28 August 2012 ~ Beijing Olympic Park

Listening to:  Joan Osborne ~ Brokedown Palace



I didn't really have an opportunity to watch the London Olympics as I previously mentioned, so it was really fun to go to Beijing Olympic Park.

The "Birds Nest" is spectacular lit up at night. Unfortunately, it's not used for a lot of events. I can think of a few bands I wouldn't mind seeing in that stadium.

Does everyone remember the "Cube"? Michael Phelps won 8 gold medals here. It is the largest ETFT structure in the world [Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, a fluorine based plastic]. Also the largest single structure using LED lighting system.

From far away it looks flat, but up close it's really dimensional and the reflections from the neon signs enhance the impact.

The symbolic rings.

This capture on this statue is "Beautiful Art Comes From Your Kind Soul".

And of course, the Olympic Flame.

It was fun having a co-worker along, not only for the camaraderie but also to take a few pictures of me. Thanks Vivian!

And the wall in the background includes every Olympic Event, medal winner's name and country.
It was a nice change to see living athletes remembered on a wall instead of fallen veterans.

27 August 2012 ~ Wangfujing Part II

Listening to:  Jill Barber ~ Oh My My


The market was quite interesting and offered food I had only seen on National Geographic or Discovery Channel shows.

I did not try any of these items. But I did witness a westerner biting into a cooked scorpion.

And as you can see, some items are still sold alive.

http://youtu.be/HMpE8OdVOyc


I'm not even sure what animal is the one in the back.

I've had these candied apples before when I visited Harbin.

Here is how they are made.

http://youtu.be/FBH9dywwF84


Most of the dumplings looked tasty.

But I hesitated to try the Pissing beef ball. My co-worker said the name came from a movie because this particular dumpling "squirts out its juice when you bite into it".

26 August 2012 ~ Wangfujing Part 1

Listening to: Johnny Nash ~ I Can See Clearly Now


I was in Beijing as an instructor for a training class so I could not post on this blog for the past week - all Google sites are blocked.

Arrived late on Sunday night so ordered room service of spring rolls and spicy beans with minced pork.

I woke up to a smoggy day but could see a few people doing Tai Chi.

 

As well as a nice fountain view.

Class kept me busy but Monday night was able to go to the Wangfujing Snack Street, where kebab, noodle and soup stalls fill a narrow alley.

Meet the "chef".

 Yanjin Beer was a must to wash down the spicy food that was ordered,

 

 

which consisted of beef and chicken kebabs (with red pepper and cumin) and fresh squid in olive oil.

17 August 2012 ~ Nian Lin Garden

Listening to:  John Lee Hooker ~ I'm In The Mood


The typhoon was a bust...we barely had any wind or rain. The thunderstorm the night before was much more dramatic.

I visited Nian Lin Garden, for traditional Eastern motif.

The guidebook rates this as "one of the most beautiful Chinese gardens in Hong Kong".

Following the Tang aesthetics, the garden features ornamental rocks...

pavilions.....

water features....

 and beautifully-shaped rare trees.

This path leads to a traditional tea house (yes, you must remove your shoes upon ascending the stairs).

And behind the waterfall is a vegetarian restaurant.

16 August 2012 ~ Chi Lin Nunnery

Listening to: Pink Floyd ~ If (Atom Heart Mother)


Hong Kong has just been issued a Typhoon Cyclone 8 warning, meaning winds could exceed 63km per hour due to Typhoon Kai-tak (which is 270 km south), and approaching closer in the next few hours.

It has been a very busy week and a Typhoon is a great way to top it off!

Fortunately I was able to have a very peaceful and relaxing Sunday afternoon.


It started off with a visit to the Chi Lin Nunnery, the largest Buddhist nunnery in East Asia.

It was rebuilt in 1998 in wood without the use of a single metal nail.

There are four lotus ponds.

Unfortunately pictures are not allowed of the Buddhas housed in numerous halls.

There is a statue of the Maitreya Buddha (Milefo), the Buddha of the Future and a heavenly being who will descent to Earth to save humanity. Guardians of the Four Directions surround him.

The most impressive statue was the golden Sakyamuni Buddha.


 But I was still able to enjoy the nature...

Architecture and Grounds....

and the contrast with the skyscrapers all around the nunnery.

14 August 2012 ~ Tet Mask at Sunrise

Listening to: Abadabad ~ All The Bros Say (The Wild)

I woke up one morning to the sun shining in my window. The pattern of the leaves on the wall and the Tet mask I bought in Hanoi inspired me to get up and get my camera for this shot.

The cool thing the still photo couldn't capture was that there was a breeze and the leaves were shimmering in the sunlight.

Skye has also been quite active. Mostly because her fight wings are finally growing back and I am setting up little "play grounds" for her to explore. Yes, the playground is a 6-pack beer carrier, but she loves to chew on cardboard.

She will fly to the counter and then into the carrier itself, chewing away everything in her path.

Went to a neighborhood bar with some friends and I was digging the lamp shades.

 We all had different beverages to celebrate the uniqueness of us all.

While watching the Olympics lately...the men finals for volleyball...I took this photo of peanuts in a glass. 

Just random thoughts for the day.

9 August 2012 ~ Seoul Drums & Dresses

Listening to: The Melodians ~ Sweet Sensation


Happy Birthday!

I hope you are enjoying your 50th birthday adventure to Turkey!

I didn't have a picture except for the one I recently posted when we finally met again in Chicago, so I went to her public facebook to get a photo. While there I checked out some of her artwork, and this seahorse caught my attention.

The shops on this Seoul street caught my attention as it contained mostly drum shops and dress shops.

All kinds of drums...

I found the dress shops very amusing due to the unique mannequins. Yet the intricacies of the clothes designs are brilliant and very beautiful.

Alas, I do not believe I would have the opportunity to wear such dashing attire.



8 August 2012 ~ Jongmyo & Changdeokgung Palace

Listening to: Gang Pic Pac ~ Eminem's Without Me - Instrumental 2

Happy Birthday!





Unfortunately Jongmyo (Royal Ancestral Shrine) was closed on Tuesdays, so I only got a picture of the outside.

This shrine was built around 1410 and houses the ancestral tablets listing the names and accomplishments of the 27 Yi (Joseon) kings and queens. Ancestor rituals in accordance with Confucian are still observed here.

Next stop was Changdeokgung Palace. Built as a secondary palace of the Joseion Dynasty in 1405, during King Taijong's reign, it later became the main palace for many kings.

This is a map of the full palace grounds.

This is the main gate, burned down during the Japanese invasion in 1592 and restored in 1608.

Injeongjeon is the throne hall where major state affairs, including the coronation of a new king and receiving foreign envoys, took place.

Oh look, here's a foreigner being received.

And the official "throne".

Caught a glimpse of this Korean Magpie.