Gateway To The Summer Palace
Posts Tagged ‘Summer Palace’
Photo Friday: Gateway To The Summer Palace
Friday, August 20th, 2010What Was The Destination That Challenged You The Most?
Wednesday, March 10th, 2010This question was submitted by Joel from The Freedonia Post. If you’d like to know more about me, my travels or anything else you’d like to know, feel free to ask me!
Photo by Jabari Bell
Physically: Beijing
I was able to escape the typhoon in Shanghai but the furious intensity of the Artic winds that blew through the Summer Palace was another story. I visited Beijing during the coldest winter day and the wind literally cut through me like butter. Climbing The Great Wall proved to be a challenge too. The higher I climbed, the stronger the winds blew. It stunted my progress and blew the air right out of my lungs.
Emotionally: Shanghai
I went to college in New York City so I commuted to and from school. Studying abroad in Shanghai was the first and only time I lived away from my parents. I didn’t get to ease into living on my own. I was flown half way across the world and dropped there. Splat!
There was language barrier since I knew minimal Mandarin, which left me awfully lonely and terribly confused. I applied to the Chinese Language Program at Fudan University through SUNY Albany. Both schools did a poor job of communicating and advising me while I was abroad. Both schools also chose to blame me for not being responsible enough to figure out the appropriate documents that were required.
Now, I totally understand and can completely accept responsibility for my actions if I was the only one having this issue. But when all of the students I know who are in this program are having the same exact problem, then it’s not me. It’s the universities. Needless to say, it made the beginning of my study abroad experience hell.
Homesick hit quick but it was cured by my wanderlust.
Intellectually: No where
I’ve never gone to a place that was intellectually challenging. They’ve always been intellectually stimulating.
The Forbidden City & The Hidden Hostel
Thursday, September 10th, 2009
Photo by Jabari Bell
The Forbidden City is one of Beijing’s crown jewels – along with The Great Wall, The Summer Palace and The Temple of Heaven. The ancient capital is a vibrant city rich in history. There are plenty of gems scattered everywhere. If I had the time, I would have explored every single one of them. But I didn’t. I only had 5 days so I had to make the best of it.
It was hard to cram everything into 5 days. It was even harder deciding what to cram in. The Forbidden City was a must. Why? Because it just is. It would be a shame to fly half way around the world and not step foot into those gated walls. History is preserved for the present to see. But whether or not it will be there tomorrow is another story. I somewhat regret not taking a trip out to Kashgar to visit the Old City. The Chinese government has decided to destroy 85% of the town. It’s reason? To protect an ancient city, China moves to raze it. But I digress.
Back to The Forbidden City. Rain or shine swarms of locals and tourists spend countless hours losing themselves inside these gated walls. A large portion of it has been retouched in preparation for the Olympics. Now that the event is over, I would imagine it to be pristine. Words are vague when it comes to describing The Forbidden City. I’m not going to attempt in fear of boring you to death. You’ll just have to wait for photos every Friday. I’m sure you’d prefer that anyway.
But if you are visiting Beijing and are looking for a more authentic stay, I highly recommend The Far East International Youth Hostel. I wrote a review of it at Layyourheadhere.com, a new site where travel accommodation are selected for travelers by travelers. Here’s an excerpt:
Hutongs in Beijing are slowly becoming a thing of the past. But there are nooks and crannies that shed light to the old school way of life. If you’re looking for insights on the lives of the locals, you will find it in the daily interactions of the people living in hutongs.
The Far East International Youth Hostel is the perfect place to integrate into the local customs and lifestyle. Their accommodations are geared towards budget travelers. To score additional discounts, you can…
Click here to read the full review.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=7e9f6712-4635-43d3-b712-f79ec6814e26)
Summer Palace In Beijing
Tuesday, September 8th, 2009
The Summer Palace - Photo by Jabari Bell
In Shanghai, I was caught in a typhoon. It wasn’t just pouring uncontrollably. It was pouring sideways and up my behind. Umbrellas and raincoats were rendered useless. Students were advised to stay in their rooms. Windows were to be shut tight. Bottled water and cup noodles weren’t the only things flying off the shelf. Trees, bikes, garbage cans and random objects ran down the streets like they had feet. I thought, “Wow, I get to be in a typhoon!” But I wasn’t so excited when my room started to sway. I was on the 16th floor. Luckily, I survived. (It really wasn’t that bad.)
In Beijing, while we were on our way to The Summer Palace, our cab driver told us that it was the coldest day in the past ten years. Don’t I just have the greatest timing for impeccable weather? Well, at least it makes for great memories. It was a day of furious intensity. The cold cut through my bones like butter. I might as well have went naked. When the wind blew, it threw my arms and head back. And my lungs? It was like someone shoved a fire extinguisher down my throat. Inhaling the icy wind made it hard to breathe. I wasn’t climbing a mountain or trekking up The Great Wall but I was gasping for air just by walking against the wind. I hope heaven isn’t really this cold.
As JC, Jabari and I walked through the complex, we realized we were being such big babies. Locals were fishing in the frozen water with their bare hands. A grandpa was jogging in shorts and a T-shirt like it was a spring morning in Central Park. We hung our heads in shame. Seeing that shut us up for a little. Then the wind picked up and we went back to being babies.
It was a little ironic that we went to the Summer Palace on the coldest winter day in Beijing. The emperors of China preferred to spend their summer days in the airy, lush gardens of the Summer Palace instead of being cooped up in the walls of the Forbidden City. The architecture of The Summer Palace is s a harmonious balance between the nature of its surrounding, like the mountains and lakes, with a marble boat, bridges, pavilions and palaces.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=3a0303ca-edf3-4428-bcd9-75ebac04ec07)
