Beijing

While the trip was short, it was an amazing weekend.  My parents and I started the trip with a noon flight to China.  Arriving at the airport we were a quick target for "drivers" wanting to take us to the hotel.  Luckily my mom had done her research on the flight over.  Beijing is known for trying to rip people off in unmarked taxis.  The taxi ride was long and stressful during rush hour traffic.   On the way to the hotel we saw 6 different accidents.

After the drive our moods were quickly changed seeing our hotel.  Two living rooms and a gorgeous tub.. things were looking up.  Our first night out we started by exploring a night market.  Scorpions and starfish were quite abundant.  My dad and I decided to give scorpion a try.  It actually was a little less intimidating to try than the spiders in Cambodia.  After a hot pot dinner we decided to call it a night to prepare for our day of exploring.

The first stop of the day was the Great Wall... it was breathtaking.

The next stop was the Summer Palace.  It was crowded, but a beautiful site.  We were very lucky to have such great weather.  After the Summer Palace we took the train to Tiananmen Square.  We even saw the flag lowering ceremony from across the street.

The next day we went to the Forbidden City.  Not a family that is very interested in tours, we were trying to avoid the constant guides approaching us.  However, we soon learned that in order to avoid the hour long ticket line, you need a guide.  We ended up teaming with a group of Aussies and paid a guide to buy our tickets.  It was definitely looked down upon, but definitely the easiest money he had made all day!

Having to work the next day, my trip had come to an end.  There is one part of Beijing that I will not miss.. the spitting.  Never have I seen so many people hawking up loogies.  That is one sound I hope to never hear so often again!