A Vacation of a Life Time!!

In June, just following Mom OT's return from Girls Camp, we were able to travel to Beijing, China. We spent two incredible weeks with Mom OT's parents. They were incredible hosts and tour guides. Mom OT took over 1600 pictures to document our incredible vacation. Here are a few....

The way over...
Dad OT and Mom OT traveled to China on seperate flights, each taking a Tot. Mom OT and Tot 1 left first and traveled to LA-Tokyo-Beijing. Dad OT and Tot 2 San Francisco-Tokyo-Beijing. It took both of us about 22 hours total travel time. The Tot's were incredible travelers. We met in Tokyo for about an hour, enough time to have some ice cream.






DAY 1
Dirt Market

The first day was a day that we slept in and took it easy to adjust to the 14 hour time difference. We went to the Dirt Market, which is a market were local artist and vendors come to sell their goods. There was alot of paintings, pottery, puppets, jewlery and furniture. It was also a GREAT people watching spot. Note the split pants on the baby. The Chinese don't use diapers. They watch for signs that the babies have to go and then just let them go where ever.

The majority of people in China ride bikes for their primary mode of transportation. Outside many of the markets, there would be massive amounts of bikes lined up.













DAY 2
Church/River Walk

Day 3 was a low key day. It was Sunday, so we went to Mom OT's parents branch, which meet on the fourth floor of a high rise. We then just relaxed, walked along a small river that runs just behind their apartment building. We found it quite fastinating. There were many people, especially men, doing tiachi, playing a chinese checker game and fishing alone the banks. We stood and watched them fish, expecting them to catch a big one. We were surprised to see the fish were only about two to three inches long. We never were able to find out what they would do with them. It was just a relaxing day.











Grandpa and Grandma's apartment is on the 18th floor of this building.




DAY 3
Tailor/Visit To Grandpa's Work/Shopping/Choppsticks/Massage

Day 3 was a random day. We visited the tailor to get measured for our suits, visited Mom OT's Fathers place of work, went shopping to scope out what we wanted to buy while we were there, the Tot's had their first experience with chopsticks at a yummy Chinese resturant, Dad and Mom OT went for a massage, which was a fun and interesting experience.

A Visit To The Tailor

You can't go to China and not have a custom suit made. It is so fun to bring a picture or drawing you want made and have it fit you like a glove. They are truely talented people!! Dad OT has a custom suit made, Mom OT has a pink silk suit made.






We visited Grandpa at work.




The Tot's first of many experiences with chopsticks. They actually got to be really good with them.




Dad and Mom OT ended the day with an incredible couples massage. The Chinese are very well versed in pressure points. If you want a good story, ask Mom OT about it!!!




DAY 4
The Great Wall/Olympic Venues

We traveled outside of Beijing about one hour and a half to the Great Wall. The country side was beautiful as we drove out of the city!! There were many parks with exercise equipment in them. The Chinese people are very health consious and believe in daily exercise. As we approached the area of the Great Wall, the anticipation was almost too much to bear!! It is one thing to see pictures or documentaries of this amazing wonder, but to actually be able to walk on the Wall, was an experience we will never forget! We rode a chair lift up and a toboggan down. We walked many miles in 100 degree weather. There are many towers along the wall. In one, there was a donkey that one of the vendors had brought their supplies on. We climbed hundreds of steps, had many water breaks, but it was all worth the incredible experience!!




















Olympic Venues
On the way back into Beijing, from the Great Wall, we stopped at the Olympic Venues. We saw the Water Cube and the Birds Nest. We had never seen soo many people so proud of their country hosting the Olympic games. There were thousands of people waiting in paying a pretty penny and line to see the inside of both venues. We ventured into the Birds Nest and what an AMAZING sight!! You could truely feel the Olympic spirit as we raced and admired the incredible structure.








Day 4 ended with the Tot's falling asleep with Grandma after her massaging their legs. It was all those miles they walked on the Great Wall.



DAY 5
Tianamen Square/The Forbidden City/Hutongs/Acrobatic Show

Day 5 was a BUSY day!!! It was the first day we ventured out without our trusty tour guides (Mom OT's parent's). Mr. Wong dropped us off at Tianamen Square and pointed us in the right direction. Tianamen Square was a HUGE concrete public square with a few statues and monuments, surrounded by the Communist Congretional Buildings. It is four Beijing blocks square. Also Chairman Mao Tomb is located there. We did not stand in line with the hundreds of Chinese to view his body. There were many military guards on the Square as well as many Chinese people. Dad OT and the Tot's must be movie stars in China, we had many people wanting pictures with them. This day started many more days of pictures with random Chinese persons.

Note the GREAT fashion sense they have!!













The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City is located across the street from Tianamen Square. It was the Place were the Emperor lived until the turn of the century. 30 years ago, finally the public was able to visit the grounds. Up until that point, only the Emperor, his many wives, children, close advisors, guards and those who served them were permitted onto the grounds. There are many courtyards, gardens and buildings. Very intricate detail on the doors and buildings.



Notice Tot 2. Dad OT got his workout carrying him in the heat for the first two hours.













This Juniper Tree is symbolic of eternal happiness in marriage. It is one tree with two trunks, one root system. Our guide said if we had a picture in front of it, we would have a happy, long marriage. The Chinese are very superstious.




Our Tour Guide. His American name, Sherman. He is a Air Traffic Controller. Does tours of the Forbidden City to supplement his income.








Noodles and the The Hutongs

Tot 2 became very fond of noodles while in Beijing. I think he just enjoyed slurpping them!!



The Hutongs are the old/original part of Beijing. It has many narrow streets with many courtyard homes. They have beautiful, simple entrances. I feel in love the RED doors.








We ended the day with a trip to the Acrobatic Show! AMAZING!!!! I will hopefully find the pics and add them soon!


DAY 6
Summer Palace/Ming Tombs

Summer Palace was one of Mom OT's favorite places. It is located in the NW suburb of Beijing on 290 acres. It was built in 1750 by an Emperor to celebrate his mother's birthday. It had beautiful gardens, bridges and long corridor walkways. There were many different Temples and Towers on the property as well. It was amazingly beautiful and the people there were fun to watch as well.

































Ming Tombs
A beautiful park with many different courtyards. It was a burial place for one of the Emperor's and family and is in a chamber below the ground.








DAY 7 - 9
Tot's Weekend with Grandma and Grandpa

Mom and Dad OT decided to go to Hong Kong, so the Tot's stayed in Beijing and played/spoiled by their China Grandparents. They rode the subway, went to the zoo, were they saw pandas, many types of monkeys, even getting a pic with one, bears, giraff and many more interesting animals. With it so hot in Beijing, grandpa treated they Tot's often to ice cream. They also were able to swim while their parents were away. When Mom and Dad OT returned back to Beijing, the Tot's said, "Can you guys leave again." Thanks for caring for our precious cargo while we escaped for a quick adventure.









DAY 7
Hong Kong

Dad and Mom OT decided at the last minute to take a quick trip to Hong Kong, to visit Mom OT's sister and family. We arrived in the AM and were kindly greeted at the airport by her sis, husband and two older kidos. It was muggy and wet with a level 3 Typhoon warning, but that did not stop us!!! We went back to their apartment on Discovery Bay, dropped their kids off and went out for an amazing long day/night. We rode the ferry to central Hong Kong, rode a double decker bus, walked to the tolley that would take us to the top of Victoria Peak, which was a breathtaking view. We then took a taxi down to the subway and went over to another part of town to eat dinner. Waht an interesting experience that was. It was located in a building where refuges from all over the world come and seek asslum. We took a very small elevator up to a floor and went to a yummy Indian Resturant, but we ate in a small room, like a closet. It was an very interesting experience. We then went to experience the night market. It was so amazing to see how many people were out so late at night.




















DAY 8
Butterfly Birthday/Macau, China

Dad OT and I were so excited to be in Hong Kong for our nieces butterfly Birthday! It was so fun to be a part of her exciting day and party. That evening, we decided to take a high speed ferry from Hong Kong to Macau which is on the southeren part of China. It is a city that is considered the Las Vegas of China and had a strong portugese influence. The buildings and feel was if you were in Europe, but you were surrounded by people speaking Chinese. The food was amazing. They has many interesting street vendors with yummy almond cookies and any type of jerky you can imagine.














DAY 9
Last Day in Hong Kong

Dad and Mom OT's last day in Hong Kong was a WET one!!! It was Sunday, so we kept it low key. We ventured on the subway to the Temple in downtown, which was AMAZING and walked around Discovery Bay!! What a peaceful place in the middle of a BUSY city!! It poured rain as we walked from the Temple to the subway. We were sad to leave Mom OT's sister and family, but were greatful for the visit!!










DAY 11
Foot Massage/The Temple of Heaven

The day started with Dad OT getting his favorite treatment while in China....A Foot Massage!!! He claims he would go back to China just for his $5 foot massages!!

The Temple of Heaven was a beautiful place. It originates from 1420 and was a sacred place where the emperors would offer sacrifices to heaven. It had incredible gardens and a number of different smaller buildings on 273 acres. It was amazing how many significant religious beliefs were noted here. Notice in the pictures, the three levels of the Temple, three different doorways or gates to enter different parts of grounds and gardens. There were lots of other symbolic themes.

As we came in the front gate of the grounds, there were older individuals playing different chinese instruments. It appeared that they would meet there to practice and perfect their skills. As we walked through many of the corridors, there were many older chinese just visiting, playing ball games, dancing, etc. Their faces are beautiful and each seemed to tell a story.



































DAY 12
Dongyue Temple

This Temple was an out of the ordinary temple. It was built in 1319 and located in Beijing. It is full of different chambers where the chinese people come and offer offerings to different gods to warn off the spirits or help protect them, such as the chamber of wealth or illness. The Tots loved all the interesting statues!!







Shopping in Beijing was so much FUN!! They don't have grocery stores and retail stores like we do. If you want flowers you go to the flower market, pearls, your go to the pearl market, etc. They have different markets you go to with a ton of different venders for the same item, so you have to wheel and deal to get the best price.










This was a lady named Mary that Mom OT bought over 100 ties and scarves from. As you can see, her "store" is more like a booth.


Mom OT's parents are fortunate to have two incredible people that work for them. Mr. Wong (or Jackie as Dad OT refered to him) their driver and Jon I their helper at home. It was so nice to have a cool car waiting, someone to help translate and drive in the CRAZY traffic of Beijing and their is nothing like an incredible meal waiting for you at home and your clothes freshly washed and pressed each day. Amazingly hard working people, but so incredibly kind. The Tots loved them both and loved learning chinese from them.






Swimming each night at Grandma and Grandpa's spa like pool was a highlight of each night!!






There were many interesting forms of transportation in China. Here were a few...