Wet Socks Are The Worst!

Oh another long day! I know it always sounds like I am complaining about how exhausted I am! But it’s not really complaining..I just can’t get over how much China wears me out!

I woke up this morning and was able to skype the kids I babysit for..and I couldn’t think of a better way to start my day!

Today was my first day of sightseeing with Qing! I found her on trip advisor and she got GREAT reviews and I used her husband to bring me to the Great Wall last week! So I met her in the lobby of my hostel at 8:30 and she was with her husband so we were off! I think he was supposed to bring someone to the Great Wall but since it was snowing he cancelled. So he brought us to our first stop, Mao’s body and Tiananmen Square!

It was snowing hard but not really sticking to the ground but it was so wet. And cold. Ugh not fun! Qing asked if I wanted to see Mao’s body and at first I didn’t have any interest but then thought..when in Rome. So I stood in a long line and she waited for me (you can’t bring bags in so she held them!) The line was moving, which was good, but it was so cold and I could feel my feet getting wet (even through the two pairs of socks I was wearing!) As I neared the security check this woman in front of me (Chinese woman) started talking to me and I was confused if she thought I was part of her tour? But anyway I think she said she was by herself, so it was nice of her to help me (she told me when to take out my I.D., when to empty my pockets, and then she waited for me while I went through security). I can’t say I was all that impressed with his body (hopefully China isn’t mad I just said that).

When I left seeing his body I met back up with Qing who said her shoes weren’t cutting it and her husband was returning with new boots! I was jealous because my feet were SOAKED and freezing! She ran to the car to change her shoes and I was waiting by the security station. I saw a guard making a snowman (a small one) complete with arms and he was working on a hat. He took off his glove (why? I have no clue) to make it the snow man’s hat! So I was laughing and taking pictures and he saw me and at first I thought he was upset and I was going to be executed. But then he waved and said, “You are very beautiful!” I could get use to this country!

We then walked to Tiananmen Square which was very cool to see. It was snowing SO hard that pictures weren’t worth it so I am hoping to go back maybe on Saturday to take some. I loved having her as a guide though. Not only could she navigate where to go etc. but I also loved the interesting facts, stories, etc. I learned.

We made our way into the Forbidden City which was HUGE! I was so glad she was with me because I had NO idea where to go or what to see. It was still snowing a LOT and I was freezing, so I was a little bummed because I don’t think I enjoyed it as much as I could have. The whole idea of a “Forbidden City” was very interesting to me. It was really beautiful and we spent time looking at the different areas. I loved hearing about the history and the emperors. Basically, they had it made. I also learned a LOT about how they slept around! She was telling me about the empress but also the concubines and if a concubine got pregnant the empress would try to poison her (to kill the baby). DRAMA! Soap operas have NOTHING on the history of China!

I was definitely ready to go when we left, mostly just because I was so cold and my feet were wet! We took a bus to the silk market to do some shopping and have lunch. She took me to a local place which I loved. We ordered two dishes and rice. I didn’t LOVE the dishes (a little too spicy) but I managed to eat enough to ask for another bowl of rice (she made me take a picture with my two bowls of rice because she thought it was funny!)

Then we were off to the silk market! She asked if I had bargained before (I told her yes) and told her the story of my jeans. I asked her what I should have gotten them for and she said 80!!! Woo hoo! Right on the nose! But then I realized I had read online I should get them for 80 and maybe that info was more or less from her.

She told me the prices of what she pays for the items I was looking for and I was off! I loved having her there so I knew about what I should spend, but I didn’t like bargaining in front of her. I was glad I had already done the majority of my shopping because we didn’t have to spend too long! I also got new socks and was SO happy to put on a dry pair!

We then left the silk market for the post office. I needed to mail my postcards and also wanted to ask about sending a package home (to make more room in my already overfilled bags) I managed to get the stamps and get a ballpark about how much it would cost to mail things home so I think I will do that tomorrow with her.

We then walked from the post office to some hutongs (the neighborhoods) but these were local ones, not the touristy ones. She then brought me to her hutong (which I thought was so cool!) It is a bit hard to explain, but there is a main door on the street and then a courtyard with alleys that have different “houses”. We sort of zigzagged to the back and then we were in front of her house, and we went IN! I was NOT expecting this! We were greeted by her husband, mom, mom’s friend and grandmother! She asked me to sit down and that’s when I thought, “Wow this is cool”. So let’s see where to start..well she is the only one who speaks English..so she was the translator. We were in a small room (believe me I wanted to take pictures but knew better..) with a bed, a chair a coffee table, a bookcase and T.V. Her grandmother didn’t say much but her mom and her mom’s friend were asking me all about why I was in China, etc. Then her mom made us tea and cut up oranges so we were just chatting. They were laughing a lot and I just loved being there. It is amazing to think they live there. So there is that first room (where grandma sleeps) and then a door to her parents room (but the bed and everything is in the open) and that opens to the kitchen. The kitchen has everything sort of scattered around (kitchen sink, refrigerator, cook top, washing machine, bathroom sink, SHOWER!) She told me she just bought this shower for her parents..and I thought it was so funny to have a shower in the kitchen! We then went next door to her and her husband’s room which really just had their bed and an area for a desk. You had to walk outside though to get from her parents “house” to theirs. She told me it used to be one room but they divided it when she got married.

I was SO happy I was able to experience that and just thought it was so cool. She brought me to a few more hutongs and then to check out a local market before I got a massage. So spoiled I know! I went back to the same place as last week (last week..haha oh my life!) for a foot massage! Overall it was, ok. It started off with a hot bath for my feet which I LOVED (they were so cold) and a shoulder massage which was AMAZING (I could have left after that) because I think my upper back hurts from my MASSIVE backpack I carry (I gotta be ready for anything!) The foot massage was a little, painful again (I did ask her to go lighter..) and I never realized one could rub EVERY part of the foot..that did feel nice. But, I have very bad shin splits and I use to go to physical therapy and he would “massage” by legs and feet, but only to get rid of the scar tissue (it did NOT feel good). I would compare this massage to that. I literally could feel scar tissue popping (but figured it would be helpful right?)

Qing recommended a noodle place nearby for dinner but I was SO cold and tired and just wanted to get back. I knew I needed to eat though so I went to the one and only Turkish place across the street for pasta (it would be quick and that is what I wanted). I was able to sit at a BIG table and I brought my postcards and stamps. They are the old school stamps and needed to be ripped apart and licked. I got a LOT of stares (hey I needed to pass the time and it needed to get done) and eventually a waitress brought me over a glass of water so I could wet my stamps!

Overall it was a GREAT day, just tiring! Bed time for me!

Hugs and kisses from a snowy Mao.