2012-06-28 beijing => taiyuan

Most endearing was the Pavillion where the people dance, sing and play games like hackysack. Some people selling scarves. I joined in the ladies dancing for a few minutes. It was raining while we visited the Temple of Heaven, which was great because it wasn't so crowded. I loved the colors on the temple and on the pavilion walls and ceilings. Some facts I wrote down about this Temple of Heaven where that the Emperors believed that Heaven was round. This is the temple where they worshipped the ONE God and they also had temples for fasting and for grain. It was wonderful to walk around on the 3rd Level outside the Temple of Heaven.

Still having some difficulty posting pics on this site. Here are two of the Temple of Heaven.

I especially enjoyed the light rain and how it made the people even more compacted up under the walkway. All the activity was super fun to observe. The graduates posing for photos was also special, and the 70 year old door that was never walked through. very cool. It is attached, I hope.

Being able to go to the Pearl Market was fortuitous, since my bulging suitcase had decided to explode the night before and the zipper was hanging on by a thread. Jean warned me not to pay more than 150 yuan, and Joe was nice enough to go to the second floor to check out luggage with me. When I got there, since we had so little time, I told the first salesperson I saw I wanted a suitcase for 150. Actually, a patted a suitcase and said 150. She patted it and said 400. I said 150, and she found a different piece of luggage (my Swiss army knockoff) and countered with 200. After a couple of minutes of both of us saying numbers and pleading "please, lady," we settled for 160. Sold!

Time was short, so we hurried to the fourth floor where the "good" jewelry resided. I got a lovely gold and jade pendant at a good price then convinced the salesperson to take a photo with me and my large suitcase. I joked with her that I was going to send the photo to my husband and tell him I'd filled the suitcase with pretty things he was going to have to pay for. She got a kick out of that!

Then, down to the first floor to barter for silk scarves for friends and family. Joe was much better at his than I was and got us very good prices, so good that I ended up getting more scarves than I needed or may ever need.

Back at the bus, I stuffed my old suitcase into the new one and crossed my fingers I wouldn't need another one before the trip was out. I didn't.

I admire those of you who have been able to attach photos. I am so technology-challenged.

I loved the bright colors of the Temple of Heaven. Absolutely beautiful. What a great location for those graduates to have their pictures taken. The rain felt good.
It was special to see the seniors out in the corridors enjoying themselves, dancing, singing, playing musical instruments, hitting a ball with a paddle against the wall, playing board games, etc.
I bought three of those feathered hacky sacks to share with my students.
We had a frantic time of shopping at the indoor market. Lots of vendors very eager to sell.
Good-bye Jean. Our first time in a Chinese train station. We rode first class; nice quiet train ride of four hours.

How fun to get an email notification this morning of a posting!
Thank you Aileen

You have all been more on my mind of late, especially since it is a year ago that we spent so much time together for such an amazing experience.
The good news is that I applied to the college board to present a tweaked international exchange program presentation for their national annual conference in New York.
The bad news is that I got a thanks, but not this year, try again response.

Meanwhile, I trust some of us are home on vacation relaxing, some teaching summer school, and some traveling to fun places,
Please post a response if you would be interested and able to get together for a reunion.
I will list a few options that will work for me. I live in Pasadena, and would love to host an event.
Reply to this thread and what time of day and/or dates would work best for you as I am sure the Simi Valley people would want to carpool.
July 4 mid day
July 4 late afternoon or early evening
July 6 evening
July 7 mid day
July 12 evening
July 19 evening
Include your email address and I will respond off this forum.
Hoping to hear from all of us, Lois