Greetings from Beijing!!!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Hello everyone

Got here eventually after a few delays (flooded railway lines, motorways, plane delayed etc etc) but wow what a place!

Found a lovely park very close to the hotel and had a little wander around yesterday - thought I was getting a nice tan but it turned out to be dust Lots of building work going on because of the Olympics

Been doing a lot of my favourite past time (no Jen, not table sleeping) - people watching - the highlight so far has been seeing a family of 3 on one moped!!

One thing is for sure, hubby will never complain about my driving again!!!

[Karen]

Good to hear from you! When we were in Beijing in October 2001, the whole city was full of signs saying "Build New Beijing, Hold Great Olympics" which was just about the only English we saw. So I'm not surprised construction is still underway! Have a wonderful time!

[Catty1]

Denise! People watching is just the best! I hope your home in the UK is all right...I just cannot believe all the flooding!

I look forward to hearing about your favourite person and place and all that!

[wombat2u2004]

Hey BM.....good to hear from ya.
Hows the fried rice mate ???? OK ???
Wom

[Killearn Kitties]

What a surprise to hear from you already! Are you going to check in every day?

So long as you don't wash the building dust off, no-one will know it is not a tan once you get back home.

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

Wow, a direct link with Bjing!! I am so happy to see you posting from the other side of the earth . Hey, watching people is something I love to: sitting on a bench and look at all the people walking by

I knew you were going to see lots of building everywhere. We went to Athens 1 year before they were hosting the Olympics; road works EVERYWHERE, and lots of building too. Even our hotel was renovating all their rooms .

Seen any cute cats or dogs, Denise??

Big hug for you :

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Seen any cute cats or dogs, Denise??

Have only seen one dog and it was a Bichon.....very cute, you would have liked her Fritzie

Had an eventful day - first taxi driver took us to a building site which wasn't that helpful ended up at the camera place where we wanted to go but was starting to get very confusing...............

So........we went to Beijing Zoo.................I'd heard nothing but bad about it so was expecting to be very angry and upset but have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The reptiles get a tough deal IMO but the pandas, tigers, monkeys,etc, etc all seem to live better than the people do round here. I will post some photos on my return to UK......

What needs to change at the Zoo is the education of the visitors - a gibbon charging at the cage is not "cute" she is protecting her young so stop tapping on the glass front!!!!!!

This place makes London look lazy....more later my friends xxxx

[prechrswife]

Ni Hao! The traffic really is something to behold over there, isn't it? We only did one cab ride--most of the time, we were in our big tour buses, but wow...

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Just got back from a fantastic meal - getting pretty nifty with the old chopsticks - get to eat more than ends up on the floor at any rate

Met lots of lovely doggies this evening too - a peke, a chi, a jrt and two mini samoyeds....all very friendly so I am a happy PTer

[Maya & Inka's mommy]

So it is true that the traffic there is super-hectic!! 13 years ago wewent to South Korea, to Seoul, and it was impossible there to cross a street!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Manic would be a good description although I have yet to see any cars with huge dents in them! There does appear to be a drivers etiquette here - just got no idea what it is

[JenBKR]

Been doing a lot of my favourite past time (no Jen, not table sleeping)

Well, I must say I am disappointed. I guess I will have to do all of the table napping here for you.

Glad you are having a good time, enjoy that 'tan!'

[sandragonfly]

hello!

glad to hear you're having fun. enjoy few more!

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Went to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square which were amazing! So much history in those walls and the buildings were just wow.

As you may know I have tagged along on one of hubby's conferences - and part of this was attending the Conference Banquet - well pah!!!! First of all it was a buffet and hubby and I have lost a whole day due to food poisoning!!!!! Haven't eaten for 36 hours and spent a whole day in the room either on the big white telephone or asleep.......oh well, I did say I was looking forward to getting lots of rest

The guide books tell you that foreigners are a source of fascination to the locals which is true but what they don't warn you about is that us well endowed ladies will be openly stared at (and not at our faces)

Got a couple more tours booked to the Summer Palace and the Great Wall then we are leaving Beijing on Sunday to stay somewhere along the Li River - I am looking forward to getting into the countryside for a while......

[Freedom]

I hope you are taking lots and lots of pictures for us! You will need another vacation after you upload all of it on your return home!

Sorry you were under the weather, glad to hear things are back on track. Enjoy!