November 19, 2011
Are You Serious?!? Right before packing up my stuff to move on to Xian, Soctt informed us that we will need to be at the airport by the afternoon. The airport? Why would we be going to the airport? My tour package didn’t include extra plane tickets? I can’t take an airplane. They won’t let me on with all my luggage. I anxiously asked everyone in our group, “Did you know we were taking an airplane to Xian?” Most of them didn’t know. But they also didn’t know why I was so upset about this new information. I told them of my previous two issues trying to get on the plane with two checked-in suitcases. They seemed very confused as well. None of us really knew of the one baggage rule since most of us were initially allowed two bags to fly from the States to China. There were a few in the group that had two very full suitcases to bring on to the plane (especially Norma since she kept on shopping).
Soctt then reminded us that our bags had to be less than 20 kilograms and we were only allowed one bag as our check in. We told him of our situation. He was shocked that we all had so much stuff with us. He then told us that domestic flights within China will only allow one bag to be checked in. Then he told us that he will try to get us on this plane but we need to figure out what to do for the other couple plane flights. Other plane flights? What? I apprehensively asked about these other plane flights he was talking about. He told me that we were taking four domestic plane flights within China during the tour. Are you serious? I don’t even know what to do. How am I going to get on even the first plane? I guess I have to take it one airport at a time and get myself ready to dispose of a suitcase. I’m so stressed.
Soctt then reminded us that our bags had to be less than 20 kilograms and we were only allowed one bag as our check in. We told him of our situation. He was shocked that we all had so much stuff with us. He then told us that domestic flights within China will only allow one bag to be checked in. Then he told us that he will try to get us on this plane but we need to figure out what to do for the other couple plane flights. Other plane flights? What? I apprehensively asked about these other plane flights he was talking about. He told me that we were taking four domestic plane flights within China during the tour. Are you serious? I don’t even know what to do. How am I going to get on even the first plane? I guess I have to take it one airport at a time and get myself ready to dispose of a suitcase. I’m so stressed.
The Garden of Harmony. We explored the Summer Palace which is beautiful and well-maintained park used by the Chinese emperors as a summer getaway. The combination of aesthetic buildings and the man-made lake made this area a definite place for relaxing and leisurely activities. One of the Summer Palace’s most famous occupants was the Dragon Lady. As the Empress of China during the late 1800’s, she used to live here during her retirement years. There was a long outdoor corridor built for so she could enjoy being outside while being in the shade the entire time.
The Dragon Lady. The dragon is used to portray the Emperor. Empress Dowager Cixi is called the Dragon Lady because she acted as an emperor for most of her reign. She started off as a concubine of Emperor Xianfeng and then progressed up the prostitution chain when she bore a male child. After Xianfeng died, the child became Emperor Tongzhi at age of five. They refer to Empress Cixi’s reign as ‘her rule behind the curtain’ because she used to whisper Emperor Tongzhi’s his speeches through the curtain behind him. Most of the policies and laws of that time came from Empress Cixi’s. She just used the young emperor as her voice. Tongzhi died at an early age and a successor (his nephew) continued the reign. Cixi continued to rule behind the curtain with two following successors since they needed the guidance ruling the country as a young child.
During this time, she drove China into a state of turmoil. Bad decisions were made and the economy failed. Additionally, they say that she would frequently require her servants to cook her 100 dishes for one meal, in which she would take one bite of each and throw the rest away. Those meals could have fed the whole country (maybe…). She died around the age of 70. But no one could believe that she was 70 years old. They say that the reason why she maintained such a young appeal is through the use of pearl powder and lotion on her skin.
During this time, she drove China into a state of turmoil. Bad decisions were made and the economy failed. Additionally, they say that she would frequently require her servants to cook her 100 dishes for one meal, in which she would take one bite of each and throw the rest away. Those meals could have fed the whole country (maybe…). She died around the age of 70. But no one could believe that she was 70 years old. They say that the reason why she maintained such a young appeal is through the use of pearl powder and lotion on her skin.
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| This is a picture of the Dragon Lady at the age of 70. |
Longevity. Longevity is a regularly used word in China. Anything you do, any luck you try to attain, will provide you longevity. If you use pearl power on your face, touch a certain symbolic relic, or drink a certain type of tea, you will be able to live a long and full life. I’m talking about everything. As of this point, I have done so many rituals or fortunes that bring longevity that I think I might be good for a while. If my Krav Maga doesn’t work when I’m in Thailand, maybe my luck will help me withstand any evil that comes my way.
Weather. This is the coldest day I have felt here on the other side of the world. I don’t even want to mention the degree in Celsius or Fahrenheit. This is mainly because the last time I complained about the cold weather, someone joked, “Oh yea, you’re from California.” I guess I’m not used to cold weather living in Southern California. This weather was pretty bad though. And it was windy to magnify the coldness. My skin is still just as bad. I just kept thinking, “I don’t need to impress anyone” as I would furiously scratch off and peel the skin off my face. I was wearing almost everything I owned. This is mostly because I was trying to wear most of my clothes to the airport so my baggage can seem lighter. I’m walking around wearing a couple shirts, two sweaters, gloves, scarves, and two pairs of socks. Yes, two pairs of my recently sanitized socks.
Bird’s nest. Have you ever had bird’s nest soup? It’s a bizarre concept but a very popular and sweet dish in Asian countries. When a swallow makes its nest, it uses its spit as an adhesive to glue the twigs and leaves together. People harvest these nests and separate the spit from the twig material. Then they use the spit and make it with a sweet milky soup. It is supposed to do wonders for your sex drive. So I tried avoiding it this time. I've actually had it before but I really don’t need the extra boost while traveling (sounds dangerous). Also, I typically don’t like ingesting saliva that is not my own.
Well, another thing a bird’s nest refers to is the main Olympic Stadium used in the Beijing Olympics in 2009. We were able to visit the area where the recent Olympics occurred. I wasn’t the best visitor as I was so cold I couldn’t move. I was less motivated to move let alone take pictures. So my pictures were limited and I wanted to run back to the bus. I thought it was amazing that the soldiers guarding the area all looked to be 12 years old. It is astonishing that they start at such a young age. What authority do they have here? Do people even follow their directions? We quickly took pictures of the Bird’s Nest and the other Olympic stadiums. We also learned that Jackie Chan is now a big Chinese pop star and he frequently has concerts at this stadium. Wow, Jackie Chan a pop singer. I guess I’ve never heard him sing so I shouldn’t judge.
Would you eat it? On our way to the airport, I continued to ask Soctt a couple questions regarding Chinese culture. One question regarded the location of the famous Chinese penis restaurant. Yes, the penis restaurant. The Chinese eat a lot different types of food, bizarre to our Western culture. They will usually eat all types of animals without discriminating against any part of its body, including the penis. Penis restaurants are more common here in China and I really wanted to go to one during my stay here. So I asked Soctt if we could stop by the penis restaurant. Unfortunately, the main penis restaurants were located in Beijing and we were leaving in a couple of hours. I should have asked my question yesterday!My group was completely baffled and slightly disgusted by my question. They asked, “You want to go to a penis restaurant? Would you actually eat one? I explained that I probably wouldn’t eat it especially since they are supposed to be good for fertility (definitely don’t want that right now). But I was interested in observing the restaurant environment and writing down my experiences in an anthropological account. They later referred to this as “my research”, whenever I wanted to do something sexual. But I swear. It is for research. I also claimed that I might even want to touch one of the penises at the restaurant. They joked that I could do that easily somewhere else (touch a penis that is). They gave me a better alternative though. We were all going to be on the search for cooked scorpion. If I am going to be eating a strange animal, it better be epic (genitalia, a poisonous arachnid, or a lethal fish). I’m going to do it someday!
Check out this website for more information and pictures of ingesting a penis: http://www.impactlab.net/2008/04/29/a-visit-to-beijings-exclusive-penis-restaurant/
Airport Issue #3. We are now at the airport and I’m not doing too well. I’m upset that we have to take another plane flight. This wasn’t advertised on the tour itinerary (I think). I guess I didn’t realize how far each of these cities was from each other. I just thought we would be taking the bullet train. Those trains can go pretty fast and far. I started mentally preparing for another argument with the airline employee as I gathered my IATA documents and my previous plane itinerary. I even gathered my past luggage tags as proof that the previous airlines let me check in two bags.
When approaching the counter, I nervously placed my bags on the scale. And as expected, she explained to me that my bags were too heavy and that I would pay extra money to bring another bag on the plane. Soctt did some smooth talking. After a while of talking, he got her to allow both of my bags. But my bags were still too heavy. Ben, who packed light, had some room in his carry on suitcase. He kindly allowed me to place some (or a lot) of my belongings into his luggage. So right there on the ground of the terminal, I opened my bags and started transferring my things into his bags. Unfortunately some of my more heavy items were the 24 fluid ounce of permethrin and the three full bags of anti-bacterial pills, Of course he intelligently, refused to take any of my liquid items. Smart. In desperation, I would have maybe placed those heavy liquid items in his bag. So I gave him the heavy bags of lithium batteries. After reorganizing all three bags, the airline employee let me on the plane. Some others had some trouble with their bags as well but I think Soctt did a pretty good job with the airline employee. We said goodbye to Socct and went through security without a hitch. Actually, Ben got in trouble for carrying so many of my batteries and Norma packed all her liquids (way over 3 fluid ounces) in her carry on. But I made it again! We all made it.
When approaching the counter, I nervously placed my bags on the scale. And as expected, she explained to me that my bags were too heavy and that I would pay extra money to bring another bag on the plane. Soctt did some smooth talking. After a while of talking, he got her to allow both of my bags. But my bags were still too heavy. Ben, who packed light, had some room in his carry on suitcase. He kindly allowed me to place some (or a lot) of my belongings into his luggage. So right there on the ground of the terminal, I opened my bags and started transferring my things into his bags. Unfortunately some of my more heavy items were the 24 fluid ounce of permethrin and the three full bags of anti-bacterial pills, Of course he intelligently, refused to take any of my liquid items. Smart. In desperation, I would have maybe placed those heavy liquid items in his bag. So I gave him the heavy bags of lithium batteries. After reorganizing all three bags, the airline employee let me on the plane. Some others had some trouble with their bags as well but I think Soctt did a pretty good job with the airline employee. We said goodbye to Socct and went through security without a hitch. Actually, Ben got in trouble for carrying so many of my batteries and Norma packed all her liquids (way over 3 fluid ounces) in her carry on. But I made it again! We all made it.
Want to see more pictures from my trip to Beijing, China? Visit https://plus.google.com/photos/103535186598541974109/albums/5687739776925466641?authkey=CJz7udeLmYW97AE
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