The Forbidden City

Thank you for coming to visit my blog.

We had a wonderful holiday in Bali and I will tell you about it when I post some pictures. In the meantime I am continuing the China series with pictures of the Forbidden City.

Big, majestic and fit for an Emperor. Grand halls and living areas. Some major restoration work is going on in a hasty rush to get everything ready in time for the next Olympics. We particularly liked the alleys or passageways that you find away from the main central part of the Forbidden City. It was was a fascinating place to visit. As you walk around you imagine what life nust have been like for the people who lived there in the days of Imperial China. Imagine, servants would come rushing armed with a bedpan, every time the Emperor needed to do an Imperial Poop! And he would never go anywhere alone. If he wanted to walk anywhere there was always an entourage to accompany him and two guys had the job of supporting him by the arms. We noticed as we walked around the complete absence of any trees or grass. But then came across the Imperial gardens at the very back of the City where if the Family wanted some contact with nature, they could go there.

It took a million labourers to build the City.......

Tomorrow I fly to Istanbul, so another job for the camera which of course I will share with you.

Hope you enjoy the pics

Love

Alan

The Great Wall of China

Thank you for coming to see my blog. Sorry it has been three weeks instead of the usual two. Daniela and I got back from Beijing on Tuesday. We had a brilliant time there. As with Laos I have divided the photos up into 'episodes". We start with The Great Wall of China

We had been told to go early. Because last weekend included the holiday of the 1st May we were told that crowds would arrive in Beijing for the "Golden Week". The Chinese have a week's holiday and many come into Beijing to visit family and to visit Beijing themselves.

We got to the Wall at 9 am after a two hour drive from Beijing. It is stunning! 4500 miles long stretching from Mongolia to the Gobi desert and more than 2000 years old. The brain can hardly take in the work that went into it. You may know that in and around Beijing it can be very hazy and that Beijing has had, I think, 8 sandstorms so far this year. As you can see from the pics it was very hazy, though the sun did come out and it lifted a bit later on. We walked for about two and a half hours. An excellent work-out particularly for the legs. They were still protesting two days later!

We also loved the fact that it was Spring, something you don't see in Singapore. The trees all had new leaves growing and many with blossom.

A very memorable day and although you can't see much of the landscape around the Wall I hope you enjoy these photos.

Next time "The Forbidden City"

This afternoon we are leaving for a weeks holiday in Bali. Some rest by the sea......of course I'll be taking the camera.........

Love

Alan