUBn0npxNj2hwVEtqIijUcsxF1iIOnf5R9o8Qf-01IFd3dTJkTypWdoIJ7nJWDinkzcZ9kbKFDSuw7Jf3YwMNGPsDqapW-mgYfVpiDnLOOJQU3kRpk1VZv/s320/Tianjin++bridge+sunset+1+small.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPCv1-8IjRLXBsUNp68YnA2gU3khUcJym2DvCY0pG_0Oiac9poRlZjKt0F8p4V129kXlofLiJWKy7cXO2bwFKAetqvlXyPQTQEvlKGZMrn2f7Uy-6Og9ZCL3Y7RWf19zx6zyy/s1600/Tianjin+bridge+sunset+2+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidPCv1-8IjRLXBsUNp68YnA2gU3khUcJym2DvCY0pG_0Oiac9poRlZjKt0F8p4V129kXlofLiJWKy7cXO2bwFKAetqvlXyPQTQEvlKGZMrn2f7Uy-6Og9ZCL3Y7RWf19zx6zyy/s320/Tianjin+bridge+sunset+2+small.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaat5zuuYDU4zUzmqsE8bQ3z0skucUoJ9YpD6ZQ9Og3w-APzAEQuD9wSHIxj4VkrHqcqgWdG5wmZBqwW0bUg_7nytKhSSrcB5FPHECrk5ZT8jjNy5ygZl346XlcrKvvL0Anc2/s1600/Yi+in+red+shoes+-%29+small.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaat5zuuYDU4zUzmqsE8bQ3z0skucUoJ9YpD6ZQ9Og3w-APzAEQuD9wSHIxj4VkrHqcqgWdG5wmZBqwW0bUg_7nytKhSSrcB5FPHECrk5ZT8jjNy5ygZl346XlcrKvvL0Anc2/s320/Yi+in+red+shoes+-%29+small.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-41408919398705586102009-11-21T07:44:00.000+01:002009-11-21T07:44:51.131+01:00Visa run to Hong KongMy current Chinese visa will expire on November 27th, and so I needed to extend it.<br />
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This is easily done through an agent in Beijing, and all I need for that is another entry stamp in my passport. (Technically I should leave the country and come back, then they can extend my visa 3, 6 or 12 months from the latest entry stamp.)<br />
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So, the cheapest and fastest solution is to go to Hong Kong.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnNfu5p7XhvcZnxa4lYhIErEsHTKeYDldy28Etky1iXEg-fa-VBknI1azqow9uXBxKf8xDjOFOepr4FTnFUep1wm9Q69J7RjIMdB803sY5t8BqKhoWN9oz6TwrKUt9QoERfFv/s1600/IMG_4322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnNfu5p7XhvcZnxa4lYhIErEsHTKeYDldy28Etky1iXEg-fa-VBknI1azqow9uXBxKf8xDjOFOepr4FTnFUep1wm9Q69J7RjIMdB803sY5t8BqKhoWN9oz6TwrKUt9QoERfFv/s320/IMG_4322.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>I got up on a Friday morning at 6:00, left the house at 6:30 and took a bus to Tianjin train station (1 hour) and boarded a train to Beijing (30 minutes). Once there, I had to go to another train station which took me another 1 hour and two buses.<br />
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My train to Hong Kong left at 13:00 and I passed customs etc. The train took 26 hours and along the way I saw a lot of snow (in Henan province). Nothing more to do than listening to music and reading books.<br />
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I arrived in Kowloon at 15:00 or so and passed immigration. A group of people with doctor's uniforms stopped everyone and took their temperature. They also needed a health declaration. Soon though, I found myself outside the station in Hong Kong.<br />
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No time to waste, and so I bought a sandwich and a Coke and returned by subway to the border again. There, at Lo wu station, me and about a thousand other people had to get off and walk over a bridge and back into China. The immigration there was fast and easy, and at 16:30 I was in Shenzhen.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXfi6vLv-syFbzKCu5P7hjFDofE5kzbwV33OkP34ns5EpPTEygTzQ_Rx4lt7S7uxP-DIRo1fEAKVAWfLT_q4ZxdR-J48tWzp9ySEBB4JUH7Ou0bGLb9A-Mh3OWxPVBTq7W-OJ/s1600/IMG_4323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXfi6vLv-syFbzKCu5P7hjFDofE5kzbwV33OkP34ns5EpPTEygTzQ_Rx4lt7S7uxP-DIRo1fEAKVAWfLT_q4ZxdR-J48tWzp9ySEBB4JUH7Ou0bGLb9A-Mh3OWxPVBTq7W-OJ/s320/IMG_4323.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcHgmyZYc6EpjmzyLFna2i7YaFCP5JXDoKL8p9t3gaMzAWyK0Ug_dRm1HHrktK9gZSdshQV5DxDhwPX3_sXue4a4wKLIzzo1tS3lqogo_HCRY2L9LaerOs8TG8iSynM9FDmE7/s1600/IMG_4324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcHgmyZYc6EpjmzyLFna2i7YaFCP5JXDoKL8p9t3gaMzAWyK0Ug_dRm1HHrktK9gZSdshQV5DxDhwPX3_sXue4a4wKLIzzo1tS3lqogo_HCRY2L9LaerOs8TG8iSynM9FDmE7/s320/IMG_4324.JPG" /></a><br />
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A friend who lives there had already bought a ticket for me to Tianjin, leaving at 20:00. After a nice dinner of goose meat and soup, I boarded the train again.<br />
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This train also took 26 hours and it was boring because there was nothing to do all day. Fortunately I had brought a thick Dostoevsky novel with me, and read nearly half of it.<br />
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I arrived back in Tianjin at 22:30 and took a bus back home. On Sunday night 23:00 I was finally back. All that for a stamp in my passport!<br />
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The next phase was to go back to Beijing and find that visa agent. Prices seemed to have changed a lot since last year. Then, I could get a 12 month visa for about 160 Euros, but now they emailed me with prices nearly tripled. (Due to the PRC's 60th anniversary this year I think). No choice though, and on Wednesday I went to look up the visa agent.<br />
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After taking photos and showing my residence permit, I managed to get a 6 month extension for only 110 Euros. My Tianjin residence permit doesn't work in Beijing, and so I had to cheat a bit and book a hotel for 10 days in Beijing, after which they gave me a Beijing permit. The next day I checked out and got my money back .<br />
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Why the visa was cheaper I don't know (but I'm glad). I should be able to pick it up in a week.Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-81994606210203124232009-10-10T18:45:00.001+02:002009-10-10T18:45:50.548+02:00Birthday in Hunan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">So I finally found a way around the nasty censorship of this website in China. Here are some photos of the 60th birthday of Chen Yi's mother, in rural Hunan province. It was a great party as usual, and I ate many unfamiliar things (as usual) including snake (and snake heart, snake blood) and turle-soup. I'll let the photos speak for themselves...<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUUlpc7k0FC0DU5ug0CErSmrTqF86Z2mk2j5ONJGC2hTrjVAoS1Apz1y27AOe0oySIf8HBvcmlHPlkyfsomXrE0vX1IVNT8mjMaHJBWsJyTyeOXz1PMzUcAL_6EIFy6fjd6g0/s1600-h/Snake+one+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUUlpc7k0FC0DU5ug0CErSmrTqF86Z2mk2j5ONJGC2hTrjVAoS1Apz1y27AOe0oySIf8HBvcmlHPlkyfsomXrE0vX1IVNT8mjMaHJBWsJyTyeOXz1PMzUcAL_6EIFy6fjd6g0/s320/Snake+one+3.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsc_YI1HL4VWizjAWaBjAO4p3Go4hJmnh9ViNwA_BZhEs2jw-L-R1UOFIQ8JORmhkE0-KcPPNev__RrDek1hxfyswJbq4I8RUOTSEAIVt9l5hWovxQsNsRq_CDOTdVT_gMMRuV/s1600-h/Snake+two+9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsc_YI1HL4VWizjAWaBjAO4p3Go4hJmnh9ViNwA_BZhEs2jw-L-R1UOFIQ8JORmhkE0-KcPPNev__RrDek1hxfyswJbq4I8RUOTSEAIVt9l5hWovxQsNsRq_CDOTdVT_gMMRuV/s320/Snake+two+9.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Auntie is washing the spicy peppers<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUUlpc7k0FC0DU5ug0CErSmrTqF86Z2mk2j5ONJGC2hTrjVAoS1Apz1y27AOe0oySIf8HBvcmlHPlkyfsomXrE0vX1IVNT8mjMaHJBWsJyTyeOXz1PMzUcAL_6EIFy6fjd6g0/s1600-h/Snake+one+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkUUlpc7k0FC0DU5ug0CErSmrTqF86Z2mk2j5ONJGC2hTrjVAoS1Apz1y27AOe0oySIf8HBvcmlHPlkyfsomXrE0vX1IVNT8mjMaHJBWsJyTyeOXz1PMzUcAL_6EIFy6fjd6g0/s320/Snake+one+3.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A freshly caught snake (we ate snake 2 times)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinULVQ-Mx1EE2BjfG4B8YGuy_NwaP4QPe9kXmv-LahfKfRBO2jzb5RnrkIO9_b60UgRJ8jundRyBXV-7YF-5leWli4NiaSiyL0QPEye-41ltyxFRbFmu9hPu5mlQySxwiLqhEJ/s1600-h/me+%26+66.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinULVQ-Mx1EE2BjfG4B8YGuy_NwaP4QPe9kXmv-LahfKfRBO2jzb5RnrkIO9_b60UgRJ8jundRyBXV-7YF-5leWli4NiaSiyL0QPEye-41ltyxFRbFmu9hPu5mlQySxwiLqhEJ/s320/me+%26+66.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Me and '66'. Chen Yi's little niece<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfLBvohRyWIwfG-Z_Eh5usEG0bhwTv1sRzLLvbyEGQbU9B-3B96LQLJkCglloLkF6crrkBT0ap1TaHhR-Aj7e5wr8JJB1KY50olPIUYdLOH55oYDo8puwWd0KMCzWgciZ_Hfl/s1600-h/Snake+two+8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfLBvohRyWIwfG-Z_Eh5usEG0bhwTv1sRzLLvbyEGQbU9B-3B96LQLJkCglloLkF6crrkBT0ap1TaHhR-Aj7e5wr8JJB1KY50olPIUYdLOH55oYDo8puwWd0KMCzWgciZ_Hfl/s320/Snake+two+8.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After killing the snake<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui31GVQF4cFja9jwn8MfVFv70_rhGfi1QZBlklKtVC-ua5ed8qjfIqJtwIQGSIG9UqhQq-qG_348dyxCR1kfXg79xW5e7p2SdCe_EHOMvP5bPgV7TsiBcSDa3J7VWOFBM-KO0/s1600-h/66+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjui31GVQF4cFja9jwn8MfVFv70_rhGfi1QZBlklKtVC-ua5ed8qjfIqJtwIQGSIG9UqhQq-qG_348dyxCR1kfXg79xW5e7p2SdCe_EHOMvP5bPgV7TsiBcSDa3J7VWOFBM-KO0/s320/66+4.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">66 Playing with the fireworks<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x7Kw9imFpoNXqzsG6auyU2pv5QBkGsGxRgEgz1CDAsLTsKHyuZDEg2EPjriApIU4stpBnkwGpd3iHS8_j2U1Q5qI0yjoPAnp1dYwem1EilNwppWKZnHSh3EmXGzBZmVcnaQS/s1600-h/Snake+one+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9x7Kw9imFpoNXqzsG6auyU2pv5QBkGsGxRgEgz1CDAsLTsKHyuZDEg2EPjriApIU4stpBnkwGpd3iHS8_j2U1Q5qI0yjoPAnp1dYwem1EilNwppWKZnHSh3EmXGzBZmVcnaQS/s320/Snake+one+1.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A snake in a bag (2 Kg)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jhAAgFvFR1f-TJF1Z6EGIvR98YNTyT2nx_IfyZafOGHVOG7k-mSQjl8XDIi-xMToLZjSZPBwWxbhA8HskIB-VjSRsjHK80qGv5jttD1iBaZmZuzJkjyR5aETN5n6LLhr_o3U/s1600-h/Going+fishing+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jhAAgFvFR1f-TJF1Z6EGIvR98YNTyT2nx_IfyZafOGHVOG7k-mSQjl8XDIi-xMToLZjSZPBwWxbhA8HskIB-VjSRsjHK80qGv5jttD1iBaZmZuzJkjyR5aETN5n6LLhr_o3U/s320/Going+fishing+1.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Going fishing (for crabs, frogs and little fish)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Red envelopes containing money, presents at the party<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-xyrF6Vety2rI8_MqdXpgwai7mfoiNv_Q-aUh2gFHtiQa5JcfCcUb4FvvYrPGNf9g4LqqErjlVM1LbapM2EcoMOnHL9vYG2LpNDZ5MCAzuHO61wzttXHzDaoraeswN8p1PDh/s1600-h/Going+fishing+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3-xyrF6Vety2rI8_MqdXpgwai7mfoiNv_Q-aUh2gFHtiQa5JcfCcUb4FvvYrPGNf9g4LqqErjlVM1LbapM2EcoMOnHL9vYG2LpNDZ5MCAzuHO61wzttXHzDaoraeswN8p1PDh/s320/Going+fishing+2.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mRTAMW_E-E7gt0malyaB9pAM0Pp11kqELkZBDssteEgWjCsSrZ6jvjU05dHLTDHK_N3EFqhlpDyzKEhmeHuh8yY3_8-HvkFPNTuNnEiPMA_odi3RcgoEhhX5nNdRuX1DiXl9/s1600-h/Party+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mRTAMW_E-E7gt0malyaB9pAM0Pp11kqELkZBDssteEgWjCsSrZ6jvjU05dHLTDHK_N3EFqhlpDyzKEhmeHuh8yY3_8-HvkFPNTuNnEiPMA_odi3RcgoEhhX5nNdRuX1DiXl9/s320/Party+3.JPG" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-c_rKL05enYgOaikkF9XufM860HAnbY2VPP9Al20zzkp2kezBx5di8Pifc_BYDNCutPd4JYwUAZLZAaSgkn4BHHyFrnd7ZE9BMIo7b7ReT5aiH6guH5k9HThoR0heTANwd_fy/s1600-h/To+the+party.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-c_rKL05enYgOaikkF9XufM860HAnbY2VPP9Al20zzkp2kezBx5di8Pifc_BYDNCutPd4JYwUAZLZAaSgkn4BHHyFrnd7ZE9BMIo7b7ReT5aiH6guH5k9HThoR0heTANwd_fy/s320/To+the+party.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our way to the party. About 80 people came to the restaurant<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin2uG-hvatu7U67wHDLXxzNT2DNq9fEt1bya9YhdWIFb52gApvF_UwBDn2E3PMg_ITezQr9vx6PgHZPVPA8njm5401MbhQNeIpGF1bMsp-Gi-1CRkMYth1VGmu6rVnRxrLHK6/s1600-h/Changsha+station.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiin2uG-hvatu7U67wHDLXxzNT2DNq9fEt1bya9YhdWIFb52gApvF_UwBDn2E3PMg_ITezQr9vx6PgHZPVPA8njm5401MbhQNeIpGF1bMsp-Gi-1CRkMYth1VGmu6rVnRxrLHK6/s320/Changsha+station.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Changsha train station in the morning<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Cheering with rice wine<br />
</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZNq6H7J6JIxo92BF59peG1CiIi6RbUOjmiAB6F9yiNwLVtuIE7W5Nlm7aP2H4uX1gDxxfOQXSaxhXTyCh2RQnWPp2UYY7Ul7jfMIVvQVVUluMDGZ3A0kjxP3l_G-4dCHOdAq/s1600-h/Snake+two+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibZNq6H7J6JIxo92BF59peG1CiIi6RbUOjmiAB6F9yiNwLVtuIE7W5Nlm7aP2H4uX1gDxxfOQXSaxhXTyCh2RQnWPp2UYY7Ul7jfMIVvQVVUluMDGZ3A0kjxP3l_G-4dCHOdAq/s320/Snake+two+3.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Drinking snake blood is supposed to be healty<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpQun8vPmCYIYEPS8Ah-TiPl7rsB2O671oGgkJwZgG_WMEhkG75JwHh3KPk1WVuRzmLtZ1SQQp81f6kknGbJDp9dPZDIhzR7DSODr8WHT0tL6i-8SivTHan6z6PSPN7F6OIkL/s1600-h/66+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcpQun8vPmCYIYEPS8Ah-TiPl7rsB2O671oGgkJwZgG_WMEhkG75JwHh3KPk1WVuRzmLtZ1SQQp81f6kknGbJDp9dPZDIhzR7DSODr8WHT0tL6i-8SivTHan6z6PSPN7F6OIkL/s320/66+2.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ksPqGG_cvW-JVggHWYXvuyDFWeq_Jhfh6Ktc6O4xd10kOJvOo-096x5R3CAA9ebMU99tsVAGAs5WXC20f3dzprV3uOkfvFFCdhiY7_idqUdNuDJBDiGosYGNmlbitSX2zwbj/s1600-h/Snake+two+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ksPqGG_cvW-JVggHWYXvuyDFWeq_Jhfh6Ktc6O4xd10kOJvOo-096x5R3CAA9ebMU99tsVAGAs5WXC20f3dzprV3uOkfvFFCdhiY7_idqUdNuDJBDiGosYGNmlbitSX2zwbj/s320/Snake+two+2.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoANNIOE-KKnjgmu9-oLA2vYMFL4KwDNsnJL_mS7fowElF-HJ_bNxpY4MJwMNxsn7Avg_VCm9kIDuh1w9jhIgLwvmWyCG9GxxsPnzXtn5-VZdtL5fl1Ei_l09YXHhcJ-rLIjs7/s1600-h/Going+fishing+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoANNIOE-KKnjgmu9-oLA2vYMFL4KwDNsnJL_mS7fowElF-HJ_bNxpY4MJwMNxsn7Avg_VCm9kIDuh1w9jhIgLwvmWyCG9GxxsPnzXtn5-VZdtL5fl1Ei_l09YXHhcJ-rLIjs7/s320/Going+fishing+3.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzm7BrkOATI0vyPpQw34YMJX-yt-VBGWhJVTYSXvERmI_5YeZojNRfdddfp870k9j6okyF9Hu15DcK5aXtYVGBpUzROdvhtI6P7ks1WwwEGBI0PyHmXpGFdCkmdGlu1Xs3i1Wp/s1600-h/Snake+two+7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzm7BrkOATI0vyPpQw34YMJX-yt-VBGWhJVTYSXvERmI_5YeZojNRfdddfp870k9j6okyF9Hu15DcK5aXtYVGBpUzROdvhtI6P7ks1WwwEGBI0PyHmXpGFdCkmdGlu1Xs3i1Wp/s320/Snake+two+7.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J1wtlsoH8llQPTK0-DynZvQn-gK3ymyDR1ITC5Qfi2JNtpkVd4XBO2mcB0LpQncPMavTlswjQ5iGRc5diSRi4TLRzDBqUoAs0H3RjLEDs4b6iewtM6dt9hEI2Byg4B8HxrPs/s1600-h/Waiting+for+dinner.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2J1wtlsoH8llQPTK0-DynZvQn-gK3ymyDR1ITC5Qfi2JNtpkVd4XBO2mcB0LpQncPMavTlswjQ5iGRc5diSRi4TLRzDBqUoAs0H3RjLEDs4b6iewtM6dt9hEI2Byg4B8HxrPs/s320/Waiting+for+dinner.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Chen Yi, waiting for dinner<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB0EouwrD9acU_yZXlUbDvnsjsdRblXXWifWfE6oDvAgcZAI4C_gTWHFuQGC2jMz8dLMkzYyeayYVljf-GXYsXtjgsYcylFgKgi001EbVhdXyoktatMzrmgTU_6V9nIOU4-L4/s1600-h/66+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioB0EouwrD9acU_yZXlUbDvnsjsdRblXXWifWfE6oDvAgcZAI4C_gTWHFuQGC2jMz8dLMkzYyeayYVljf-GXYsXtjgsYcylFgKgi001EbVhdXyoktatMzrmgTU_6V9nIOU4-L4/s320/66+1.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBR44RkILVSeAFRFJZjmXqZXZ02phlCx-elUFanFw1-83Qg5qQhtuoDSTmmCogvHSiKxRo1xM5kuDPZqJslCbAV6LlCwBGJbXVt1eXBz8tcsa_zaJ5jsHjNm0H3LmPgBo-MHGY/s1600-h/Snake+two+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBR44RkILVSeAFRFJZjmXqZXZ02phlCx-elUFanFw1-83Qg5qQhtuoDSTmmCogvHSiKxRo1xM5kuDPZqJslCbAV6LlCwBGJbXVt1eXBz8tcsa_zaJ5jsHjNm0H3LmPgBo-MHGY/s320/Snake+two+4.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfnH6VEQ60yN_urPCIauuLRARB5COlJbiVokCi8SuQAhZVETjBPZAHYiZ4VM1YSYHP1Gg5Vr7aSM17Az2tdTUuL40zOtvASngRilboEwNHXUL7Lv9Zs89a-geLQ4XeTp3v91C/s1600-h/Snake+two+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfnH6VEQ60yN_urPCIauuLRARB5COlJbiVokCi8SuQAhZVETjBPZAHYiZ4VM1YSYHP1Gg5Vr7aSM17Az2tdTUuL40zOtvASngRilboEwNHXUL7Lv9Zs89a-geLQ4XeTp3v91C/s320/Snake+two+6.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Another niece<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2iJ50N1ANV4_iqK99jvlNLOvnhd9laTTM_cqiGaMtvMA-qS9OtcXRIuLYE71usFwlvupHNkJhtqEcONy3jqk0ye97vD8AYIlxNdxdgAdsSwzqyeF5oecBiuniVf2NGluHTnr/s1600-h/66+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2iJ50N1ANV4_iqK99jvlNLOvnhd9laTTM_cqiGaMtvMA-qS9OtcXRIuLYE71usFwlvupHNkJhtqEcONy3jqk0ye97vD8AYIlxNdxdgAdsSwzqyeF5oecBiuniVf2NGluHTnr/s320/66+5.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVk_MEBNplxqypl7uYG0NS_PwlLFZS-ne9S1WftB7hT3GjBpfZHy5WNQoLy-eJ7tPxCsuhWftaFG1SCgyyDjc4atrWtF2Q4wB99mUy7opSJbp94ge9RMHgbjFil5U20ZcHYPB/s1600-h/Going+fishing+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkVk_MEBNplxqypl7uYG0NS_PwlLFZS-ne9S1WftB7hT3GjBpfZHy5WNQoLy-eJ7tPxCsuhWftaFG1SCgyyDjc4atrWtF2Q4wB99mUy7opSJbp94ge9RMHgbjFil5U20ZcHYPB/s320/Going+fishing+5.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIpUne7n_WMG_hnaLtgjKaNisuY0wZ7HoGHYj_LUqwpE5v36OPPnUHIUHNYRINwXDrxNikm2B9_tdzBngIIecedaHBdaytwAOOeHs9okIEuhkEBGQu8MrI8egj2KcMB1LEc6O/s1600-h/Snake+two+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyIpUne7n_WMG_hnaLtgjKaNisuY0wZ7HoGHYj_LUqwpE5v36OPPnUHIUHNYRINwXDrxNikm2B9_tdzBngIIecedaHBdaytwAOOeHs9okIEuhkEBGQu8MrI8egj2KcMB1LEc6O/s320/Snake+two+5.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzY7ueI7_yWjbCrsaSNWnY1vB0qOXLNVdfv-bfEnHDPe1lVMFLHsKE3eGa4cGVx0i0GN_vnv701Wt-8IXbSlT-s2N2mSjwIO_ljZlAaor5a_CCDmaYvFyz0oLDLozG8Mulf2N/s1600-h/Fish.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzY7ueI7_yWjbCrsaSNWnY1vB0qOXLNVdfv-bfEnHDPe1lVMFLHsKE3eGa4cGVx0i0GN_vnv701Wt-8IXbSlT-s2N2mSjwIO_ljZlAaor5a_CCDmaYvFyz0oLDLozG8Mulf2N/s320/Fish.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcPhQzDEfzWFufMHt1AvMuepHoQn93kgnMNZmcNvx9Hln6aNsBuU4Gla1B65N26VMUA2IB22wN78vKFGkXLd8nSFsgaj1NXBM5lt6ShyZduc1bejmByThouj6Z93flGmbRV4o/s1600-h/New+neighbors.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbcPhQzDEfzWFufMHt1AvMuepHoQn93kgnMNZmcNvx9Hln6aNsBuU4Gla1B65N26VMUA2IB22wN78vKFGkXLd8nSFsgaj1NXBM5lt6ShyZduc1bejmByThouj6Z93flGmbRV4o/s320/New+neighbors.JPG" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A new government building is being built across the street. To be honest, it kind of looks like #$%<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOtx_8tssY_s9aWpAcoJSjtqSlvs9q-D1siwMDWmLAXnPkv6UENPR3gyqbsX9Xe2HeMtrXq_bpJkId87d_w4xNcvxFeJe5BIS493HOZQ84FVLVA3YyKCR9Hlmx-5iKwUDe9SC/s1600-h/Party+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDOtx_8tssY_s9aWpAcoJSjtqSlvs9q-D1siwMDWmLAXnPkv6UENPR3gyqbsX9Xe2HeMtrXq_bpJkId87d_w4xNcvxFeJe5BIS493HOZQ84FVLVA3YyKCR9Hlmx-5iKwUDe9SC/s320/Party+2.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGoIVI-YtxavRPbn4W45W2quUq9QqIYuMb0xlR1CpvfcW1gcDmz-PZdjZvbWrGjLr-ST38xzjpr38Wks5U2lVwosWRFm62vF024DvoV2FmMTUQeu5h1BCfXRdKJHt_uYKZCtO/s1600-h/Snake+two+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGoIVI-YtxavRPbn4W45W2quUq9QqIYuMb0xlR1CpvfcW1gcDmz-PZdjZvbWrGjLr-ST38xzjpr38Wks5U2lVwosWRFm62vF024DvoV2FmMTUQeu5h1BCfXRdKJHt_uYKZCtO/s320/Snake+two+1.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgReZ3AVtAeNW4tOdDMU9qXDypMBjS4wo5ddMhyphenhyphenPIusZzu885I8F9cBoZyhXQSGIVMfweagWUKBF2qKOUVFM_Kr2KnJZD5_swizg5XO27a2q2bRRAwPCjVlPdibK4RPVd72bjj/s1600-h/Going+fishing+6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img $r="true" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgReZ3AVtAeNW4tOdDMU9qXDypMBjS4wo5ddMhyphenhyphenPIusZzu885I8F9cBoZyhXQSGIVMfweagWUKBF2qKOUVFM_Kr2KnJZD5_swizg5XO27a2q2bRRAwPCjVlPdibK4RPVd72bjj/s320/Going+fishing+6.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-79389130866140288712009-09-22T16:39:00.000+02:002009-09-22T16:41:45.620+02:00New from ChinaIn a little more than 1 week, the 60th anniversary of the People's Republic of China (PRC) will be celebrated, and once again this means a lot of security measures and blocking of websites. I went through a lot of trouble to post this message, as blogspot.com is blocked again. <br /><br />I just came back from 1 week holidays in Hunan, to celebrate my girlfriend's mother's 60th birthday. It was a great party. We stayed in rural Hunan for 1 week, and had lots of fun. <br /><br />Unfortunately, I can't post any photos at this time. I need to find another proxy to access blogspot an post pictures. <br /><br />So stay tuned!Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-88058147187579658682009-08-20T08:51:00.005+02:002009-08-20T09:33:10.951+02:00Night photography in a park in Tianjin<div align="center">Here are some photos my girlfriend made some night, in a park in Tianjin. The park is built on a small hill made from garbage. Now there are trees flowers. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOC_d70_0VoY60NEc2iHUxq7ujSQuRXH-OzLlMxDGbgYCXCWmNg0nAwz5TJkbOzVAzfAi-7fdGuxE4bAVe6A1eSuRYXn5QPB_IYq_YYq2exauMi7-sqX0uNbEXDmz1LoDYzSN/s1600-h/Night+Park+01.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371939055488718146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMOC_d70_0VoY60NEc2iHUxq7ujSQuRXH-OzLlMxDGbgYCXCWmNg0nAwz5TJkbOzVAzfAi-7fdGuxE4bAVe6A1eSuRYXn5QPB_IYq_YYq2exauMi7-sqX0uNbEXDmz1LoDYzSN/s400/Night+Park+01.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlguDtnS_S0zS0pbScQmvylT17dt7bPdK74fmyjK7lOc4lni72x-YKqdqAiMDWteitGsd5SEU_5wWB_gFqSxiTE7l4TjCj4RZ9Wf8z9NDOYGrJl94KQIFV_Q-XOIDAZ86ZNv1/s1600-h/Night+Park+16.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371939040414037138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzlguDtnS_S0zS0pbScQmvylT17dt7bPdK74fmyjK7lOc4lni72x-YKqdqAiMDWteitGsd5SEU_5wWB_gFqSxiTE7l4TjCj4RZ9Wf8z9NDOYGrJl94KQIFV_Q-XOIDAZ86ZNv1/s400/Night+Park+16.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9V4xZjiI-9BkMPGa25rg8iASIt5qZY04z-lcqZSdentIPjZRQtiFhKhB_-axfTVWJpqhsCLAMFHxcARD9_Xw6ybPq6ra2DhY3z9vqC8jWPPA9JgWoH9TUvAN0nEGCXsy7fcJ/s1600-h/Night+Park+02.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371939034134051922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC9V4xZjiI-9BkMPGa25rg8iASIt5qZY04z-lcqZSdentIPjZRQtiFhKhB_-axfTVWJpqhsCLAMFHxcARD9_Xw6ybPq6ra2DhY3z9vqC8jWPPA9JgWoH9TUvAN0nEGCXsy7fcJ/s400/Night+Park+02.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxWTtUgSvTFqebd0NkdPSQwv13-upa_sYYmwaOle6oTI7E_y8MtkHpQ43i7jk9Ysqlt34PuCzEuPXjoQoR6Ya6I7WMHMs-G6tW-feVKFLePb5euD6ZhFvUo5HX8kEhoR32K-R/s1600-h/Night+Park+20.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371939028395799826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOxWTtUgSvTFqebd0NkdPSQwv13-upa_sYYmwaOle6oTI7E_y8MtkHpQ43i7jk9Ysqlt34PuCzEuPXjoQoR6Ya6I7WMHMs-G6tW-feVKFLePb5euD6ZhFvUo5HX8kEhoR32K-R/s400/Night+Park+20.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1SXhuCwFFxOGkxYwGgSlLioQ6k8di9lZOMbCFPvOP3nTQkH5Lv41guW6Aomu6Mjngi3xwvjXu9KjX87iP33OY0at3mrftih-E-VcH0DY2uiYzI-j2gge0SGixS7llGpFb3rb/s1600-h/Night+Park+25.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371939017447814850" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1SXhuCwFFxOGkxYwGgSlLioQ6k8di9lZOMbCFPvOP3nTQkH5Lv41guW6Aomu6Mjngi3xwvjXu9KjX87iP33OY0at3mrftih-E-VcH0DY2uiYzI-j2gge0SGixS7llGpFb3rb/s400/Night+Park+25.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLZWElQSyrrEfzvg6oT3VpnusgmYUnAArx8VMD96-UIqJFhfbDYS9rooYRpr1VrycPAtpOe6y95jN5yzt8D6weRNJUI7mHGqmqoWjojtF9cQJrebYGTnx0BtwgFH8JrGfJR_1/s1600-h/Night+Park+28.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371938116028452338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLZWElQSyrrEfzvg6oT3VpnusgmYUnAArx8VMD96-UIqJFhfbDYS9rooYRpr1VrycPAtpOe6y95jN5yzt8D6weRNJUI7mHGqmqoWjojtF9cQJrebYGTnx0BtwgFH8JrGfJR_1/s400/Night+Park+28.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvaxkXjt-JPG6Wxej9E6rFwzZO5tLetuqjoB9oTOnj9nDxo9V8P-DxvDlD083Ep0mkOYFRA3M_jDQ4-aNnHBgxOKfIe24JtIympLC6Uvk5hflqEbgZRzrhjjyejqTqDrVZqbj/s1600-h/Night+Park+30.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371938109638277266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWvaxkXjt-JPG6Wxej9E6rFwzZO5tLetuqjoB9oTOnj9nDxo9V8P-DxvDlD083Ep0mkOYFRA3M_jDQ4-aNnHBgxOKfIe24JtIympLC6Uvk5hflqEbgZRzrhjjyejqTqDrVZqbj/s400/Night+Park+30.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdWVJHHD2wiIA0AlBgcMv3epL91JbpBnR9DQQcS-M02B0LJNNrWTHMLfrDHq_Jt6c_5GcDPP17E0zPwAjlTwnGfyXeiWzNhl3NAz4efzYoKfqVD0laL7LJDPQyMw0OhTTeEf_/s1600-h/Night+Park+31.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371938099805969602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimdWVJHHD2wiIA0AlBgcMv3epL91JbpBnR9DQQcS-M02B0LJNNrWTHMLfrDHq_Jt6c_5GcDPP17E0zPwAjlTwnGfyXeiWzNhl3NAz4efzYoKfqVD0laL7LJDPQyMw0OhTTeEf_/s400/Night+Park+31.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnqktsnY8s43KB9FUZE5RJOcJRn9jI8IMMKNjvU8ewTq974YfmLe4xOGYmLcBt-PPrb_-w6gScfqMK8Fkvs7I8A6g2wi4LeKH07DXoQkrPtG8wNS6YICfO-cTjZ6vsrasmYdI/s1600-h/Night+Park+32.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371938091911355154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnqktsnY8s43KB9FUZE5RJOcJRn9jI8IMMKNjvU8ewTq974YfmLe4xOGYmLcBt-PPrb_-w6gScfqMK8Fkvs7I8A6g2wi4LeKH07DXoQkrPtG8wNS6YICfO-cTjZ6vsrasmYdI/s400/Night+Park+32.jpg" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyaAkEr_SRSsGpZj3es7GwCI_sKAKEWnvv578HaMvJbX7famiqTkxqiwf1xP4IpAtPYoqMJ971cdeacX9i7e6wp6OJww5_GEDCAirjXjVqRqrl6DlE0Q36KjWgVg2E_MZNSvU/s1600-h/Night+Park+33.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5371938083024147858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcyaAkEr_SRSsGpZj3es7GwCI_sKAKEWnvv578HaMvJbX7famiqTkxqiwf1xP4IpAtPYoqMJ971cdeacX9i7e6wp6OJww5_GEDCAirjXjVqRqrl6DlE0Q36KjWgVg2E_MZNSvU/s400/Night+Park+33.jpg" /></a> </div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-30493819811361730402009-08-11T17:31:00.006+02:002009-08-11T17:46:46.061+02:00Tianjin<div align="center"><em> We moved to Tianjin on Monday, and have lived in our new place for a week now. Here are some photos:</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5VYt-IfhDm8b3BCGtEmKUGNdwhZFJ9TasltpfQpEY3n_RuOpYdtiLL7aKO_f-GhDtdqE46g56fIWlAHLMrCe0IzQnDlq0IhkVJEnaU3t3QZVGGixU2xsi3gtxKCExnyg44uN/s1600-h/Tianjin+01.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368731108423363362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ5VYt-IfhDm8b3BCGtEmKUGNdwhZFJ9TasltpfQpEY3n_RuOpYdtiLL7aKO_f-GhDtdqE46g56fIWlAHLMrCe0IzQnDlq0IhkVJEnaU3t3QZVGGixU2xsi3gtxKCExnyg44uN/s400/Tianjin+01.JPG" /></a> </div><div align="center">View from our back window. We live on the 11th floor of an 'old' building (built in 1998). It is so old, that there are no cables for Internet. We have to use wireless.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTea6w3UXOX8PQaf-CK-3QhpleOTCNixIRFAIIxqCJOIw-HEc0XeTqPv6j_23ZuNzisI95fpdeRDjQ96cOzc_Zf6AedztVVNZ2yQix5c_YKX9FwanEVwpUEManvA5EJuyi_HXG/s1600-h/Tianjin+02.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368731103133176770" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTea6w3UXOX8PQaf-CK-3QhpleOTCNixIRFAIIxqCJOIw-HEc0XeTqPv6j_23ZuNzisI95fpdeRDjQ96cOzc_Zf6AedztVVNZ2yQix5c_YKX9FwanEVwpUEManvA5EJuyi_HXG/s400/Tianjin+02.JPG" /></a> </div><div align="center">View from our front window. After having lived in Beijing for nearly a year, it is so calm and quiet here :)<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlGEyV_kFlnoPr-0qzuU1OMn3zH-M2PGqhqFlttBnuE1rn7cc6-jvJVel99X_vmELKyDJqt923Sw2NJLdDJdMreeRrEHHE8n3l3ru6vbvy6vNp6HWlohtCvobjkHJdz4OJw-H/s1600-h/Tianjin+03.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368731098140754962" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPlGEyV_kFlnoPr-0qzuU1OMn3zH-M2PGqhqFlttBnuE1rn7cc6-jvJVel99X_vmELKyDJqt923Sw2NJLdDJdMreeRrEHHE8n3l3ru6vbvy6vNp6HWlohtCvobjkHJdz4OJw-H/s400/Tianjin+03.JPG" /></a><br />Our study room with balcony<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9S08zV7Wl95ULfyjRPJgQDdWY5-Vtd_itT0BWS48AkYbyYJkRO5vdwAhCMb92mdL06-RqzTzvj1MmA-wAs40tealYSHp8DTQ4rI5PPetfxFXifvx-yuNbhgCuHJvR8ZgUih4/s1600-h/Tianjin+04.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368731092406729842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw9S08zV7Wl95ULfyjRPJgQDdWY5-Vtd_itT0BWS48AkYbyYJkRO5vdwAhCMb92mdL06-RqzTzvj1MmA-wAs40tealYSHp8DTQ4rI5PPetfxFXifvx-yuNbhgCuHJvR8ZgUih4/s400/Tianjin+04.JPG" /></a><br />We bought fish<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1QXu5MY4trwKEX6uqjFkxvmU7Tte_zR6_MQDDTcKDjUGJCsTUiakZkTgtlTH0up7VnnaQ4SLufJhIrrGrWD2W1tBDjcI_oXIz1ioD-90g6vocxJf1L0dptFMV-rxWrs5Z5YA/s1600-h/Tianjin+05.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368730696216823778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1QXu5MY4trwKEX6uqjFkxvmU7Tte_zR6_MQDDTcKDjUGJCsTUiakZkTgtlTH0up7VnnaQ4SLufJhIrrGrWD2W1tBDjcI_oXIz1ioD-90g6vocxJf1L0dptFMV-rxWrs5Z5YA/s400/Tianjin+05.JPG" /></a><br />Study room with computer<br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39l4QbkEVtGIyrpVumXbckwVkKGhOzfxtC-BcFRXlMzry1_ehU7rC3KQFGXJoYlDA7Uau8PssQVD6kOutI0m7HWXjkhVjbVAaRlIE6cc9vJKl0Xejwpi9mQyksxRdThjdrCQy/s1600-h/Tianjin+06.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368730693097692114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj39l4QbkEVtGIyrpVumXbckwVkKGhOzfxtC-BcFRXlMzry1_ehU7rC3KQFGXJoYlDA7Uau8PssQVD6kOutI0m7HWXjkhVjbVAaRlIE6cc9vJKl0Xejwpi9mQyksxRdThjdrCQy/s400/Tianjin+06.JPG" /></a><br />Bedroom<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5680uUBFwMNu9sKRIt5FvE0_X5K-rCZ0OvtykCxDbDLKkldtkCdxzPghm7L1NFn7Lpr75ylKuF9QowwVfmEPpilw0E3guEn8jow2adfJKsUOlYuOrG2tTmLmHtgNmz6kYhnvj/s1600-h/Tianjin+07.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368730684923490882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5680uUBFwMNu9sKRIt5FvE0_X5K-rCZ0OvtykCxDbDLKkldtkCdxzPghm7L1NFn7Lpr75ylKuF9QowwVfmEPpilw0E3guEn8jow2adfJKsUOlYuOrG2tTmLmHtgNmz6kYhnvj/s400/Tianjin+07.JPG" /></a><br />Bedroom<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ96zceiZ05hpotwOpTjiKowplSd7Q7ktJU92H-YSeZApYgPNnkj4bh9NrXqKzEKIsNu79K18VVAUUoSTVY-z6UuFGP1G_AGPTW8ZXXjvMNl6cP8DnxyK33Pp-9PS2qcWGBSPf/s1600-h/Tianjin+08.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368730680145041922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ96zceiZ05hpotwOpTjiKowplSd7Q7ktJU92H-YSeZApYgPNnkj4bh9NrXqKzEKIsNu79K18VVAUUoSTVY-z6UuFGP1G_AGPTW8ZXXjvMNl6cP8DnxyK33Pp-9PS2qcWGBSPf/s400/Tianjin+08.JPG" /></a><br />Bathroom<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicGzubSAdxPnTie57hNEpWXBQA4ksBxEbRwz4DOvhdcObw7W-NW23uljHY460J5ClMiXCQiuzTfcn3oGhyphenhyphenHMdPWyOEfVp0IU6M9Dxaig3G57Q9Z2z_uOH4A-RdGfk7rDZOVIX/s1600-h/Tianjin+09.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368730672653307154" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicGzubSAdxPnTie57hNEpWXBQA4ksBxEbRwz4DOvhdcObw7W-NW23uljHY460J5ClMiXCQiuzTfcn3oGhyphenhyphenHMdPWyOEfVp0IU6M9Dxaig3G57Q9Z2z_uOH4A-RdGfk7rDZOVIX/s400/Tianjin+09.JPG" /></a><br />The living room<br />The decoration in our place is somewhat old fashioned, but this is much better than the newly built apartments, which all look like hotel rooms.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjDnNCjkbmpM-MhEkh1OywkULV9r-jYAkIPp21BnPF4hcfH5ZmS1dPFQ9t459SHHm-CzfPhgCKKCRV5L_2uD5NcwGkil1hqgugoti0xEToH8q-eYzPTnlTuuVRpL6FN1oPRcp/s1600-h/Tianjin+10.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368729996093122082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCjDnNCjkbmpM-MhEkh1OywkULV9r-jYAkIPp21BnPF4hcfH5ZmS1dPFQ9t459SHHm-CzfPhgCKKCRV5L_2uD5NcwGkil1hqgugoti0xEToH8q-eYzPTnlTuuVRpL6FN1oPRcp/s400/Tianjin+10.JPG" /></a><br />Kitchen<br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9KVKmE1yOpmHV5Jgcwe3EQ2LxfWKyIeo2SxksTDbbvFwZOiT1boOWc1l-hespCb5gbFS7ZZxz3mWXbNnk3qvr7nzzHqrlcC0ZexOwGzdwIZVb5RK3MR4EmwaeVP2GStVqVxF/s1600-h/Tianjin+11.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368729988292125506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9KVKmE1yOpmHV5Jgcwe3EQ2LxfWKyIeo2SxksTDbbvFwZOiT1boOWc1l-hespCb5gbFS7ZZxz3mWXbNnk3qvr7nzzHqrlcC0ZexOwGzdwIZVb5RK3MR4EmwaeVP2GStVqVxF/s400/Tianjin+11.JPG" /></a><br />View from the kitchen<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBsv_TkKKXIfWRuylftGrffkVoYXg6nwoHPINUlaDXD8WRKkLwT4XpR84NolLu0-NlasLUOFJ7SVG3ERl02HsLbehVTPNyUxOcmTbFdyBIiF0DX_OznBhhcnGisn9Dn1zIY6z/s1600-h/Tianjin+12.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368729984304931010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRBsv_TkKKXIfWRuylftGrffkVoYXg6nwoHPINUlaDXD8WRKkLwT4XpR84NolLu0-NlasLUOFJ7SVG3ERl02HsLbehVTPNyUxOcmTbFdyBIiF0DX_OznBhhcnGisn9Dn1zIY6z/s400/Tianjin+12.JPG" /></a><br />Living room<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8c6jJrZeEJAuhAY0LUldXI7eij3j6bRAyjS7WsVDHTPoi2vh3Gj9IZAsk1oDAfHPwEk8CfBE_G3NsZDpSvK62qNh5DTU7jFV8SKdP-6uiqQcvXrlGHZnTPazVMBjIjde8r-x/s1600-h/Tianjin+13.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368729973563573074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd8c6jJrZeEJAuhAY0LUldXI7eij3j6bRAyjS7WsVDHTPoi2vh3Gj9IZAsk1oDAfHPwEk8CfBE_G3NsZDpSvK62qNh5DTU7jFV8SKdP-6uiqQcvXrlGHZnTPazVMBjIjde8r-x/s400/Tianjin+13.JPG" /></a><br />More fish<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfTAGvOMGIgfUI_q1UmHQ2P3iC7XX6uVLTQI2np_-3MOwfxKvEdf9mO3QKkfBWjBphLkseKkHhHq4LznQPxG0LkOeQwLfq4sNNFB1EGeKucaX4bKJ1ygK_cepyoY102Hg82IR/s1600-h/Tianjin+14.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368729967778335778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLfTAGvOMGIgfUI_q1UmHQ2P3iC7XX6uVLTQI2np_-3MOwfxKvEdf9mO3QKkfBWjBphLkseKkHhHq4LznQPxG0LkOeQwLfq4sNNFB1EGeKucaX4bKJ1ygK_cepyoY102Hg82IR/s400/Tianjin+14.JPG" /></a><br />Our new birds. We bought a male and female couple, and hopefully have some eggs soon :)<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd_70FCC8uwJRvRODdn4ua6RTjs7FenpdDyVvMcJ0MPFLRJfZXhe7BkI7xLjwzy_OJABymesFIKa_GkdEHsdX-pJ7qvtjTN6vJnmhQ-Kn9S8g384DcsWdAMjx9HMSBIV8rzY-/s1600-h/Tianjin+15.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368729538347003922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbd_70FCC8uwJRvRODdn4ua6RTjs7FenpdDyVvMcJ0MPFLRJfZXhe7BkI7xLjwzy_OJABymesFIKa_GkdEHsdX-pJ7qvtjTN6vJnmhQ-Kn9S8g384DcsWdAMjx9HMSBIV8rzY-/s400/Tianjin+15.JPG" /></a><br />Their favourite spot<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkPjRYxmcuZrgLEHgCZOscHYH0o1NQqQ-tR3z3pBPiuntaarYD_4zX86kP_GlW9x4jKENW77y0gc-6o60uDPMWuOp3j60dVVdAzKS7uUsWeU0klMVzIduz-ricJkBjLaXmVTr/s1600-h/Tianjin+16.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368729530582281794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkPjRYxmcuZrgLEHgCZOscHYH0o1NQqQ-tR3z3pBPiuntaarYD_4zX86kP_GlW9x4jKENW77y0gc-6o60uDPMWuOp3j60dVVdAzKS7uUsWeU0klMVzIduz-ricJkBjLaXmVTr/s400/Tianjin+16.JPG" /></a><br />They are always together<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTscIrXtJHfNGBhy_bSAjbvf66uQBZXDCgFgV-I0jqbGihiy_i-Bo5PcJk1MWJAmIV6hRrRw_51vONtG7YkTfYRpUct6bzKFhz1pR4OmsEY0JwEw74LpCs0oeuGs855FCMtRb/s1600-h/Tianjin+17.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368729527889437218" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlTscIrXtJHfNGBhy_bSAjbvf66uQBZXDCgFgV-I0jqbGihiy_i-Bo5PcJk1MWJAmIV6hRrRw_51vONtG7YkTfYRpUct6bzKFhz1pR4OmsEY0JwEw74LpCs0oeuGs855FCMtRb/s400/Tianjin+17.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgS5pVqYNfH0Q21i4aXmTgxLGSPAX_Vghk28xcGDC1nlc9OHiiFC99AJYeiC3rG0nVyULVCRvBxX1o2yNP1LsF0gDuF9B9Dj-X9LysDZ62x82LG46HFOtjAWjNBfY76RMfEhj7/s1600-h/Tianjin+18.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368729517978062322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgS5pVqYNfH0Q21i4aXmTgxLGSPAX_Vghk28xcGDC1nlc9OHiiFC99AJYeiC3rG0nVyULVCRvBxX1o2yNP1LsF0gDuF9B9Dj-X9LysDZ62x82LG46HFOtjAWjNBfY76RMfEhj7/s400/Tianjin+18.JPG" /></a><br />When we bought the birds, we got this kitten for free. A policeman, who was hanging around at the animal market, gave it to us for free.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpcmeAO36SSdwimQfd3IvqA4ID42zHECvzYQP3qp4T8whrP1hrlV15UHswdTPIx8N09gOdEbZTKm7UmW401OObAy2Y-kYB9lSDP6pwp8sw4G4zFRDy9h1MN8PI_3OZufKTVxn/s1600-h/Tianjin+19.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5368729515967101714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwpcmeAO36SSdwimQfd3IvqA4ID42zHECvzYQP3qp4T8whrP1hrlV15UHswdTPIx8N09gOdEbZTKm7UmW401OObAy2Y-kYB9lSDP6pwp8sw4G4zFRDy9h1MN8PI_3OZufKTVxn/s400/Tianjin+19.JPG" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I have been very busy this week with job interviews, and have already taught a few classes. I teach English to children, adults and business English class. The wages are very good here, because there are not so many foreigners in Tianjin. In Beijing are too many, so I couldn't find a teaching job there. Here there seems to be a big demand for foreign teachers. </div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-25204566238898291712009-07-16T07:47:00.004+02:002009-07-16T08:03:07.204+02:00July photos<div align="center">Finally some photos from Beijing in July. I haven't had access to blogspot for a few weeks now, following the riots in Xinjiang province. Every time there is violence in China, the government blocks websites like these to prevent people from sharing photos or videos from the events. </div><div align="center"> </div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZqlkutKasuWCwaiYVuGz_zycQ2XLxKZzUIHFe5MAiahTtIG4MhyKrBgpJ7NEO98NDb5sZwBVVXHOFFndTZ7YJVYEMh7WtJv87VqTLk31OKugHgQRqU76T2jeZLWrsr8Gz_S9/s1600-h/what+small.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931857362078898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZqlkutKasuWCwaiYVuGz_zycQ2XLxKZzUIHFe5MAiahTtIG4MhyKrBgpJ7NEO98NDb5sZwBVVXHOFFndTZ7YJVYEMh7WtJv87VqTLk31OKugHgQRqU76T2jeZLWrsr8Gz_S9/s400/what+small.JPG" /></a></p><div align="center">Our bird 'Guazi', terrorizing us both :)<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRBfM1UhraOUfqf2Wr-M5USqpBNjf71PA4iI93QWY7FZEAKwQnyg3lwQu97g7pzUO7kVH-ZZKReoazGZ_td_tUgApUwGd9ELAYAFqGw7TzdJ3m_y_UWoe4h_V_7sQAc5LN-KP/s1600-h/watching+a+movie+small.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931679297179602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRBfM1UhraOUfqf2Wr-M5USqpBNjf71PA4iI93QWY7FZEAKwQnyg3lwQu97g7pzUO7kVH-ZZKReoazGZ_td_tUgApUwGd9ELAYAFqGw7TzdJ3m_y_UWoe4h_V_7sQAc5LN-KP/s400/watching+a+movie+small.JPG" /></a><br />He's a big fan of Steve Coogan<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaa8y7AWdCZcKvzd4hefNSzhpsBr_5lqRsFDC5mTt33KS-3-sMmSsc7vGwO1Qx23IjXDogqKT8PZPjcxsdlH_mi69EODwRYMHbPTX9o84sJTBp9za_TRYWJ5uE1mAJNg6rdq_/s1600-h/Tiananmen+sq+on+a+misty+morning+small+2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931672035486386" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoaa8y7AWdCZcKvzd4hefNSzhpsBr_5lqRsFDC5mTt33KS-3-sMmSsc7vGwO1Qx23IjXDogqKT8PZPjcxsdlH_mi69EODwRYMHbPTX9o84sJTBp9za_TRYWJ5uE1mAJNg6rdq_/s400/Tiananmen+sq+on+a+misty+morning+small+2.JPG" /></a><br />Tian'anmen Square on a misty morning. It had been foggy all morning and I decided to walk over to the square to see what it looks like. I couldn't see across.<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPaCMabpnGHbBvX_L_W0deN9EE5jWupgJevI1wZiARxi77pes5QurBMvObi25muOZNHwEqL2-3z_4yaqkgF1nZaJBU7A120xYAi6vz5f_hovkyXgXzRLZ2ZrxZ-HgvRPkwfGV/s1600-h/Tiananmen+sq+on+a+misty+morning+small+1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931667161729778" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPaCMabpnGHbBvX_L_W0deN9EE5jWupgJevI1wZiARxi77pes5QurBMvObi25muOZNHwEqL2-3z_4yaqkgF1nZaJBU7A120xYAi6vz5f_hovkyXgXzRLZ2ZrxZ-HgvRPkwfGV/s400/Tiananmen+sq+on+a+misty+morning+small+1.JPG" /></a><br />Tian'anmen Square<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKATs1s-DF9hZlQgn8Xn8SfcP7i4GKiDwQeueOF9_z2do__jmiXUiXlP_XWyHM1WyWzOse8OBgP4NGVSfmdboB8xGOVtishrtVTWgQkuxPWG5x4af6BpyukaVwFII17rhNFhJ5/s1600-h/Off+to+the+beach+small.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 267px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931658261768146" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKATs1s-DF9hZlQgn8Xn8SfcP7i4GKiDwQeueOF9_z2do__jmiXUiXlP_XWyHM1WyWzOse8OBgP4NGVSfmdboB8xGOVtishrtVTWgQkuxPWG5x4af6BpyukaVwFII17rhNFhJ5/s400/Off+to+the+beach+small.JPG" /></a><br />Chen Yi, all ready to go on a trip to the beach<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ5WlfSdzgX7ysvupDBspKuNpigFgAZYBOJG-wXEOfk33D__IhgQzjswIo5o98rZ-KT2mdVLcgQ7X77yiSYeSXKv6t0_jKwyWZ8UKFt5lmL_Wl1qACl9E4IxZHEyI8VUc4HgG/s1600-h/headfull+small+3.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931654396791506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFQ5WlfSdzgX7ysvupDBspKuNpigFgAZYBOJG-wXEOfk33D__IhgQzjswIo5o98rZ-KT2mdVLcgQ7X77yiSYeSXKv6t0_jKwyWZ8UKFt5lmL_Wl1qACl9E4IxZHEyI8VUc4HgG/s400/headfull+small+3.JPG" /></a><br />Our bird being silly.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkXfeZ0yqWqFSVEmyFNyNOqMaW-kQMTGDMXCbEY-dGlDURoX0-GUyhY8L78MjUtC18uCooEpSFyOC4eHpWxP7b7Bu2CrQLcDlKVkKnwbpguusDuJWAeH9NA8xTHDhyphenhyphenwWFCJ8c/s1600-h/headfull+small+2.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931221359328898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwkXfeZ0yqWqFSVEmyFNyNOqMaW-kQMTGDMXCbEY-dGlDURoX0-GUyhY8L78MjUtC18uCooEpSFyOC4eHpWxP7b7Bu2CrQLcDlKVkKnwbpguusDuJWAeH9NA8xTHDhyphenhyphenwWFCJ8c/s400/headfull+small+2.JPG" /></a><br />He was actually stuck for a few seconds before shaking off his 'helmet'<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHOSeFvmrL6e6Zu_q8SrcX9WcQ2K4toPpO-PtoMwk7gqG8XOWFrlSV5ge0BCAH35r7zyl701Ad8htVYoGr9Jgywg1oLOpelgSfBp2GNoWJCSGbR8KW5zUWe1rM1oFbr_A9p_P/s1600-h/headfull+of+bourbon+small+1.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 267px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931211470224002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWHOSeFvmrL6e6Zu_q8SrcX9WcQ2K4toPpO-PtoMwk7gqG8XOWFrlSV5ge0BCAH35r7zyl701Ad8htVYoGr9Jgywg1oLOpelgSfBp2GNoWJCSGbR8KW5zUWe1rM1oFbr_A9p_P/s400/headfull+of+bourbon+small+1.JPG" /></a><br />I'm still not sure what he was looking for<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDrc6_N41ieKd0nu-Md6nrC3sNSDfWO8CvFlT6ivJWRimBvZ-PHdYYgHMnHp5KfuvZ8Xjviqy4-9QqpXXeekWQNg9cqV2MPCUdOcAhGRlEwDms-bJPqlDKq_STtJNehBy-oQ6/s1600-h/bao+jiaozi+2+small.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 266px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931202183090946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDrc6_N41ieKd0nu-Md6nrC3sNSDfWO8CvFlT6ivJWRimBvZ-PHdYYgHMnHp5KfuvZ8Xjviqy4-9QqpXXeekWQNg9cqV2MPCUdOcAhGRlEwDms-bJPqlDKq_STtJNehBy-oQ6/s400/bao+jiaozi+2+small.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtBYf15rvcqW1iQFpvVhbhwnGoE9-UHS9duAo08o20YbJ9QF-cZKuujikWRJoh48rZXNcT73AlRayFRhCQh7X3uAwr1oTAO3nALxxPZ534iNdtRfbuHhhhFMAq0Ns_0X5oxdr/s1600-h/bao+jiaozi+result+small.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 266px; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931208831464178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMtBYf15rvcqW1iQFpvVhbhwnGoE9-UHS9duAo08o20YbJ9QF-cZKuujikWRJoh48rZXNcT73AlRayFRhCQh7X3uAwr1oTAO3nALxxPZ534iNdtRfbuHhhhFMAq0Ns_0X5oxdr/s400/bao+jiaozi+result+small.JPG" /></a><br />We made dumplings at a friend's place one day. We four made over 100 of them! We used banana for stuffing as an experiment, and it tastes pretty good!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0etYa0AaTjhRF78m-TkMudkG2UPolXrptIdOg548sR1YmiHCz901yxaOQlc3nQB0zhjFA3giu5r0b2UDPXOSK3CQQdGJIySUSmt6erjJKLoP7zSImSc310r3AtR_MMNUHasfZ/s1600-h/bao+jiaozi+1+small.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358931196787321186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0etYa0AaTjhRF78m-TkMudkG2UPolXrptIdOg548sR1YmiHCz901yxaOQlc3nQB0zhjFA3giu5r0b2UDPXOSK3CQQdGJIySUSmt6erjJKLoP7zSImSc310r3AtR_MMNUHasfZ/s400/bao+jiaozi+1+small.JPG" /></a><br />nice<br /></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-61156630549244173012009-07-08T10:26:00.000+02:002009-07-08T10:30:10.129+02:00I'm back!Whew, long time no posts. <br /><br />Blogspot has been censored in China for many weeks now, and I haven't been able to find a way to access this site. Now, obviously, I have and I will post more messages here soon. <br /><br />I am still in Beijing, but plan to move to another city soon. Our rent contract ends in August, so that'll be the time to move. <br /><br />Watch for next updates!Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-31679507242551362272009-05-05T02:54:00.005+02:002009-05-05T03:22:25.929+02:00Strawberry Festival Beijing 2009<div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">The May day celebrations this year featured a 3-day music festival in a park (Tongzhou Park) just outside Beijing. The annual "<a href="midi.rockinchina.com">MIDI-Festival</a>" was moved to another city this year, but the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=strawberry+festival+beijing&w=all&s=int&referer_searched=1">Strawberry Festival </a>was a good substitute.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHvBYTvxdzXGyZyGXMwf0uzYRaEXwoIZpJMbI500sHDGrEZL2teImwuu001rcQxpDK2nIRapgN_RGRu5TenLqbuqTYC5W9cGPwfX31p7PvjjQcj4W2PUlwxTUKbqhv2Wpm4Eq/s1600-h/Crowd.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHvBYTvxdzXGyZyGXMwf0uzYRaEXwoIZpJMbI500sHDGrEZL2teImwuu001rcQxpDK2nIRapgN_RGRu5TenLqbuqTYC5W9cGPwfX31p7PvjjQcj4W2PUlwxTUKbqhv2Wpm4Eq/s400/Crowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137787156139906" border="0" /></a><br />Large crowds gathered to see the popular Chinese rock and folk bands, but there were also international (American) bands who attracted mostly foreigners.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CHEqh1aXj5OrsZUygkPNBno8kQE3SR5Fwv_PmWb46tspKhuXwnEIkl1xqdIVQy6x_R8RMifSMi7YaT-Um51j03k6VVjecmIxD8Cn43Srz-YOxEcnKmwNS0A2quZ16N1nFDpq/s1600-h/crowd+%26+police.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 235px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-CHEqh1aXj5OrsZUygkPNBno8kQE3SR5Fwv_PmWb46tspKhuXwnEIkl1xqdIVQy6x_R8RMifSMi7YaT-Um51j03k6VVjecmIxD8Cn43Srz-YOxEcnKmwNS0A2quZ16N1nFDpq/s400/crowd+%26+police.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137786542657442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBknW17M8FNq8HTHg6I9GwjwSkHyruMIfYhwu2PPuqNwaRFFG_fy0-V_ve7O1x1SNQv9SKHz1BAF_zlGAh6IcXWKJpBhC8RCI263b-uzz6WOOe1kBytEpjpgyKQBbaAS4eWoy/s1600-h/crowd+and+stage.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBknW17M8FNq8HTHg6I9GwjwSkHyruMIfYhwu2PPuqNwaRFFG_fy0-V_ve7O1x1SNQv9SKHz1BAF_zlGAh6IcXWKJpBhC8RCI263b-uzz6WOOe1kBytEpjpgyKQBbaAS4eWoy/s400/crowd+and+stage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137784466015010" border="0" /></a><br />The Main Stage<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKXUzfKnxSV_1miFoy3Kq3FPwEyOBoczIGgx8XOsOuY87-DvUmV7YG12KBTtvK9Vl8EEln-6y0WQlX6Yw5gtNpRrNpF1OyLOByxTgihKDNQ2MbhQ9JPC285xEDKalATFOYwOq/s1600-h/DJ+Liman.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVKXUzfKnxSV_1miFoy3Kq3FPwEyOBoczIGgx8XOsOuY87-DvUmV7YG12KBTtvK9Vl8EEln-6y0WQlX6Yw5gtNpRrNpF1OyLOByxTgihKDNQ2MbhQ9JPC285xEDKalATFOYwOq/s400/DJ+Liman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137780150288178" border="0" /></a><br />DJ Liman<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYeQk-AfP4BPS1_47SB11b5tcCIugqGiVSRzmzJkKwY-6S-t6SlYKBKnp_2CgXcGHv0VmTfr-8SIAt9ldEfsFTRQGYTlW8eBxGAMjKb3roKcB4W9ZMyj6FkvMA_TE2sUHO6vV/s1600-h/Girls+with+balloons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYeQk-AfP4BPS1_47SB11b5tcCIugqGiVSRzmzJkKwY-6S-t6SlYKBKnp_2CgXcGHv0VmTfr-8SIAt9ldEfsFTRQGYTlW8eBxGAMjKb3roKcB4W9ZMyj6FkvMA_TE2sUHO6vV/s400/Girls+with+balloons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137774249490594" border="0" /></a><br />Colorful festival goers<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmbyaaITh0mCQWq8T-0QvbRPm7dkjD_CeG-vCNHW_6QDjQDvl9IJLCbxLefFbI4v3KMljCZpmpcP2Etwk9X2JBHTgRLoZOcZOK1d-xwpLTd3Ko7SiLf9li-H3k34G0oLY2uIi/s1600-h/hip+crowd.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmbyaaITh0mCQWq8T-0QvbRPm7dkjD_CeG-vCNHW_6QDjQDvl9IJLCbxLefFbI4v3KMljCZpmpcP2Etwk9X2JBHTgRLoZOcZOK1d-xwpLTd3Ko7SiLf9li-H3k34G0oLY2uIi/s400/hip+crowd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137547331526962" border="0" /></a><br />More colorful party people<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmHN6NPNx6Ny8NMCGCpEgEOOiNKdMPjHKICKVu7q8vhNcdjsgqNxPeOldj5dU1Bq-jd7v4ICcKvWdeDy29zGcS42RRcmF-eUqugt-iepow3oQrQ_qee3vg-n9-j2jCuK0lIWS/s1600-h/Party+goers.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmHN6NPNx6Ny8NMCGCpEgEOOiNKdMPjHKICKVu7q8vhNcdjsgqNxPeOldj5dU1Bq-jd7v4ICcKvWdeDy29zGcS42RRcmF-eUqugt-iepow3oQrQ_qee3vg-n9-j2jCuK0lIWS/s400/Party+goers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137546593597138" border="0" /></a><br />Crowd<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmHBdHPEnYhrIvQV8dKed1Dui0DzpfMXSL2BER3HwnKh_8i-os_UsW6PDD0FmwDD-mSiXBfJJbD5tC15qIIQoJao9R9il1pWsokeWQOIH-Idkh6kiLJWPho75wEUvwQCLpHlR/s1600-h/People.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidmHBdHPEnYhrIvQV8dKed1Dui0DzpfMXSL2BER3HwnKh_8i-os_UsW6PDD0FmwDD-mSiXBfJJbD5tC15qIIQoJao9R9il1pWsokeWQOIH-Idkh6kiLJWPho75wEUvwQCLpHlR/s400/People.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137541083002722" border="0" /></a><br />Great way to spend a sunny weekend!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn0nxyEQ-r0v1PSBsx4jYPIdqVGvGh7yv-trU1zKtINTc_Oz-E7PLthIoorlYC4r3Ch9hgwgEhktDrfa3SB8lR41Qqdh8mDLsFuv3cGDJEPzXbsp6iyD8GF_qk3q-gg3UpIvh/s1600-h/Pet+Conspiracy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJn0nxyEQ-r0v1PSBsx4jYPIdqVGvGh7yv-trU1zKtINTc_Oz-E7PLthIoorlYC4r3Ch9hgwgEhktDrfa3SB8lR41Qqdh8mDLsFuv3cGDJEPzXbsp6iyD8GF_qk3q-gg3UpIvh/s400/Pet+Conspiracy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137535323117826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Pet Conspiracy</span> gave a great show!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlGOE5OYXoKXlv60eNzVCD1gB9tN07IPbIfcxdnPFJh0C1PO4qNff1ki4RLoLCqZi9CoA1kA2eH-AEWRRR25rnGpSJeqVlTXsVQbfdUhHbq-vaLOdzXulsVUjMVUNJLfLgXO9/s1600-h/Photography+crew.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFlGOE5OYXoKXlv60eNzVCD1gB9tN07IPbIfcxdnPFJh0C1PO4qNff1ki4RLoLCqZi9CoA1kA2eH-AEWRRR25rnGpSJeqVlTXsVQbfdUhHbq-vaLOdzXulsVUjMVUNJLfLgXO9/s400/Photography+crew.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137531303086562" border="0" /></a><br />Professional equipment. It seemed like everyone had a camera; and big ones too!<br />As this was the first time for this festival, everyone was eager to capture the atmosphere.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznYWAx7U4YIpDOUzywtT5wPP823wOWSvsutUuEVkfNfMjrq9IifJkBdpyOZhyZF80vyC28Egj5Q-tmytrg9U_PZ6vAFlNjtdMykDNXlKmWDzjwSuDwTbmAMBhraQ8Zbsk-Um2/s1600-h/Rock+couple.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 340px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznYWAx7U4YIpDOUzywtT5wPP823wOWSvsutUuEVkfNfMjrq9IifJkBdpyOZhyZF80vyC28Egj5Q-tmytrg9U_PZ6vAFlNjtdMykDNXlKmWDzjwSuDwTbmAMBhraQ8Zbsk-Um2/s400/Rock+couple.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137172464908466" border="0" /></a><br />Rock couple :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsE6eJfUrJnrssKjBuurDM98_UId5czjX-MMJ6U8Q5DqLj6G2J4Aqk1c9G9pEXuSzWi8pXcN_UrN8JjWFUKn3UrUqKnl8aKBtikS7reMXod7vqDSYq7eDpfCNNgMj2x5caSI-/s1600-h/Spongebob+girl.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsE6eJfUrJnrssKjBuurDM98_UId5czjX-MMJ6U8Q5DqLj6G2J4Aqk1c9G9pEXuSzWi8pXcN_UrN8JjWFUKn3UrUqKnl8aKBtikS7reMXod7vqDSYq7eDpfCNNgMj2x5caSI-/s400/Spongebob+girl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137169016338498" border="0" /></a><br />Note the tattoo, and the group of policemen watching :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdYLFoO68dIvePxQyYUUmg37e2NbTHCqmj0RBee0OHOWeIAKoI0gRcn4IqsE5jzJQnjj3x4N2BmnLt0bMLQEo1A8Up-8DvTyYWU_94SjMge9abu4KS_FQspo9TiQ9jPjb5hom/s1600-h/Strawberry+stage.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdYLFoO68dIvePxQyYUUmg37e2NbTHCqmj0RBee0OHOWeIAKoI0gRcn4IqsE5jzJQnjj3x4N2BmnLt0bMLQEo1A8Up-8DvTyYWU_94SjMge9abu4KS_FQspo9TiQ9jPjb5hom/s400/Strawberry+stage.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137165914066690" border="0" /></a><br />The main stage<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ojIDCJZEqztnm3JGigzrGxAl6C0_3bJSke3Pu-GFOGebbX0dYh6hE_kvtEwKHvyOKELfG3gkiF083BgT02kgLxI4EcJ8HPlxhi4O7sCOm3H8OPvOR_ZOms4gTK4J4pgVi3f1/s1600-h/Unusual+visitor.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 204px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ojIDCJZEqztnm3JGigzrGxAl6C0_3bJSke3Pu-GFOGebbX0dYh6hE_kvtEwKHvyOKELfG3gkiF083BgT02kgLxI4EcJ8HPlxhi4O7sCOm3H8OPvOR_ZOms4gTK4J4pgVi3f1/s400/Unusual+visitor.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137160023531026" border="0" /></a><br />Unusual fan<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytxRSXQLaVZX09sjmIXtunS0TjcMgEeHyV2oNF8007AnHl1kwyli7QC6yeaxrAAZVfTl17b498Er-umD1jewD8jnBM_ewJLlpEjaVjuuwTH3Lta5tx1ZNstIZdE0Ji1QoLB2J/s1600-h/wu-shenmeshenme+with+balloons.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytxRSXQLaVZX09sjmIXtunS0TjcMgEeHyV2oNF8007AnHl1kwyli7QC6yeaxrAAZVfTl17b498Er-umD1jewD8jnBM_ewJLlpEjaVjuuwTH3Lta5tx1ZNstIZdE0Ji1QoLB2J/s400/wu-shenmeshenme+with+balloons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332137160248019186" border="0" /></a><br />One of our friends, holding balloons<br /></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-73401209590618136512009-05-02T06:45:00.009+02:002009-05-02T07:11:14.294+02:00more impressions from Beijing<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Photos from walks around Beijing in spring</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUErTgeHwcyQsbAchp0jE8p-6X1-acrBM4t6NPSv-merXQnwZNXIZVMjQtFFvm9vpNiqEkYdMeIVbs_ompwxfHcLNedet1F6oNubmEBmFTCt-Fi5dVm2amhVDR0nZ4SySeBkU/s1600-h/pain+or+pox.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiUErTgeHwcyQsbAchp0jE8p-6X1-acrBM4t6NPSv-merXQnwZNXIZVMjQtFFvm9vpNiqEkYdMeIVbs_ompwxfHcLNedet1F6oNubmEBmFTCt-Fi5dVm2amhVDR0nZ4SySeBkU/s400/pain+or+pox.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331088022398650786" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For "</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >pain or pox</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">", I now know where to go!</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSKCwyCdN0LWxQ2p2ise1GMgM1JDrxHs6ekOvlFZE2T1qTlWp0rX7EaAd3HPmbCwOJp-yTByZKKR9ogFeTtbmd66LtVC5Buxe7re69XeIy6BTHrmfK1DYgfa0dEaWLf15sLiO/s1600-h/street+caligraphy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 272px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSKCwyCdN0LWxQ2p2ise1GMgM1JDrxHs6ekOvlFZE2T1qTlWp0rX7EaAd3HPmbCwOJp-yTByZKKR9ogFeTtbmd66LtVC5Buxe7re69XeIy6BTHrmfK1DYgfa0dEaWLf15sLiO/s400/street+caligraphy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331084385195323362" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This old man is practicing calligraphy on the pavement with a large brush and water. He is writing a Chinese poem.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">His art only lasts for a minute or two, before drying up.</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9nTnmCJX300iwxQfTPT9JZes7MxGddM8w7aXjziAjFjx6QvgzOBYIDXqTtobn8i22qcRJik07bjcqBWgTlZ-iyqa55CNUzFYhCs7nmYanU7h_Wtb_Eu0E0cMCcPSBghKtxYo/s1600-h/sofa+and+bike.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9nTnmCJX300iwxQfTPT9JZes7MxGddM8w7aXjziAjFjx6QvgzOBYIDXqTtobn8i22qcRJik07bjcqBWgTlZ-iyqa55CNUzFYhCs7nmYanU7h_Wtb_Eu0E0cMCcPSBghKtxYo/s400/sofa+and+bike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331084384699027010" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bicycle and old couch in a hutong</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLQL6KhZeihRhLXQxJQ9D8dLl_Ygk9zcXH3GopzMPTzJU7KDbGZqbGySaGVeRZJJrLpteYNc43fkSIlUFumoUcgvQNX59rcEukJKlr9vmyAvgx0M5RZ3tPpvu_fvSWG_2SMwi/s1600-h/scooter.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLQL6KhZeihRhLXQxJQ9D8dLl_Ygk9zcXH3GopzMPTzJU7KDbGZqbGySaGVeRZJJrLpteYNc43fkSIlUFumoUcgvQNX59rcEukJKlr9vmyAvgx0M5RZ3tPpvu_fvSWG_2SMwi/s400/scooter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331084380959697810" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Super scooter :)</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpiZdRA1eVAknZ-gqgrnhh02uwofA2aSaPd1cuE1HTnp41A79KMT3XGQx-XgMjw2jnP7igc3Wu6yYHwFCixor-uhB6VWbH-OJdO4QQYUdemn7M5hlF8o4qUVsrhnw8KvBWHy8/s1600-h/police+guard.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 314px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglpiZdRA1eVAknZ-gqgrnhh02uwofA2aSaPd1cuE1HTnp41A79KMT3XGQx-XgMjw2jnP7igc3Wu6yYHwFCixor-uhB6VWbH-OJdO4QQYUdemn7M5hlF8o4qUVsrhnw8KvBWHy8/s400/police+guard.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331084375232577506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A young policeman standing guard at the Olympic Park</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvUpYlaJby5eIYhR7iShsStTo-4AeG6aXYqbvIOkDVALCbHAYkTrHC8aQ-c6QQ9bC8OYgDmwHYpl_jh5V-3JjoXQksw2jfWx-UTT9wO4IZ7wHZ5Znmu4toS6s5MZTvb6mfJM6/s1600-h/plants.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvUpYlaJby5eIYhR7iShsStTo-4AeG6aXYqbvIOkDVALCbHAYkTrHC8aQ-c6QQ9bC8OYgDmwHYpl_jh5V-3JjoXQksw2jfWx-UTT9wO4IZ7wHZ5Znmu4toS6s5MZTvb6mfJM6/s400/plants.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083973369887026" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Plants in the Old Summer Palace (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beihai_Park"><span style="font-style: italic;">Beihai park</span></a>)</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWULhSHIidsnoImRERsVNUMKxkfkb1CuC45gXCEZFgifQ9C1XFpO9xhNW_OQx25ZAYvPnRhA1fo-fKyRhPR4fHlIBdzsnCTcojLEd-J-svO6sQu34BiWddwxTyLZ0z66QVGJ2f/s1600-h/mops.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWULhSHIidsnoImRERsVNUMKxkfkb1CuC45gXCEZFgifQ9C1XFpO9xhNW_OQx25ZAYvPnRhA1fo-fKyRhPR4fHlIBdzsnCTcojLEd-J-svO6sQu34BiWddwxTyLZ0z66QVGJ2f/s400/mops.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083969697478642" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Mops hanging to dry in a hutong</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvxv3EblXGdCwilC0XiefuGSMeAIiq5pLoIW1Ww0v7FqFNBoMgWB2GTyAuXXIO-7t6a-X5X_dacNbts8ue6RnNwoYl9kOrg7F6lrJVnQClHqc8cW5KQBMjF77JLMKOE5tIZx8/s1600-h/kite+hands+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvxv3EblXGdCwilC0XiefuGSMeAIiq5pLoIW1Ww0v7FqFNBoMgWB2GTyAuXXIO-7t6a-X5X_dacNbts8ue6RnNwoYl9kOrg7F6lrJVnQClHqc8cW5KQBMjF77JLMKOE5tIZx8/s400/kite+hands+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083969311125186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">An old man flying a kite. He is a professional (as far as flying kites is concerned)</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYyD3s6Qxm9Njnn48AqDJ0axA3x7zMLokjFv_bcrYCDCmPy75TOMoOSuOPrRyf1Ctp8atvDCu2JOfCjk-Wj7kPSs_NmkTgK6B9Cx7SF09vHU4xWNIGDOG-jbWFPpqFUiUHfqQ/s1600-h/hidden+shrine.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoYyD3s6Qxm9Njnn48AqDJ0axA3x7zMLokjFv_bcrYCDCmPy75TOMoOSuOPrRyf1Ctp8atvDCu2JOfCjk-Wj7kPSs_NmkTgK6B9Cx7SF09vHU4xWNIGDOG-jbWFPpqFUiUHfqQ/s400/hidden+shrine.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083966832784594" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hidden pavilion in the park surrounding the Old Summer Palace</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnXfGBDXJZ_GWXPuFpHlCQVC3FKbRgBWkj_pqYVyCR0uxMr9X78U005iYESR-h7YqmXioBLqpiScvQxv3Y82JdBZnglwNFiVFzobRUgfPBI4XK32wZXW8cH5QWai-xfmsqUU6/s1600-h/flowers.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 337px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnXfGBDXJZ_GWXPuFpHlCQVC3FKbRgBWkj_pqYVyCR0uxMr9X78U005iYESR-h7YqmXioBLqpiScvQxv3Y82JdBZnglwNFiVFzobRUgfPBI4XK32wZXW8cH5QWai-xfmsqUU6/s400/flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083964235015826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Endless flowers</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6NDxCNcY0dy_6rlB3eYSeDZTLnZGRcvlsO-BLCL_HS9gKBkLCMzwN4mCv_iOq5WH6DO6TpEf-WgmMc-r-3W8W1d9DFn23Uk23RmwiuDgz6LcFllIZAS8aJdk0Oyerybt4EwR/s1600-h/door+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6NDxCNcY0dy_6rlB3eYSeDZTLnZGRcvlsO-BLCL_HS9gKBkLCMzwN4mCv_iOq5WH6DO6TpEf-WgmMc-r-3W8W1d9DFn23Uk23RmwiuDgz6LcFllIZAS8aJdk0Oyerybt4EwR/s400/door+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083728875947714" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Brass door knocker in a hutong</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXYjqaPP31bpyasABVTrD7Fai_oLM_6sg2nTDfxHJqh4v8UvMXjmYWl87ia3-zwSm8c3VdHIL_HWmUpW4Ev4bU0w21WH4CP0nBaVAVYYbuHvjO7XRt4xHg2Xk_Up7lgVGcQaL/s1600-h/door.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXYjqaPP31bpyasABVTrD7Fai_oLM_6sg2nTDfxHJqh4v8UvMXjmYWl87ia3-zwSm8c3VdHIL_HWmUpW4Ev4bU0w21WH4CP0nBaVAVYYbuHvjO7XRt4xHg2Xk_Up7lgVGcQaL/s400/door.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083724403225506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Door knockers</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2OpWQfc4HGB-u6Vs0ODy5z3kRbZdnMv6qWL2Ut3lpxn6LPbWM1MkihsPgu-VWksWB1_KTxzia088JDzQ4r32Lnwok5zGMHg_eaBSphrldgj9yY-vf1BVTSh73r5VzADIbocl/s1600-h/buddhas+on+the+wall.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2OpWQfc4HGB-u6Vs0ODy5z3kRbZdnMv6qWL2Ut3lpxn6LPbWM1MkihsPgu-VWksWB1_KTxzia088JDzQ4r32Lnwok5zGMHg_eaBSphrldgj9yY-vf1BVTSh73r5VzADIbocl/s400/buddhas+on+the+wall.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083722965006082" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A wall of the White </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stupa" title="Stupa">Dagoba</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> in Beihai Park, covered with Buddha reliefs</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5z59zVLih63wdvPKP9RNXJ0rFs1a7JfIZgHuYden9GfG4c4263x4lkN3b2UOx6rVHnnjtpOTt6ZGHz9aRRj6ZQZ_YXA5mdevSP8rQu8utRQf9CMKBfRTJr4s_J85ZcWvvbfl/s1600-h/black+and+white+panda.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 348px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn5z59zVLih63wdvPKP9RNXJ0rFs1a7JfIZgHuYden9GfG4c4263x4lkN3b2UOx6rVHnnjtpOTt6ZGHz9aRRj6ZQZ_YXA5mdevSP8rQu8utRQf9CMKBfRTJr4s_J85ZcWvvbfl/s400/black+and+white+panda.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083718667940514" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Panda hat</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAslGZNCscmmqHTXY5GyvC0cc2b33ON3NzhvR3_0KqIPKXF6OsrGrN7RPQyqUEzKVTbk-kk2-9WOo9Wd64sE7UGJ3W_j0VT8SWyWazsddRtqYHw191uljgevMG9lPNeDAYDvy-/s1600-h/Bike+sepia.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAslGZNCscmmqHTXY5GyvC0cc2b33ON3NzhvR3_0KqIPKXF6OsrGrN7RPQyqUEzKVTbk-kk2-9WOo9Wd64sE7UGJ3W_j0VT8SWyWazsddRtqYHw191uljgevMG9lPNeDAYDvy-/s400/Bike+sepia.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083423328869922" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">"Old hutong"</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ieTscuDQepaHURx6_rmopWGkPXuATeNRMaGdc9hbGvKozBUnf3OmWFcyHiEzDwd3CKXNFB9EQ2Z9PC6QQkcuCjqNMzaoNaTyw5QK2SLSWaHJc-V-N9mZI-a2SvG0aXW1oqBa/s1600-h/bicycles.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ieTscuDQepaHURx6_rmopWGkPXuATeNRMaGdc9hbGvKozBUnf3OmWFcyHiEzDwd3CKXNFB9EQ2Z9PC6QQkcuCjqNMzaoNaTyw5QK2SLSWaHJc-V-N9mZI-a2SvG0aXW1oqBa/s400/bicycles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083419598108418" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Bicycles in front of a store in a hutong</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPT_5vcT_ZFwRNg7f7xyx9pybWbgkIc7RclCj5rbSwYPsdhOFbHyWfy4YG57JIxD1zyHBsH2u23RqI4J_WEBKk8X_OYc-U-8vIBBLsrnP1iog3G37UojF4UJgzyKeqPYGmbGe/s1600-h/bubbles.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 237px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPT_5vcT_ZFwRNg7f7xyx9pybWbgkIc7RclCj5rbSwYPsdhOFbHyWfy4YG57JIxD1zyHBsH2u23RqI4J_WEBKk8X_OYc-U-8vIBBLsrnP1iog3G37UojF4UJgzyKeqPYGmbGe/s400/bubbles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083716854581986" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The 'bubbles' of the Aqua Center in the Olympic park by night. The buildings there are beautifully lit, <span style="font-family:verdana;">but the strong wind is annoying</span>.</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ_yA8it_vZMxiYxDpd4y1bKXHSNQnyr9VHjeW-M-ObhvjQkzb5pg8IMSYiJ7rrdQk9ww8F2HjPT5mbsf0Fnii_8jWrzCxHcGdEWs7B8Nbm75yygSXBe9J-BDHoWGeqBT9l12/s1600-h/stadium+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZ_yA8it_vZMxiYxDpd4y1bKXHSNQnyr9VHjeW-M-ObhvjQkzb5pg8IMSYiJ7rrdQk9ww8F2HjPT5mbsf0Fnii_8jWrzCxHcGdEWs7B8Nbm75yygSXBe9J-BDHoWGeqBT9l12/s400/stadium+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083418327765522" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Close up of the 'Bird's Nest' by night</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7fSDMVaApSX9jaWSvJSNH3qQI05HwDFQPTMEnw6qhYr07w_Gc8gZyg5qUZndX1zJoUfFClLJ5n_HJZUUtr5qSBffBXsjmjioWiORVBVtvPdYCmjIT18SxF2NbzNrOy99wObr/s1600-h/stadium+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7fSDMVaApSX9jaWSvJSNH3qQI05HwDFQPTMEnw6qhYr07w_Gc8gZyg5qUZndX1zJoUfFClLJ5n_HJZUUtr5qSBffBXsjmjioWiORVBVtvPdYCmjIT18SxF2NbzNrOy99wObr/s400/stadium+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083411756899218" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Close up of the 'Bird's Nest' by night</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3g_CAQzXjlGLP0fe4hIToYTLRCgw1YPTJ65lL-8sdV5lHI2sopZU_BL_j4XudMryBYjPlWl7RqgMMUrbWCasmIjj9dwqEWk9yeL6Pd8fWEW8R9gY7-p6Y6j_Lmg3H_By2sFx/s1600-h/stadium+effect.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3g_CAQzXjlGLP0fe4hIToYTLRCgw1YPTJ65lL-8sdV5lHI2sopZU_BL_j4XudMryBYjPlWl7RqgMMUrbWCasmIjj9dwqEWk9yeL6Pd8fWEW8R9gY7-p6Y6j_Lmg3H_By2sFx/s400/stadium+effect.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331083415317263826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Zoom effect on the 'Bird's Nest'</span><br /></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-33967000318295282102009-04-20T15:07:00.004+02:002009-04-20T15:18:57.232+02:00Di Tan Gong Yuan<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">After visiting the "Temple of Heaven" park (Tian Tan gong yuan) two weeks ago, today we went to the "Temple of Earth" park (Di Tan gong yuan) to have a look. Entrance was a staggering 2 Yuan (Eur 0,20). </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPKzQQOpsw-YTyxCXdy4jNWf1QXn8IEIs4g8r_x0T7Q6FrCshEi4PRO1mQyNHhyYvqg0qrulfiihmW2-t5dDpS2WYhPOOpurPs4lsMRm4-6eO_699z04ef2873mESUCHVQaVL/s1600-h/leaves+in+park.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPKzQQOpsw-YTyxCXdy4jNWf1QXn8IEIs4g8r_x0T7Q6FrCshEi4PRO1mQyNHhyYvqg0qrulfiihmW2-t5dDpS2WYhPOOpurPs4lsMRm4-6eO_699z04ef2873mESUCHVQaVL/s400/leaves+in+park.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326760284286273858" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Beautiful fresh spring colors everywhere</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT5R8e0XCyfdNKLkZfqLPz9NYi9iEHpSVy36sHOGgzq4T8YSZsxZrm47JF3TPKXOMgj0MHMS7LfY1_q1shFj39nzKrpxSyx2OBY6qeES61wbcpcaLb85bKmmNLOthw5cIUQuu/s1600-h/new+camera.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXT5R8e0XCyfdNKLkZfqLPz9NYi9iEHpSVy36sHOGgzq4T8YSZsxZrm47JF3TPKXOMgj0MHMS7LfY1_q1shFj39nzKrpxSyx2OBY6qeES61wbcpcaLb85bKmmNLOthw5cIUQuu/s400/new+camera.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326760277991575458" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">My girlfriend had just bought a new camera, and constantly takes photos 'for practice', she says</span> :)<br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl5D5kiO2OuntOeSUg4GWgKenDVHaoI-8DIHlOeTD0m6VyEufij3q7Dy_Z0qxAHif4eEqtsgp9u_fPoPvPJw9KQspQ0uXSHcY5rcExw6k2XlekAcrHOEZVRFK4PG7cbfILsmw/s1600-h/rosebud+artistic.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPl5D5kiO2OuntOeSUg4GWgKenDVHaoI-8DIHlOeTD0m6VyEufij3q7Dy_Z0qxAHif4eEqtsgp9u_fPoPvPJw9KQspQ0uXSHcY5rcExw6k2XlekAcrHOEZVRFK4PG7cbfILsmw/s400/rosebud+artistic.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326760134669214050" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">rose bud</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LzFTRq1OS9CcMURVxTIKnAyrFVQKa7c0IMnw9PqVXi0z8WeBqoKU_6pUHCuT1KPEO09W8wLX3-T7mT5i5HH-kzB7ZVKhk59Id5WPUS1DP1cbEmfGbgWKYOYkcw1H4edYtveL/s1600-h/rose+bud.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8LzFTRq1OS9CcMURVxTIKnAyrFVQKa7c0IMnw9PqVXi0z8WeBqoKU_6pUHCuT1KPEO09W8wLX3-T7mT5i5HH-kzB7ZVKhk59Id5WPUS1DP1cbEmfGbgWKYOYkcw1H4edYtveL/s400/rose+bud.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326760128492697554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">rose bud</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRc1F2CU-gZJn2DjxACXp3hZ20-gB9Z5sFcM1VR26xDA_k6NLWwzo8gdQE0GijJ4pk6bDkz5sYoHnHIyeHCNqUlhm0RiVQWviYtc4Cn0Ytkto-anDzRK_DMnpHLS0Zf6ocQs5/s1600-h/rosebud+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLRc1F2CU-gZJn2DjxACXp3hZ20-gB9Z5sFcM1VR26xDA_k6NLWwzo8gdQE0GijJ4pk6bDkz5sYoHnHIyeHCNqUlhm0RiVQWviYtc4Cn0Ytkto-anDzRK_DMnpHLS0Zf6ocQs5/s400/rosebud+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326760129814323538" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">rose bud </span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjXnaDsRmgk8xUdMOH6f0RSov2XaJo1rxiDyLCTvUlwJghx3jVsKO8tEHFz3s-qxFWAbW0Yvmmos-cMX5hvhjuOX1BFOkvaG4gL5nu6xb5Dpwd-FSoP_sHhd0tkwr8xuDwG7B/s1600-h/bark+fresco+filter.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqjXnaDsRmgk8xUdMOH6f0RSov2XaJo1rxiDyLCTvUlwJghx3jVsKO8tEHFz3s-qxFWAbW0Yvmmos-cMX5hvhjuOX1BFOkvaG4gL5nu6xb5Dpwd-FSoP_sHhd0tkwr8xuDwG7B/s400/bark+fresco+filter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326760123173972898" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Adapted photo of the bark of a tree</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCqkNiB0p3P0Gtwu0rVE18uvnfhmAE_bgCCRc7pGhGnMJGedW6ahtt4xLc6AaL7Vr8ONwOBH8JZXO-XBQXBFHrkSxJ9wVG5fORNe6v2IE_3dYefYpirCu1thLhQW9HnjQBq-D/s1600-h/lantern+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCqkNiB0p3P0Gtwu0rVE18uvnfhmAE_bgCCRc7pGhGnMJGedW6ahtt4xLc6AaL7Vr8ONwOBH8JZXO-XBQXBFHrkSxJ9wVG5fORNe6v2IE_3dYefYpirCu1thLhQW9HnjQBq-D/s400/lantern+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326760127001162098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">lanterns</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNhqFaG5i03fWOk7NUCn8ENKc7RYTf2t86g9uZDL8ZL3Ii4OxZzCxxYq4uZ__l_1LGLOAmfOveQih-VBlbWZUosvgbOYX_5vXw1gP-IsaVJxY7uujQ4PY9mWNU9BgiupwFNFw/s1600-h/bike.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNhqFaG5i03fWOk7NUCn8ENKc7RYTf2t86g9uZDL8ZL3Ii4OxZzCxxYq4uZ__l_1LGLOAmfOveQih-VBlbWZUosvgbOYX_5vXw1gP-IsaVJxY7uujQ4PY9mWNU9BgiupwFNFw/s400/bike.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326759866177628466" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">A bicycle in the park</span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHA6roaLcds95XgWIUxmXwfWKxnBy3f3vy0MAlmVbAg1he_qeFIPn0plfsN4Q76y6gTG_7vsrRGgpzRs-bdTr-uDueiflBDPmhPrlq-c3to9lZ0j5vDLiJauiabBfYSmIRtxx/s1600-h/girl+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 255px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHA6roaLcds95XgWIUxmXwfWKxnBy3f3vy0MAlmVbAg1he_qeFIPn0plfsN4Q76y6gTG_7vsrRGgpzRs-bdTr-uDueiflBDPmhPrlq-c3to9lZ0j5vDLiJauiabBfYSmIRtxx/s400/girl+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326759868178908978" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPHTLyV8DoMW92hqaE-lnAS51ly1ibSftE3eGEojZNUTBLXTVWp6MbsIE69bMwnQggkESfixGRFW21MXvbP51jl2oFnQl8Pg7r1UMwlJbpEEUYD7FjjwuH72JLqCdvCqsxo8q/s1600-h/girl+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 256px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgPHTLyV8DoMW92hqaE-lnAS51ly1ibSftE3eGEojZNUTBLXTVWp6MbsIE69bMwnQggkESfixGRFW21MXvbP51jl2oFnQl8Pg7r1UMwlJbpEEUYD7FjjwuH72JLqCdvCqsxo8q/s400/girl+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326759861693870402" border="0" /></a><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AF7vtzz4ldYUgGpbpfms6_k1mDNlP8DrcjTYuE4mZudaBP9_nIYRA_fYs-t5a6e8KRIwhEwKF-9lUFTZuBRHidMce-tYyqZr-UmzaTfSKoCZ8pPVFRODeTN6EJDizCXrKhmX/s1600-h/girl+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 350px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AF7vtzz4ldYUgGpbpfms6_k1mDNlP8DrcjTYuE4mZudaBP9_nIYRA_fYs-t5a6e8KRIwhEwKF-9lUFTZuBRHidMce-tYyqZr-UmzaTfSKoCZ8pPVFRODeTN6EJDizCXrKhmX/s400/girl+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326759862390581634" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">While we were sitting down at a street barbecue restaurant, waiting for our chicken wings and lamb skewers, we met a little girl who was also interested in photography. She could barely lift the big camera, but she snatched it from our hands and started shooting away. </span><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdaDvlBSysjm0veDYW7NRmRBo1xQoAqZlXY11ccbOztfUuDbsbEjCSaoK3ZS3WYhJRezRkBc-q-rQc2xE8zQCRylFdtHoJfZOWFbC2EaH_SLRG7jhdG5uoJYisR-OwdpFjnr7/s1600-h/Street+BBQ.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdaDvlBSysjm0veDYW7NRmRBo1xQoAqZlXY11ccbOztfUuDbsbEjCSaoK3ZS3WYhJRezRkBc-q-rQc2xE8zQCRylFdtHoJfZOWFbC2EaH_SLRG7jhdG5uoJYisR-OwdpFjnr7/s400/Street+BBQ.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326759863629297570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Street barbecue; the best!</span><br /></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-31065765275942640292009-04-15T01:38:00.001+02:002009-04-15T14:22:13.989+02:00Visiting Luoyang<div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">My girlfriend's brother lives in Luoyang, and her parents are there now too to visit. We went to pay them a visit too, and spent the weekend there.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCsYutygdCq2KVwOXNMO-wsghVbqO5-sbahPlhE0ZvdkFLaP65bwmouPxdjFYXIEoJUF3Q0e6XJo6yUBT98H5ebQlJDW2IKiOcvjmonDIpRM7KKhu2wxZmoQaCqtaOaSUONPu/s1600-h/luoyang+01.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoCsYutygdCq2KVwOXNMO-wsghVbqO5-sbahPlhE0ZvdkFLaP65bwmouPxdjFYXIEoJUF3Q0e6XJo6yUBT98H5ebQlJDW2IKiOcvjmonDIpRM7KKhu2wxZmoQaCqtaOaSUONPu/s400/luoyang+01.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324496124604487938" border="0" /></a><br />This is a demonstration of Shaolin Kung Fu, because Luoyang is very close to the old Shaolin Temple, where Kung Fu originated. In this park, some foreigners were practicing with a crowd of people around them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_g1wWfAamjq6ShnjfHM8m1Nk2V1A5IaKAWqahJIMB6lzuECShOvk7mdhU3QEGW754su_BhH0na3xlaqKc8DkVnK7jIkMiOtveyjuYFji21XueIKLXzWcuD1ohzzsyTFZKIwkE/s1600-h/P1070415.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_g1wWfAamjq6ShnjfHM8m1Nk2V1A5IaKAWqahJIMB6lzuECShOvk7mdhU3QEGW754su_BhH0na3xlaqKc8DkVnK7jIkMiOtveyjuYFji21XueIKLXzWcuD1ohzzsyTFZKIwkE/s400/P1070415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324496120820550626" border="0" /></a><br />As usual, we were welcomed with a lot of great food and drinks. On Sunday we ate in a Hunan restaurant, and drank nice baijiu (very strong rice wine)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDo9i5iPS60ow28E06XOe-4iwg5mQ8HWFjOJ2ZGmPCR7ruzImwtLbEmaDEDKW3FzuCJE2mpcn-9c9kP4VuFofhM_EVZTiMhO5yCXlTHxSalS2HJNVKZitmDMfMrqGcGLmE7PM/s1600-h/luoyang+02.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 280px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXDo9i5iPS60ow28E06XOe-4iwg5mQ8HWFjOJ2ZGmPCR7ruzImwtLbEmaDEDKW3FzuCJE2mpcn-9c9kP4VuFofhM_EVZTiMhO5yCXlTHxSalS2HJNVKZitmDMfMrqGcGLmE7PM/s400/luoyang+02.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324495471913760098" border="0" /></a><br />Our visit coincided with the annual flower festival in the city of Luoyang. It meant that tour buses and crowds of people were lining the streets, but also beautiful peony flowers everywhere!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7s0h_VF02HDA-dVFufJCAWqijzKmsGEYC0PNVid9tUi_KpyVPQCLqbuRcfBQrgY6MRtRsMAf6x1uqDvDp8qnH1UaTdb1NEzoKEbSZToBdxLtWryH-S9Ed1EQKDPjfCVs7pEc/s1600-h/luoyang+03.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp7s0h_VF02HDA-dVFufJCAWqijzKmsGEYC0PNVid9tUi_KpyVPQCLqbuRcfBQrgY6MRtRsMAf6x1uqDvDp8qnH1UaTdb1NEzoKEbSZToBdxLtWryH-S9Ed1EQKDPjfCVs7pEc/s400/luoyang+03.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324495466124297490" border="0" /></a><br />Close up<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKscGlGKmO71IHKsqRxlQRbklfphtV382v5U7ea5yadN36bHAf6ckw7l41MIUZqXZuJ0u18TSN1309nr5B1vl25IRPh4WvPg7MQlPjG9EkT2GhpzEy5DV8lLHNZmANO3u1vtB_/s1600-h/luoyang+04.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKscGlGKmO71IHKsqRxlQRbklfphtV382v5U7ea5yadN36bHAf6ckw7l41MIUZqXZuJ0u18TSN1309nr5B1vl25IRPh4WvPg7MQlPjG9EkT2GhpzEy5DV8lLHNZmANO3u1vtB_/s400/luoyang+04.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324495467018457282" border="0" /></a><br />In the evening we went to a park were, because of the flower festival, they had built a sort of fun fair. There was a lot of lights and music (noise) and many people.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWeP1n46W_zWlIfIGRLzGYEY4U8rLiv6p8ULpWkJoAl5283ITxcOR57aiwO87J_TKZPnikwG4_BjbcUJltypVi4DUyG_abM5nM75mpbw3C19pfbyV3gmwN4ZYxXF4EExwWD7e/s1600-h/luoyang+05.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWeP1n46W_zWlIfIGRLzGYEY4U8rLiv6p8ULpWkJoAl5283ITxcOR57aiwO87J_TKZPnikwG4_BjbcUJltypVi4DUyG_abM5nM75mpbw3C19pfbyV3gmwN4ZYxXF4EExwWD7e/s400/luoyang+05.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324495460566687794" border="0" /></a><br />Caramel candy<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tkj72YbQiQiGCLTaYDuH1D5ie2thItHXOFC0DASdpykx83zRbYj4BSpKX4dCsdjIoQBMpZ27TNKvZfqZNjYXLvO3dqAUdKcfkI7Hneldn_LoiNO3OAMLFUE8kIkq2I0WeOxM/s1600-h/luoyang+06.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5tkj72YbQiQiGCLTaYDuH1D5ie2thItHXOFC0DASdpykx83zRbYj4BSpKX4dCsdjIoQBMpZ27TNKvZfqZNjYXLvO3dqAUdKcfkI7Hneldn_LoiNO3OAMLFUE8kIkq2I0WeOxM/s400/luoyang+06.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324495462198563394" border="0" /></a><br />A local 'fake antique' market in the old town. Nearly everything here is 'fake' - meaning not as old and authentic as the vendor makes it seem. Especially old coins with rust and pottery (with added mud for a more authentic effect) were on sale everywhere. Some things still looked nice, real or fake, and so many people came to buy 'cheap' antiques here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrpUeUs47wFiqPAoLGAA2eW6hitu7NDIb9_paeRgL3jXV3DzCMjQJyrGw8e4S5QHza5tpOkHVj7VhcevJ4bjrBoTFXJ0kVuQQ5LPWVBepSQXJbwNzQpRTR25AjpKzrUuZ55TE/s1600-h/luoyang+07.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsrpUeUs47wFiqPAoLGAA2eW6hitu7NDIb9_paeRgL3jXV3DzCMjQJyrGw8e4S5QHza5tpOkHVj7VhcevJ4bjrBoTFXJ0kVuQQ5LPWVBepSQXJbwNzQpRTR25AjpKzrUuZ55TE/s400/luoyang+07.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324495167369919762" border="0" /></a><br />Birds were also on sale. These poor guys had almost no space to move<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8-C4hXBomgLa69BMIHdSNshSkmuAsS5NUlvHZi5-dfeGazs9cXnvA8Hq0rtCL1-ILEhtTbh28eH6q15kL5zOEP_XhxrTgPlfNUDyx4I4fxeL3F992V_3kVlBb916j380SsnR/s1600-h/luoyang+08.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8-C4hXBomgLa69BMIHdSNshSkmuAsS5NUlvHZi5-dfeGazs9cXnvA8Hq0rtCL1-ILEhtTbh28eH6q15kL5zOEP_XhxrTgPlfNUDyx4I4fxeL3F992V_3kVlBb916j380SsnR/s400/luoyang+08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324495160772296178" border="0" /></a><br />Imagine the noise here<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzB9iordGvCqLMd1_QxQTVgsk-KrXEgJ1XVbW7XKGTr3J9auDMsUxPeQWlFT-1HP_EaFDudM0tYjGQhUVm0V6nTT8eVI1x6F-8LmBO-aQgwJvHu8eFfySWpSOgivbGEiOUf8V5/s1600-h/luoyang+09.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 290px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzB9iordGvCqLMd1_QxQTVgsk-KrXEgJ1XVbW7XKGTr3J9auDMsUxPeQWlFT-1HP_EaFDudM0tYjGQhUVm0V6nTT8eVI1x6F-8LmBO-aQgwJvHu8eFfySWpSOgivbGEiOUf8V5/s400/luoyang+09.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324495161273965042" border="0" /></a><br />and here<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCbpczXcDF-o9tBZyAvMjfEsg0fsLWoMlgWKJ51hqzVJB0tfJSLBHFk6jeh09UY7D8TnmTG6XjUF71BsuJntfARqUcYgONlIup-CFUftQkx79-MNoLLug05VS5xgX4p7DoMfT/s1600-h/luoyang+10.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHCbpczXcDF-o9tBZyAvMjfEsg0fsLWoMlgWKJ51hqzVJB0tfJSLBHFk6jeh09UY7D8TnmTG6XjUF71BsuJntfARqUcYgONlIup-CFUftQkx79-MNoLLug05VS5xgX4p7DoMfT/s400/luoyang+10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324495154916409058" border="0" /></a><br />The old streets of Luoyang are nice and although I saw some foreigners (three) there were hardly any tourist shops or overpriced 'souvenirs' on sale.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OQhXaZRaj80hyBRu-echlZUUdEDTCLFG7-Vwub5FUKodATFniMqHxLq6DR7ogoO9EJpgCo47KJ2adly4hupHQ4gt6syYgXhE5yU6NZs3xhyphenhyphengKHqYW_CkROlB4y_B1bhE5HSh/s1600-h/luoyang+11.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OQhXaZRaj80hyBRu-echlZUUdEDTCLFG7-Vwub5FUKodATFniMqHxLq6DR7ogoO9EJpgCo47KJ2adly4hupHQ4gt6syYgXhE5yU6NZs3xhyphenhyphengKHqYW_CkROlB4y_B1bhE5HSh/s400/luoyang+11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324495156715917474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU4QSrbtgAmMeccBEG26x4jNTT0963g3QFPg5O1t49oHfxvDJxm4IbmQPBDQeqblZqXVirrSACOI1g1X7io8tY79izXDkpMVLnyKe_YbIbrPouEpurOrUwYQGADRMwgOZgbkN/s1600-h/family+pic+small.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSU4QSrbtgAmMeccBEG26x4jNTT0963g3QFPg5O1t49oHfxvDJxm4IbmQPBDQeqblZqXVirrSACOI1g1X7io8tY79izXDkpMVLnyKe_YbIbrPouEpurOrUwYQGADRMwgOZgbkN/s400/family+pic+small.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324762164823216386" border="0" /></a><br />Our group :)<br /></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-29959721740763147182009-04-14T11:17:00.007+02:002009-04-14T12:56:56.263+02:00Out around Beijing<div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">While my parents were visiting, I took them out around in Beijing. Every day something different.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb66UuAFalVNJ2wF9Ok_E7HSh2AXEN2CxJZ00mjlEMV2V87C-ezN_gHtmRv2fYq2PYyh-28Ia-jbMQwWU_Sf-rC_SnwcHe9PO86ls-d3stvNGsPULRp0UTywSc-DmZDrn0MD5v/s1600-h/Bird.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb66UuAFalVNJ2wF9Ok_E7HSh2AXEN2CxJZ00mjlEMV2V87C-ezN_gHtmRv2fYq2PYyh-28Ia-jbMQwWU_Sf-rC_SnwcHe9PO86ls-d3stvNGsPULRp0UTywSc-DmZDrn0MD5v/s400/Bird.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324491114145465138" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Caught red handed!</span> (or should I say red-faced...?)<br />This little yellow terrorist has been eating all the flowers, throwing them around the house, eating the remote controls and newspapers, and making lots of noise.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NGEPqlVO3WG_7PF-foDWl5zVKFnDZfh1lVI7wfkcWpHAOgPEI-5qtyMkOkgfRtepcWEXJjDwXM8Dov4iNbePdCnj69JWmZmRSm1q93WfwItJq87AyTLbSnOSB5ym1QjD57QE/s1600-h/city+gate+night+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NGEPqlVO3WG_7PF-foDWl5zVKFnDZfh1lVI7wfkcWpHAOgPEI-5qtyMkOkgfRtepcWEXJjDwXM8Dov4iNbePdCnj69JWmZmRSm1q93WfwItJq87AyTLbSnOSB5ym1QjD57QE/s400/city+gate+night+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324491116080202930" border="0" /></a><br />City gate South of Tian'anmen Square<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDykwYi182RBxPN8PDAi9BbM5dP9dZkJoZoB4MNz7_1HYUYJCbB81toK3Q19Wf1xO11S3Vl3GK86LxeTOhmoeWQ5uNz7OywgQW9DHdpq0_zlGK2CKCWr9QbQNIMF7nRfwzenkm/s1600-h/city+gate+night+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDykwYi182RBxPN8PDAi9BbM5dP9dZkJoZoB4MNz7_1HYUYJCbB81toK3Q19Wf1xO11S3Vl3GK86LxeTOhmoeWQ5uNz7OywgQW9DHdpq0_zlGK2CKCWr9QbQNIMF7nRfwzenkm/s400/city+gate+night+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324491112974776754" border="0" /></a><br />City gate South of Tian'anmen Square by night<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpnFS7CI3Nhnpv1H0rabI-ibFDBDs8a2sLnX3UmtBKdosNuLkGiVokWjp53gu0NCtKsxcB00QJbFw-6QmfJl5AfTeCZi-Wgc7zaauSwCaUMci6wpi9i934jI2f_ZFi5zI28Tp/s1600-h/hutong+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqpnFS7CI3Nhnpv1H0rabI-ibFDBDs8a2sLnX3UmtBKdosNuLkGiVokWjp53gu0NCtKsxcB00QJbFw-6QmfJl5AfTeCZi-Wgc7zaauSwCaUMci6wpi9i934jI2f_ZFi5zI28Tp/s400/hutong+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324491110476359874" border="0" /></a><br />We walked around one of the many hutongs<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j1GZ2hxJBZMPnEXFsU-ZFWPhSq4BkVxIweghCyx6AX2MZNDB9cGRGKbJ2-ycoBs_zARqVOdqnYvd_NlnyiuanncYKJVqjGy_v8_v4a-2WlnpIc92Dl76V7uQLjWfbcaf99pj/s1600-h/hutong+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6j1GZ2hxJBZMPnEXFsU-ZFWPhSq4BkVxIweghCyx6AX2MZNDB9cGRGKbJ2-ycoBs_zARqVOdqnYvd_NlnyiuanncYKJVqjGy_v8_v4a-2WlnpIc92Dl76V7uQLjWfbcaf99pj/s400/hutong+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324491106232624706" border="0" /></a><br />People playing Go on a sunny spring afternoon. They don't seem to mind that they are sitting on a busy intersection (near Zhangzizhonglu) with the traffic rushing past them.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBss93g8jK49PSo_xhVQTOD3nlZEHtMZ9I7F_SwW1BEeDjvC9SY5HnvSIRmIPYk9k2OUYOjVNizFVl84Mt1hAy1TmRnTd94BgUNmEBYKjBIH1zM95EUkgr0QPZOeCX8hOKPpiL/s1600-h/hutong+3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBss93g8jK49PSo_xhVQTOD3nlZEHtMZ9I7F_SwW1BEeDjvC9SY5HnvSIRmIPYk9k2OUYOjVNizFVl84Mt1hAy1TmRnTd94BgUNmEBYKjBIH1zM95EUkgr0QPZOeCX8hOKPpiL/s400/hutong+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324488177101228098" border="0" /></a><br />Too bad I didn't record the sound this dog was making. In the hutong that we walked in, it seemed like everyone and all the animals were staring at us.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRxwh8k2Z-2WrBEHg_zfjZD1lakjhBB9RK3oN4pMGJWYpdHHMPnpw46Jrnq4fbZlobc22N_ykJAEXXLlRvjdFnKuiKIyMwRzMOU4tjGcpHpUrF_bPVfqLWbMVzmjU5KPFfhyL/s1600-h/hutong+4.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnRxwh8k2Z-2WrBEHg_zfjZD1lakjhBB9RK3oN4pMGJWYpdHHMPnpw46Jrnq4fbZlobc22N_ykJAEXXLlRvjdFnKuiKIyMwRzMOU4tjGcpHpUrF_bPVfqLWbMVzmjU5KPFfhyL/s400/hutong+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324488175670737362" border="0" /></a><br />The local fish vendor<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RFDfHiuwyFBQ7sfu99tv0P-K2Gnqnwf6orRsZSnAcuqpobbeX9vPMcz0YaeJMDv-woHyGwYgLjxKm1ls4z9MaIBhDgbvkUHW0d59hA1qSyKNAiepwNHbIZQbEey5p3XgFpAJ/s1600-h/hutong+5.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7RFDfHiuwyFBQ7sfu99tv0P-K2Gnqnwf6orRsZSnAcuqpobbeX9vPMcz0YaeJMDv-woHyGwYgLjxKm1ls4z9MaIBhDgbvkUHW0d59hA1qSyKNAiepwNHbIZQbEey5p3XgFpAJ/s400/hutong+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324488172897158290" border="0" /></a><br />These fish were still alive; sometimes jumping out onto the ground. That's as fresh as it gets around here.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ys_oVGyljtVWeYATbdpa8xoU6TSPKd46P7uxkeT_te5P_3_8Rgt77bSzN22cm1Qc1xHFUWw1myiGpKVYIjszB7MYiicr6UUFY9ala8mui9tmKGs-2FNbqpbXEkNSZBO3Nu0-/s1600-h/hutong+6.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 293px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ys_oVGyljtVWeYATbdpa8xoU6TSPKd46P7uxkeT_te5P_3_8Rgt77bSzN22cm1Qc1xHFUWw1myiGpKVYIjszB7MYiicr6UUFY9ala8mui9tmKGs-2FNbqpbXEkNSZBO3Nu0-/s400/hutong+6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324488173871695442" border="0" /></a><br />Someone left a pair of yellow boots<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFPLF1EnNHo6nesQPrAv7J5MyaKgCtvWvAegD6hPiXjTYo2cvTsNBc3ctB2O7dsZZD6o2N0nXEVZ5etC3U7Oxbxte32AB8nvJakfXwqLuyqqj7dtgYwZJqM20xNprjcImKSRq/s1600-h/hutong+7.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQFPLF1EnNHo6nesQPrAv7J5MyaKgCtvWvAegD6hPiXjTYo2cvTsNBc3ctB2O7dsZZD6o2N0nXEVZ5etC3U7Oxbxte32AB8nvJakfXwqLuyqqj7dtgYwZJqM20xNprjcImKSRq/s400/hutong+7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324487987955422434" border="0" /></a><br />Plastic bottle buyer. People walk all around the city to collect empty plastic bottles and sell them per kilo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsmuQKbbJmb6uA81l4cqxU4N-PpIXzHo3hf0Id5pI5_gL7P4ACuG7mQN6CwMbcbFUiEipAvU7Ic2eo8to-ekQJgidXi0Bl16Bg7-fXid_0JV1ul7h1tNVe6siKZXmfEsVY9Mp/s1600-h/hutong+8.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpsmuQKbbJmb6uA81l4cqxU4N-PpIXzHo3hf0Id5pI5_gL7P4ACuG7mQN6CwMbcbFUiEipAvU7Ic2eo8to-ekQJgidXi0Bl16Bg7-fXid_0JV1ul7h1tNVe6siKZXmfEsVY9Mp/s400/hutong+8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324487987312381122" border="0" /></a><br />Piles of paper and cardboard are delivered in small carts and stacked onto this truck.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppFsz_2vmy6jxF6MNJ02A3XW-b04QIrqOxOSit2-yWogC1zMwZxN4-1baUMPODp7h9UQ_QuYqKqNFG5NOECyBVs4qbTOxu1WdK-XBvDCelWOQDsyBSoTOz_b99QSInioJvAw-/s1600-h/hutong+9.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhppFsz_2vmy6jxF6MNJ02A3XW-b04QIrqOxOSit2-yWogC1zMwZxN4-1baUMPODp7h9UQ_QuYqKqNFG5NOECyBVs4qbTOxu1WdK-XBvDCelWOQDsyBSoTOz_b99QSInioJvAw-/s400/hutong+9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324487985765050770" border="0" /></a><br />This car has no hood, a hole in the wind screen and a busted front.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPfl1dNXxGLdmgLK7PIixnUBPTQ2Z6bCI24troCVwPPnC2jA7618OHgFMnij-q4tu0dYrJsG3GURdtC6rZg5q3YgKJFLXefm4LcTiird2qUr-sRjhkeKMcVbMSZHyP4q9gOiR/s1600-h/kao+ya+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPfl1dNXxGLdmgLK7PIixnUBPTQ2Z6bCI24troCVwPPnC2jA7618OHgFMnij-q4tu0dYrJsG3GURdtC6rZg5q3YgKJFLXefm4LcTiird2qUr-sRjhkeKMcVbMSZHyP4q9gOiR/s400/kao+ya+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324487985549403778" border="0" /></a><br />We ended the day at "Li Qun's Beijing Roast Duck Restaurant". It is a famous place, and we had only one hour to eat. The roast duck was delicious.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIKrqCce4_L0Ii02XoXKeQMqhSM-JtnnK5VK3HvwxdjeohRSEPrAzRSQ5fO6DGTPLeXOgU9uHFG4iteCqIzLO3Xi_Dv7QdwL27qXmSSwoYE5AiEWgGjdft5WvGNrn8m1KR1Po/s1600-h/kao+ya+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 354px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIKrqCce4_L0Ii02XoXKeQMqhSM-JtnnK5VK3HvwxdjeohRSEPrAzRSQ5fO6DGTPLeXOgU9uHFG4iteCqIzLO3Xi_Dv7QdwL27qXmSSwoYE5AiEWgGjdft5WvGNrn8m1KR1Po/s400/kao+ya+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324487979073819986" border="0" /></a><br />By the front door guests can inspect 'their duck' being roasted<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRQ41Wk6KpR5ScuWMfxo_3DT9oMfU6BNCIUKMFgYccatGhdAa8S-Ea-FEsJQG4V0g5zxjBm4Z1NHYb7mwD7puW0zQYd2SQwS2YM_sj_6_gXk7Y_BaMbHY9P7CyDWJWsZhZzTl/s1600-h/lantern.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRQ41Wk6KpR5ScuWMfxo_3DT9oMfU6BNCIUKMFgYccatGhdAa8S-Ea-FEsJQG4V0g5zxjBm4Z1NHYb7mwD7puW0zQYd2SQwS2YM_sj_6_gXk7Y_BaMbHY9P7CyDWJWsZhZzTl/s400/lantern.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324487475108418738" border="0" /></a><br />Lanterns<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2O0Rerm7w5G9TaKARBsTbifiHUqI11j8TOMSRd4uhtKcFLNqEVLN4MIv1VU8inv_APovgy-TtcucMVyf0WcwUb34cNCHy21EFq0RFoaz4kf8ZLdi1E-pxa26cNXz51lmceRE/s1600-h/Tiananmen+sq+1.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja2O0Rerm7w5G9TaKARBsTbifiHUqI11j8TOMSRd4uhtKcFLNqEVLN4MIv1VU8inv_APovgy-TtcucMVyf0WcwUb34cNCHy21EFq0RFoaz4kf8ZLdi1E-pxa26cNXz51lmceRE/s400/Tiananmen+sq+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324487470945395858" border="0" /></a><br />I title this photo: "Abbey Road" ~ it is actually policemen parading on Tian'anmen Square<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Uxy3QgVaGv1R4gtClvis3nAREIj4afMTiUFsFQyWV95RIUZPZ-60RSatOrB_ZG3Fi0I4-zyrQmb_Yxqe0oZv8tmxjVW6zEzNWf0r89LbMX76weTxZhuTKPsKHUsHH1Kz3f7y/s1600-h/Tiananmen+sq+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Uxy3QgVaGv1R4gtClvis3nAREIj4afMTiUFsFQyWV95RIUZPZ-60RSatOrB_ZG3Fi0I4-zyrQmb_Yxqe0oZv8tmxjVW6zEzNWf0r89LbMX76weTxZhuTKPsKHUsHH1Kz3f7y/s400/Tiananmen+sq+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324487469900857938" border="0" /></a><br />Two girls asked if they could take a photo with my mother<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5mdZK_V440WrVNd4FANUFGOMzjVbQb9UVvWzvMK0nzTKmaNwe-dd8ro00of0j1hWy9UocVCCWbrWtbbPdTsyh_XfFT550Jfr4egF0vFd440PSeluunBidnE-hm7-WlK8V_k2/s1600-h/Tiananmen+sq+3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 296px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5mdZK_V440WrVNd4FANUFGOMzjVbQb9UVvWzvMK0nzTKmaNwe-dd8ro00of0j1hWy9UocVCCWbrWtbbPdTsyh_XfFT550Jfr4egF0vFd440PSeluunBidnE-hm7-WlK8V_k2/s400/Tiananmen+sq+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324487464367238306" border="0" /></a><br />More security forces on Tian'anmen Square<br /></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-4461921723795437872009-04-14T10:22:00.007+02:002009-04-14T11:16:46.763+02:00The Great Wall (hiking from Jingshanling to Simatai)<div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">My parents came to visit, and I've been showing them around Beijing for all of last week. On Wednesday we visited the Great Wall. There are many places along the Wall to go to, and it is always the question which site is the least touristic but still accessible. We chose to put on our hiking boots and walk from <span style="font-style: italic;">Jinshanling</span> to <span style="font-style: italic;">Simatai</span> sections of the Wall, which is approximately 10km over steep hills. It was pretty exhausting, especially in the bright sunny day.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yM1yT3Tb6tBziIdGtLsUeTVB-uEe0obaZrJaOP0ufKjJ3RZGOi1SnbGZau_DEJULqN2mf5jv5gPwO-vly-Z9Wm9Dmk1MU-08Wv9qM-9bwjqbZbvjICWWAyBSU8TKPih2JLDn/s1600-h/wall+01.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yM1yT3Tb6tBziIdGtLsUeTVB-uEe0obaZrJaOP0ufKjJ3RZGOi1SnbGZau_DEJULqN2mf5jv5gPwO-vly-Z9Wm9Dmk1MU-08Wv9qM-9bwjqbZbvjICWWAyBSU8TKPih2JLDn/s400/wall+01.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466761566622626" border="0" /></a><br />We had left our house at 6:30 AM and after a subway to <span style="font-style: italic;">Dongzhimen</span> boarded a bus to <span style="font-style: italic;">Miyun</span>, a town close to the Wall. There we tried to take a local bus, but the next one was at 11:00 so we negotiated a taxi (return trip for 150 RMB). It wasn't such a bad deal, as there were four of us and a private pickup would be much faster than a local bus. Our driver dropped us off at one place, and would pick us up at the other in the afternoon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pBKoQLv6EP6z-i6w4QQLz2M3M2hyphenhyphenHnMasCtIzgY56ojcvThJDMuaYkfVlRJ2-cbbnKDeGh4X99PWbwT8Cm2gEECWw3GG2xAQyCQHkNOAPEV4R0aQ-QhHYP-WIhryqxJfV93a/s1600-h/wall+02.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1pBKoQLv6EP6z-i6w4QQLz2M3M2hyphenhyphenHnMasCtIzgY56ojcvThJDMuaYkfVlRJ2-cbbnKDeGh4X99PWbwT8Cm2gEECWw3GG2xAQyCQHkNOAPEV4R0aQ-QhHYP-WIhryqxJfV93a/s400/wall+02.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466756585714066" border="0" /></a><br />The Wall was amazing, like one would expect. Along with us was a large group of foreigners with tour guide, but we quickly managed to overtake them and were pretty much alone all day, except for a few hikers along the way.<br />The route we were taking lead us up and down and was steep at some points. Most sections of the Wall were not restored, and looked authentic.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoJ6wL8MbBeYH37zeJYghKaaN3wlfXGi6Yueg5-lcyBWRUxQfd3-VBjwliabYVqqdy296aSa0WYHHVeLZwv3byx0_PeINE1silUG2O1pw21mmojDBzpctVPfWHBuRcB1RrLoe/s1600-h/wall+03.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoJ6wL8MbBeYH37zeJYghKaaN3wlfXGi6Yueg5-lcyBWRUxQfd3-VBjwliabYVqqdy296aSa0WYHHVeLZwv3byx0_PeINE1silUG2O1pw21mmojDBzpctVPfWHBuRcB1RrLoe/s400/wall+03.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466757890695618" border="0" /></a><br />We walked for nearly four hours through the hot sun, but the views were definately worth a little sunburn!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN_Io6Ss5fin-l5Rj68IPHtCFOwkmiaT_VsJoKzDM7fosHkZjE9Vr1lAsmixGst077-wWJJTUZ88Mxgc3Is0lt52hOcmNwy3ADmaJPTW7JKyBKsH5rsv_wD2DfM4xBCfwCXOB/s1600-h/wall+04.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRN_Io6Ss5fin-l5Rj68IPHtCFOwkmiaT_VsJoKzDM7fosHkZjE9Vr1lAsmixGst077-wWJJTUZ88Mxgc3Is0lt52hOcmNwy3ADmaJPTW7JKyBKsH5rsv_wD2DfM4xBCfwCXOB/s400/wall+04.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466754247370962" border="0" /></a><br />The area around the Wall is dry and dusty, with the exeption of a couple colorful trees with blossoms. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusbiw_SUV3jM5JFSAlD8DIN2hZcp98cLcqqyxmxfWc_hj8AZf8wC-_jtlVgXQ_WNRsFc1zP4DLSjfPUXx3fXP6l-Zv488Y1WS4ux8xmEK4t7oNnX3QYOJaB7MgU650rUe7i65/s1600-h/wall+05.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgusbiw_SUV3jM5JFSAlD8DIN2hZcp98cLcqqyxmxfWc_hj8AZf8wC-_jtlVgXQ_WNRsFc1zP4DLSjfPUXx3fXP6l-Zv488Y1WS4ux8xmEK4t7oNnX3QYOJaB7MgU650rUe7i65/s400/wall+05.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466395602207250" border="0" /></a><br />We passed countless watchtowers, some of them no more than ruins<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczE-dMgyw8kq7xhQ48jDt1NyitXa_3tdGHCfdMJk3mEkjyZepH6Zq7teaZ7xQlugh3EuM5S6s6DOqIPe92EVKZjs4pZOzQ7mS6avmwXFHJ8FKli46Ua3l1LhtPTYZdIQGeljc/s1600-h/wall+06.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczE-dMgyw8kq7xhQ48jDt1NyitXa_3tdGHCfdMJk3mEkjyZepH6Zq7teaZ7xQlugh3EuM5S6s6DOqIPe92EVKZjs4pZOzQ7mS6avmwXFHJ8FKli46Ua3l1LhtPTYZdIQGeljc/s400/wall+06.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466394629087442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCCvU0OsEGGIxls329NELpqcyjirxaQbb43fcBMPuqDR_7v-X4H1NvCU12DFTH-fA65Jzv7OY1nxjy4Hd-LPrMkRmsmRM1heRKeW0tBRyhNUR2le3faBdE6oMN-z3hv-I-8F7/s1600-h/wall+07.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUCCvU0OsEGGIxls329NELpqcyjirxaQbb43fcBMPuqDR_7v-X4H1NvCU12DFTH-fA65Jzv7OY1nxjy4Hd-LPrMkRmsmRM1heRKeW0tBRyhNUR2le3faBdE6oMN-z3hv-I-8F7/s400/wall+07.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466389112477010" border="0" /></a><br />Chen Yi with everpresent camera and tripod<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULCmqd3nue4WiJHc6bgu8aIo9DsO5v3IZAu1ISkGpvi_Sqdb37dOksF4_dUoDGycJSe7ui46zCyB-ge6eLkUx2AVX4L4CiC4YHMEClMlBC5QiS0aeLK7HI0_qCWHXQkAmwfat/s1600-h/wall+08.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhULCmqd3nue4WiJHc6bgu8aIo9DsO5v3IZAu1ISkGpvi_Sqdb37dOksF4_dUoDGycJSe7ui46zCyB-ge6eLkUx2AVX4L4CiC4YHMEClMlBC5QiS0aeLK7HI0_qCWHXQkAmwfat/s400/wall+08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466390084011106" border="0" /></a><br />This woman followed us half the way. When we started, a group of local women followed us and helped us, asking us to buy souvenirs later. They were very friendly (too friendly) and after a while became pushy to sell us souvenirs (post cards, books and drinks). This woman followed my mother for one hour, almost holding her hand every step she took, until we told her to get lost.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b8GN3xAX3arM-omAf4QQVfvalJZCpVp1UMVBp2ULMGhCaDz3AiVNMGvTeFlNDPey79bThxLigauFXbxU3ASsjZunut8FDsDJfkKW-PdTXDGKQGTBcWgdTVoOuwfgsiguMzOO/s1600-h/wall+09.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6b8GN3xAX3arM-omAf4QQVfvalJZCpVp1UMVBp2ULMGhCaDz3AiVNMGvTeFlNDPey79bThxLigauFXbxU3ASsjZunut8FDsDJfkKW-PdTXDGKQGTBcWgdTVoOuwfgsiguMzOO/s400/wall+09.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466382950532082" border="0" /></a><br />The total length of the Great Wall is more than 6,000 km, and it seems endless when standing on top. I pity the builders who had to carry all the heavy stones up here in the middle of nowhere.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2x3-nnLHCwDcsPpEqN3rEdDD0aPScKsKIi0B7IgRG66o-i8di-fbJ4KOFbaQgKisjtQM0qZ_WxFfZW3LW6Ci1pZGyyrDxyV-Boji1aq5me5k1aajb4whJF7KYmsp4c01dwTp/s1600-h/wall+10.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2x3-nnLHCwDcsPpEqN3rEdDD0aPScKsKIi0B7IgRG66o-i8di-fbJ4KOFbaQgKisjtQM0qZ_WxFfZW3LW6Ci1pZGyyrDxyV-Boji1aq5me5k1aajb4whJF7KYmsp4c01dwTp/s400/wall+10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466094257919186" border="0" /></a><br />There are many small hills, with climbs of a few hundred meters in altitude (up to 500)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQyungol8lMp54QtnP9W47if8UP5d9D46ViAWxUnb13N0F38QOAtrj3gm9NQLkuwTnVtH0oLQRECR3bmQ3RjpB1bqPtpmJW3I2D-hb7skjgGQvjOtbQfahyjZ0CGxLjxehSIn/s1600-h/wall+11.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkQyungol8lMp54QtnP9W47if8UP5d9D46ViAWxUnb13N0F38QOAtrj3gm9NQLkuwTnVtH0oLQRECR3bmQ3RjpB1bqPtpmJW3I2D-hb7skjgGQvjOtbQfahyjZ0CGxLjxehSIn/s400/wall+11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466086826526306" border="0" /></a><br />The steepest section is 70 degrees; that is nearly vertical!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85Z-afBbJpacpKwiUO-PXxYc2mLJkfKxmdpYTI4tFJf4ZVivJGHxmrZrHW-OpFCnAsN18kG5TKc9aHLicSouenQUXWF1CI4fm_d5Ppwys_HRefyiREm0Lu3Qn8sdRhjWqdNq7/s1600-h/wall+12.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85Z-afBbJpacpKwiUO-PXxYc2mLJkfKxmdpYTI4tFJf4ZVivJGHxmrZrHW-OpFCnAsN18kG5TKc9aHLicSouenQUXWF1CI4fm_d5Ppwys_HRefyiREm0Lu3Qn8sdRhjWqdNq7/s400/wall+12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466089423262626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-BSQIDc88_WOtINrvUGeMKxU7BBo5StEpjlZDY92SX95BROnnnIEmNxLXLeRq0xL7l4FDwUWSWA78Ha48UegIW7NqFNb1gNVM-ULw4rW1jURecRyTkz4KtMvrgybA0qZoMQ0/s1600-h/wall+13.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-BSQIDc88_WOtINrvUGeMKxU7BBo5StEpjlZDY92SX95BROnnnIEmNxLXLeRq0xL7l4FDwUWSWA78Ha48UegIW7NqFNb1gNVM-ULw4rW1jURecRyTkz4KtMvrgybA0qZoMQ0/s400/wall+13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466083012866258" border="0" /></a><br />Halfway we had lunch. We had brought a picnick with wine (Great Wall wine!). We ate fried fish, potato salad, sausages, bread with Dutch cheese and drank a glass of wine. After this my bag felt several kilo's lighter (might have also been partly due to the wine on a hot day)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy64JRUeoD3WRbuvMwd6wjgMSDxB3WYXunPfgn71sc94GYshDu1lgTS4hTCTc11oNSVtXFy6uh4_jpiIcpNkzPmhijsppDHgswYmGpSTJ-nG9K8XpVLAr7MkXeQRWsLScoOPtV/s1600-h/wall+14.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy64JRUeoD3WRbuvMwd6wjgMSDxB3WYXunPfgn71sc94GYshDu1lgTS4hTCTc11oNSVtXFy6uh4_jpiIcpNkzPmhijsppDHgswYmGpSTJ-nG9K8XpVLAr7MkXeQRWsLScoOPtV/s400/wall+14.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324466082953605586" border="0" /></a><br />Four hours is more than enough for the hike. We walked fast, and took many breaks along the way. Neverhteless it was a serious excercise and by the end of the day we were all tired.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj890rGR2TXd7nv0Z2x4SFnh5dm2u11PI0NCEUyJAwD8G_ZyQUdjYnHJQJRdtF2skQ2n7lp3qvpHN0bb0HAYtSz19rP4iBpp07m-s4x4zQCinKxZzfeUDfxBrsJWrxSeqfQPqP/s1600-h/wall+15.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj890rGR2TXd7nv0Z2x4SFnh5dm2u11PI0NCEUyJAwD8G_ZyQUdjYnHJQJRdtF2skQ2n7lp3qvpHN0bb0HAYtSz19rP4iBpp07m-s4x4zQCinKxZzfeUDfxBrsJWrxSeqfQPqP/s400/wall+15.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324465689135414738" border="0" /></a><br />The weather was perfect; 27 degrees or so, a little windy and almost clear skies.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW04ATKntIiTM7jQ7hH3kbZavwDsIVvl_lQvkrPP3k0cvb0qVBS3dW81wZw9eQJw8LWzig04HYMviOb-IMIAGYTXtyowg2gnjowiV6t5VYVHywiQOqTC_XZzTOgHWu6UL-zv4b/s1600-h/wall+16.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 315px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW04ATKntIiTM7jQ7hH3kbZavwDsIVvl_lQvkrPP3k0cvb0qVBS3dW81wZw9eQJw8LWzig04HYMviOb-IMIAGYTXtyowg2gnjowiV6t5VYVHywiQOqTC_XZzTOgHWu6UL-zv4b/s400/wall+16.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324465685976341282" border="0" /></a><br />20 minutes before the end, we reached the Simatai section of the wall, which belongs to Beijing (the other side belongs to another county) and we had to pay again (40 RMB). A sneaky tactic to earn some extra money, we thought. The Simatai section of the wall was not so impressive, because it was mostly restored and looked 'new'.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AYfofLBbEZjQvNdRWrBM_p5fApr7-a8pnty-7k5JCOaAaocYKQeEvmJ-w_zabP3LxQtUD1BNJl9Jye-0UaR1aP2XUu9d8Ts3GYAq28IIIuMnhJELNS-kO79UhnSd-MCjdsEf/s1600-h/wall+17.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5AYfofLBbEZjQvNdRWrBM_p5fApr7-a8pnty-7k5JCOaAaocYKQeEvmJ-w_zabP3LxQtUD1BNJl9Jye-0UaR1aP2XUu9d8Ts3GYAq28IIIuMnhJELNS-kO79UhnSd-MCjdsEf/s400/wall+17.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324465680848850274" border="0" /></a><br />My parents enjoying the view<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZ-PIZB7o0p7RV1o3ZMmYRjCS_mLbSbFCsXz_YAL0Ug4K5ffeJ8fJeMJC21248ZggrDGKps4UjDzEjr6cCQQUtHqnvEK4qtlyagqO51OZPC97lzjvaGblDjs1peGjVEwwxb_h/s1600-h/wall+18.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZ-PIZB7o0p7RV1o3ZMmYRjCS_mLbSbFCsXz_YAL0Ug4K5ffeJ8fJeMJC21248ZggrDGKps4UjDzEjr6cCQQUtHqnvEK4qtlyagqO51OZPC97lzjvaGblDjs1peGjVEwwxb_h/s400/wall+18.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324465681599066722" border="0" /></a><br />Fortunately, the second part of the hike was mostly downhill.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu734noy6c6U5oNMU3_tnHi5HAZEYSVX-An3wcBl2e2PUhcMRB2QSk8G_1jl-qH_c_epBqthE7deEKIDwDmy5-cRFMNLrKpvEBXJnM0Jjx25n0l_Cko2tjB7yHoXQbSmk5mqU1/s1600-h/wall+19.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu734noy6c6U5oNMU3_tnHi5HAZEYSVX-An3wcBl2e2PUhcMRB2QSk8G_1jl-qH_c_epBqthE7deEKIDwDmy5-cRFMNLrKpvEBXJnM0Jjx25n0l_Cko2tjB7yHoXQbSmk5mqU1/s400/wall+19.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5324465676134217954" border="0" /></a><br />The end of our hike is in sight (halfway up the next hill)<br /></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-6751787315903969912009-04-06T01:38:00.009+02:002009-04-14T06:57:18.278+02:00Temple of Heaven park<div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">My parents came to visit, and we spent some hours in the Temple of Heaven park. The actual temple is so-so, but in the surrounding park are many things to see and do.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx2pEw9Wy2ySxEjHzuW4UMQdFNreUskKfPjfM_05lcwmwTa7t4sR4sWP-ashH5QWqRqVRu0b5yWA8pgdCCGZdjg5IWm7dpWex4HrNrYgws1f2U9b-09kXh-Si1EHjdDR4cNpj/s1600-h/Pavilion.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGx2pEw9Wy2ySxEjHzuW4UMQdFNreUskKfPjfM_05lcwmwTa7t4sR4sWP-ashH5QWqRqVRu0b5yWA8pgdCCGZdjg5IWm7dpWex4HrNrYgws1f2U9b-09kXh-Si1EHjdDR4cNpj/s400/Pavilion.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321360500612259986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kBH34yBPrIeX-KcmrcAxgRklT3GqEtbDpv6lfkzmXFxpAKaMdOBm5zQi3RSUpJaDpQOFTPqcl6aRCXTOGkib36ETKQDrYBBveJf2GOfxAUB6gWVrtin5wlFWwv_7vGpQXnkS/s1600-h/Tientan+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 181px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3kBH34yBPrIeX-KcmrcAxgRklT3GqEtbDpv6lfkzmXFxpAKaMdOBm5zQi3RSUpJaDpQOFTPqcl6aRCXTOGkib36ETKQDrYBBveJf2GOfxAUB6gWVrtin5wlFWwv_7vGpQXnkS/s400/Tientan+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359977096610322" border="0" /></a><br />The Temple of Heaven was built 600 years ago and was a place for the emperor to bring offers to the gods.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStn8Bs3DxafpQh1Dbbv9rnn046eeekmRkQ2PrzvMInpSJ0kwRLtpV4-iC20mNSJaKujpHJ2qKc0Eg5uMie2tg_fq03GuUH6ExqSCk-Tj7Ns5s36CZmbc3gaSoCuJeISiU3TZE/s1600-h/Tientan+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 263px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiStn8Bs3DxafpQh1Dbbv9rnn046eeekmRkQ2PrzvMInpSJ0kwRLtpV4-iC20mNSJaKujpHJ2qKc0Eg5uMie2tg_fq03GuUH6ExqSCk-Tj7Ns5s36CZmbc3gaSoCuJeISiU3TZE/s400/Tientan+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359972227397010" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzkDqI-nkcYxmPeyrHuwkcirTqy5s-K-z__cUixPHb4veYUdnLDVcCo3Q0aLjwjd8oEm0aynDFn0IJFSgJOQRaeE64fxBQM5EtOnZ-4b_CJ-CDehaAOQHFDedulV1oP6NHiWn/s1600-h/Yellow+flower.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzkDqI-nkcYxmPeyrHuwkcirTqy5s-K-z__cUixPHb4veYUdnLDVcCo3Q0aLjwjd8oEm0aynDFn0IJFSgJOQRaeE64fxBQM5EtOnZ-4b_CJ-CDehaAOQHFDedulV1oP6NHiWn/s400/Yellow+flower.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359966711970754" border="0" /></a><br />Spring has come to Beijing, and there are many flowers and blossoms<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F4rdg7m0HEGJfAmdQ4b4pifKzjA-wCStIa93VajxfO463f1fs1Upz_lYDEQy5IIgcCsOiQ334DDoXQLjWM0aICLnKWFUP1BcMLHXyfJko1kelYo-8C8NlYqBAqFYrbAG_gLC/s1600-h/Young+and+old.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4F4rdg7m0HEGJfAmdQ4b4pifKzjA-wCStIa93VajxfO463f1fs1Upz_lYDEQy5IIgcCsOiQ334DDoXQLjWM0aICLnKWFUP1BcMLHXyfJko1kelYo-8C8NlYqBAqFYrbAG_gLC/s400/Young+and+old.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359969523915538" border="0" /></a><br />Young and old observing a music performance<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp_D3vMbIP5BJC1qFCLodj009PT5lNaXNSu9_edF0aKJWhKJquajd5ChCx-ycj-IYmxn30-HRGwrta5lOQCQHi1Jgia3jf00yu1Mv5NR-uB4VhhMrh3V7dsqLKCcA8s-Cr60s/s1600-h/tientan+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilp_D3vMbIP5BJC1qFCLodj009PT5lNaXNSu9_edF0aKJWhKJquajd5ChCx-ycj-IYmxn30-HRGwrta5lOQCQHi1Jgia3jf00yu1Mv5NR-uB4VhhMrh3V7dsqLKCcA8s-Cr60s/s400/tientan+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359777933692018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpOFCS82G6ReGAru3mE1AaX1EKCuYIZmhl-TbDklsazQGQPh5SZzKJY3ohZT3ls0sHD5gZUHc9dB7yZCJU3tOZweda_S32esnkqpXJZ8_fX6_GScKF_CS5eImWKoNF2wz22p8/s1600-h/Tiantan+4.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTpOFCS82G6ReGAru3mE1AaX1EKCuYIZmhl-TbDklsazQGQPh5SZzKJY3ohZT3ls0sHD5gZUHc9dB7yZCJU3tOZweda_S32esnkqpXJZ8_fX6_GScKF_CS5eImWKoNF2wz22p8/s400/Tiantan+4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359773103104578" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGH_I6MOmNjK6nUZaFtm1S19Og3TnTy9ooXFbh8v6PkikYm6H5QWiqgQFZEKjTq9A3BjiWpYIu2cnhOhLrPp-HkEuiNfxx9UZeJe-qDZqHQtkoqbnDQzaqLnUwCjQD6B07u_f8/s1600-h/Sleepy+time.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 295px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGH_I6MOmNjK6nUZaFtm1S19Og3TnTy9ooXFbh8v6PkikYm6H5QWiqgQFZEKjTq9A3BjiWpYIu2cnhOhLrPp-HkEuiNfxx9UZeJe-qDZqHQtkoqbnDQzaqLnUwCjQD6B07u_f8/s400/Sleepy+time.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359771545940754" border="0" /></a><br />The park is a nice place to take a rest on a Sunday afternoon<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdC7rh0EQ-Itd_cpYod2dbL1UGg4daOtZCEtg_YYPmJcQtDMSO9GZyOt4heIg-ubL8CLuiR8CeGP_CrhcXxlJ_Q1pczpjhWhgTM5e2sC1iphEBbnsEElRQDGmyJd3BOnetcRO/s1600-h/Sleepy+dude.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 278px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdC7rh0EQ-Itd_cpYod2dbL1UGg4daOtZCEtg_YYPmJcQtDMSO9GZyOt4heIg-ubL8CLuiR8CeGP_CrhcXxlJ_Q1pczpjhWhgTM5e2sC1iphEBbnsEElRQDGmyJd3BOnetcRO/s400/Sleepy+dude.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359767065124258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimhkWwnivZGNwkubax-4W96buATvadRhjK0wxSPdLSV6KtotZU1glz15qJ0jKVacqz_-jYtNabSNh2UYWS0taYfJmQ4ItpwG9Dl5oLI5iSz8Q46KcHwBB9AbuiMeJDNebgvBK/s1600-h/Poodles.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 241px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiimhkWwnivZGNwkubax-4W96buATvadRhjK0wxSPdLSV6KtotZU1glz15qJ0jKVacqz_-jYtNabSNh2UYWS0taYfJmQ4ItpwG9Dl5oLI5iSz8Q46KcHwBB9AbuiMeJDNebgvBK/s400/Poodles.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359764270166690" border="0" /></a><br />Later, in a hutong near the park, we saw these two dogs<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizw_ffFCCCpITlIfijgVFB9t19WVG0oj6hf9rUn29vALAUZFXuzLQR2XP7fImc_lbAc6N0SnyR0047h7riIEsF4ZIRdoLuPGn4KOn3T-LJyeQj-eiITnZ8Kk2870yfQaod1jiK/s1600-h/Little+boy.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 186px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizw_ffFCCCpITlIfijgVFB9t19WVG0oj6hf9rUn29vALAUZFXuzLQR2XP7fImc_lbAc6N0SnyR0047h7riIEsF4ZIRdoLuPGn4KOn3T-LJyeQj-eiITnZ8Kk2870yfQaod1jiK/s400/Little+boy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359496457136178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XTurv4wjQLGkBmP5-tqvVIehiBOryelIrYs2nRl9chB1SfHtxI4Fu6qMNMTj2_sq5m-Strq24oczOxr0szuashy7jFXe5sy5lDqepUrysiwR1i6vwdNUr52Ode24aAhY7hkY/s1600-h/Instrument+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1XTurv4wjQLGkBmP5-tqvVIehiBOryelIrYs2nRl9chB1SfHtxI4Fu6qMNMTj2_sq5m-Strq24oczOxr0szuashy7jFXe5sy5lDqepUrysiwR1i6vwdNUr52Ode24aAhY7hkY/s400/Instrument+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359493585269650" border="0" /></a><br />Some people played traditional music and sang songs<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxB-5ZsNMZH0raoUNBGZKavZJDejGiFmhc2lumWKbjD25QcM_290b3ZeyhOtgq956W-GGB_29wMshA4p18tBs_j1XfnaKt_81XDFy43BCcyt4rnwpGmPnNe9Y2a-ByG3P-ewef/s1600-h/Instrument+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxB-5ZsNMZH0raoUNBGZKavZJDejGiFmhc2lumWKbjD25QcM_290b3ZeyhOtgq956W-GGB_29wMshA4p18tBs_j1XfnaKt_81XDFy43BCcyt4rnwpGmPnNe9Y2a-ByG3P-ewef/s400/Instrument+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359494466234498" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfzfikb9mfyDAdgw7kKjzlkVa2beNSutPZ5PNwvSaxcmkEydReXWoVn9N_fSCSG80FW1fPGbkVPHelQJWh5Doz0oU5RPV4GrsSOPezNUTBMX7pHizaU6RKiEbJRRjQ27_CrwP/s1600-h/Flute.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDfzfikb9mfyDAdgw7kKjzlkVa2beNSutPZ5PNwvSaxcmkEydReXWoVn9N_fSCSG80FW1fPGbkVPHelQJWh5Doz0oU5RPV4GrsSOPezNUTBMX7pHizaU6RKiEbJRRjQ27_CrwP/s400/Flute.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359489525547426" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pXaKF_gb06ww8OSe6ILen25d6kboP3x50GMwUBzZsD9eswXh9IV3Xo1RkvxQEJcPtf4eKyNwZsnq_rsX7TNR_AD30ges_sDBFRMBuK1OrC0JTl_8hpBKNckb4QHMG1UliMp0/s1600-h/Forest.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_pXaKF_gb06ww8OSe6ILen25d6kboP3x50GMwUBzZsD9eswXh9IV3Xo1RkvxQEJcPtf4eKyNwZsnq_rsX7TNR_AD30ges_sDBFRMBuK1OrC0JTl_8hpBKNckb4QHMG1UliMp0/s400/Forest.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321359495345067586" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vm_YuKjhU4bEEIRp6SzdZhx5IFh-kWAT9hLxVtirZZ8_aIjXthXMvekPES-sDceqpmC6QmOkbUnhMONNiGCSXuJkaB4CCducNbcY-fG359RpTqMVXqZOGSnF6k8goBX6VslH/s1600-h/Cleaner.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 328px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4vm_YuKjhU4bEEIRp6SzdZhx5IFh-kWAT9hLxVtirZZ8_aIjXthXMvekPES-sDceqpmC6QmOkbUnhMONNiGCSXuJkaB4CCducNbcY-fG359RpTqMVXqZOGSnF6k8goBX6VslH/s400/Cleaner.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321358941747894098" border="0" /></a><br />This cleaner is well protected against the sun, dust and tourists with cameras<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3z5_Le8bzQ1TqGOpaKFGtPv7Nxtj2LVeheuMETjqc_mQsf-r2oA67ly7kfdgkOW_z-PajW9NmcvrzJ33ue_a33eqtVD9vGmQ5JI9SiGG5Vx6Ui3K-dZB611KvDJp0z3Sz0oI/s1600-h/children+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3z5_Le8bzQ1TqGOpaKFGtPv7Nxtj2LVeheuMETjqc_mQsf-r2oA67ly7kfdgkOW_z-PajW9NmcvrzJ33ue_a33eqtVD9vGmQ5JI9SiGG5Vx6Ui3K-dZB611KvDJp0z3Sz0oI/s400/children+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321358940225268322" border="0" /></a><br />These kids were fascinated by the little bicycle that rides by itself<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEign2sHBDRMn2rGULfVAF14QLdaNt19NAuu_7irfRBw0zNSzLBKrPUOYSOXB_OPOFsAbQfD5cfq-zKqtyR8qbmd4OtcspOjTcF8c65YWhedGHkmp-BO-sbgK-uxg1RdhaU_eXU4/s1600-h/Baby.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 149px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEign2sHBDRMn2rGULfVAF14QLdaNt19NAuu_7irfRBw0zNSzLBKrPUOYSOXB_OPOFsAbQfD5cfq-zKqtyR8qbmd4OtcspOjTcF8c65YWhedGHkmp-BO-sbgK-uxg1RdhaU_eXU4/s400/Baby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321358938006375954" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5QN6p3XWw4BzgNOujnoX5_F21OH8PgW0kNLAMTw7_O5sNkj-_JCJm7dpv3a95FlCc-0UGJeoOAJzpDrhZEmt4Mpfi_Ymt7RZOUGwJLJzs6bQKAyI8hvtNlIccBubL6Coc4AB/s1600-h/Ceramics.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI5QN6p3XWw4BzgNOujnoX5_F21OH8PgW0kNLAMTw7_O5sNkj-_JCJm7dpv3a95FlCc-0UGJeoOAJzpDrhZEmt4Mpfi_Ymt7RZOUGwJLJzs6bQKAyI8hvtNlIccBubL6Coc4AB/s400/Ceramics.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321358936969204770" border="0" /></a><br />On a local market were everything is sold; from used coffee cups to herbs and tea<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZZ603POSnwhADRheZ0IOOimgJIlOcQXoqpkQGZ5BW_g6UbOML4gMiWflizYm18xu00S3WDSjVwL0kJ_eDD1eI8OX0Cu-JBGjaa8waA6dZUH4rgI0hCT2dpumtsEdsh8C5ZQ9/s1600-h/Tea+and+herbs.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZZ603POSnwhADRheZ0IOOimgJIlOcQXoqpkQGZ5BW_g6UbOML4gMiWflizYm18xu00S3WDSjVwL0kJ_eDD1eI8OX0Cu-JBGjaa8waA6dZUH4rgI0hCT2dpumtsEdsh8C5ZQ9/s400/Tea+and+herbs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321358934794039026" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-61791157255616607322009-03-30T15:18:00.009+02:002009-03-30T16:19:51.448+02:00Another walk through a Beijing hutong/slum<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Near the subway station of Da Zhong Si (大钟寺) in North West Beijing is a hutong that doesn't look like all the others. It seems to belong to a different place, time and culture. We had spotted the area from the elevated line 13 subway on our way to Wudaokou (五道口), a popular student area with many coffee bars and cheap restaurants, and decided to have a look. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">After a walk of about 20 minutes through an industrial area and passing huge sky scrapers that were only half finished, we came upon this curious place. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBE26NIUojtkPfjji1Qf8OLd6ymq5VcWC52K_8rh9QvprS1yWM0vucvuhGUPtmqao6UPlEF9cs3VDfb7WTkrfY5ArZdNif49lUC1t_WxxG2Ak1njbyUoubvM0jNvFL8FOf5rJ/s1600-h/Hutong+walls.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBE26NIUojtkPfjji1Qf8OLd6ymq5VcWC52K_8rh9QvprS1yWM0vucvuhGUPtmqao6UPlEF9cs3VDfb7WTkrfY5ArZdNif49lUC1t_WxxG2Ak1njbyUoubvM0jNvFL8FOf5rJ/s400/Hutong+walls.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318970917709661458" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The small houses are connected by their walls like in other hutongs, and thus forming long walls and a maze of small alleys. The walls of this hutong were all painted in attractive </span><strong style="font-weight: normal; font-family: verdana;" class="selflink">ochre</strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">. The people that live there are not used to seeing foreigners, as they all stared at me and called their friends: "</span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Hey hey, a foreigner! Look!</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">" and pointed at me. Other parts of Beijing are so saturated with foreigners that nobody looks up anymore. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltVGnjKfd-VZgk9iwPHlCi7C78jcqaYYkTfukexGdvZAm_NevjYhBD6b_7TJm7KR0TE12DaYazEQsKfDxtFgcdlMK_iWpkP8HQtUuRVrSMPA_ZXWvg1XoRXNTBxOTutcWFqCW/s1600-h/street+mirror.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 292px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltVGnjKfd-VZgk9iwPHlCi7C78jcqaYYkTfukexGdvZAm_NevjYhBD6b_7TJm7KR0TE12DaYazEQsKfDxtFgcdlMK_iWpkP8HQtUuRVrSMPA_ZXWvg1XoRXNTBxOTutcWFqCW/s400/street+mirror.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318970918491571234" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The area is full of garbage, and looks more like a slum than like a normal neighborhood in some places. Inside many houses I saw piles of recycled paper, cardboard, plastic and glass bottles. The people walk around the city, collecting these things so they can sell it (for around 10 cents per kilo)</span>. <span style="font-family:verdana;">This is China's efficient garbage recycling system and works remarkably well.</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;">The streets are clean</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;">(well, not really, but they are a lot cleaner thanks to these people who collect paper and bottles)</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiltVGnjKfd-VZgk9iwPHlCi7C78jcqaYYkTfukexGdvZAm_NevjYhBD6b_7TJm7KR0TE12DaYazEQsKfDxtFgcdlMK_iWpkP8HQtUuRVrSMPA_ZXWvg1XoRXNTBxOTutcWFqCW/s1600-h/street+mirror.jpg"> </a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_EX8Tu_1VPZG7Eh21iJO60qkoTOAXPs-DDF7y0LAHfD7N1P0KjPKaKMFfMX33YOEYH5Xz1OymnMv1R6NjOztavBTZVPm1HtF_s9ITwTK2SCpK8RKS1uSjXI1FRkq0YF_CP_Y/s1600-h/Slum.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH_EX8Tu_1VPZG7Eh21iJO60qkoTOAXPs-DDF7y0LAHfD7N1P0KjPKaKMFfMX33YOEYH5Xz1OymnMv1R6NjOztavBTZVPm1HtF_s9ITwTK2SCpK8RKS1uSjXI1FRkq0YF_CP_Y/s400/Slum.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318970918166786626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Railroad tracks run straight through the hutong, and some locals told us that sometimes even trains pass by. As usual, surrounding the hutong are huge sky scrapers, but the shacks on ground level are built from wooden boards and old bricks. Cooking pots are standing outside on the ground, and the laundry is hanging out to dry next to it. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXweFNlO-1yOdAIVGAl1fIagF8sK4ME7qQy5r_UBLuMl2M6uOjscDGlDXxpAszHQrG4wSrMn6SyvMebQTySJl46ECe7XO6Q_qCIGUFM2Lr7pKBL9aJDN2AAcVFiM7y2p1VLysb/s1600-h/Sepia+tracks.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXweFNlO-1yOdAIVGAl1fIagF8sK4ME7qQy5r_UBLuMl2M6uOjscDGlDXxpAszHQrG4wSrMn6SyvMebQTySJl46ECe7XO6Q_qCIGUFM2Lr7pKBL9aJDN2AAcVFiM7y2p1VLysb/s400/Sepia+tracks.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318970907878175522" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9PNF45SC53vShE9-XXruZBtzzu9X_rIL3JC9rwbO8G0Er_FReELNHL6I4GPFNUC9Kww6OaMrsLtrUmYTx-uRpcmIRgXFiVTSxSUoS1mM0sVNrkMj73UD7n8bBN-xkgrN4ijj/s1600-h/Roof+cover.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio9PNF45SC53vShE9-XXruZBtzzu9X_rIL3JC9rwbO8G0Er_FReELNHL6I4GPFNUC9Kww6OaMrsLtrUmYTx-uRpcmIRgXFiVTSxSUoS1mM0sVNrkMj73UD7n8bBN-xkgrN4ijj/s400/Roof+cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318970906913090882" border="0" /></a><br />Remember the Olympics? The figure on the plastic screen is "<span style="font-style: italic;">Huang Huang</span>", one of the five cartoon mascottes. This piece of plastic once probably hung proudly along the route of the torch relay last year, but has now found its way to better use: preventing the rain from pouring in.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7Pa25aryJyiKe8GaUnOID7OVTmCqMpFOKV3lTZQ-_TIinzvsxHnB4aLx-giy5TJhae7ua_lIylDn7em_GRvqI3vTenenWxQM8RS7cNeQ2pB9U0z843yTfc6ID0JIvhEY85pG/s1600-h/Railway+kids+3.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq7Pa25aryJyiKe8GaUnOID7OVTmCqMpFOKV3lTZQ-_TIinzvsxHnB4aLx-giy5TJhae7ua_lIylDn7em_GRvqI3vTenenWxQM8RS7cNeQ2pB9U0z843yTfc6ID0JIvhEY85pG/s400/Railway+kids+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318970719742879666" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A lot of activity was going on: people selling vegetables, luring big bags filled with plastic bottles around, and kids playing everywhere. Old men were playing Chinese Chess on the street, and dogs and cats were sleeping in the gutter. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddDc3nhGh2A1Ii85gBbkJO1A0aCHX3Ml6eQNfMKMfrOpOaU5BGENsYeJBT24SKCTMdYdeRK41t7JPw5JigylrLMlLEX94jOYO6n8VV9hF682FwYLC3EYVFS7h1NuWvmWllNQK/s1600-h/Railway+kids+2.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 242px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhddDc3nhGh2A1Ii85gBbkJO1A0aCHX3Ml6eQNfMKMfrOpOaU5BGENsYeJBT24SKCTMdYdeRK41t7JPw5JigylrLMlLEX94jOYO6n8VV9hF682FwYLC3EYVFS7h1NuWvmWllNQK/s400/Railway+kids+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318970712449755874" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNMWpe39UwCk7J1U6G7FWuDm1Us7bhrLHhVvVHnuWCeaeipCQrrcPpl7e-MTynLDErUNTgVasNsJX3mj8FQ7jHxSP2nos_adrfj8CaJfRK1hpF8mRHUNYXNmYxfyH1-VbP1MV/s1600-h/Railway+kids.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSNMWpe39UwCk7J1U6G7FWuDm1Us7bhrLHhVvVHnuWCeaeipCQrrcPpl7e-MTynLDErUNTgVasNsJX3mj8FQ7jHxSP2nos_adrfj8CaJfRK1hpF8mRHUNYXNmYxfyH1-VbP1MV/s400/Railway+kids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318970708075750594" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">School had just gone out (around 4.30 PM) and kids with colorful hats and school bags were swarming around the place. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPN9IRl90GkoriccfWYUfQU_Q4RP5mReI_E_KXrMAcKdHv7Z2uLgRDNcd6-SJB8iIlm_gejz4rlGC-8FD9Yz3tTkA-HFIiMDaW2z7H-DEFTi4cn_r2YGK5ekM_WmyRkxjisvQ/s1600-h/Paper+collector.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPN9IRl90GkoriccfWYUfQU_Q4RP5mReI_E_KXrMAcKdHv7Z2uLgRDNcd6-SJB8iIlm_gejz4rlGC-8FD9Yz3tTkA-HFIiMDaW2z7H-DEFTi4cn_r2YGK5ekM_WmyRkxjisvQ/s400/Paper+collector.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318970705367572370" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">An old man collecting paper and card boards</span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The characters on the fence (中国) mean </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >China</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB9L5QIjg3kq9NI6nevEctSo9PdAJXOVltYioUj6Ay4tuFrXwsacbgJBlOoeYi_7ESna4Q_0IK5qo8t92F9HI9pkXGoOvINKFwuLmcTXuxa1sGNmpnyBjIEXfStU3wfk7wbVm/s1600-h/Man+with+baby.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 378px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB9L5QIjg3kq9NI6nevEctSo9PdAJXOVltYioUj6Ay4tuFrXwsacbgJBlOoeYi_7ESna4Q_0IK5qo8t92F9HI9pkXGoOvINKFwuLmcTXuxa1sGNmpnyBjIEXfStU3wfk7wbVm/s400/Man+with+baby.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318970696027736930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLai7mT3Qpbou3E7lJwzAr9a2TbiJNo0ETT2HMTYTPLRXNl_o6lbwmeCEs10YgFPI68hi_uP29lea3fkcMsYCTKEMcoHdE3HCjBavQ6IiSh7kBHaLhbp1LKnnLZFoOnTlDwKp6/s1600-h/kids+1.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLai7mT3Qpbou3E7lJwzAr9a2TbiJNo0ETT2HMTYTPLRXNl_o6lbwmeCEs10YgFPI68hi_uP29lea3fkcMsYCTKEMcoHdE3HCjBavQ6IiSh7kBHaLhbp1LKnnLZFoOnTlDwKp6/s400/kids+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318969856457169730" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Two funny kids playing with their masks</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqjLLAE7iZ3nhjmsucosC0EhYc1l4NTkbA08s95579tnKBZRSZTC6epxJRJTPNpbPf-HYWI0kABPhcm3gyW-l8UnoUPiqRd7fs-eJtpIKred9n2rOpuiKwZleg3X__ymNy7nI/s1600-h/Drums.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqjLLAE7iZ3nhjmsucosC0EhYc1l4NTkbA08s95579tnKBZRSZTC6epxJRJTPNpbPf-HYWI0kABPhcm3gyW-l8UnoUPiqRd7fs-eJtpIKred9n2rOpuiKwZleg3X__ymNy7nI/s400/Drums.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318969857943249346" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZLL11Hmkb4i6TNal9TbL_ZEXlpVPgEw_8zGaRHVxeeEwi5bWSbFh4XEHgqfPigNU2cvvqUWjx5Ee1a84lhl32fXCR3QC-5LfrZ8NYIW-SiwX9pT2Sw4u-K2dXLIv_LcLyrHS/s1600-h/discarded+street+signs.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZLL11Hmkb4i6TNal9TbL_ZEXlpVPgEw_8zGaRHVxeeEwi5bWSbFh4XEHgqfPigNU2cvvqUWjx5Ee1a84lhl32fXCR3QC-5LfrZ8NYIW-SiwX9pT2Sw4u-K2dXLIv_LcLyrHS/s400/discarded+street+signs.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318969851942309954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Some discarded traffic signs and a pile of garbage</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRQ79UdrLPr00hC4FDY-9G6geVb815TGwyN8Gk8-qTRwJO4y8jghUJUoCxkghXO0-fDGmIs-X5sRtxSJUY3Zg-LD30T8PrfByzJcQr3GegNxQMxg-W-1fp3VEs_-18VE5ZK3Y/s1600-h/Cycle+taxi+for+sale.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 326px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJRQ79UdrLPr00hC4FDY-9G6geVb815TGwyN8Gk8-qTRwJO4y8jghUJUoCxkghXO0-fDGmIs-X5sRtxSJUY3Zg-LD30T8PrfByzJcQr3GegNxQMxg-W-1fp3VEs_-18VE5ZK3Y/s400/Cycle+taxi+for+sale.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318969842934972562" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This bicycle taxi is for sale. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAcdN_vnQyzCRxXHs_0OdZWRiy6jaRhxpMYcQHzo7wggxO-odWfy-z0g0on1bHJEH7hi2FxerYHcQ_qEo-Xu-DkLSjCNIbkwEWpWLS1UMjteNUj5BPSHH5n6FdAyKhVaJS86r/s1600-h/Alley.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDAcdN_vnQyzCRxXHs_0OdZWRiy6jaRhxpMYcQHzo7wggxO-odWfy-z0g0on1bHJEH7hi2FxerYHcQ_qEo-Xu-DkLSjCNIbkwEWpWLS1UMjteNUj5BPSHH5n6FdAyKhVaJS86r/s400/Alley.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5318969846379271794" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">A big contrast between the wide and long avenues of modern Beijing. These little alleyways were small, dark and quiet. I wish I knew more about the background of this place, but perhaps it is better to leave it as a mystery. </span><br /></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-14454916321841971082009-03-16T07:06:00.009+01:002009-03-16T08:00:22.330+01:00A sunny weekend in Beijing<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SATURDAY</span></span><br /><br /></div><div face="verdana" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">This weekend the weather was fine, and so it was time to go out! On Saturday we discovered that </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">Tiantan</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> ('</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple_of_heaven">the temple of heaven</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">') is actually just around the corner from our house. It is surrounded by tourist markets where mostly fake designer clothes and jewelry is sold. A line of tour buses stood outside the park, waiting.</span><br /><br /></div> <div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrbn-2dTq_TPpwJ4PMiLeJWHJJKSYameQBrJ8zYP6IHWB1hRuqaOD9n558jOTNvqUk3jp6nmCMtV3_QMFX6FeEJz7B2SoYTvuofzAILykjvxIg2KtaHSzZ93pi6E8EWXMlGoy/s1600-h/P1060893.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrbn-2dTq_TPpwJ4PMiLeJWHJJKSYameQBrJ8zYP6IHWB1hRuqaOD9n558jOTNvqUk3jp6nmCMtV3_QMFX6FeEJz7B2SoYTvuofzAILykjvxIg2KtaHSzZ93pi6E8EWXMlGoy/s400/P1060893.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313667295437603010" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Outside one of the markets (called </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Pearl Market</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">)</span> </div> <div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAU0fXazG07oWVJ5BZqg6RIsPT7t1lLTH_wbr3iQoabRmvQr_uYrd0vVsMZgIi_bcd2bGrTZrd64npSzPSX1jjtvzswgH6LuTCQgnyXGrhGiBygMhJHvGWUNOSY_7oS-wST73u/s1600-h/P1060900.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAU0fXazG07oWVJ5BZqg6RIsPT7t1lLTH_wbr3iQoabRmvQr_uYrd0vVsMZgIi_bcd2bGrTZrd64npSzPSX1jjtvzswgH6LuTCQgnyXGrhGiBygMhJHvGWUNOSY_7oS-wST73u/s400/P1060900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313667294010183698" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Around the temple and park are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hutong">hutongs</a>, which are always a lot of fun. This one still was traditional and full of activity: old men playing cards and Mahjong, markets and little shops. </span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfvSsUpAnYq2Cy4IDWMANVNTs1lxN0IXFnrMJcSurU7YkHgbK-Xd7VpE-cweUDG0d49fjIU9Y2-FhPg8YrdL4WxVpWALtDuo-i7Vj1Wx_4POjggq_VSYK4-B918b_LAQ_OLbK/s1600-h/P1060901.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMfvSsUpAnYq2Cy4IDWMANVNTs1lxN0IXFnrMJcSurU7YkHgbK-Xd7VpE-cweUDG0d49fjIU9Y2-FhPg8YrdL4WxVpWALtDuo-i7Vj1Wx_4POjggq_VSYK4-B918b_LAQ_OLbK/s400/P1060901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313667296581904866" border="0" /></a><br />These goldfish cost 1 Yuan each (0,10 Euros) so we bought a bunch. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIGFRQK1_ijNojQDxk7TcayJo384sxChyphenhyphenwQOp2w0IZY93QUFptvMsuGV5x2wt7-Xrr9RgjfJ-QsHOkUbz_Lfk9ORq8TMbkaNYYZZz-GDpr2VETDezg4PiQ47TSnpfkjHm9e9O/s1600-h/Funny+fish.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 362px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglIGFRQK1_ijNojQDxk7TcayJo384sxChyphenhyphenwQOp2w0IZY93QUFptvMsuGV5x2wt7-Xrr9RgjfJ-QsHOkUbz_Lfk9ORq8TMbkaNYYZZz-GDpr2VETDezg4PiQ47TSnpfkjHm9e9O/s400/Funny+fish.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313669301946367890" border="0" /></a><br />We also bought a big fish to eat (2.3 Euros per kilo) It was more than fresh; the vendor hit it on the head a couple of times with a blunt stick and then cleaned it in front of us.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9IaEZm2Nu7JrLJJH30SQQyrwX7L4_AtMDna8gKHDB_K48nDfSy7IHjTcyNCUbPVsF3dqO3H8HYz9hSnZM-e_XmJJXAywWtUGkbvOi6RKdtRaFC38ya0TkJ2zKtTv0FlaXKOe/s1600-h/P1060912.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9IaEZm2Nu7JrLJJH30SQQyrwX7L4_AtMDna8gKHDB_K48nDfSy7IHjTcyNCUbPVsF3dqO3H8HYz9hSnZM-e_XmJJXAywWtUGkbvOi6RKdtRaFC38ya0TkJ2zKtTv0FlaXKOe/s400/P1060912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313667288698939650" border="0" /></a><br />In the Hutong.<br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTmuN3EaAvdYls1pnlao8qh7uMMCuNXQUbJfbwuWuIj54yPXJqGP-xWKW4OZ7AJtbyNqU-fkQgb5Aub7HKlcrFYsMXbksYzXa1d6NAe9zaeG-3aRLgSCS6bSfdqHorzahCKkh/s1600-h/P1060914.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnTmuN3EaAvdYls1pnlao8qh7uMMCuNXQUbJfbwuWuIj54yPXJqGP-xWKW4OZ7AJtbyNqU-fkQgb5Aub7HKlcrFYsMXbksYzXa1d6NAe9zaeG-3aRLgSCS6bSfdqHorzahCKkh/s400/P1060914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313665864775941650" border="0" /></a><br />Also in the hutong<br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dYX3Tz2Wns0tt7g3jyEnJUf0rEwKmfYYtZIaxB1CotEGexj8ltwIlzGE24fPw4E-D94VO4bZ9vOv6UshNMhUbhKgDLOuWl881hZZqLmzvJJ9ZUPa8Z5-wwqcGfXctvBlHMiv/s1600-h/P1060918.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dYX3Tz2Wns0tt7g3jyEnJUf0rEwKmfYYtZIaxB1CotEGexj8ltwIlzGE24fPw4E-D94VO4bZ9vOv6UshNMhUbhKgDLOuWl881hZZqLmzvJJ9ZUPa8Z5-wwqcGfXctvBlHMiv/s400/P1060918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313665866026708498" border="0" /></a><br />For some reason hutongs are always full of cats.<br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkb67mGu40YZMEXo3SNXD7f78N3CJKet_TQUiNpwXbDjdyTS9n8luuQxjNwNZGboohPb6vCEM9nPLvN_16ZC2K3No09wfPt491v83k3eSq-SjuTR7rS5iPcuucLieP7p27yjX/s1600-h/P1060920.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinkb67mGu40YZMEXo3SNXD7f78N3CJKet_TQUiNpwXbDjdyTS9n8luuQxjNwNZGboohPb6vCEM9nPLvN_16ZC2K3No09wfPt491v83k3eSq-SjuTR7rS5iPcuucLieP7p27yjX/s400/P1060920.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313665859830033666" border="0" /></a><br />Some more dead than alive ;)<br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUon78S0EqyB4PZqVYxTrWc3Ux5g8x8K6qjAX1dJycrQ9GhEAzr1LDTW7BJKjVaaf91ybaeZzgnS7ZlfGqfuUfSW1yG92nWrhZ36JgtDm04p8zK7cNPMb8oMDHhe4bKFqh39eS/s1600-h/P1060921.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUon78S0EqyB4PZqVYxTrWc3Ux5g8x8K6qjAX1dJycrQ9GhEAzr1LDTW7BJKjVaaf91ybaeZzgnS7ZlfGqfuUfSW1yG92nWrhZ36JgtDm04p8zK7cNPMb8oMDHhe4bKFqh39eS/s400/P1060921.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313665850461627202" border="0" /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGMTN949OOXUoUi2BEwWJcRuWyRtbBNZpx6mMyMerCv7tzXe8fWJxGyenWEoGxGCHDVsP1H9_bsZflsioK8qFeu7UiK8MWYS9oGOYbTBdY6j-oQEAspMKIME3G0X4KI-KHlhI/s1600-h/P1060919.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 280px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGMTN949OOXUoUi2BEwWJcRuWyRtbBNZpx6mMyMerCv7tzXe8fWJxGyenWEoGxGCHDVsP1H9_bsZflsioK8qFeu7UiK8MWYS9oGOYbTBdY6j-oQEAspMKIME3G0X4KI-KHlhI/s400/P1060919.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313665864559745234" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Hutongs are like a real-life museum<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">SUNDAY</span></span><br /><br />Another Su</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">nday afternoon. Another trip to '</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/798_Art_Zone">798 Art District</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">' to make more photos. <span style="font-style: italic;">*sigh*</span></span> <span style="font-family:verdana;">The weather was good; warm and sunny, and so we decided to take a bus there from our house. By subway it would take approximately 1 hour, but by bus nearly 2 hours! It was nice to see some of the city from above the ground though, for a change.<br /></span> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqnEFayhUy57Jy0Uewh2YuqPMMieOmICq8-a-phhNDtCKz9-NRK8kID1IbUszxyplm_pvKusyNxRRQVIxnE6IngW71MR1u_nnGHIC-a6RllNCtdniDISXEBuXSe3dPsAQx-_a/s1600-h/Kanon+koffie.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqnEFayhUy57Jy0Uewh2YuqPMMieOmICq8-a-phhNDtCKz9-NRK8kID1IbUszxyplm_pvKusyNxRRQVIxnE6IngW71MR1u_nnGHIC-a6RllNCtdniDISXEBuXSe3dPsAQx-_a/s400/Kanon+koffie.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663497767607906" border="0" /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05tD1QkghS85UyZOh9prby8Jym8QT8SxraPaFHwtOAiR1R_spNlxJ9piqy209HvJqGfx-k0ax4DCZl909G66gDNHEd0b9g3weUOjaR9MdEXt8bsK4-Hwd_OQN5ffN7ujDD1PC/s1600-h/Boe+land.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05tD1QkghS85UyZOh9prby8Jym8QT8SxraPaFHwtOAiR1R_spNlxJ9piqy209HvJqGfx-k0ax4DCZl909G66gDNHEd0b9g3weUOjaR9MdEXt8bsK4-Hwd_OQN5ffN7ujDD1PC/s400/Boe+land.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663485856385234" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Some 'interesting' signs along the way</span> <span style="font-family: verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br />(<span style="font-style: italic;">it's more funny in Dutch</span>)</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6ba-0dGydLz_VPbPMECUo7xjO0VxYXX99399UaQt8M2zw7nHmFKNqFjUGvb6HRkEkgVJnbLUr_It894-0CLWNytmLStn0FbxaWvOlJJ_OvUHCpM00grVdtbY8118kHxf1l8q/s1600-h/Abandoned+bike.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT6ba-0dGydLz_VPbPMECUo7xjO0VxYXX99399UaQt8M2zw7nHmFKNqFjUGvb6HRkEkgVJnbLUr_It894-0CLWNytmLStn0FbxaWvOlJJ_OvUHCpM00grVdtbY8118kHxf1l8q/s400/Abandoned+bike.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663369072177714" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">Inside the 798 area, there are lots of old things laying around. The place used to be an industrial area, and at some places there are still pipes that spit out clouds of steam, piles of coal and old machines and materials are everywhere. </span><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmSdvXhZdChsF82amK5llM9G59N-XxRrFexMKoj6NBO91eI-NXVXPRm0W-laHaBIBJc7IxZpnMVD07UK7_XB8fIl7FRoZsV6Zh1hVJjhHjRDCIUnAnVt342E3gg1Y5Di6Hne3/s1600-h/Abandoned+room.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNmSdvXhZdChsF82amK5llM9G59N-XxRrFexMKoj6NBO91eI-NXVXPRm0W-laHaBIBJc7IxZpnMVD07UK7_XB8fIl7FRoZsV6Zh1hVJjhHjRDCIUnAnVt342E3gg1Y5Di6Hne3/s400/Abandoned+room.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663364582619938" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">...such as this abandoned room with 1 chair in it. </span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqPO1i_bOtZNCqN0Li5rfuenaSrKzPzHut7L-kejemfbbNyncdYhjeV8m5F03ydiCj2bUBhneYpA3u1inJKF6IVF7nriqDEMppj2rNOXAxcNijHmak-w_e5yhrgao6CkcdHJ1/s1600-h/Beijing+buildings.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqPO1i_bOtZNCqN0Li5rfuenaSrKzPzHut7L-kejemfbbNyncdYhjeV8m5F03ydiCj2bUBhneYpA3u1inJKF6IVF7nriqDEMppj2rNOXAxcNijHmak-w_e5yhrgao6CkcdHJ1/s400/Beijing+buildings.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663364280514290" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">These buildings are famous and only just finished. They stand on '</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xizhimen"><span style="font-style: italic;">xizhimen</span></a><span style="font-family: verdana;">', a busy business intersection. This picture was taken from the bus window. We boarded a doubledecker bus and stayed there for two hours, as we circled the entire city of Beijing (cost 0,04 Euro).</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImu4lmiF8LzKPksUb806gc6MS0t-XUEAmdOiRjNcCEYV36P-bN8kOLLJa3qAa2bUHqKRTJIjgTKovuRtf7-NMxurHWk282ua4NKlFMfXkcxi5smLLnqd_bHBrrMHxttzUfLoQ/s1600-h/Beijing+Sunday+traffic.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImu4lmiF8LzKPksUb806gc6MS0t-XUEAmdOiRjNcCEYV36P-bN8kOLLJa3qAa2bUHqKRTJIjgTKovuRtf7-NMxurHWk282ua4NKlFMfXkcxi5smLLnqd_bHBrrMHxttzUfLoQ/s400/Beijing+Sunday+traffic.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663359325710914" border="0" /></a> <a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5z8oQbhire9GgG7ASp9E6nQlq1wbbbEiWKoGj1ZtCwxcQUS0B553akhgYOJePJFQV0fJ5-JOEa6CoHOgIR-0-rbaiMhsRMemKOqXwUP-dpFwv9B4F-Xfy-BdT7kGtD7O-Zzmg/s1600-h/IMG_7234.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 249px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5z8oQbhire9GgG7ASp9E6nQlq1wbbbEiWKoGj1ZtCwxcQUS0B553akhgYOJePJFQV0fJ5-JOEa6CoHOgIR-0-rbaiMhsRMemKOqXwUP-dpFwv9B4F-Xfy-BdT7kGtD7O-Zzmg/s400/IMG_7234.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663158658694402" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">The Beijing Sunday traffic & a lovely old lady playing the violin on the street</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNByv-H1R-R68KVMdbH_HmL2yBMOUyphJ5PETyaAyqFRHNEIen-LBfIJuJRlz950_fOZ_D-bHAvmgyu-vtSGwR0nimaqVxX8GDpy_Efh6kLuHxK82LfPa_wbVdcQdmfaf77SZ/s1600-h/Mass+roadside+ping+pong.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 285px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNByv-H1R-R68KVMdbH_HmL2yBMOUyphJ5PETyaAyqFRHNEIen-LBfIJuJRlz950_fOZ_D-bHAvmgyu-vtSGwR0nimaqVxX8GDpy_Efh6kLuHxK82LfPa_wbVdcQdmfaf77SZ/s400/Mass+roadside+ping+pong.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663158616672274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Roadside ping-pong place; </span><br /><span style="font-family: verdana; font-style: italic;">anything to keep you busy on a Sunday afternoon...</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Wjb0wSg3TKgLuD49KF_EB0MmsoRZ0QOdQL0l7E8fjNMJH85OYm7tFryw0BIFKRQDuO7CUt5_IZoD5kMbII3wTo5LtGOemx8woeB0n54JeaNnbnt8Zyoue-mVRXWD9tWZEWCt/s1600-h/Sneak+peak.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Wjb0wSg3TKgLuD49KF_EB0MmsoRZ0QOdQL0l7E8fjNMJH85OYm7tFryw0BIFKRQDuO7CUt5_IZoD5kMbII3wTo5LtGOemx8woeB0n54JeaNnbnt8Zyoue-mVRXWD9tWZEWCt/s400/Sneak+peak.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663155529967970" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">A sneak peek through the window of one of the empty factory halls in </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-family: verdana;">798</span><span style="font-family: verdana;">, the works of art are either stored here, or an exhibition is being prepared. There was no one around.</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Y2fOEuuMbSFd-7Aa9gv5jWyYG7AurhDVz-q3gVeBX_J-UUoOip9otnHIMaIUiz9sfQRlAMqWJelGThqXxr5z2T5UN_FjIuDxEU3LC1cuI16ZQ7XyUc9Z9FZMhpBOsl8lnVdS/s1600-h/Strange+art.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Y2fOEuuMbSFd-7Aa9gv5jWyYG7AurhDVz-q3gVeBX_J-UUoOip9otnHIMaIUiz9sfQRlAMqWJelGThqXxr5z2T5UN_FjIuDxEU3LC1cuI16ZQ7XyUc9Z9FZMhpBOsl8lnVdS/s400/Strange+art.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663151035381298" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">Strange modern art using strange modern photography techniques</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ36bB2y-E46i0AEzbyk7_ovgOHZi3vRnPDydffQqM6idmCy0RGNID7QoP9p20M6COhdf1xx8zGALRkto6QWHdHF5wF7ncjlvsgKwGz5di0kg7-5TU7ot_UUSu_x1Y8sZf-RkD/s1600-h/Wine.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ36bB2y-E46i0AEzbyk7_ovgOHZi3vRnPDydffQqM6idmCy0RGNID7QoP9p20M6COhdf1xx8zGALRkto6QWHdHF5wF7ncjlvsgKwGz5di0kg7-5TU7ot_UUSu_x1Y8sZf-RkD/s400/Wine.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313663136929992354" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">When we got tired of walking, we took a rest in an Italian restaurant called </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saizeriya">Saizeriya</a><span style="font-family: verdana;">. It's a Japanese-owned place that sells cheap and decent Italian food and even real Italian wine! Dinner for 2, including pizza, a bottle of wine, starters and ice cream for desert, cost a mere 8 Euros. </span><br /><br /></div></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-70686948610921843942009-03-09T03:49:00.006+01:002009-03-09T04:22:08.561+01:00A visit to the Beijing Olympic park<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">On Sunday afternoon we took a subway to the Olympic park. It was a sunny day, and we took (purposely built) subway line 8 to get there. It was like stepping onto a movie set. The subway was nearly empty (used only by tourists now), spotlessly clean and security guards were standing every 10 meters.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Once out of the underground, there is a huge park, built kind of in the middle of nowhere. The main two 'sights' of course are the 'Bird Nest' and the 'Aquatics Center'. These two buildings cost millions to complete, and are indeed amazing to watch up close.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The 'park' (several square kms of paved surface) was full of people. It reminded me of Tian'anmen Square! Crowds of tourists swarmed around the place (including the tour groups with their red or yellow uniform hats).</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayr7bmi1oOBRFO21scja9i-63WNSgDp1W3juhvHdCrOUdqWpRZC-dsYGf_5npdqyKFlUzUtNcpk6zUav59mbn4Bfo4h-vF6IZRiAzDNEXk660ijHrHbbyIu6UDjBhVUdT4rbA/s1600-h/Birds+nest+4.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 302px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgayr7bmi1oOBRFO21scja9i-63WNSgDp1W3juhvHdCrOUdqWpRZC-dsYGf_5npdqyKFlUzUtNcpk6zUav59mbn4Bfo4h-vF6IZRiAzDNEXk660ijHrHbbyIu6UDjBhVUdT4rbA/s400/Birds+nest+4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311017651922522066" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The park is surrounded by tall sky scrapers in the distance, but because of its size, there was a strong wind blowing. I tried to imagine what the fireworks show during the opening ceremony must have looked like. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeFqvfXHfis6Jf8rZbzebxx3_IWXub5lcXTQJQ0vshNno0kugPp1uLx6eNMvTp63RO-1-N2rTZiYBeA3dFYL1I5cRihL_wttMmlEjwEhRZ0iU_zhtF8Et6S27LA0lNwfSjffO/s1600-h/Birds+nest+5.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyeFqvfXHfis6Jf8rZbzebxx3_IWXub5lcXTQJQ0vshNno0kugPp1uLx6eNMvTp63RO-1-N2rTZiYBeA3dFYL1I5cRihL_wttMmlEjwEhRZ0iU_zhtF8Et6S27LA0lNwfSjffO/s400/Birds+nest+5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311015369134298434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: verdana;">One can see how China has tried to impress the world by building this park. So much money was spent, and nothing was left to chance (signs with street directions in French, for example)<br /></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcxEOwyNJvZJ7s8bS89M6PAIIflaaVCXeCv-q8vmHQNK6iD5w5-s-gm6KWnInPT6nYFAlYllMTnhUIcLSB-HCN27jtHDrD6ckl9mZL-uLJD8yZAmu_IWyE1k5UnRs1m2SWYro/s1600-h/Water+centre+2.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPcxEOwyNJvZJ7s8bS89M6PAIIflaaVCXeCv-q8vmHQNK6iD5w5-s-gm6KWnInPT6nYFAlYllMTnhUIcLSB-HCN27jtHDrD6ckl9mZL-uLJD8yZAmu_IWyE1k5UnRs1m2SWYro/s400/Water+centre+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311015362323166146" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Opposite of the Bird Nest is the '</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 153, 153);font-family:verdana;" >National Aquatics Center</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">'; an equally magnificent building. The details of both buildings is what makes them so special. They look different from every angle you look. </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPQ7YgJdenGFguNlXo6eiIcBY7msAxFQvns07aPr1hEWf6wEnSuArLCDu6DmO2lip8jRC9mFJA2W_Q679aZ7AQdDPv97KBSZKiyZKCy6sDq7SbI5pH6na-ofLo4ofusp9CjrS/s1600-h/Water+centre+3.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPQ7YgJdenGFguNlXo6eiIcBY7msAxFQvns07aPr1hEWf6wEnSuArLCDu6DmO2lip8jRC9mFJA2W_Q679aZ7AQdDPv97KBSZKiyZKCy6sDq7SbI5pH6na-ofLo4ofusp9CjrS/s400/Water+centre+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311015357773343474" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoikfjF3zdycDvM23LYbKtee6daXlpgTtOi50f-A2p8aZPn0iAJZ28ucCD3BulusaCVEX7l6LRSCNkQe0S6VPGqJc67I6HWX1_RoGsVKwEUPKNwW03cVTRIVory6TsNJ4eZef/s1600-h/Crowd.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoikfjF3zdycDvM23LYbKtee6daXlpgTtOi50f-A2p8aZPn0iAJZ28ucCD3BulusaCVEX7l6LRSCNkQe0S6VPGqJc67I6HWX1_RoGsVKwEUPKNwW03cVTRIVory6TsNJ4eZef/s400/Crowd.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311015102880187378" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">This is the entrance to the park, with the stadium to my back</span>. <span style="font-family:verdana;">Most tourists started shooting photos (mostly with their mobile phones) when they were still in the subway!</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOECWnSuCXE3IYkS_qRyMnL_Yo7_IBbnUGxBb0JD8FtlRSb6jRcCw6bL6X-wbiGdL-dc3lvwihZRntg9OBIvl0dzV7BU6vmfqvK3JQUa8Z0dM_T7ngWwb6nP-gRHuSDhHlZf-/s1600-h/Man+flying+kite.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOECWnSuCXE3IYkS_qRyMnL_Yo7_IBbnUGxBb0JD8FtlRSb6jRcCw6bL6X-wbiGdL-dc3lvwihZRntg9OBIvl0dzV7BU6vmfqvK3JQUa8Z0dM_T7ngWwb6nP-gRHuSDhHlZf-/s400/Man+flying+kite.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311015098647343298" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">At the other side of the park, things were a bit more quiet. This man is flying a kite.<br /></span></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1dKKTO303yk59LI_yVyy8hdXN1sp7iLp__a36nDmXwtb7INCptjilvU6BB6WD-xByOThJ84kGKOMkgH3fXTIR8kCL-rWDxvTj6bPR3p0-vgHACWb-fLQ2Hy7RFgns-XSjvJF/s1600-h/Dali+towers.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1dKKTO303yk59LI_yVyy8hdXN1sp7iLp__a36nDmXwtb7INCptjilvU6BB6WD-xByOThJ84kGKOMkgH3fXTIR8kCL-rWDxvTj6bPR3p0-vgHACWb-fLQ2Hy7RFgns-XSjvJF/s400/Dali+towers.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311015099067819682" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Across the street of the Olympics area is a very unusual park. It is full of 'historic' buildings. I'm not sure if they are authentic or not, but it looked absurd. Next to these pagodas was a sort of mosque, with inside a restaurant and shopping center. </span><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKALKg-0vvM5uuyPmfJ9KTMlATciNzVlzYPyDRAQtRkxmFiMXWpH0V_XI80eMWqTAGeNTwnknlCGBO8pHCaM0nfeSDC-mKlY29PpHATmLcAUS-SMpiWQGsZMZzlklj4_HZ9gl/s1600-h/Olympic+tower.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKALKg-0vvM5uuyPmfJ9KTMlATciNzVlzYPyDRAQtRkxmFiMXWpH0V_XI80eMWqTAGeNTwnknlCGBO8pHCaM0nfeSDC-mKlY29PpHATmLcAUS-SMpiWQGsZMZzlklj4_HZ9gl/s400/Olympic+tower.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311015092479088002" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Viewing tower in the Olympic park</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1bvrE4017z1VMEC3RHQ53RS2JyKbVRw1HfdDs8imAFgmiH7gfKHJOV29ojN0Sg5l8aeFgEH-QgSPM_7muGiyE-HYkgJ-3PuAYytl5J9AipN5_HXTJNEoATXkkdBO0z-MvrwB/s1600-h/Statue+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1bvrE4017z1VMEC3RHQ53RS2JyKbVRw1HfdDs8imAFgmiH7gfKHJOV29ojN0Sg5l8aeFgEH-QgSPM_7muGiyE-HYkgJ-3PuAYytl5J9AipN5_HXTJNEoATXkkdBO0z-MvrwB/s400/Statue+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311015091600583874" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This statue is named "sea wind" (<span style="font-style: italic;">hai feng</span>). All around the park are sculptures and works of art. I thought this one is quite ironic; due to the massive construction and wide avenues, it feels like there is now a 'sea wind' in Beijing...<br /></span></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-19225927218570671042009-03-06T15:20:00.009+01:002009-03-06T17:14:23.675+01:00More Chinglish<div style="text-align: center;font-family:trebuchet ms;">Of course the <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">nine</span> pictures of my last post were not enough to please everyone, so here are a dozen more.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chinglish</span> </span>can be literally found <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">everywhere</span> around China, and in the most unusual places (such as in the coffee bar I had a coffee today). I decided to bring my camera everywhere I go (including bars, supermarkets and public toilets) in order to capture the poetry of <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Chinglish</span>.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;">See for yourself:<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlj3oqDM3s8ivoGmDE9g6ermWbRvbWWS7f_24wQK3HEe_CEE2Acjemmxa4GE-FmmUMGTzM2NV0ilxaLStW18ls5uaQyFny-LlP8fpGoB5oAkrJ62EtUt-sXO0LUngTKDBwGVFZ/s1600-h/bill+board.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlj3oqDM3s8ivoGmDE9g6ermWbRvbWWS7f_24wQK3HEe_CEE2Acjemmxa4GE-FmmUMGTzM2NV0ilxaLStW18ls5uaQyFny-LlP8fpGoB5oAkrJ62EtUt-sXO0LUngTKDBwGVFZ/s400/bill+board.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310099262524394930" border="0" /></a>Truly huge <span style="font-style: italic;">bill-boards</span> surrounding construction sites. They are all the same (most likely all licensed by the same company); in broken English and literal translations, they try to convince the passers by that their project will create an '<span style="font-style: italic;">utopia</span>', or '<span style="font-style: italic;">paradise</span>' and above all, a '<span style="font-style: italic;">harmoneous society</span>". They do this by putting these incredibly entertaining boards with English translations up all around the scaffolding.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic;font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">To bring the wealth in the untouchable way</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;">"</span><br />- "<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">OK OK, if you insist!</span></span>"<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQuxRUXy4NNib17ROB5QFOR1N41SlIp5BrUXuCeGe_9ZIEoBXz-SyIdmIIq16_bC4yWlukFWNmkJVhDflmZdXzgJza6iRnqLO3OKdkbnnIS_PdS2miwo_VocLFdMoBu3Ihh7X/s1600-h/striding.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLQuxRUXy4NNib17ROB5QFOR1N41SlIp5BrUXuCeGe_9ZIEoBXz-SyIdmIIq16_bC4yWlukFWNmkJVhDflmZdXzgJza6iRnqLO3OKdkbnnIS_PdS2miwo_VocLFdMoBu3Ihh7X/s400/striding.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310099260501257026" border="0" /></a>"<span style="font-style: italic;">I told them: </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">NO STRIDING</span><span style="font-style: italic;">, but they wouldn't listen!</span>"<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwS3KSm6loLNMw6mViCyrR3fNJshz_SQSeOs-Pbgg6bV1Qa65NdeU9k7RAPSuLMkWAyFWNCaQjtukgZHzgje0hSE0Mjd20O-rULRmdH_RedzAHr3KnxQoBhOacRJzVLrouDy-W/s1600-h/Vigurous+instruments.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwS3KSm6loLNMw6mViCyrR3fNJshz_SQSeOs-Pbgg6bV1Qa65NdeU9k7RAPSuLMkWAyFWNCaQjtukgZHzgje0hSE0Mjd20O-rULRmdH_RedzAHr3KnxQoBhOacRJzVLrouDy-W/s400/Vigurous+instruments.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310081823762616610" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">"<span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Vigorous Instruments Co., LTD</span></span><br />What on earth could those be?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lGxKB1m0YQOqgHyUoXwGmWNiQjO2A9ZSzz516yO-uWTi30ASXZR7ARF2z15WYZQXcffGv5oeEJs61nGKH_efFRcjWur4elqeEG7zNy_npgLQBOs8IuemJLUgv52CFjzq8net/s1600-h/SOD+shampoo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9lGxKB1m0YQOqgHyUoXwGmWNiQjO2A9ZSzz516yO-uWTi30ASXZR7ARF2z15WYZQXcffGv5oeEJs61nGKH_efFRcjWur4elqeEG7zNy_npgLQBOs8IuemJLUgv52CFjzq8net/s400/SOD+shampoo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310081821780807154" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">SOD shampoo</span> ~ <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 0, 153);">no comments</span><br />(can be found in between <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-style: italic;">Olive shampoo</span> and <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Vaseline cream</span> in most neighborhood shops)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGMuwQt5uNk5v_IWxrUdWJf8bHikbFsmJtFJufWclcFn-nj_WoP4PAiogK-JefTrE9kcZumSG0ZkJvzHKdK6XlqeqO9rLkF2ftnDm9o-7879A97qqgtKznJl9deFNBV3mwvbh/s1600-h/sexy+massage+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGMuwQt5uNk5v_IWxrUdWJf8bHikbFsmJtFJufWclcFn-nj_WoP4PAiogK-JefTrE9kcZumSG0ZkJvzHKdK6XlqeqO9rLkF2ftnDm9o-7879A97qqgtKznJl9deFNBV3mwvbh/s400/sexy+massage+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310081817271681186" border="0" /></a>A card that was slid under our door at night. We get one every night; and now have a pretty collection of 25+ of them. Last week we received the first one in English though. "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">baby</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">service</span>" is not the literal, as you might have guessed... <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br />At least it is safe, private and fashion</span>;....(see below)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLm8XrouTef_Qh5hGzBZS_P_9zG9zYRKMSSpCihq5QW13yEFf5Tv3p4uRG140qMeWRSEBPYWApjJgJ0ZgBnZ4wCxwC0DPmjzW3NscpotWuV0AuDU3Ub5VOvtAK-7fZ0xViGip/s1600-h/sexy+massage+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyLm8XrouTef_Qh5hGzBZS_P_9zG9zYRKMSSpCihq5QW13yEFf5Tv3p4uRG140qMeWRSEBPYWApjJgJ0ZgBnZ4wCxwC0DPmjzW3NscpotWuV0AuDU3Ub5VOvtAK-7fZ0xViGip/s400/sexy+massage+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310081811495003666" border="0" /></a>This is the back of the card. Each of our stack of collected cards has a different '<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">lady</span>' on them. <span style="font-size:85%;">Mind you that prostitution is strictly forbidden in China, and so these '</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;font-size:85%;" >businesses</span><span style="font-size:85%;">' operate quite undercover, sliding cards under people's doors at nights.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOovuEvppfThCXCsrQzuitvrkN-pGPkasx7HM-phRpTp-a9ri1qD2RbKkgbR4fBBYoS9itVxGxt85SoRdxE2T7O-TM3QCljhRT7xIRsoLyleZ9SlamDEknIvNCKKbVBS23BXUX/s1600-h/notebook.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOovuEvppfThCXCsrQzuitvrkN-pGPkasx7HM-phRpTp-a9ri1qD2RbKkgbR4fBBYoS9itVxGxt85SoRdxE2T7O-TM3QCljhRT7xIRsoLyleZ9SlamDEknIvNCKKbVBS23BXUX/s400/notebook.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310081468391714818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Just a super slogan ;)</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;">?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">I just love my comfortable notebook and wouldn't have any other!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf_BO8CSfnIfACVHdOHYnGR6YS3bw-jCbyQGod3x854DHcrb-unHwU3c_Cnvwz_rTNe6k_TCzL5O_2NJMbrOCAjTv8NFk2GLr-TKq-GmVDhwNH5UvEvJaFxKI_hPVFmU5W0Ap/s1600-h/no+touch.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf_BO8CSfnIfACVHdOHYnGR6YS3bw-jCbyQGod3x854DHcrb-unHwU3c_Cnvwz_rTNe6k_TCzL5O_2NJMbrOCAjTv8NFk2GLr-TKq-GmVDhwNH5UvEvJaFxKI_hPVFmU5W0Ap/s400/no+touch.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310081471876922114" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">No touchy touchy!</span> This sign was pasted on the wall of a museum<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSSH3NZeYN21fRaZkqfuSPmsLTD7FRhELaIroCRAxdUDiwy9ArTnkVep5erD_W-hysBf22Dx60tlyULOABahmW_A_0qnBFG2OGzp2aIxFtam8jYCd8UcGGrgdKGs5ZnFGmzua/s1600-h/Gays+shampoo.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSSH3NZeYN21fRaZkqfuSPmsLTD7FRhELaIroCRAxdUDiwy9ArTnkVep5erD_W-hysBf22Dx60tlyULOABahmW_A_0qnBFG2OGzp2aIxFtam8jYCd8UcGGrgdKGs5ZnFGmzua/s400/Gays+shampoo.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310081464529891266" border="0" /></a>At least they state who their target group is, as clearly as can be...<br />If you look careful it says: "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">INartificial shampoo</span>" ~ what a relief!<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">(this picture was taken by my good classmate from Helsinki Business Polytechnic in 2005)</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK-6kn8l0B9ZdqQbp4rCgG-jEFaydRc6GpBxRkonpuuH0OZIc_xsqd2zwIDam53p2pwjuvvqUcc7bsBCUMA19yPERlGf2VMLdhj0DuFQknOMptFtRjBrGvMWRRimjRPd9aGEC/s1600-h/Cofe+cream.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK-6kn8l0B9ZdqQbp4rCgG-jEFaydRc6GpBxRkonpuuH0OZIc_xsqd2zwIDam53p2pwjuvvqUcc7bsBCUMA19yPERlGf2VMLdhj0DuFQknOMptFtRjBrGvMWRRimjRPd9aGEC/s400/Cofe+cream.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310081462081194786" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">...Imagine printing 1,000,000 labels before noticing the spelling mistake... <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">ouch!</span>~</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETrHeTcwWVJ6H_CDgSnxSVz26xh-Y5wPeiBs2n-ow1Y0P15-xM61ANhVB_KH9iHS0Z_Jx_yPQ_Xt6ItwawbEoYdxAE9Qzq4ummU8oA8MJtHkBuOuyEPmgx1s-9KNHfF3r7AXF/s1600-h/bugger+with+chips.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETrHeTcwWVJ6H_CDgSnxSVz26xh-Y5wPeiBs2n-ow1Y0P15-xM61ANhVB_KH9iHS0Z_Jx_yPQ_Xt6ItwawbEoYdxAE9Qzq4ummU8oA8MJtHkBuOuyEPmgx1s-9KNHfF3r7AXF/s400/bugger+with+chips.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310081458694807890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"I'd love a </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >bugger with chips & salad</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, some </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >garilic bread</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and a </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Spenich mushroom</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, please"</span><br />Look carefully at the menu, under "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">maracont</span>"...<br /><br />by the way, be careful for the "<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">Soya bugger</span>"</span> because it'll catch ya!<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />(I found this menu in Nepal, not China, but it fits in the '<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 0); font-weight: bold;">Chinglish</span>' chapter just the same, I guess)</span><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93v6yTnIlSrir1SkLPrge7AXhLK4IowKKKjsOVJC-RBTdXacT4a5WOYP_wJvziJhAScLV8ixYbsN_-BAdPS3b5GqnEaV4qjIauOYlcHshR3qi1wtzuXiEvDv5yR_phMpv0WXO/s1600-h/Bimbo+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93v6yTnIlSrir1SkLPrge7AXhLK4IowKKKjsOVJC-RBTdXacT4a5WOYP_wJvziJhAScLV8ixYbsN_-BAdPS3b5GqnEaV4qjIauOYlcHshR3qi1wtzuXiEvDv5yR_phMpv0WXO/s400/Bimbo+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310080464872786370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">BIMBO</span> ~ what a brand name! :)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6fRlbBG8R7FjGMxfM6THZ58d5fJKWSbNpsmI_5dCAmA0GA-NtFsocgFuiEk4ay2MobR4BliYvV9qrETPQzFWOti6w14yRNyhedKv-dqw1kac7v9zR_uaieTd_oSfv_AVIaSI/s1600-h/Bimbo+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl6fRlbBG8R7FjGMxfM6THZ58d5fJKWSbNpsmI_5dCAmA0GA-NtFsocgFuiEk4ay2MobR4BliYvV9qrETPQzFWOti6w14yRNyhedKv-dqw1kac7v9zR_uaieTd_oSfv_AVIaSI/s400/Bimbo+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310080460219754194" border="0" /></a>More <span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204); font-weight: bold;">BIMBO</span> cookies (not <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">donuts</span> but <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">donitas</span>; so clever!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: trebuchet ms;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qLJZxkg6l-uIcg6oO_kcHSpunoodmUc8VcKCsS79rH9kDCuSWmTS94nRhHCEVcEYgrMMjV4uTjMY3_wxcAXGV7IQNiZtdq2Y4nKGyfTj2n9IXirNzkyPhVyfGLUuR-S46G1F/s1600-h/bestow+business+cards.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qLJZxkg6l-uIcg6oO_kcHSpunoodmUc8VcKCsS79rH9kDCuSWmTS94nRhHCEVcEYgrMMjV4uTjMY3_wxcAXGV7IQNiZtdq2Y4nKGyfTj2n9IXirNzkyPhVyfGLUuR-S46G1F/s400/bestow+business+cards.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310080462602786258" border="0" /></a>Lovely literal translation: <span style="font-style: italic;">Chinese</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;">English</span> (using a thick old dictionary)<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwVzBS2Nk2Fwzq3Rjds65BiKAHa-gNIAYn0TEm6Ro1CQf770KCtlYgmAp-5GT9efOZs7lgyjz74cq23JDAQuA6xlUBd4o-PJYQ0MEDIQBr5c5KQpx9o7nReWKb2SqdcRhoRx3/s1600-h/banner+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjwVzBS2Nk2Fwzq3Rjds65BiKAHa-gNIAYn0TEm6Ro1CQf770KCtlYgmAp-5GT9efOZs7lgyjz74cq23JDAQuA6xlUBd4o-PJYQ0MEDIQBr5c5KQpx9o7nReWKb2SqdcRhoRx3/s400/banner+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310080457157499314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Now, to be honest, this banner can be found in the '</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >798 art district</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">' <span style="font-size:85%;">(Google it if you don't know)</span> of Beijing so some people must have noticed it and taken it there to exhibit it as a piece of art. It is beautiful <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Chinglish poetry</span> just the same. Literal translation from Chinese to English and it sounds beautiful when read out slowly:</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >Manages well the transportation hand in hand,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 102); font-weight: bold;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >creates the civilized heart linked to heart</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">When I can't sleep at nights, I try to unravel the meaning of these cryptic messages.<br />It's a bit like <span style="font-weight: bold;">Indiana Jones</span>, isn't it?</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: trebuchet ms;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW10dKPM-lG27VTLyWukT0WZyhDEbqAChdjxE8xKx1RVgxeJUnBpq8CKEFgMIusH5wdb8FtdeP6qMVbJ5WgYJEhMUGTH2pGmkYq4jJaOD2kM1tkGsu5MyR_26wGhNO-HkJgRT7/s1600-h/banner+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW10dKPM-lG27VTLyWukT0WZyhDEbqAChdjxE8xKx1RVgxeJUnBpq8CKEFgMIusH5wdb8FtdeP6qMVbJ5WgYJEhMUGTH2pGmkYq4jJaOD2kM1tkGsu5MyR_26wGhNO-HkJgRT7/s400/banner+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310080452413030082" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here's another one: </span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" >"<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Chaoyang you and me to build a harmonious, </span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">I share your civilization traffic</span>"</span><br /></div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">(btw. <span style="font-style: italic;">Chaoyang</span> is a district in Beijing)<br /> </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"What is <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">civilization traffic</span>?" My friend asked me... </span></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-65022223391525320122009-02-17T07:24:00.008+01:002009-02-21T14:23:00.625+01:00ChinglishOn a lighter note now, some Chinglish I encountered all around in China. Don't worry, this post won't contain any stories told by animals and won't show any photos of slaughtered protected animals. We've returned to Beijing now, and back to this century. It snowed here a few days ago (but see this: <span id="obmessage"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7899086.stm">China lets it snow to end draught</a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> )<br /><br /><br /></span></span><br />I have collected quite a selection of photos with '<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Chinglish</span>' (English translated literally from Chinese, or otherwise funny English.) I am always surprised to see huge (and expensive) bill boards or traffic signs with spelling mistakes in them. I recently saw a building with large neon letters: "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Hunan Agricultural Development Bnak</span>". Doesn't anyone notice this over the years? Probably not, or perhaps the people just don't care. It is not like anyone actually speaks English (outside the three largest cities of China) so what's the use anyway.<br /><br />Brand names use the same rhetoric. I always have to laugh about the variations of the fashion brand 'Playboy'. To name a few: "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Playboby</span>", "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Boy Play</span>", "<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Peony Boy</span>" and "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Player Boy</span>" (these are just cheap copies of the real brand name, but still funny without it being meant to be). There are countless more examples of funny brand names or packaging. In the supermarket I found shampoos called "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">Sod</span>" and "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">Gays</span>", and tea that mentions that it contains "<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">poison</span>".<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ7u2BwLFW8QykW1v5SDRcWACioEOTuR_jsh24X_RJ12ogIEa8kf09_yMJzZjSYDlWbeAE7hdG0imC94ur_lxcFu53IJ-ZHXyQASg1gufhjQnqzcpNDxC1M_KsER9kbjhEO8t/s1600-h/Vegetarian+roast+duck.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZ7u2BwLFW8QykW1v5SDRcWACioEOTuR_jsh24X_RJ12ogIEa8kf09_yMJzZjSYDlWbeAE7hdG0imC94ur_lxcFu53IJ-ZHXyQASg1gufhjQnqzcpNDxC1M_KsER9kbjhEO8t/s400/Vegetarian+roast+duck.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303650161451251506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Vegetarian Style meal, including Traditional Roast Duck</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This is the menu of a famous Beijing Roast Duck restaurant<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpTXxEJ39CbszWvVh0iX4EPAON9IA02kJFOWRV2ODjKi7EqwdZJw65ElAgCtjXgz3ZSWQpB1ugW41oWhUWviTdtAn3EazY8X9rBavbit6tSUsuPpsEXs8LpA2E-ieSsCUfWRF/s1600-h/The+Nipping+hand.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjpTXxEJ39CbszWvVh0iX4EPAON9IA02kJFOWRV2ODjKi7EqwdZJw65ElAgCtjXgz3ZSWQpB1ugW41oWhUWviTdtAn3EazY8X9rBavbit6tSUsuPpsEXs8LpA2E-ieSsCUfWRF/s400/The+Nipping+hand.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303650160774705330" border="0" /></a>Toilet door in a train<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTFNi9pwFWlvC7FnmdQKiMswIOG2LcMJvJdf56At6KfbFjDM8ZwnJNo2NwAFfb1svd6GvYgVCqhqTwD15kB9_wixzlD26kFH2org6ZDrMt_jTXWuio-QIlUb_hVua4HJfWxz0/s1600-h/The+last+Emperor.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTFNi9pwFWlvC7FnmdQKiMswIOG2LcMJvJdf56At6KfbFjDM8ZwnJNo2NwAFfb1svd6GvYgVCqhqTwD15kB9_wixzlD26kFH2org6ZDrMt_jTXWuio-QIlUb_hVua4HJfWxz0/s400/The+last+Emperor.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303650150785333282" border="0" /></a>A DVD I bought. I didn't notice the spelling mistakes at first<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HdPkm8unOB5SRjGrgASRh4hcAkKUsmikW6r1XmmdRqZAMUXNolPtYxgLGRmhmSdcFAmod67grpqghxMPFwsiuCn5-6gIaPNw9XYZCnUBDrYiRLGo_ab39UiJTCQB8tcJSWIC/s1600-h/Scald.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9HdPkm8unOB5SRjGrgASRh4hcAkKUsmikW6r1XmmdRqZAMUXNolPtYxgLGRmhmSdcFAmod67grpqghxMPFwsiuCn5-6gIaPNw9XYZCnUBDrYiRLGo_ab39UiJTCQB8tcJSWIC/s400/Scald.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303650149987185586" border="0" /></a>Another photo taken in a train<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qkURSIGn5ffanja0TJKASYf6eHgUqz9Vy_eVKostrQmu38bDroOBl4NHnMorXNPUO6pmgU1xdWsFIs4l9uxJMXQeorgpSjs_8gT09GgIwa176HY5mXduBQzA6AgPqJ4_8-Xw/s1600-h/Potato+ships+small.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8qkURSIGn5ffanja0TJKASYf6eHgUqz9Vy_eVKostrQmu38bDroOBl4NHnMorXNPUO6pmgU1xdWsFIs4l9uxJMXQeorgpSjs_8gT09GgIwa176HY5mXduBQzA6AgPqJ4_8-Xw/s400/Potato+ships+small.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303649978396539986" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Potato ships</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EY__WN5s8fv_Z_TJje_r1M3nq4hMFAm_db8C1cjJxR6U94iiCatP-nVirdo_VHEQrTEdCsimt6t6Ntae0C469gDIX8-zWDzDf70moSncjCsDiOnogbqrMd8Voq_36qlFyEb3/s1600-h/No+whoring+prossies.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1EY__WN5s8fv_Z_TJje_r1M3nq4hMFAm_db8C1cjJxR6U94iiCatP-nVirdo_VHEQrTEdCsimt6t6Ntae0C469gDIX8-zWDzDf70moSncjCsDiOnogbqrMd8Voq_36qlFyEb3/s400/No+whoring+prossies.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303649979344462914" border="0" /></a>Not really 'wrong', but it has a funny sound to it<br />Sign in a bar<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgdTYXhqQfpt34c6rwN8bv0IoS1uy4CDtO8T0Idz2jo0vt6xdd_DxCdMJifaJxBS18E2UTQBT0ysB1KHd4q7tIBy5rQ-bqvtDDKzB5ZUI5qY9WJ2pGlyCarb8Z1_9geXnMCVS/s1600-h/Mind+out+yonr+finger.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgdTYXhqQfpt34c6rwN8bv0IoS1uy4CDtO8T0Idz2jo0vt6xdd_DxCdMJifaJxBS18E2UTQBT0ysB1KHd4q7tIBy5rQ-bqvtDDKzB5ZUI5qY9WJ2pGlyCarb8Z1_9geXnMCVS/s400/Mind+out+yonr+finger.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303649974542256498" border="0" /></a>This is typical Chinglish; translated word by word from Chinese<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXgV_t1H4ukuGlHHbrIsqCJIasMwYJH_XyroytSO-C1Bsim4y2Bb8T3GYqyLoiyrF4QeXo7VBYEpFIn3MBzOf3-6Q9Fp0TmpaAlfIk3gV1sGA3btkRbzpuNkOHs2F057RtG2-/s1600-h/Keep+Fire+Pot.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlXgV_t1H4ukuGlHHbrIsqCJIasMwYJH_XyroytSO-C1Bsim4y2Bb8T3GYqyLoiyrF4QeXo7VBYEpFIn3MBzOf3-6Q9Fp0TmpaAlfIk3gV1sGA3btkRbzpuNkOHs2F057RtG2-/s400/Keep+Fire+Pot.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303649977056168354" border="0" /></a>A tea pot we bought yesterday. "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Keep fire pot</span>" ~ I like the sounds of that!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2fVolEHnF91BVZVNaSNJLUotrQisg_6AIN2silS2Oaeo7ryHWVSEReLht7xoF9T5st4k6DGCijOILG2Sp-F2xaElalnxguPZ7GtfvBs43JJXvL7003QRghKXujsgOUZSZF-E/s1600-h/Da+Niang+Dumping.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2fVolEHnF91BVZVNaSNJLUotrQisg_6AIN2silS2Oaeo7ryHWVSEReLht7xoF9T5st4k6DGCijOILG2Sp-F2xaElalnxguPZ7GtfvBs43JJXvL7003QRghKXujsgOUZSZF-E/s400/Da+Niang+Dumping.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303649969978634338" border="0" /></a>Da Niang dump[l]ing restaurant<br /><br /></div>Another sign in the bathroom of a train showed: "<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Dumping place</span>". Perhaps too obvious...?Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-33863096365347945742009-02-15T11:58:00.025+01:002009-02-15T13:41:00.889+01:00Country Style Cooking with Lao Huang (Not suitable for small children and vegans)<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">... It all started when I, '</span><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Lao Huang</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">' (</span><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">Old Yellow</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">), the house dog, heard a large motorcycle arrive at the house...</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLAoGdoGdbugJcQOKUFQdOkX6IM0XzlKaEqyGsWpJy95lteivkYBD5RS83JukZOFJJGIyrazTfD0JYZVibSFrPGTzsTVQs1_1a9R-tEhlS-VWrBQJbcsJyP3YCjtTo_ryvn1C/s1600-h/01a.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyLAoGdoGdbugJcQOKUFQdOkX6IM0XzlKaEqyGsWpJy95lteivkYBD5RS83JukZOFJJGIyrazTfD0JYZVibSFrPGTzsTVQs1_1a9R-tEhlS-VWrBQJbcsJyP3YCjtTo_ryvn1C/s320/01a.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302983608941155442" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YK58HxouxJExnE0aiXSqFATjNeXWnbRl22H9Aw86WKJLccxo0y_8bap-v-vIidQZkzRb7_KYo_cztrh4i1pI9QZ8qkBeBg_Lp0iBSE3iyQwQ0eXWr-_Q7MDgyR4QTS0YISp2/s1600-h/01b.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YK58HxouxJExnE0aiXSqFATjNeXWnbRl22H9Aw86WKJLccxo0y_8bap-v-vIidQZkzRb7_KYo_cztrh4i1pI9QZ8qkBeBg_Lp0iBSE3iyQwQ0eXWr-_Q7MDgyR4QTS0YISp2/s320/01b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302983605115909394" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">"<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Ah, it must be nearly dinner time</span>"</span> I thought, as I walked over to have a look which animal's bones I would be thrown tonight. It was a warm and sunny day, although it was only February. I had been sleeping and chasing birds in the hills all morning, and was getting hungry by now.</span><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EyUQIPbVoyUT3GJ3SvrHLuqaQxfWawDoCPTTRt4q0j1WVwQx1GekPp7UYtwa9ep1o2PfU9i39UMkTf8kJjNouOWlYxkZsgycrq7UbpyFiyOEqHgPTz_Sf17Xqk_PgEIUNWeE/s1600-h/01c.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EyUQIPbVoyUT3GJ3SvrHLuqaQxfWawDoCPTTRt4q0j1WVwQx1GekPp7UYtwa9ep1o2PfU9i39UMkTf8kJjNouOWlYxkZsgycrq7UbpyFiyOEqHgPTz_Sf17Xqk_PgEIUNWeE/s320/01c.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302983604489671458" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;" >Hedgehog! My favourite!</span><br /><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUGJNdah0vFHBE9OObUBKSCFBhrw9az_JPEvAttbpIZzj4C1d3D-XWowd1PLz8xZPRZgCg-r_RmfsRD2DFT8i3oiFZB7o0cgAWZ2n3YYbNoLu14hz90ehWQbWSh4YC7INDiRs/s1600-h/02.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUGJNdah0vFHBE9OObUBKSCFBhrw9az_JPEvAttbpIZzj4C1d3D-XWowd1PLz8xZPRZgCg-r_RmfsRD2DFT8i3oiFZB7o0cgAWZ2n3YYbNoLu14hz90ehWQbWSh4YC7INDiRs/s320/02.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302983377243357666" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSonjSd8OxLXvxUYRYNErDQFft-cwswt6Us-papdCkslwDxM39BtXPfwztp3EIIhX8m5uwL4gNdNQwRBEYvmlT690Qi9xkUj4vm9gN1EhDGQI8T2_hQ8G7-nGdain0m1NpH9p/s1600-h/03.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSonjSd8OxLXvxUYRYNErDQFft-cwswt6Us-papdCkslwDxM39BtXPfwztp3EIIhX8m5uwL4gNdNQwRBEYvmlT690Qi9xkUj4vm9gN1EhDGQI8T2_hQ8G7-nGdain0m1NpH9p/s320/03.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302983381272222818" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">A family member had brought a large hedgehog, and delivered it in a big bag. He had bought it from an acquaintance for 100 Yuan. It is a local delicacy, and quite rare.</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SiRk8N9Wg3rRCEB-JnEPrYlEMqJvVS8YC9dywK_ojT1YANK-oAGiL9QzZiQ9STJs82elMbdOGAC1Mau3Tpn6kTAK5GZIydS7T_3dnZVDRX5nUlS-OqHNpzZMVNeUSg0ISZlQ/s1600-h/3b.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1SiRk8N9Wg3rRCEB-JnEPrYlEMqJvVS8YC9dywK_ojT1YANK-oAGiL9QzZiQ9STJs82elMbdOGAC1Mau3Tpn6kTAK5GZIydS7T_3dnZVDRX5nUlS-OqHNpzZMVNeUSg0ISZlQ/s320/3b.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302983380675801394" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpIAEwluVzmqaz1QKUQVFxu8D_obqEnopfWCGwAYw_gDR1h2x22GWgB4irviimb7U57glNwfVJAr3Q99Qfs1S2SOhoVrmo7_bmu9gM4ozjfQV6Y3-AjdZ1OPPLu6yU7C4Dfv6/s1600-h/04.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpIAEwluVzmqaz1QKUQVFxu8D_obqEnopfWCGwAYw_gDR1h2x22GWgB4irviimb7U57glNwfVJAr3Q99Qfs1S2SOhoVrmo7_bmu9gM4ozjfQV6Y3-AjdZ1OPPLu6yU7C4Dfv6/s320/04.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302983375139766690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Meanwhile our two heroes where sitting on a hillside behind the house, going about their daily activities, oblivious to the goings on in the house...</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E66ec3tyyM_SA_LDIw8u47m2fbVxYaBgQkiI237A6I5-hs4UgiQvhk5GKAZALSXnCSWSIXaxSHRfJcEFgyFEA8c1Jnc8eziHL5JcU1Q5t9YhegiXLskhyphenhyphen67y6zcJCxcB4Q0B/s1600-h/05.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9E66ec3tyyM_SA_LDIw8u47m2fbVxYaBgQkiI237A6I5-hs4UgiQvhk5GKAZALSXnCSWSIXaxSHRfJcEFgyFEA8c1Jnc8eziHL5JcU1Q5t9YhegiXLskhyphenhyphen67y6zcJCxcB4Q0B/s320/05.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302983373242373394" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKw80NkVZFOyu4RXGuVm93hlgfjGLusYxnznbWVZTlToI5FydtZLFyCBOL2U_jq_XLe4pMiXv0J-E_XCoTUR_T2ATJBsFhIOIJTiBOCgnA9c4KQlx87xJLjFDcu9PhBQrnHay/s1600-h/06.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKw80NkVZFOyu4RXGuVm93hlgfjGLusYxnznbWVZTlToI5FydtZLFyCBOL2U_jq_XLe4pMiXv0J-E_XCoTUR_T2ATJBsFhIOIJTiBOCgnA9c4KQlx87xJLjFDcu9PhBQrnHay/s320/06.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302982914568917682" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">massacre </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">had already begun . . .</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVdwJeF7bdn-ispmXUNFe03pCutDpR58vvgf3aX00Xd0bUo7wxO47gHWatYoOTQ54K298SlFdnqec2lGXRHCIKaFbEBWtF2U57CsIVvXmyLk-VIjX5cqbkaaRi3JzlF35e2fz/s1600-h/07.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVdwJeF7bdn-ispmXUNFe03pCutDpR58vvgf3aX00Xd0bUo7wxO47gHWatYoOTQ54K298SlFdnqec2lGXRHCIKaFbEBWtF2U57CsIVvXmyLk-VIjX5cqbkaaRi3JzlF35e2fz/s320/07.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302982915966891330" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-d7FjkTBaNiT2bkqvzGsvcRyMubnre4BxkYneP7zAdUxBhXXm62YCcLV52Kn958yGvftHZ3A4K0srW43sxXBpImB8l5Z3Wb24dheMbDY7JVMZi1AeWgmLRkJZUdfR7etJ_di/s1600-h/08.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-d7FjkTBaNiT2bkqvzGsvcRyMubnre4BxkYneP7zAdUxBhXXm62YCcLV52Kn958yGvftHZ3A4K0srW43sxXBpImB8l5Z3Wb24dheMbDY7JVMZi1AeWgmLRkJZUdfR7etJ_di/s320/08.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302982913582415442" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The little creature was already being plucked as they heard of this terrible tale and came rushing down to have a look.</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8rz_jR-2J37seYbkFks0feQaMtUKLfjTn6oC1J8z_QCLpd_-BBITlJe4coH-3Fka_q4TEzP6q8aeSZSch5ThxmQDU5tbn07DQC-k04QP_wmbtMVu-6Xd_MDRJH4zG1AhmI3s/s1600-h/09.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN8rz_jR-2J37seYbkFks0feQaMtUKLfjTn6oC1J8z_QCLpd_-BBITlJe4coH-3Fka_q4TEzP6q8aeSZSch5ThxmQDU5tbn07DQC-k04QP_wmbtMVu-6Xd_MDRJH4zG1AhmI3s/s320/09.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302982910746213042" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3JcOaOe-ft_Hy7nZtyQWSOi365sWZ_QqkUVMMs4F9BtEuneoCgikhp1GYjeroQh1mFk-QvZomJrp3F4ttMmVjtn6lzJaf0tFp6LAIV82b2gR3qUoUFpPyksg8BlhyJB_kjtD/s1600-h/10.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3JcOaOe-ft_Hy7nZtyQWSOi365sWZ_QqkUVMMs4F9BtEuneoCgikhp1GYjeroQh1mFk-QvZomJrp3F4ttMmVjtn6lzJaf0tFp6LAIV82b2gR3qUoUFpPyksg8BlhyJB_kjtD/s320/10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302982911739879250" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">It was washed in boiling water and carefully removed of its fur</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4gIsatxoe-pJ24A095ceLFAAV41CI5eExrRZ5Nf9NQLyfgo6s-z8GWnv3WUwtxLSBYgsurH7dtQ6GYJlqfSkJo_CjWaQY_lvhvrDVkvyR-6XUybJ-4Pi6EULRr4fSA8QgDWP/s1600-h/11.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP4gIsatxoe-pJ24A095ceLFAAV41CI5eExrRZ5Nf9NQLyfgo6s-z8GWnv3WUwtxLSBYgsurH7dtQ6GYJlqfSkJo_CjWaQY_lvhvrDVkvyR-6XUybJ-4Pi6EULRr4fSA8QgDWP/s320/11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302981251016321906" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi-8GIT4o3OELNH4qj3cKNAiGp5E3lK2luls8yA9VtuM5OIh5B4kCBZpT-U7G_ULsaLXfGVvSbb6aSFQhYXSlS6kJ4v4V51YLcoCYo1zMq2TJfKq6yIY4sqXCUb9vD8Y9Ntni/s1600-h/12.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFi-8GIT4o3OELNH4qj3cKNAiGp5E3lK2luls8yA9VtuM5OIh5B4kCBZpT-U7G_ULsaLXfGVvSbb6aSFQhYXSlS6kJ4v4V51YLcoCYo1zMq2TJfKq6yIY4sqXCUb9vD8Y9Ntni/s320/12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302981242724890674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >Ooohh I couldn't wait for dinner to be served...</span><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPCycuRSHaael2U0HfOaxWMzxHTSZ_7PwoDanE0n3nsedOASQy1mopKQTzpeMgDlgn5Xp_yJf8eDTlSTfVoklrxYppRMpP5dD7EzmnosagoXkUSNPsOj8CHhYl4j5hHKUCB2N/s1600-h/13.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOPCycuRSHaael2U0HfOaxWMzxHTSZ_7PwoDanE0n3nsedOASQy1mopKQTzpeMgDlgn5Xp_yJf8eDTlSTfVoklrxYppRMpP5dD7EzmnosagoXkUSNPsOj8CHhYl4j5hHKUCB2N/s320/13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302981245939573938" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd3DwfZUiO-jeZ3WVGa95PIgLJlNVq7P4FMTqG7SbLr4k6d3TkWrBe5fiD4x0gHWTRkD88NhMDwGAxLv-bNdZoN05YI8cnIVqrzTdgc5c_lf2wR20R9FagSw4DNXuyF1VX6h5/s1600-h/14.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijd3DwfZUiO-jeZ3WVGa95PIgLJlNVq7P4FMTqG7SbLr4k6d3TkWrBe5fiD4x0gHWTRkD88NhMDwGAxLv-bNdZoN05YI8cnIVqrzTdgc5c_lf2wR20R9FagSw4DNXuyF1VX6h5/s320/14.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302981243328711074" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">After plucking, the hog's skin was burnt with a hot iron poke, thus sterilized.</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWGs_d7XnCHc9FslGrZA8rfSACCqGRWokoKhzAd7uZbcN9pJ1wBO1ycDVo3shY6zP_IwQAmXrBXgPuo7Mx9wNOCAgf20dDtj6MPhOb-2u1zy0leuLWzXmySJeLGtmJofh62bb/s1600-h/15.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWGs_d7XnCHc9FslGrZA8rfSACCqGRWokoKhzAd7uZbcN9pJ1wBO1ycDVo3shY6zP_IwQAmXrBXgPuo7Mx9wNOCAgf20dDtj6MPhOb-2u1zy0leuLWzXmySJeLGtmJofh62bb/s320/15.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302981239996194082" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHllBILs-61hRjvFTpBxAH2LWIEMqVKdsypngszKo534sIgEmcqJQCZyUUxmPBpMLD2YcYWSMYuqM6dm5VnUCbNzh2OxgJ9ebXjUuiaYYsic96rEjR3T1n4bWjAFcRO4fq9wc/s1600-h/17.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHllBILs-61hRjvFTpBxAH2LWIEMqVKdsypngszKo534sIgEmcqJQCZyUUxmPBpMLD2YcYWSMYuqM6dm5VnUCbNzh2OxgJ9ebXjUuiaYYsic96rEjR3T1n4bWjAFcRO4fq9wc/s320/17.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302981030163539474" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The 'first phase preparations' were done.</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4epDhpStGevhKYgzxEHykbYldrNC1yKzDkJYln59_y4P5XRrcO1XRfnjlVVRIJQvSfNDLhUcosHcKduSlyvijOH0l3b9miXJgvfDeo6usxQ5js88NhtH1qdL5Rv3t7YN7OKPA/s1600-h/18.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4epDhpStGevhKYgzxEHykbYldrNC1yKzDkJYln59_y4P5XRrcO1XRfnjlVVRIJQvSfNDLhUcosHcKduSlyvijOH0l3b9miXJgvfDeo6usxQ5js88NhtH1qdL5Rv3t7YN7OKPA/s320/18.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302981027331561618" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >In total eight people were going to eat from this</span><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TTbISpuGcPdAdNlSzfN2TRoI1ApEAPp40UDWyytrscVt5cJto11rF7PAcX1SKuYo_Lrx7UWooyfPmiU0MJbhQI9rQ7ofyxR53Rm1sXbYeiNoUwnzWlzn4umFMVY5ahRm5TeN/s1600-h/19.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TTbISpuGcPdAdNlSzfN2TRoI1ApEAPp40UDWyytrscVt5cJto11rF7PAcX1SKuYo_Lrx7UWooyfPmiU0MJbhQI9rQ7ofyxR53Rm1sXbYeiNoUwnzWlzn4umFMVY5ahRm5TeN/s320/19.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302981022356556018" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQN-YB4IOOtrokv8oLRBFujjL1Tod7viYFW-l45ou4QezewUDIV0e7_UFZJnKaAUezRlarcX9oTNFTYh8hXwIPLe8Fla8LRWol6AA-3WUCmkmlZMfX-gGxkjZRJg8QxZL8rBQ/s1600-h/20.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAQN-YB4IOOtrokv8oLRBFujjL1Tod7viYFW-l45ou4QezewUDIV0e7_UFZJnKaAUezRlarcX9oTNFTYh8hXwIPLe8Fla8LRWol6AA-3WUCmkmlZMfX-gGxkjZRJg8QxZL8rBQ/s320/20.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302981020582383106" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">This guy didn't care. He'd rather chew on some discarded chicken wings or a duck leg.</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8mtH9buXwm36kCFz4dWQDkpSjDAU9G8JFDFBav7K67PKj_1g1lNIuiG2dzNmrCICyyQUknio2aeYPkanOa_HqHtQieV75KodRRXauMqOU5JqFQDy0_UPT8czUKk4I2X30bT_/s1600-h/22.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8mtH9buXwm36kCFz4dWQDkpSjDAU9G8JFDFBav7K67PKj_1g1lNIuiG2dzNmrCICyyQUknio2aeYPkanOa_HqHtQieV75KodRRXauMqOU5JqFQDy0_UPT8czUKk4I2X30bT_/s320/22.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302981022869937826" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >Our specimen was then carefully washed again in fresh mountain dew...</span><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oYe-X5nLHi8aeSzAG1oegZ-IpbM1-DE-GeKAAjWlzZWX7UPIuwzd0e2RamTHk49DePXuDR68-BMEp_UScOiUSAPHcXEDzD8_YebPp_LEXH3gzzpQ3xcWJp1PCSLAOKZpZggA/s1600-h/23.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6oYe-X5nLHi8aeSzAG1oegZ-IpbM1-DE-GeKAAjWlzZWX7UPIuwzd0e2RamTHk49DePXuDR68-BMEp_UScOiUSAPHcXEDzD8_YebPp_LEXH3gzzpQ3xcWJp1PCSLAOKZpZggA/s320/23.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980773139358802" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KCkUqHuaVGxL0ROlKeHtp4LGCYJhjC4K6Wc6hnYI7RDD4bDXVJY9rHlDog8Jfo8aJR6Sad_uUcBbVXgK9jUm-nJcgyOW9nxDdbLBWv9DRElryKQY4ymny_F6VV3tnQ8gaA_A/s1600-h/24.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1KCkUqHuaVGxL0ROlKeHtp4LGCYJhjC4K6Wc6hnYI7RDD4bDXVJY9rHlDog8Jfo8aJR6Sad_uUcBbVXgK9jUm-nJcgyOW9nxDdbLBWv9DRElryKQY4ymny_F6VV3tnQ8gaA_A/s320/24.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980768542469490" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">and handed over to another top chef for the cutting to commence.</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlS-Yd18313t_1wfUrf9-0E350-cGc6bRxaVglXVYdczdkWtfhr4l_SUrp01psVXGt2c69sBScUHYS5AW6qetzpINjBg8dD6EjuoaMiLZfn80DbSwCG1i8DVzW7K9thCiWFYuA/s1600-h/25.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlS-Yd18313t_1wfUrf9-0E350-cGc6bRxaVglXVYdczdkWtfhr4l_SUrp01psVXGt2c69sBScUHYS5AW6qetzpINjBg8dD6EjuoaMiLZfn80DbSwCG1i8DVzW7K9thCiWFYuA/s320/25.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980766089662482" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzJYhFyz0B9SOSJyU-o8dsw7o3-Op9i6o8MUtgW1OYvts2x9KnHifrvbU8gcjcgj3Xkr6dtldT4wW0ij8uJKS1XEu9dLK5PnftbimdNn1o_JofszB5NXYFKCO5Q97efYQXbLm/s1600-h/26.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVzJYhFyz0B9SOSJyU-o8dsw7o3-Op9i6o8MUtgW1OYvts2x9KnHifrvbU8gcjcgj3Xkr6dtldT4wW0ij8uJKS1XEu9dLK5PnftbimdNn1o_JofszB5NXYFKCO5Q97efYQXbLm/s320/26.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980763547835266" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">An auntie performed this task in the bright and spacious kitchen, with carefully selected precision instruments, such as the</span> <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">hatchet </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">and </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">cutting board</span>.<br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKN8iwLnSNRl1spH5BmLN5jtn7WFGAIdP9mnXsyJSsdooFmwni5HrYlcmi9XddpxYL5PGlypZx-ECfPkKZeZoMcl5VnWTjE3Muc1Ck_AUVO7rFdC4_k_6Luaw5U29b9gBgx1xc/s1600-h/27.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKN8iwLnSNRl1spH5BmLN5jtn7WFGAIdP9mnXsyJSsdooFmwni5HrYlcmi9XddpxYL5PGlypZx-ECfPkKZeZoMcl5VnWTjE3Muc1Ck_AUVO7rFdC4_k_6Luaw5U29b9gBgx1xc/s320/27.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980763443248402" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PH_3hO0s7a1coaTzBhX-ADDk0DabLfRj4gjlbCWQIgyZfc8cETl1Jz8G7Ip3uiy8KwbSZSK9NeWlCbGR9RhIhr-UjovcBqPMrU-l2F6wHlVGPo-mZBskuQl6FA-frUr9iueD/s1600-h/28.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4PH_3hO0s7a1coaTzBhX-ADDk0DabLfRj4gjlbCWQIgyZfc8cETl1Jz8G7Ip3uiy8KwbSZSK9NeWlCbGR9RhIhr-UjovcBqPMrU-l2F6wHlVGPo-mZBskuQl6FA-frUr9iueD/s320/28.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980530766784002" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">With the skill of a brain surgeon, she removed the intestines and other inner organs</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYr2BtxAA2xy9_BW93l3xES2FBOdZryr0jcpO_nm580FrbzGDJgv9Ri7v7xGqlaALuxqi8Q7cqkXGNe65anUXWamRktwx-gDzI0SueMCUhZQMySyCYFWZbu97cl1r2FDtwyT7/s1600-h/29.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCYr2BtxAA2xy9_BW93l3xES2FBOdZryr0jcpO_nm580FrbzGDJgv9Ri7v7xGqlaALuxqi8Q7cqkXGNe65anUXWamRktwx-gDzI0SueMCUhZQMySyCYFWZbu97cl1r2FDtwyT7/s320/29.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980525793427618" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jgA5eZz-h4IqAeD3xtP3O6OIvS5HdSsaZ7g3cyWkl3ZEzo49_lZkFM9Ae61m6QXxAHu2DHBHIw6u-KyLlf5KG23DK_3WYQyDSrCb1UaCJYY2QbrYQ7gX2iMs9yHeP7uhkjPg/s1600-h/30.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jgA5eZz-h4IqAeD3xtP3O6OIvS5HdSsaZ7g3cyWkl3ZEzo49_lZkFM9Ae61m6QXxAHu2DHBHIw6u-KyLlf5KG23DK_3WYQyDSrCb1UaCJYY2QbrYQ7gX2iMs9yHeP7uhkjPg/s320/30.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980526022072642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsgTGOK3TnNRaHLiAons9TCB54Lyp2I0sGKWvqzap6h7VOw7qD4NRuKrSNmIEMq-XuPU7eZHO-eT2q_2FWDUurhYheul-R7AKdsJRUIdJ9p0SsZmaGOYZyU3DNj3iJe0UWeri/s1600-h/31.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsgTGOK3TnNRaHLiAons9TCB54Lyp2I0sGKWvqzap6h7VOw7qD4NRuKrSNmIEMq-XuPU7eZHO-eT2q_2FWDUurhYheul-R7AKdsJRUIdJ9p0SsZmaGOYZyU3DNj3iJe0UWeri/s320/31.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980525570114642" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WKbk1TJm8hnBs4CnbOjNjO_Gp_Tm5L98EV1bn-3ukhuQQ5F9fLVwsddmKelP03nQL4CgHMkYbzulNuVVZ1geVbKATjBPtjHxjQHi_-Pdys22TwSxs42DnV3zWLvG2qtefP_N/s1600-h/32.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WKbk1TJm8hnBs4CnbOjNjO_Gp_Tm5L98EV1bn-3ukhuQQ5F9fLVwsddmKelP03nQL4CgHMkYbzulNuVVZ1geVbKATjBPtjHxjQHi_-Pdys22TwSxs42DnV3zWLvG2qtefP_N/s320/32.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980522856639106" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">As you can see I, </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 0);">Lao Huang</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">, paid close attention to every step of the process, making sure that nothing went wrong (</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">this is my story, after all...</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">)</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K9DebDT42xCKO93wGiRDRE581bJCMVZXXuuK4e-n8McySId57vg8FGh3DpwcAGADFuByJYIiixBUcHRJh7i8tvjtuGaSj_w2crDZZB6oFkbJV-ke5oXBlH0KI4UUqDEmWDNw/s1600-h/33.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8K9DebDT42xCKO93wGiRDRE581bJCMVZXXuuK4e-n8McySId57vg8FGh3DpwcAGADFuByJYIiixBUcHRJh7i8tvjtuGaSj_w2crDZZB6oFkbJV-ke5oXBlH0KI4UUqDEmWDNw/s320/33.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980072474760066" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVffXA009FVOTzEoMosZiPSPNrvnMFS5VR8tP1XKdI_u0xAvxCF4ncnDLX4gMmrFnw75qFPPXZqF1A8UV_siVJo8Zcmyv6GF0AHahvQMNcBQfnWeLbK_cEjEx9KD4YJuqyAXWB/s1600-h/34.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVffXA009FVOTzEoMosZiPSPNrvnMFS5VR8tP1XKdI_u0xAvxCF4ncnDLX4gMmrFnw75qFPPXZqF1A8UV_siVJo8Zcmyv6GF0AHahvQMNcBQfnWeLbK_cEjEx9KD4YJuqyAXWB/s320/34.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980068572946802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Nearly done now; we want only</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">the meat</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">,</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">feet </span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">and </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">head</span>.<br /></div><br /><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjv5OFqFzvplVlPbisxeBGcM1-CO-_COyQlzUWOcknxrRGUgSmJRd3LE74buwUab6raCRPkSxPiY7t1A7HjHdIl_L9xJr_FxtL41VdpUaqE8lKeFksLvW9uM8cxFHMBIsFneB/s1600-h/35.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwjv5OFqFzvplVlPbisxeBGcM1-CO-_COyQlzUWOcknxrRGUgSmJRd3LE74buwUab6raCRPkSxPiY7t1A7HjHdIl_L9xJr_FxtL41VdpUaqE8lKeFksLvW9uM8cxFHMBIsFneB/s320/35.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980065928954850" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbEUQWP5S-j-0n98ezBo3ozlu6oIxEwl9mg2cyAYVgcN0RGnCTwcu5Jvx-ODo3nYXwfElP3V0Q6Ofnm1OnGuam53sZCgbLZzWPmHBfRgysTxjNsR6vgI4aHlHFhsf5ZXL6VrR/s1600-h/36.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDbEUQWP5S-j-0n98ezBo3ozlu6oIxEwl9mg2cyAYVgcN0RGnCTwcu5Jvx-ODo3nYXwfElP3V0Q6Ofnm1OnGuam53sZCgbLZzWPmHBfRgysTxjNsR6vgI4aHlHFhsf5ZXL6VrR/s320/36.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980066339134610" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">The whole operation took roughly twenty minutes</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vDXdI_W0oJrTNeMDEGXzUiJT1JordefdboiyFFIsqqAQdoyZUeb3uUXcc3uPhtATPXgGwByqSfp-wAe0G3Er9-zEC906QqChSni0FycqmJpOm59MJgOHqTeIHoE8dvrYGDPx/s1600-h/37.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vDXdI_W0oJrTNeMDEGXzUiJT1JordefdboiyFFIsqqAQdoyZUeb3uUXcc3uPhtATPXgGwByqSfp-wAe0G3Er9-zEC906QqChSni0FycqmJpOm59MJgOHqTeIHoE8dvrYGDPx/s320/37.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302980063786421442" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblnwA3gCCighcYQ8n9cCHS91WBJG_RP9taNI3n2t3sGxrU02-CSWQAmWUZfeu0mGhIadcssx9vGwxVtzKdm90OOuZwcezpw0XVz77QNnhyphenhyphenmRzaLl74aCf6jHJEafnhSEy8wzd/s1600-h/38.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgblnwA3gCCighcYQ8n9cCHS91WBJG_RP9taNI3n2t3sGxrU02-CSWQAmWUZfeu0mGhIadcssx9vGwxVtzKdm90OOuZwcezpw0XVz77QNnhyphenhyphenmRzaLl74aCf6jHJEafnhSEy8wzd/s320/38.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302979658862534898" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Starters were already served for me:</span> <span style="color: rgb(51, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">bladder</span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">. The proud auntie holds up the result: a neatly cleaned and ready to be cooked hedge hog.</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuQR0cmG_DLbOfDU9Pxl3me7hvmKqZ5kzI9x_xTp4sQpHzyQV4XMqP7dh_wZ9ZMt9zHz2QnpR6ld5F69ztkMXr_9FyB7Wvnbqf33XkXP2XI2ZT55p2CJQ89GzK0VHDhm_tQTe/s1600-h/39.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxuQR0cmG_DLbOfDU9Pxl3me7hvmKqZ5kzI9x_xTp4sQpHzyQV4XMqP7dh_wZ9ZMt9zHz2QnpR6ld5F69ztkMXr_9FyB7Wvnbqf33XkXP2XI2ZT55p2CJQ89GzK0VHDhm_tQTe/s320/39.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302979661663259794" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y6ReQ3jTbfp4hEvkTN8Y4Zwc5SMVNAUFhS9AOKvEODxOCm8z9OwOBDIarDi9-2RHbfJRGMrVxm0IY1mqCRnK32kWMW4H373MYen32HUOnX4FaAFIUHTQ2p3Ht8jv6TXeF4HB/s1600-h/40.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8y6ReQ3jTbfp4hEvkTN8Y4Zwc5SMVNAUFhS9AOKvEODxOCm8z9OwOBDIarDi9-2RHbfJRGMrVxm0IY1mqCRnK32kWMW4H373MYen32HUOnX4FaAFIUHTQ2p3Ht8jv6TXeF4HB/s320/40.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302979659906475746" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;font-family:lucida grande;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">I did my part by cleaning the operation room</span><br /></div><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfbe9jERsTcc3HSk7FAI4_4aFe2YXvDOkHZFjvgKDzujH-oZEKto6DYpV_Je13o89DxICrVfXswQozV1yx74qN4IN_3qdtHABTMzfggLcErxRg_4CB2mKCkUZUFqNDY8NnUcC/s1600-h/41.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfbe9jERsTcc3HSk7FAI4_4aFe2YXvDOkHZFjvgKDzujH-oZEKto6DYpV_Je13o89DxICrVfXswQozV1yx74qN4IN_3qdtHABTMzfggLcErxRg_4CB2mKCkUZUFqNDY8NnUcC/s320/41.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302979655755587314" border="0" /></a><a style="font-family: lucida grande;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWXDK309H_qKA3CBu-ZpCR02VrHMcQMqFTZzOD2JdVUl88fY-5KY7c22Pl7-wMY9Z096vuPacLQTzolKTnONqJsb5h5vyp1yQ4cKk8YEsbKrPP1sr8SXOnaPfnlD86xgTCmMW/s1600-h/42.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWXDK309H_qKA3CBu-ZpCR02VrHMcQMqFTZzOD2JdVUl88fY-5KY7c22Pl7-wMY9Z096vuPacLQTzolKTnONqJsb5h5vyp1yQ4cKk8YEsbKrPP1sr8SXOnaPfnlD86xgTCmMW/s320/42.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302979652484475954" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);font-family:lucida grande;" >So that's how you prepare Asian hedge hog. I never got to see the end result, because I was too busy chewing on the hog's fine bones under the table.</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Come back again next week for more '<span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102);">Country Style Cooking</span> with your loyal companion '<span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Lao</span> - </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 0);font-family:georgia;font-size:130%;" >flea nest</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"> <span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">-</span> Huang</span></span><span style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">'</span> :)</span><br /></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-69791340734516017922009-02-08T04:30:00.006+01:002009-02-08T05:09:06.888+01:00Relaxing time in Hunan<div style="text-align: center;">...As I wrote before, good times in China are all about good food. We have visited most of the relatives by now, and the smoke clouds from the fireworks have just about cleared. Now it is time for some relaxing.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJzyyuM9otilHosiLpDcLmgdgBZnlIvyUsIyd0y8otoCQeHHTB0Uuaaw_Qu9I10xV8gIp-rdJZRKIZhqzcaEbHpMFFV7VKpyzTCJ5P4aHM46VKx48qLh9FiHBpRn5VDwBwOUB/s1600-h/outside+bbq+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifJzyyuM9otilHosiLpDcLmgdgBZnlIvyUsIyd0y8otoCQeHHTB0Uuaaw_Qu9I10xV8gIp-rdJZRKIZhqzcaEbHpMFFV7VKpyzTCJ5P4aHM46VKx48qLh9FiHBpRn5VDwBwOUB/s400/outside+bbq+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300268039171352546" border="0" /></a>This photo was taken behind the house. There is a hill and the forest starts there. We built a fire and brought a bottle of rice wine and had ourselves a little barbecue. What I am eating is dried and smoked pig's ear, then roasted over the fire we built. A little chewy but very nice.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqIY5mESEmda4HNTcFpAOPZ4YwspKrQxv6IwB4Anq1hp5Jtd_N_OsZGtJn2_5SV15g6EuTxcT9skvFycaTEwdBf7wqT01_AAn0ae6nOJ2u7RQQV9F1EL3aqctswnKRAYadHO4/s1600-h/inside+bbq+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnqIY5mESEmda4HNTcFpAOPZ4YwspKrQxv6IwB4Anq1hp5Jtd_N_OsZGtJn2_5SV15g6EuTxcT9skvFycaTEwdBf7wqT01_AAn0ae6nOJ2u7RQQV9F1EL3aqctswnKRAYadHO4/s400/inside+bbq+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300266294075916546" border="0" /></a>The next day Chen Yi's brother and cousins built a 'proper' barbecue in the kitchen (the parents both weren't home...) We had skewers with chicken and pork, some vegetables and everything dipped in a firey hot chili sauce.<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu03CRVC60qQaU1Y7YxJlVB_mFWkJlkYY0fTGJA3wUDkP5URoWbAd5OQfFdxT0B70HDfn1LKNJzlQASr2CCudi6lEHA40jum92Zd-AIAIViiG4ZSXrjpsowEb7WpFJTrSXxRj/s1600-h/inside+bbq+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguu03CRVC60qQaU1Y7YxJlVB_mFWkJlkYY0fTGJA3wUDkP5URoWbAd5OQfFdxT0B70HDfn1LKNJzlQASr2CCudi6lEHA40jum92Zd-AIAIViiG4ZSXrjpsowEb7WpFJTrSXxRj/s400/inside+bbq+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300266286480504514" border="0" /></a>The barbecue was made from bricks and chicken wire<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gFUxJCpyooMup6lVVUudhU1eWr17_ajSojR2pETNFjbT4FNZpm4JxGKdrjSRG1f1851u6ykTxV_TT4Tjonmjds8O6_-px4Cu7DceDcxu0Tr3p_xpCwp4-_ERc9IzbNOk7NMw/s1600-h/inside+bbq+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gFUxJCpyooMup6lVVUudhU1eWr17_ajSojR2pETNFjbT4FNZpm4JxGKdrjSRG1f1851u6ykTxV_TT4Tjonmjds8O6_-px4Cu7DceDcxu0Tr3p_xpCwp4-_ERc9IzbNOk7NMw/s400/inside+bbq+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300266287796371890" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbsX7B_BxNSBCc8sZKlszAypUhO8SWvdc1v1l0DCrrCu6wYp3WsFSdfxPhDJXLuH3N3-gdhboB9GR367JzhCdayX142rBVHOSv43qrFHkc5QDGaj0eVAXgvBZHoBfctciLXOI/s1600-h/hippie+kids+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEbsX7B_BxNSBCc8sZKlszAypUhO8SWvdc1v1l0DCrrCu6wYp3WsFSdfxPhDJXLuH3N3-gdhboB9GR367JzhCdayX142rBVHOSv43qrFHkc5QDGaj0eVAXgvBZHoBfctciLXOI/s400/hippie+kids+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300266289788318866" border="0" /></a>Yesterday more relatives came to visit (*uch*) Anyways, these two <span style="font-style: italic;">hippie </span>kids found some plastic sunflowers and we were all happy because it took their minds of the bag of fireworks they had brought.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MXea4bLam0U0u4OvMblAl7J4UWfN85YC7AwCDxGt0E_IkIy6pimpsSOrwL3wunFYZQA77RoG5Qn9m5tJAuzFr6KqKZeg8h_k8VjdfCr6WFk8HxZ-g3F21GoJc2S0XrgTv_jM/s1600-h/hippie+kids+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3MXea4bLam0U0u4OvMblAl7J4UWfN85YC7AwCDxGt0E_IkIy6pimpsSOrwL3wunFYZQA77RoG5Qn9m5tJAuzFr6KqKZeg8h_k8VjdfCr6WFk8HxZ-g3F21GoJc2S0XrgTv_jM/s400/hippie+kids+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300266282605836802" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccCVvmhRZY2xbu4U0QBVn65I7oRcapUvyNUDw3xkW-S55x1GUITVolzXIXFFF4NbPaHcCI3iOgofuHMg8D8m7itS2lOIEUcs4pnXURfAlc5BAakJIhy8jkotLZ3_9x-gZoNaC/s1600-h/drinking+with+the+police.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjccCVvmhRZY2xbu4U0QBVn65I7oRcapUvyNUDw3xkW-S55x1GUITVolzXIXFFF4NbPaHcCI3iOgofuHMg8D8m7itS2lOIEUcs4pnXURfAlc5BAakJIhy8jkotLZ3_9x-gZoNaC/s400/drinking+with+the+police.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300265212590642114" border="0" /></a>Inside more eating and drinking. Two of the relatives are policemen. I couldn't believe my eyes when they started drinking rice wine with us; one of them was on duty. I couldn't resist taking photos... The large tea pot on the right is filled with rice wine (20%-30%) and goes around the table. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswFjizDMzvgVAqBVi-j-bz5VHbc4r6iVpWZkSeGOLAT_sJwH-IGZ_f7sK8y1CRzProvofgjgvA0pe_21AEBxQNyETq0Acx356wCR6mJzSlYJmhDWgiIQqDR257Qh8fdkmhiQD/s1600-h/drinking+with+the+police+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswFjizDMzvgVAqBVi-j-bz5VHbc4r6iVpWZkSeGOLAT_sJwH-IGZ_f7sK8y1CRzProvofgjgvA0pe_21AEBxQNyETq0Acx356wCR6mJzSlYJmhDWgiIQqDR257Qh8fdkmhiQD/s400/drinking+with+the+police+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300265207086659554" border="0" /></a>After lunch he went back to work. Mind you that it's a very small town here and not much to do<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVa0je-jC3kYXdhrgskrIhLR70l7ZKPBWAk8eLtcAKiROZcAtuEpZxTVoIl1iVMk0GNZM65MrtOwonTgVphvzRzhyPeDb1nShQ6Sl3M90CiHPPvicVSds55irGcdLCGBdbYT0/s1600-h/back+view+1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtVa0je-jC3kYXdhrgskrIhLR70l7ZKPBWAk8eLtcAKiROZcAtuEpZxTVoIl1iVMk0GNZM65MrtOwonTgVphvzRzhyPeDb1nShQ6Sl3M90CiHPPvicVSds55irGcdLCGBdbYT0/s400/back+view+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300265200780700258" border="0" /></a>This is the view from the back of the house. There is a sort of gorge with rice paddies and forest. Up the mountains are more small villages with relatives<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJCk21s4feA0B6o7Z8ZRknzl7J4oHTP7T7nKZ_d3uZcbyiCVoFN59IFrarBRM8zmeHcIQ8YG0z4S6NO14IMEfpSJE0GURMyJyRoYkVMDLSrILMysDG19pPr6gxLMFvON8tlP1/s1600-h/back+view+2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJCk21s4feA0B6o7Z8ZRknzl7J4oHTP7T7nKZ_d3uZcbyiCVoFN59IFrarBRM8zmeHcIQ8YG0z4S6NO14IMEfpSJE0GURMyJyRoYkVMDLSrILMysDG19pPr6gxLMFvON8tlP1/s400/back+view+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300265200550632114" border="0" /></a>I went for a walk on my own and found this beautiful waterfalls, after a 1-hour hike up the mountain <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">(1 second exposure shot)</span><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1QG5FWJosG0IXcpq0WM4rh_A_2HII0ENrCZBVj3xUuk-kgBAsTihTxD4UZnAkxUdnutmG7b8tfEvw5zVgegWuC4mttC-J3QvOM4Qf7T4pb7D7nxw-8M6a6rGgkN9VhsS9qRl/s1600-h/back+view+3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1QG5FWJosG0IXcpq0WM4rh_A_2HII0ENrCZBVj3xUuk-kgBAsTihTxD4UZnAkxUdnutmG7b8tfEvw5zVgegWuC4mttC-J3QvOM4Qf7T4pb7D7nxw-8M6a6rGgkN9VhsS9qRl/s400/back+view+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300265196474949586" border="0" /></a>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-80010905946929258322009-02-01T07:44:00.009+01:002009-02-08T05:12:56.638+01:00Chinese New Year in HunanThe Chinese New Year traditionally lasts for nearly two weeks, and everyday we visit relatives. Today we (a group of 10 cousins, brothers and other relatives) paid a quick visit to an auntie in another small town.<br /><br />We rented a minivan for 5 Euros and drove for half an hour. In the small town, the locals all gathered to stare at me, while the others unloaded a big bag of fireworks in front of the auntie's door. For a few minutes the noise and smoke was unbearable, because we shot all the fire crackers at the same time. When the smoke cleared a little, the auntie came outside with cups of tea and peanuts and oranges. We all shouted "<em><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">bai nian!</span></em>" (Happy New Year) and then left again. She came running after us with a "<em><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">hong bao</span></em>" (red envelope) with a symbolic amount of money inside (most common 68, 88 or 106 Yuan because 6 and 8 are lucky numbers). She stuck an envelope in each of our pockets, followed by a pack of cigarettes.<br /><br />This is how we spend most days here in Hunan. Lots of traditions in the small towns and very interesting. We eat three meals a day of mostly meat, the most fancy and expensive meat around (smoked ham, fresh chicken and ducks or mutton hotpot). With dinner, a few cups of home made rice wine are always served, no matter what time of day. My girlfriend has a large family, so there are many uncles and grand aunties to visit; more than ten. We can manage two or three a day, and in turn they will all visit her family too.<br /><br />When people visit, the men usually run to the table to play poker, while the women play <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahjong">Mah Jong</a>. The host is walking around serving tea, sunflower seeds, candy and cigarettes to everyone. After an hour or so, the floor is covered with cigarette butts, peanut shells and other garbage. Outside the front door is a pile of red paper from the fireworks that never ends. Sometimes the guests stay overnight because there is no public transportation in the evenings. When the guests leave, the floor is swept with a big mop, and everything is ready and clean again for then next group.<br /><br />During dinner the younger people are required to have a dink with the elders. Say cheers to them one by one. It is also common for them to put food in other people's bowl (as in: "<em><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">here, you can have this nice boiled duck head</span></em>" :) The host will pour alcohol continually, and it is a custom to refuse, even fight about it, and then have him pour another cup anyways. After dinner rice is served. "<em><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">Eat more!</span></em>" they always say, no matter how much I eat. Being the only foreigner here, I always get a special treatment (eg. they give me more food, more to drink, let me sit in the best seat... that sort of thing). The men always look puzzled when I refuse cigarettes. Literally all the men in the small villages smoke. They also always ask if I am used to spicy food yet. I alway smile and say "<em><strong><span style="color: rgb(153, 153, 0);">yes!</span></strong></em>"~Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35293992.post-12293426551051763472009-01-26T08:58:00.010+01:002009-02-01T07:44:29.522+01:00Chun Jie (Chinese New Year)<div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="COLOR: rgb(153,102,51);font-size:130%;" ><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold;font-family:lucida grande;" >Happy Chinese New Year!</span></span><br /><br />I went to Hunan, to my girlfriend's hometown. It was nearly impossible to buy train tickets, most tickets were already sold out before the ticket office opened... (due to corruption). Everybody was stressed, since it is very important for Chinese people to visit their families during the Spring Festival/New Year. We had to buy our tickets from some office that charged nearly double prices. They were delivered by some guy on a motorbike at midnight the day before we left. We were lucky to get tickets at all! We were also lucky to have sleepers in the 13 hour train ride, and it was sort of comfortable. We arrived in Changsha, Hunan's capital city at 10:00 AM, and had to buy bus tickets to the small town we were going to. This was not easy. We spent 1 hour in line to buy the tickets, and then boarded the last bus there.<br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeF6gXX1Ghhp7h-_CN8bQkjFwx0slTE_0TqqrBJp8fWd8evp-fWE5gqp7CoKK2Ol5lO3CE80g1nbDB1u5lj3Qx1JUCBBa_ZaRzT-6FkdZI7msNuV1Yov0ByhuRgOFE637KG2z/s1600-h/waiting+in+line+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511821111400770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeF6gXX1Ghhp7h-_CN8bQkjFwx0slTE_0TqqrBJp8fWd8evp-fWE5gqp7CoKK2Ol5lO3CE80g1nbDB1u5lj3Qx1JUCBBa_ZaRzT-6FkdZI7msNuV1Yov0ByhuRgOFE637KG2z/s400/waiting+in+line+1.JPG" border="0" /></a>The endless queue in front of the ticket office. There must have been at least 100 people waiting in front of us.<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37R0E_iTdLmq5mtUuJBosmGHf7z9A8Z99eCGuPRFS5SQ4jj4b6U0JSNHKBXsd1kgpIWRzWQCl7C4FaSUE6W7y2L4eXwmZJC2Apg7HOPBtMSw16S0XTOXHqFxecRH3slzTVd9o/s1600-h/waiting+in+line+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511820958164034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh37R0E_iTdLmq5mtUuJBosmGHf7z9A8Z99eCGuPRFS5SQ4jj4b6U0JSNHKBXsd1kgpIWRzWQCl7C4FaSUE6W7y2L4eXwmZJC2Apg7HOPBtMSw16S0XTOXHqFxecRH3slzTVd9o/s400/waiting+in+line+2.JPG" border="0" /></a>The ticket hall<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl72AekfOprhSQnkPLunRVYGG12kuaRUlanvjiMW2z58Ebh0WITWpJ81NZxhH6rHXLLLy9zLnXE8V_AhLylV99lOqwsaR24OhFhi4tKM1Aas6nQGfN7IWW0zSlIqyVZmr6rOsK/s1600-h/waiting+in+line+3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511814561263330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl72AekfOprhSQnkPLunRVYGG12kuaRUlanvjiMW2z58Ebh0WITWpJ81NZxhH6rHXLLLy9zLnXE8V_AhLylV99lOqwsaR24OhFhi4tKM1Aas6nQGfN7IWW0zSlIqyVZmr6rOsK/s400/waiting+in+line+3.JPG" border="0" /></a>Almost my turn..</div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcrpNOIvWGNVb-YcWmcb8lrlzQiLM0QahBNqNVHygmoQdRGFqlXEgmDCF-x5OmRM1X169TMC44UfUPYsZMHegbhsQI-mutGBZ2kK94rvTDPDrRgzdESmjaTcq9JNeWN5qX08P/s1600-h/berries.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511472601519762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivcrpNOIvWGNVb-YcWmcb8lrlzQiLM0QahBNqNVHygmoQdRGFqlXEgmDCF-x5OmRM1X169TMC44UfUPYsZMHegbhsQI-mutGBZ2kK94rvTDPDrRgzdESmjaTcq9JNeWN5qX08P/s400/berries.JPG" border="0" /></a>Once in Dong Kou, everything was good. We were welcomed by Chen Yi's family and ate good food and drank home made wine. This picture was taken behind the house, were there is a mountain and forest. We went out to get firewood, since they cook on coals and wood.<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB5XfF3gABozaHueSCc3xQ409X2yugSEQpb4iskhAwUvl9ATLtm3OynQreLA7YuseENbl0fa1uZJM5XIvahI7yMO7Qvel3zx1LBBgFYgo2GD5JyYuYrH5lyfD9yHlbi4icnkw/s1600-h/fireplace.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511467844337922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwB5XfF3gABozaHueSCc3xQ409X2yugSEQpb4iskhAwUvl9ATLtm3OynQreLA7YuseENbl0fa1uZJM5XIvahI7yMO7Qvel3zx1LBBgFYgo2GD5JyYuYrH5lyfD9yHlbi4icnkw/s400/fireplace.JPG" border="0" /></a>A little room is reserved for '<span style="COLOR: rgb(204,153,51); FONT-STYLE: italic">la ruo</span>'; dried and smoked meat and fish. This was the warmest room in the house so we stayed here all day. (We smelled like smoked ham afterwards)<br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQMn8elqFftLxPpP2mltig11e6ba5ZpurXdCytHrEGHlhvJi7WHRUmxMhAw977TpX5XISmR4Qz0arPJpaM0lVOM4LoSGGgzu3d66a7EgncMVvQqT8qvPCI5BO7GKQ1w6s0uvz/s1600-h/firewood.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511461838548530" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQMn8elqFftLxPpP2mltig11e6ba5ZpurXdCytHrEGHlhvJi7WHRUmxMhAw977TpX5XISmR4Qz0arPJpaM0lVOM4LoSGGgzu3d66a7EgncMVvQqT8qvPCI5BO7GKQ1w6s0uvz/s400/firewood.JPG" border="0" /></a>Getting firewood<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIN4Z-H25e-n1D__TiRPdQ1TjLaVP0lJU95WjS1kMUb7NZ0IEYxB0Gl8kftrrvheXi29zFa_g9TVYydWNMCZH2Q2SUtw8IATMlkRa8kTbclZYezaFfJ4N6gw2nfFcHUpT3yp7/s1600-h/New+Year+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511464708852962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmIN4Z-H25e-n1D__TiRPdQ1TjLaVP0lJU95WjS1kMUb7NZ0IEYxB0Gl8kftrrvheXi29zFa_g9TVYydWNMCZH2Q2SUtw8IATMlkRa8kTbclZYezaFfJ4N6gw2nfFcHUpT3yp7/s400/New+Year+1.JPG" border="0" /></a>Banners for the New Year with good luck wishes. People paste them on their front door<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA65oFThehglwnU3DH7s-eZLof1Bsl9ssq9IPuPKxDKg21TWYg3sE26494qMUg4J937wlqbhVbY46tOzWuAkSZkTU9DpkCDdBsZnR1GmFLLvP9V9zj5Vni9Fi1KVQ9sW1pm56z/s1600-h/New+Year+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511457019601938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA65oFThehglwnU3DH7s-eZLof1Bsl9ssq9IPuPKxDKg21TWYg3sE26494qMUg4J937wlqbhVbY46tOzWuAkSZkTU9DpkCDdBsZnR1GmFLLvP9V9zj5Vni9Fi1KVQ9sW1pm56z/s400/New+Year+2.JPG" border="0" /></a>The town was very crowded the day before the New Year, with people doing their shopping. It is tradition to give lots of gifts during this time, such as cigarettes, wine, candy and food.<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlaXCE4L0noKVsRq6fTG3_6fkvVyMJceC3xV0ILcDJxlABwvWCKIlqxspxhpmDCgmSKA_CloEF40gBw-oXKCkHKon6KBvRFWTcNr1D1AITu1MWV225F517ruR0cxl7kla7YKq/s1600-h/la+ruo.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511176939822498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlaXCE4L0noKVsRq6fTG3_6fkvVyMJceC3xV0ILcDJxlABwvWCKIlqxspxhpmDCgmSKA_CloEF40gBw-oXKCkHKon6KBvRFWTcNr1D1AITu1MWV225F517ruR0cxl7kla7YKq/s400/la+ruo.JPG" border="0" /></a>Smoked meat. So delicious!<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQ4A3GucIyfNOEH2FtRKbSGVQ4P-JZBgzBhjX2dYPfnP6F6O-dgaLMASrkFCbk0em4HcCSWwOGUDtOH7ccSMXR6EkBV_J0llUPr3RjrEoe8GmOKwHbqqIJhbB6wsZcJvE9rLj/s1600-h/zou+mi+ju+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511174143951266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIQ4A3GucIyfNOEH2FtRKbSGVQ4P-JZBgzBhjX2dYPfnP6F6O-dgaLMASrkFCbk0em4HcCSWwOGUDtOH7ccSMXR6EkBV_J0llUPr3RjrEoe8GmOKwHbqqIJhbB6wsZcJvE9rLj/s400/zou+mi+ju+1.JPG" border="0" /></a>I learned how to make '<span style="COLOR: rgb(204,153,51); FONT-STYLE: italic">mi jiu</span>'; rice wine. First mix rice and water with yeast...<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL99C8SXgSdaYjI4Jq7AmsuZqxxQvlgIEeDBoO4tZdV_xAy7rs4_U7Wn3Ulp85zDTDeFetQ03iu2VSYvZDG39KlEjCeseaeg2AotwRiuwsoZD0gO4sm-940ZWjym3BqarmLxO/s1600-h/zou+mi+ju+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511169466263890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbL99C8SXgSdaYjI4Jq7AmsuZqxxQvlgIEeDBoO4tZdV_xAy7rs4_U7Wn3Ulp85zDTDeFetQ03iu2VSYvZDG39KlEjCeseaeg2AotwRiuwsoZD0gO4sm-940ZWjym3BqarmLxO/s400/zou+mi+ju+2.JPG" border="0" /></a>Then distill it three or four times<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAs3StVjmkVh5EaelmXsNwvRjzIiH1UAVlPio9IRM6nruPw8nkoF9w8s1w2QTlnxvRk2-390g8JnRVKI7LWXhZzFofMGdLqi3Yp3rLMI_R5OgyetZublKbVaL3bJlDDnZAL_R/s1600-h/zou+mi+ju+3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511171142063938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGAs3StVjmkVh5EaelmXsNwvRjzIiH1UAVlPio9IRM6nruPw8nkoF9w8s1w2QTlnxvRk2-390g8JnRVKI7LWXhZzFofMGdLqi3Yp3rLMI_R5OgyetZublKbVaL3bJlDDnZAL_R/s400/zou+mi+ju+3.JPG" border="0" /></a>Everything made with local products<br /></div><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgRL35RrZEvy0Q8IzWFvHvXE-B3CX6PYcMW7l7LLMf0B-ehxL1ProNl1ORvuF1XqjM_n9NTpi3hP4GKJmbzU1U6GP6ysUaiRM2jyqRwO8Yb_xofkNPjqNvGWOBgLb4xI7xBqt/s1600-h/zou+mi+ju+4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295511169232194098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxgRL35RrZEvy0Q8IzWFvHvXE-B3CX6PYcMW7l7LLMf0B-ehxL1ProNl1ORvuF1XqjM_n9NTpi3hP4GKJmbzU1U6GP6ysUaiRM2jyqRwO8Yb_xofkNPjqNvGWOBgLb4xI7xBqt/s400/zou+mi+ju+4.JPG" border="0" /></a>Cooking on wood fire<br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbUIRUKeHVqhDBzDwvPx50zTf1MZE6bz1QIcMovNL8tn6onRXTgbFrdZSzKhvCd8EoyE8wdAFgG353vfNqnkD4AkIx_CQJMzYge3hd_7HtOKdAzxeQ4xsEUH_LBuceG73O3xq/s1600-h/wild+deer.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5295510871799320978" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSbUIRUKeHVqhDBzDwvPx50zTf1MZE6bz1QIcMovNL8tn6onRXTgbFrdZSzKhvCd8EoyE8wdAFgG353vfNqnkD4AkIx_CQJMzYge3hd_7HtOKdAzxeQ4xsEUH_LBuceG73O3xq/s400/wild+deer.JPG" border="0" /></a>Wild deer from the mountains, oh so delicious! We ate dog meat, deer, wild pig, frogs and many, many more delicious things<br /></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"></div>Bramhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10385494449007893961noreply@blogger.com0