Zai Jian (Buh Bye China!)
Don't you love crossing the Date Line? It's like an 18-hour plane ride magically condensed into 7 hours!
Since I can't quite qualify my trip to China (many good parts = awesome!, some bad parts = kill me now), I'll quantify it.
Tourist Attractions:
Great Wall; Badaling Safari Zoo; Jiu Long Amusement Park; Summer Palace; Long Men (Sorry, that's pinyin for you) buddha-carvings-in-rock; Bai Ma Si (Four Horse Temple); Beijing Zoo; Tian Tan; Tiananmen; Forbidden City (sadly mostly closed for reno)
Regional Flavours:
Beijing roast duck (ID #0001138), Shao Bing, old Beijing hot pot, fish hot pot, lamb shish-kabobs, dumplings, Chinese popsicles, rice with fried dishes, little dragon Bao Zi
Persons:
2 Grandmothers, 2 Grandfathers, 6 Aunts, 5 Uncles, 3 Cousins, 1 Father, 10+ Annoying Old Ladies in the Neighbourhood, 10000 people who commented on Fiona's "exotic" look
Anything to Declare?
One Ton of clothes, shoes, bags. One Pet Cricket (Died in Transit).
Since I can't quite qualify my trip to China (many good parts = awesome!, some bad parts = kill me now), I'll quantify it.
Tourist Attractions:
Great Wall; Badaling Safari Zoo; Jiu Long Amusement Park; Summer Palace; Long Men (Sorry, that's pinyin for you) buddha-carvings-in-rock; Bai Ma Si (Four Horse Temple); Beijing Zoo; Tian Tan; Tiananmen; Forbidden City (sadly mostly closed for reno)
Regional Flavours:
Beijing roast duck (ID #0001138), Shao Bing, old Beijing hot pot, fish hot pot, lamb shish-kabobs, dumplings, Chinese popsicles, rice with fried dishes, little dragon Bao Zi
Persons:
2 Grandmothers, 2 Grandfathers, 6 Aunts, 5 Uncles, 3 Cousins, 1 Father, 10+ Annoying Old Ladies in the Neighbourhood, 10000 people who commented on Fiona's "exotic" look
Anything to Declare?
One Ton of clothes, shoes, bags. One Pet Cricket (Died in Transit).