Lost in Beijing

I've been busy as a buzzing bee flying from one flower to the next in search for the sweetest nectar. Too busy, that even taking a peek into my blog needs to be rostered for duty. I won't lie that I've been so caught up at work but never have I stopped savouring every journey. Re-visiting my first Wonder of the World makes the best way to mark my half-a-year now living in Doha. Forgive if my upcoming posts are a bit dusty from my archive! 

One of the best and unforgettable layovers I had happened in Beijing - Home to one of the World's Wonders. I am above and beyond to share this experience with the loveliest crew anyone could have with onboard. Girls from every corner of the world, from totally different backgrounds but sharing the same flame was truly Godsend! We were the self-proclaimed #ChineseSheikhas representing The Philippines, Japan, South Korea, Kenya, Romania and Serbia. The flight bound to Beijing gave me the gift to view the Himalayas in broad daylight. That alone was a #HappyMoment right there. 

Upon reaching the hotel, us girls had already arranged with the concierge for a bus to take us to The Great Wall and The Forbidden City. Haggling (more like, bargaining and negotiating) is highly recommended in China. With just 4 hours of sleep, we were out and about! 

The Great Wall of China  

But first, The Great Wall of China. Surrounded with the most beautiful of landscapes I'd only seen in movies before like Mulan and Kung Fu Panda. The trees, mountain ranges, lakes and the simplest sight of flowers (or cows) made our hearts flutter - for people coming out of the sandpit. But that was just the cherry on top of the cherry. Beijing's weather was perfect on a mid-October's day. We took a Cable Car ride up the Great Walls seeing the thick foliage beneath our feet and the empty sky above us - and there I was - making it on top one of the Seven Wonder's of the World, standing strong for over 600 years. I couldn't have felt more alive and grateful. A lot of tourists still make their way to this landmark which is part of human history. I think going up is as exhilarating as going down The Great Wall thru the Tobaggo Slide ride! A good 20mins. sliding downhill on a cart with only a stop-and-go stick shift made me feel like a Happy Kid again! (Caught in video!) 

The Forbidden City

     

Seeing the entrance gate to this historical place brought me back to the days I saw it printed on my SIBIKA or HEKASI textbooks. The suddenness made me feel walking into and being part of history. We appreciated the Chinese temples, palaces and the Imperial Garden housed within. Beijing is also where we found the most fluffiest and fat feline and canine friends which brought wearing fur to a whole new level! Getting lost in Beijing with just a few hours for minimum rest and bearing in mind you have a flight (to operate) got our hearts pounding. Not to mention the language barrier to make things a little bit more exciting. We found (lost) ourselves in the massive Tiananmen city square and saw the palace by misadventure. That has made the sweating and experience all the more worth it.

Getting back to the hotel was a whole other story when the car won't start for us! As our flight was just a few hours away, we couldn't stay put and went on to grab a taxi - sleeping there like a baby out of too much adrenaline and exhaustion. Only to find out later, our flight is (thankfully!) delayed for another hour. Time and again, things do happen for a reason.

That leaves me ecstatic than ever, for I have only 6 more Wonders of the World to go! :)

Shanghai

Hi Shanghai! Or should I say, Ni Hao! This city is bound in extremes. In one place, Shanghai is both a modern, bustling, high-end global city and a classic, traditional, and former centuries-old dynasty. 

On the very night we came, we went into the heart of Shanghai's business districts where the buildings illuminated the sky and people filled the city streets, you'll never feel walking alone in China! After getting a little bit lost and tried to be ripped-off by cab drivers, we made it onto the other side of the Huang Pu river and reached The Bund to capture that famous Shanghai skyline. Our adrenaline and excitement was worth it, as the city lights went off minutes after we came. Just the right amount of time for a still photo! Being the most populous state in the world, I am impressed how Shanghai's Metro has 10 (TEN!) interconnected train lines taking you to every corner of the city. Just a segue to Dubai Metro where you pick between Red or Green line.

During the day, we headed out again into the city to visit Yu Garden. Here, we were brought back in time to the marvels of Chinese dynasties and deep-seated culture. As embedded upon the entrance - The Yu Garden is an excellent model of classical Chinese gardening architecture. It was built during the reign of Ming Empire (1559) as a private garden and today is also home to precious relics and the best of China's traditional art. Every bit of detail has been well-preserved by the state through the years. I might have not yet seen the Great Wall but the Dragon Wall within Yu Garden is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it. My eyes were filled with a panorama of Chinese temples, greens, city lights, koi fishes and turtles. There's a whole lot to see and shopping spree. This was just the first of my travel and already have a second trip coming up. I get to be Mulan for a day, again :)