October 25, 2007
October 12, 2007
Beijing....
We spent the weekend in Beijing... fascinating. The oppression is so evident. The poverty of a people that want to be free lurks on every street corner. They are trapped in their current state with little opportunity to pursue their dreams. It was heartbreaking to see. We had several opportunities to spend time with people who spoke English, which allowed us a little glimpse into their culture. It is one in which often they live in fear... if one doesn't comply, they just might 'disappear'... and nobody seems to know what exactly that means.
The sights... the history... unbelievable. The architectural scale rivals that of Rome. The grandeur and gold-plated richness that oozes from the Forbidden City, the Ming Tombs, Tien'anmen Square, the Temple of Heaven... while the common people were starving. It's a stark contrast, even today, to see the wealth and power that an elect few posses while the vast majority are barely scraping by. For example, today a surgeon will be living in the dingy, bug-infested basement bunk room of the hospital... and on average everyone makes about $400 each month. We visited four factories (ones that the governemtn wanted us to see) and the working conditions were awful. We can only imagine what the factories are like that they DON'T show you.
The city is scrambling to get ready for this event where the entire world's eyes will be on Beijing. The Olympic Village is incredible. They are planting trees and flowers, erecting thousands of buildings, and have impressive architecture for the Olympic events. Within the last year, they have worked really hard to beautify their city and make it more friendly to visitors.
The Great Wall is 62,ooo miles long... now, for reference, driving from Denver to Phoenix is a mere 1,ooo miles..............
At the Silk Market, the girls you bargain with are hillarious. When you offer them a price for something, you hear "You're joking! You trying to cheat me?!! You have a kicking body! What's your 'a little more' finished price?"... they're fun.
Amazing trip. The history is fascinating, the people are friendly and a lot of fun to interact with.It makes you take a step back and realize again and again how blessed we are to live in a country in which freedom and opportunity reign.
The sights... the history... unbelievable. The architectural scale rivals that of Rome. The grandeur and gold-plated richness that oozes from the Forbidden City, the Ming Tombs, Tien'anmen Square, the Temple of Heaven... while the common people were starving. It's a stark contrast, even today, to see the wealth and power that an elect few posses while the vast majority are barely scraping by. For example, today a surgeon will be living in the dingy, bug-infested basement bunk room of the hospital... and on average everyone makes about $400 each month. We visited four factories (ones that the governemtn wanted us to see) and the working conditions were awful. We can only imagine what the factories are like that they DON'T show you.
The city is scrambling to get ready for this event where the entire world's eyes will be on Beijing. The Olympic Village is incredible. They are planting trees and flowers, erecting thousands of buildings, and have impressive architecture for the Olympic events. Within the last year, they have worked really hard to beautify their city and make it more friendly to visitors.
The Great Wall is 62,ooo miles long... now, for reference, driving from Denver to Phoenix is a mere 1,ooo miles..............
At the Silk Market, the girls you bargain with are hillarious. When you offer them a price for something, you hear "You're joking! You trying to cheat me?!! You have a kicking body! What's your 'a little more' finished price?"... they're fun.
Amazing trip. The history is fascinating, the people are friendly and a lot of fun to interact with.It makes you take a step back and realize again and again how blessed we are to live in a country in which freedom and opportunity reign.
October 11, 2007
October 5, 2007
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