Kel's Space

Beijing Postcards: Day 5

Ferry at the Summer Palace
Originally uploaded by Kel_eh

We started at the zoo to see the pandas. I have very mixed feelings about zoos, but I understand they have a role to play in conservation and China certainly has been actively researching and conserving their panda population since 1996. The pandas from the wildlife reserve in the earthquake zone have come to Beijing zoo to relax and recover although they are not on display of course.

We then took a dragon boat up ancient canals to the summer palace. We crossed the palace lake in this stunning ferry. Beautiful buildings, an ancient decorated long walk, bridges with 17 arches, and willows weeping into the water. It was like stepping into a scroll.

Beijing Postcards: Day 4

Shuaifuyuan Hutong
Originally uploaded by Kel_eh

We went down this hutong for an excellent dinner of Peking duck. We walked back along a street divided by a narrow park along its length. Old couples sipped their tea at little stone seats; people walked their small dogs and exchanged greetings while the dogs did too; couples walked hand in hand, cherishing the snatched privacy not possible in crowded living quarters, especially for unmarried couples.

Beijing postcards: Day 3

Beijing Opera - Monkey King
Originally uploaded by Kel_eh

Tonight we went to the Beijing Opera. It is the most amazing spectacle and intricate, ancient art form. Ours was only a taster show, with single chapters almost, of different shows.

The operas always portray different traditional stories and contain easily recognisable character types. The costumes and make-up help with the identification and drama, and accentuate the character and movement. Precise hand and eye movements convey emotion and concepts such as distance or darkness, and action is portrayed through elaborate dancing and kung fu moves. The music is traditional and Chinese on 4-6 instruments, and the main characters sing.

It is just magical.

Beijing Postcards: Day 2

Donghuamen Night Market
Originally uploaded by Kel_eh

Yesterday we explored a big rectangle in our local area: up our street, down Wangfujing (sometimes called the No1 commercial street in Beijing), along this street Donghuamen, and back up on the road closest to the Forbidden City on the east side. When we stopped to watch the world go by and drink some water, I noticed all these red stalls. The minute the clock struck 4, the stall holders sprang into action, whipping food onto grills and display racks, hanging price signs, and stir-frying. We weren't ready for dinner at that time yesterday, but we made sure to come back today, amongst crowds of tourists from around China and around the world. We ate skewers of prawns, roasted corn on the cob, noodles and dumplings. We met other travellers trying to outdo each other on silkworm, snake and snails, but that game isn't for me.

We both have rotten colds, so that was about the extent of it for today!

Beijing Postcards: Day 1

The Sweet Hint
Originally uploaded by Kel_eh

We are staying at the Red Wall Hotel in Beijing. It had a lot of bad reviews, but I love it. The staff are all very helpful and friendly, although gently so. The room is small, but well designed and has everything we need. The beds are hard - we were warned that they are hard all through China - but they are comfortable. I have a magazine rack labelled "Reading is Beneficial" and this wonderful sign in the bathroom.

Beijing postcards

Night falls on the Imperial moat
Originally uploaded by Kel_eh

I am in Beijing, and so fortunate. This is a trip I have waited for my whole life, literally. I was born here and have wanted to return for as long as I can remember. It is blissful.

On a technical note, I can post, but not view it or edit it properly or read any other blog in fact. So messages may be brief... and badly formatted!!!

Hello from Beijing

We arrived in Beijing this morning, on the first of three days of national mourning for the victims of the earthquake in Szechuan province. Please consider leaving a message of support and condolence here. The news is played constantly on enormous public screens and messages of support from across the world are being streamed across the bottom. If you wish to donate, there is info on that page, or you can go to the red cross page for your country.

Missing in Blogland

I really appreciate all of you popping in now and again to see if I've added anything new. You know how sometimes you just don't have any words? That's how I've been. I think there are a lot of reasons that I haven't been posting lately:

• My mind has been on my grandfather who passed away at the end of March. I didn't really want to talk about it, and I didn't want anything on here that would make my Mum sad if she was looking at my site while at work.
• I wanted to express my joy and gratitude for Artfest, but didn't really have the words.
• Most of my photography has been on film, and that takes more effort to get on here.
• Not wanting to be flamed for visiting China at such a controversial time (and now such a sorrowful time, as they try to save what they can after the earthquake).
• Having secret things in the pipeline and, as always, keeping my hopes close to my heart, and not being allowed to talk about other things.
• Also, I want to change my blog around, so I think I've found it frustrating to try and post without having the time to change things around how I want.

But it feels like a change is in the air, so we shall see.