Hey, so I'm back with my "trying hard blogging session".. Yes, I've been gone for so long because I've ran out of topics worth the write (chos! as if I write sensuous stuff, never mind. haha)..
This is all about my recent trip to Beijing, and it's worth the blog I guess, something to look back in the future--- for myself or for anyone interested, if there's any (if you're not then you shouldn't be here coz surely I'll bore you).. haha
Do-It-Yourself trips are one of the best, because it will help us be more independent and learn more about ourselves, and I missed doing that because this time I joined into a Group Package Tour, arranged by a certain Tour Agency... Yes it's time to get to know other people for 5 days! and not to mention, no sweat for the visa application.. I won't say so much blah blah blah... Lets just roll the pictures and let them tell the story and our itineraries..
Day 1 (April 26)
We arrived at Beijing Airport past midnight, so that means I had maybe an hour of sleep.
View from our Hotel Room, overlooking the Happy valley Amusement Park
Our van, our service for the entire time we're in Beijing.
Our first stop: Walking towards the Forbidden City
On our first day, it was cold and windy. obviously.
Meet my group!
And my travel buddy (whom I always forced to join me on my trips, sino nga naman magpipicture saken kung wala sya? haha)
The forbidden City. It was too crowded, and most of the people were also chinese, maybe they're from other provinces, and most of them are too old...
like them.. :)
At least there were spots with less people. I would love to tell you story about the forbidden city, the emperors,... the history itself but I'm afraid I forgot, all I could remember is that the Various Gates of these Temples symbolize something, the royal color is yellow? the story about the concubines, the fighting empresses, the dragon lady... I was listening to our tour guide but sorry, maybe only 10 percent of what he said remains in my head.. haha.. Asking me why it's called Forbidden City? My God, I'm ashamed, I don't know! haha.. maybe it's forbidden to some? Lol
And what kind of odd pose is this? I'm such a terrible poser. lol!
Our next destination that day is the Temple of Heaven..
Then at this Tea Shop. But I didn't buy anything becuase I don't like tea. We had free taste of 5 kinds of tea and each kind I felt like dying I could'nt consume it.. Maybe it would be rude if I'll decline it.. (kaya nagpanggap na lang ako kahit diko talaga gusto ng lasa and questioned my mind, why on Earth do they liked that taste!?!, imagine myself suicidal just to drink all the variety about 35ml each, para akong sumasabak sa extra challenge samantalang sila parang gusto naman.. haha).. it's healthy though.. but no thanks.
At the busy street of Wangfujing.
There were streets food there like scorpions and the like, but as advised by our tour guide, we shouldn't try it.. Oo nga naman, I couldn't endure stomachache in that foreign country.
Day 2. Our first stop for our 2nd day is this Jade Factory.
All I got was this selfie and not a single jade. haha
And finally the Great wall. So this is the highlight, and I was amazed, Just like what we overheard from one of this American boy, maybe having a field trip... he said.. "It's amazing, I thought its boring!)..
I used to read them only on History books and now I'm seeing it, I feel so honored! charot! haha.. pero oo nga!
I climbed part of it but I got so exhausted I needed to sit and rest at one of the steps...
Now I salute the Chinese, how could they construct these structures during the ancient time with their barehands? While I couldn't even climb the highest point of one of the stations?
Back to picture taking once I got my energy back. Lol
Lunch break
After Lunch.. we stopped by where we can get a good picture of the Bird's Nest. But they said it looks better at night. This structure has been part of the 2008 Olympics.
Another stop at this Medicine Shop.
We had dinner and went straight at this Ceramic Gallery.
Day 3: While waiting for our service, we took these pictures just outside of the hotel.
On the road. It's indeed spring time, lots of flowers everywhere... You can see also variety of roses blooming on the street islands.. (Samantalang ang mahal mahal ng rosas sa Pilipinas tapos dito pakalat kalat lang?!).
Our first stop for our day 3 is at this Silk Shop
And as usual, my groupmates do the shopping, and I do the picture taking.. Thanks to my camerawoman.. haha
Beijing Zoo.. Just a bit disappointing the Pandas seemed not too excited to see me (while I'm sooo excited to see one).. They were all asleep, too tired to move except for that one eating bamboo leaves... (deadmabells sila? kala ko makakakita na ako nung katulad sa mga videos posted on the internet.. :(
We didn't stay long in the Zoo because there's nothing much to see, including those lazy Pandas... (maybe in Chengdu.. masasaya daw Pandas don).
So next destination is the Summer Palace!
Walking on this longest hallway in the world (am I right?! basta longest daw..) Sea of people are everywhere they could drown me, what am I expecting?? It's China! Heller? Overpopulated na nga sila, may mga tourist pa, and me- the echosera, so madami nga talagang tao!
One of the largest Man Made Lake in the World. Hmmm, I'm trying to remember what our tour guide told us about this... parang gusto lang nung Emperor na magkaron ng Lake dun, and then tadan! suddenly gawa na ang lake...amazing !! haha But I wasn't sure about that, man made story ko rin ata yun.. ahaha.. maybe I'm busy taking pictures I wasn't able to remember the deep story behind this.. Read books if you're interested and don't listen to me. lol
After Summer Palace.. We headed to this jewelry Store
.
How many shops we went to and I haven't bought anything yet???!! haha These shops are actually sponsors to our trip as what our agency explained to us. It's mandatory, though we're not oblige to buy, but we will pay Php3,000.00 if we won't go.. (so, sama sama na lang ang lola mo kesa magbayad.. haha). But this time, I bought 3 Pearl Pendants with huge discount (tsaka kase nakakahiya naman may free Pearl and Pear bracelet, diba?)
But as soon as we got back to Philippines, a news about the Filipino tourists scammed in Beijing welcomed us,(Medyo similar yung story samen, buti na lang kuripot ako at di mahilig sa mga alahas... este, my jewelries are all given by my mom, di ako bumibili.. .haha... yung nabili ko this time, keribells lang, pangkuripot lang sya... aanhin ko naman perlas nila kung ako naman ay nakatira sa Perlas na Silangan.. charot! haha)that is-- if in case it's scam nga kase bongga yung bagsak ng presyo... something fishy nga naman.
Wait, I'm not done yet..why am I back to the Philippines already? Last stop for that day is on a shopping Store named Shushwey??? ( Can't remember the name pero katunog nyan).. Had also our dinner there.
Day 4: It's our free day, and we asked our tour guide if we can use the Service for half day going to Yangza Outlets (di ko rin malala yung exact name basta sounds like that), and he said yes, with a charge!
But while waiting for our service, my friend and I had a quick stroll just around our accomodation and had sundae at Mcdo (wala kase sa Pinas to lol)..
Initially, I had my own itinerary for our free day .. I've downloaded the subway train system and how to go to Yuyuantan Park and To Beijing Botanical Garden. Maybe I could catch their Cherry Blossom Festival. But change of plans, we decided to join the others because, aside from the terrible traffic Jam, Beijing is undeniably huge too we might lost our way considering our airport transfer will be on the same day too.... and they said, we can't trust the taxi drivers there... So we ended up joining the group, window shopping in that Outlet but I couldn't find anything, syempre window shopping lang... (Meron pala, a new pair of NB shoes!,! yay! with big discount).
Then, we just looked for a place where we can sit and take a selfie..
Later that that day, around 7:30 pm... time for our airport transfer...
The airport?? okay lang.
So here's the ending part.. Will I recommend Beijing?.. if you're into fun / nightlife/ party.. then don't go there.... it's happier in Shanghai- they said.... But if you don't wanna miss to get your feet on the Great wall.. and the rich history of Beijing (because it's well preserved) then go get there--- at least once in your life....
It's bit polluted/ traffic jammed... pero dika pa ba sanay sa Pinas??? and the language barrier? you're gonna bleed your nose-- because they are really having a hard time to communicate and understand English..
That's all Folks! if you find yourself at this bottom part then I congratulate you!! You've endured the dull script from nobody's girl... lol.
:)
