May 29, 2015

Beijing, China: Tiananmen Square, things to do

Tiananmen Square/Tian An Men Square 

Across from Forbidden City.  Known as the Eye of China, this is the fourth-largest public square in the world and dates from 1415.  It can accommodate 1 million people.  The world focused on this square during the bloody demonstrations of June 4, 1989.

Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China
Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China


Today it also holds some buildings, including the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall/Mao Mausoleum, which attracts long lines of people every day to see the chairman’s remains.

wait line at Chairman Mao Memorial Hall at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China
wait line at Chairman Mao Memorial Hall at Tiananmen Square
in Beijing, China


Everyone who visits the area must go through a security screening.  During my group visit, I witnessed police in a loud altercation with a Chinese citizen who didn’t want his items to be checked.  I don’t recommend attracting this kind of attention here.

security check at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China
security check at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China



More things to do in Beijing.

Best souvenirs of China.

More ideas for exploring Asia and the South Pacific.

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 


May 27, 2015

Beijing, China: Summer Palace; things to do

Summer Palace


Located on the banks of manmade Kunming Lake, this hilly 670-acre UNESCO World Heritage Site is China’s last imperial garden.  The Summer Palace is a vast area filled with lakes, gardens, and palaces.  Originally constructed as a royal summer home, it is visited now for its classical Chinese gardens and elaborate covered ½-mile Long Corridor.  After walking beside and through the hallway, view the marble boat at the end and then take a refreshing boat ride back to the entrance.

The Aman at Summer Palace hotel is set within the palace grounds.

entrance to Summer Palace in Beijing, China
entrance to Summer Palace


view of palaces in Summer Palace in Beijing, China
view of palaces in Summer Palace


artist vendor at Summer Palace in Beijing, China
artist vendor at Summer Palace


Long Corridor at Summer Palace in Beijing, China
Long Corridor at Summer Palace


Long Corridor at Summer Palace in Beijing, China
Long Corridor at Summer Palace


Long Corridor at Summer Palace in Beijing, China
Long Corridor at Summer Palace


marble boat at Summer Palace in Beijing, China
marble boat at Summer Palace


boat ride at Summer Palace in Beijing, China
boat ride at Summer Palace


dragon at helm of boat ride at Summer Palace in Beijing, China
dragon at helm of boat ride at Summer Palace



More things to do in Beijing.

Best souvenirs of China.

More ideas for exploring Asia and the South Pacific.


images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 


May 22, 2015

Beijing, China: Great Wall; things to do

Great Wall  

1½ hour from Beijing. 

Visible by the naked eye from outer space, this UNESCO World Heritage Site snakes through the hills like the tail of a dragon for more than 4,000 miles.  The goal when construction began on the Great Wall in 2021 B.C. was to keep out nomadic peoples.  In 1985, an Englishman completed walking the wall after 1½ years.

Great Wall in Beijing, China
Great Wall in Beijing, China


entry gate at Badaling Pass section of Great Wall in China
entry gate at Badaling Pass section of Great Wall in China


Today the reality is that it is a steep climb amid crowds of other tourists from all over the world.  Steps are uneven and often high, sometimes requiring you to pull yourself up and to hold on tight going down.

Some steps are simply wood rails nailed across the stone base to allow your shoes to grip.  

wood rails on stone path at Badaling Pass section of Great Wall in China
wood rails on stone path at Badaling Pass section of Great Wall in China


Railings do help, but they vary in height and availability.  Wear unloved pants or jeans so that you can bump your way down where necessary.  Rain adds slippery to the mix.  A friendly Chinese lady--who seemed to enjoy seeing me and with whom I tried to carry on a conversation--warned me to take it slow.  So on a gloriously clear and mild day, 

view from not very far up at Badaling Pass section of Great Wall in China
view from not very far up at Badaling Pass section of Great Wall in China


I stopped climbing a steep incline before my husband did and just sat at the side on one of the steps and enjoyed some prime people watching.  The Japanese were particularly watch-worthy—many wore outrageous outfits for the venue—think high heels, tulle, and sequins.  Later, my husband told me that what looked to be the top wasn’t; yet more climbing was ahead with no end in sight.  He never reached a leveling off.  Visitors can gain entry to the wall in 14 spots, and the wall can be experienced in other ways, like camping out in a watch tower overnight or even running a marathon



 





Great Wall sections/gates:

Who knew?  Near Beijing, there are five places to access the Great Wall.  Each offers an experience that is different in degree of difficulty.  Several offer a cable car lift.  Avoid the weekends!  Three of the most well-known passes are:
70 km/45 miles NW of Beijing.  This steep section is very popular and the most crowded because it is safer and easy to get to.  It is the one my own group visited.  The section of the wall here is the most well-preserved and close to original condition.  Other sections of the wall are not as well preserved, or have even crumbled out of existence.  Bedaling stretches for 7.5 miles, though only about 4,000 yards of it are open to the public.  A long, steep stairway leads up to the wall.  I had been told to take the steeper left stairs (north) instead of those on the right (south) because it is more scenic.  Some accounts say this section has a cable car, but I didn’t see it. 
60 km/37 miles from Beijing.  Another popular gate, the wall here has a handrail.  Progression up the stairs can be slow, depending on who is in front of you.  A fear of heights can slow people down.  Faster walkers, who don’t mind steepness will push on around.  Going isn’t so bad, though it is slow due to the crowds.  But coming down can be scary. 
80 km/50 miles from Beijing.  Though a bit farther away, this pass offers a cable car ride up and down, plus the option of sliding back down on a toboggan ride.  This gate is especially recommended for children and those with mobility difficulties.  You can take the cable car up to Fortress number 14, walk to number 6, and then take the cable car or slide down on a toboggan from there. 



A photo journey along the Great Wall.

More things to do in Beijing.

Best souvenirs of China.

More ideas for exploring Asia and the South Pacific.


images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 


May 18, 2015

Beijing, China: Forbidden City; things to do

Forbidden City 


Located across the road from Tiananmen Square, this immense UNESCO World Heritage Site has many an inner and outer courtyards.  The Forbidden City measures 172 acres--as big as 200 soccer fields.  If you are without a guide, visit in early in the morning and get an audio headset.  The largest palace enclosure in China, it was closed off to the public for the 500 years that it was home to 24 emperors. 

In 1911, the last emperor left and the compound was opened to the people.  Its new name was Palace City.  (The Academy Award-winning movie “The Last Emperor” was filmed here and worth a watch.)  Buildings are many and ornate.  Though to my disappointment I missed seeing it, a small gallery holds the Clock Museum.  With more than 1,000 Chinese- and foreign-made pieces, it is one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical timepieces from the 18th and 19th centuries.





gate tower entrance to Forbidden City in Beijing, China
gate tower entrance to Forbidden City


interior courtyard at Forbidden City in Beijing, China
interior courtyard at Forbidden City


garden at Forbidden City in Beijing, China
garden at Forbidden City



More things to do in Beijing.

Best souvenirs of China.

More ideas for exploring Asia and the South Pacific.


images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

May 15, 2015

Introduction to Beijing, China

Introduction to Beijing, China

Beijing is the gigantic capitol city of China.  The original city wall is long gone, replaced by six ring roads, and the moat has become a river.  The high-rise buildings go on and on and on. 

unusual high-rise in Beijing
unusual high-rise in Beijing


 Nowadays almost everyone lives in high-rises, too. 

residential high-rises in Beijing
residential high-rises in Beijing
 

Traffic is a crazy, yet surprisingly organized, mash of cars, tuk-tuks, and bicycles.

mixture of vehicles in traffic in Beijing
mixture of vehicles in traffic in Beijing


I found it surprising that the streets are clean and litter-free.  Locals say that happened when the Olympics came to town.  Individuals and teams of human street-sweepers as well as street-cleaner vehicles operate regularly.

street cleaners by the Great Wall in Beijing
street cleaners by the Great Wall in Beijing


I did not see one cat or dog.

The best weather is in May and June, with comfortable weather in April, when I visited.  Because the city is near the province of Inner Mongolia and the Gobi Desert, sand storms do occur.  We did experience a short one.  People want to be inside when that happens and to have a face mask.

traditional building juxtaposed with high-rise apartments in Beijing




More things to do in Beijing.

Best souvenirs of China.

More ideas for exploring Asia and the South Pacific.

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 

May 13, 2015

Introduction to taking a tour of China


Introduction to taking a tour of China


I am generally an independent traveler.  I rarely travel with groups except when they include other professional travel writers.  For my 9-day Triangle Tour of China with Palace Travel, the group consisted of 11 people—5 couples and 1 couple with a teenager.  It was a perfect size.

group with Palace Travel, in front of gate to Forbidden City, Beijing, China
my group in front of gate to Forbidden City in Beijing


     What I really liked about the tour

●the itinerary.  It hit the main UNESCO sites in just 9 days, and ran from a Saturday to a Sunday so that only 1 week of time needed to be taken off work.  It would have been nice to visit more areas and stay longer—there are other tours for that--but the extra time wasn’t an option for me then.
 
●the tour bus.  I would call it a mini-bus.  It had plenty of room, big windows, and was easy in and out.  I really dislike smaller vans. 
 
●the hand-holding.  I know I would not like to visit China my first time on my own.  A tour is a must. 
 
●the exercise.  I expected a tour of China to be exhausting.  So much is crammed into each day that I would fall exhausted into a deep sleep each night. 
 
●the price.  I think the price for the air, hotels, admissions, guide, bus, and most meals is a real bargain. 
 

     Advantages to taking an organized tour

●The must-see tourist attractions are seen efficiently and with minimal hassle.  No waiting for buses, no standing in line for tickets, no trying to figure things out in a foreign language.  Someone else does all the grunt work.
 
●Hotels are all pre-selected and feature comforting amenities.  I adored the buffet breakfasts, which included plenty of fresh fruit as well as dim sum and other local delicacies but also American bacon-and-eggs and made-to-order omelette options. 
 
●A guide/”local friend” shows you around, teaches you how to bargain, and reminds you to be careful of pickpockets.  The guide fills you in on history and traditions and provides insight into their country.  Ours answered questions that allowed us a glimpse into their daily life.  Tour guides must get relicensed each year and so do keep up on changes and provide current information.


Our hard-working guides made our trip memorable:

tour guide Mark at Forbidden City in Beijing, China
well-spoken and knowledgeable Mark, at Forbidden City
in Beijing


tour guide Henry at The Bund in Shanghai, China
techie and hip Henry, at The Bund in Shanghai


tour guide Jackie at the Terracotta Warriors in Xi'an
stand-up comedian and entertainer Jackie, at the Terracotta Warriors
in Xi’an


I will be blogging about this China trip over the next few months.  Please join me as I recall the adventure.  We will begin in Beijing.



Things to do in Beijing. 

Best souvenirs of China.

More ideas for exploring Asia and the South Pacific.

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers  

May 11, 2015

Hawkshead, Lake District, England: Beatrix Potter Gallery; things to do

Beatrix Potter Gallery  

Red Lion Square, Hawkshead, 015394-36355. 

An old cottage with low door openings—mind your head—and ancient bowed book shelves, the Beatrix Potter Gallery is in a 17th-century building that once held the legal offices of her husband, William Heelis, whom she married when she was 47.  Beatrix Potter was first and foremost an artist; for her, writing was secondary.  This becomes more apparent as you study her original sketches and watercolor illustrations displayed here. 

When I asked fellow visitor Rebecca Williams, age 9, “Which is your favorite Beatrix Potter story?”, she replied, “That’s hard.  There’s lots of very nice books she wrote.  I quite liked Hilltop farm because the guide gave you a book and you could see the item in the book.”  Her sister, Lauren Williams, age 11, replied, “Probably Tom Kitten.  It’s very funny because of the ducks.  He gives his clothes away to the ducks.”  Can’t you just hear their charming British accent?  A free activity sheet keeps kids busy looking for items in the gallery.  Operated by The National Trust.

Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead, England
Beatrix Potter Gallery in Hawkshead, England




More things to do in England.

More ideas for exploring Europe.

image ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers 


May 8, 2015

Maienfeld, Switzerland: Take a hike to Heidi's Hut ; things to do

Take a hike to Heidi's Hut in Maienfeld, Switzerland


When I was just a wee one, my mom read "Heidi" to me.  That ritual we shared is one of my fondest childhood memories, and this beloved story will comfort me forever.

You can imagine my excitement when I heard that Heidi's hut actually exists in Maienfeld, Switzerland.  I made it there, finally, after my own children were grown.  More . . .

trail to Heidi's hut in Maienfeld, Switzerland
trail to Heidi's hut in Maienfeld, Switzerland



More ideas for exploring Europe.


image ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

May 6, 2015

NYC: Feast of San Gennaro; things to do

Feast of San Gennaro  

September 10-20, 2015 (held annually on the last two weeks of September).  Along Mulberry Street, between Canal and Houston streets.  Free. 

The annual Feast of San Gennaro extravaganza celebrates the patron saint of Naples.  Festivities include two parades featuring the Statue of San Gennaro; one is held on the Official Feast Day.  Said to be the oldest and largest such festival celebrating the Feast of San Gennaro, it began in 1926 as a one-day religious celebration and now attracts more than 3 million people.  I believe it because when I attended it was body to body tight on the street. 

My daughter once lived in Little Italy and was not fond of this festival because it was so hard for here to come and go from her apartment during these weeks.  Sure enough, when we passed her old residence the stoop was in use as seating. 

I first heard about this festival from West Coast friends who grew up in the area and returned every year to attend.  It took me a long time to finally get there, and when I did my attendance was by pure chance.  I was in town, walking around with my daughter, and we came upon it.  What a lucky happenstance! 

Food is the main attraction, and the sausage sandwich--it is impossible to miss the aroma and sound of sizzling sausages, onions, and green peppers--is a must.  And this is where I had my first, and last, fried Oreo.  A word of advice--leave the Cannoli Eating Contest to the pros.  Many celebrants opt to sit down in one of the open-air Italian restaurants and really feast--perhaps with a nice glass of wine--while they watch the crowd pass by.  Live entertainment is also part of the mix.  

You might find that it all looks familiar.  That might be because this festival has been featured in numerous TV programs and also in “The Godfather Part II” and “The Godfather Part III.”

Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, NYC
Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, NYC


Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, NYC
Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, NYC

 

More NYC attractions.

More NYC restaurants.

images ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers


May 4, 2015

Introduction to Curacao + Kura Hulanda Museum and Hotel; things to do + hotel review

Introduction to Curacao


Located just off the northern coast of Venezuela, Curaçao (pronounced “kur-ah-sow”) is part of the ABC Islands chain—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao--which in turn is part of the Netherlands.  Curaçao is probably best known for its namesake Valencia orange liquour that comes in a rainbow of colors, for its tropical-colored Amsterdam-style architecture, and for its excellent dive sites.  But this remote, arid island offers much more, including a colorful floating market, plenty of beaches, and a unique “tumba” music.

Curaçao also has a reputation for racial and religious tolerance.  Its population is an eclectic mix of forty different nationalities, many of whom can be seen chatting on their cell phones while walking across the swinging Queen Emma pontoon bridge in to Willemstad--the island’s capital and a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site.

Across the harbor from Willemstad is the magnificent Kura Hulanda complex, consisting of a five-star hotel and a unique museum dedicated to telling the story of the island’s slave trade.  More . . .

swinging Queen Emma pontoon bridge in to Willemstad, Curacao
swinging Queen Emma pontoon bridge in to Willemstad, Curacao




image ©2015 Carole Terwilliger Meyers

May 1, 2015

Spend a night in the Ice Hotel and a day at Carnaval de Quebec in Quebec, Canada; hotel review + things to do

Spend a night in the Ice Hotel and a day at Carnaval de Quebec in Quebec, Canada


First constructed in 2001, Canada’s Ice Hotel is rebuilt every winter using 500 tons of ice and 15,000 tons of snow.  Though there are “snow” hotels in Finland and Norway, they use wood or metal in their construction.  Only this one in Quebec and another in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden, are true “ice hotels” made entirely of ice and snow. More . . .


entrance to Ice Hotel in Quebec, Canada
entrance to Ice Hotel in Quebec, Canada


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