Busy in Beijing

I’m not really sure how old I was when I first learned about the Great Wall, but I know that ever since a young age I’ve read about it in textbooks and wanted to see it. But growing up in middle America, visiting the Great Wall seemed as likely as traveling to the moon (which, coincidentally, is another goal of mine). Seeing the Great Wall was one of those goals you never really think will transpire. Well, for me it just did.

The Great Wall—a 4,000 mile stretch of walls from eastern to western China—was as enormous and breathtaking as pictures make it seem. And, for someone who considers herself in pretty good physical shape, the approximately two miles that I walked of it were tough. I climbed along the Badaling section of the Great Wall, one of the more crowded areas but also one of the closest to Beijing, about an hour drive outside of the city. Some parts of the wall were straight steep hills while some areas were more flat. It was obvious millions of people had traversed along the wall. Many of the steps were eroded in the middle by the repeated pounding of body weight. But no matter how tiring it was or how frustrating it was to deal with the large crowds of people, there was no feeling like the one I felt when I stopped, breathed in the cold winter China air and realized I was looking out at a piece of architecture that was built thousands of years ago.

After climbing the Wall, I gave in to my inner tourist and went crazy in the gift shop, buying the same type of souvenirs that I secretly laugh about when I see them bought by tourists on Saipan. I imagine I’ll only visit the Great Wall once in my life, and, by golly, I’m going to remember it with little trinkets.

But hiking the Great Wall of China wasn’t enough for one day for me. I didn’t think the day could get much better. How could it? I’d just completed what I believed was the impossible. Oh, it could and it did. I thought eating bullfrog two days before was going to be the highlight of my exotic foods experience, but I was just getting warmed up, apparently. During dinner at a hotpot restaurant, I told the tour guide I’d try anything once. So when the lamb testicles arrived at the table I was the first one to dig in. My adventurous spirit seemed to rub off and pretty soon everyone in the group was giving the lamb a try, making sure to document the experience with plenty of pictures along the way.

The following day found me at the Forbidden City, the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty. History was endless as I walked from room to room, but one of the most intriguing aspects of the visit to the city was the discovery of what I have coined the “split baby bottom pants.” The name says it all. Babies were seen walking around the area wearing pants with slits for quick access to the bathroom. Never before had I seen anything like it. Not only did I learn about the phenomenon of split baby bottom pants that day, but I learned the true art of bartering in China. I thought I’d experienced and gotten some greats deals bargaining in Mexico and Italy. I was wrong. In China, buying something for half the original price is a rip-off, I learned. I was able to buy earrings that were originally 800 yuan (about $119 at 6.7 yuan to one dollar) for 100 yuan (about $15). At one local market, I decided I would not spend more than 40 yuan (about $6) on anything—a watch, bracelet, purse, journal—no matter what the original price. There was one time when I thought I might have to just walk away rather than spend more than 40 yuan, but as I walked away the sales woman relented. I left the market with several items in tow, proud of my newfound bargaining skills.

I earlier felt like I was back in the United States while enjoying a glass of wine in Shanghai. The local bar wasn’t like any found on Saipan. I felt closer to America while in Shanghai than while on Saipan. I had a similar experience in Beijing. The lamb testicle dinner was enough exotic Chinese food for me for a bit, so I was craving good old American or “Western” food as it’s called in the country. I was in luck! There was an Outback restaurant nearby, someone told me. It was about two blocks away, but would take approximately 25 minutes by foot to get there, he said. American food cravings have no limits, so I found myself heading off in search of an Outback restaurant that I hoped existed but weren’t entirely sure did. About 20 minutes later, my heart began to beat a little faster when I spotted that red and white sign at the bottom level of the Beijing Hotel. I’d made it! Again, there were forks and knives, napkins, and refills! Plus, large portions. I was in heaven. I could have sat at that restaurant for hours recharging my Americana batteries, but, unfortunately, that evening had to end early because the next morning I woke up bright and early (5:30!) to head to Tiananmen Square and watch the flag-raising ceremony. Like the Great Wall, something about being in Tiananmen Square seemed surreal. I’d read about it and learned about it for years, but it still seemed too far away. To be standing there listening to the music, watching the people next to me salute and thinking about the area’s history was an out-of-body experience. After the quick flag-raising ceremony, police quickly herded everyone out of the square, as the National People’s Congress was in session in the Great Hall of the People (I’d earlier been tuning into the congressional sessions on CNN International in the hotel room).

After four whirlwind days in Beijing, time has come to return to Saipan. I’d like think I’m a little more educated than before I left. If nothing else, I can now cross one life goal off of my list.