My Final Days in China

So, Chinese internet hates me but Korean works just fine. So, here is a super long post of my last week in Beijing. (I already miss it)

I went to two more Taekwondo finals. And saw some cool kicking action.
And also this guy. The Asian countries would all come and sit in one section and then one person would lead cheers. I got the feeling this guy was enjoying cheering for China and being allowed to yell in public more than the actual match.
And then I finally felt the full force of the Olympic Spirit. I went to athletics in the Bird's Nest. I witnessed the long jump, the high jump, 400m, 1500m, 200m, javelin throw, relay race and hurdle jump. I was there when the USA dropped the baton in both men's and women's relay. And I sang happy birthday to the crazy record-breaking Jamacian guy. And watched the three American women race the three Jamaican women. Let's just say I was excited.

The track with a blob of runners.And the field.
And, when I came back to Beijing 　Ｉ　ｓｔａｙｅｄ　ｉｎ　ａ　ｈｏｓｔｅｌ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　Ｔｉａｎａｍｅｎ　Ｓｑｕａｒｅ．　Ｓｏ，　Ｉ　ｇｏｔ　ｕｐ　ｏｎｅ　ｍｏｒｎｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｗａｌｋｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　Ｆｏｒｂｉｄｄｅｎ　ｃｉｔｙ　（ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｉｓ　ａｌｓｏ）　ｉｎ　ｔｈａｔ　ａｒｅａ．　Ｓｏ，　ｈｅｒｅ　ｉｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｍａｉｎ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇ．　Ｍｅ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｆｒｉｅｎｄ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｏｓｔｅｌ　ｓｎｕｃｋ　ｉｎ　ｏｎ　ａ　ｔｏｕｒ　ｆｏｒ　ｓｏｍｅ　Ｇｅｒｍａｎ　ｃａｒ　ｃｏｍｐａｎｙ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ．　

Ｔｈｅ　Ｉｎｎｅｒ　Ｃｏｕｒｔ
Ａ　ｒｏｃｋ　ｇａｒｄｅｎ
Ａ　ｃｅｉｌｉｎｇ　ｔｈａｔ　ｉｎｓｐｉｒｅｄ　ＫｕｎｇＦｕ　Ｐａｎｄａ　（ｔｈｉｎｋ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｄｒａｇｏｎ　ｓｃｒｏｌｌ　ｗａｓ　ｋｅｐｔ）
Ｔｈｅ　ｃｏｕｒｔｙａｒｄ．　Ｗｉｔｈ　ｆｉｆｔｅｅｎ　ｌａｙｅｒｓ　ｏｆ　ｂｒｉｃｋｓ　ｄｅｅｐ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｍｐｏｒｅｒ　ｗａｓ　ａｆｒａｉｄ　ｓｏｍｅ　ｏｎｅ　ｗｏｕｌｄ　ｄｉｇ　ａ　ｔｕｎｎｅｌ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｕｔｓｉｄｅ　ａｎｄ　ｋｉｌｌ　ｈｉｍ．　
Ｔｉａｎａｍｅｎ　ｓｑｕａｒｅ．　Ｆｕｌｌ　ｏｆ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ，　ｇｕａｒｄｓ　ａｎｄ　Ｏｌｙｍｐｉｃ　Ｆｌｏｒａｌ　ａｒｒａｎｇｅｍｅｎｔｓ．　
ａｎｄ　Ｑｕｉａｎｍｅｎ　（ｔｈｅ　ａｒｅａ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　Ｉ lived) by night.
Temple of Heaven.
Alter of Heaven
Sweepers of Heaven. The whole temple complex is inside this massive park surrounded by the city. So, while everyone else lives in cramped little hutongs, there are acres of trees next door. And because there are so many people there are these little jobs that people will do. Such as sweep the park, or the streets, or the water after it rains. Beijing on the whole is rather clean because of this huge force of people who go around and sweep trash at night. Not to mention the ladies that go through the trash to find the plastic bottles to recycle.
Also, in the park, on the weekends, there are community activities. Such as singing, dancing, card playing and ribbon twirling.

I was back on the Olympic Green for Waterpolo. Though not in the ice cube here it is.
Water polo was interesting not because of the sport (which is like a cross between soccer/basketball/ hockey in the water) but more because of 1.) the Spanish team and the Montenegrin team

The half time shows (Here is Jingjing an d Nini)And the Americans who came out to cheer the US in the finals (we lost to Hungary) but it was the first time I got to cheer in a group and was a good way to end the Olympics.
Our boys.
Watched the Closing ceremony that night and then ran out to watch the fireworks. I had a hard time getting home that night because security shut down all access to Tianamein. (I was passed by 10 truckloads of soldiers and then my bus dumped me a kilometer away. So, I walked in a back alley way till I came to a road block and then had to convince a soldier I lived in the area. I sure I only got through because I was foreign.) But here is a picture of everyone on my street who all ran out. Crowds like this (though not this thick) were common in China. Especially train stations (where they were worse) and tourist attractions (less)
My last day in Beijing I walked again to see dead Mao (his body is preserved in Tianamein) and laid a flower at his feet. You weren't allowed to bring anything inside though so no pictures. Then on to the summer palace. Which is probably my favorite place in Beijing.

A Quilin (chinese mythical beast)
Dowager Empress Cixi's inner court.
So, this type of wall design is common in Beijing with geometric shapes on a wall though not usually made of glass and painted.
View of Beijing from the top of a mountain on the palace grounds.
And the lake with the Dragon temple Island.

The thing at the top is a Buddhist incense temple on top of the mountain.
Then I took a boat out across the lake.
And came back across the bridge and ate a soy bean popsicles. (oddly good)

So, yup that's all of my travels in China. I'm in Korea now and getting settled in to start school. But first some observations from traveling in China.

1.) Baby clothes are missing the bottom parts that cover the butt and diapers are used. So, holding a baby is dangerous and everywhere you go there are baby butts hanging out.
2.) Haggle everything down to at least a third of what the original price is.
3.) Chinese stores don't usually handle money, there's a separate check out for all the stores.
4.) There are no dressing rooms.
5.) If you're foreign, you will be assigned a sales assistant when you enter the shop who will follow you around trying to help and won't leave you alone.
6.) Everyone shares everything.
7.) When crossing the street you cross lane by lane (cross walks don't exist)
8.) Stop lights, road signs, pedestrians and lanes don't matter.
9.) The length of a bus ride depends on the aggressiveness of your driver. (sometimes a 30min. difference)
10.) Don't bring up Tianamen or the fact that Mao had a mental illness.

I'll get back to you soon with fun times from Korea.