0144
China (Trans-China, Beijing)

The train to Beijing

'The Offender' (train to Beijing)
Singing good ol' Mongolian classics
Even the train conductor had a go at it
Drive-thru service
An active dining car
Welcome to China
Rivers
Mountains

and the Great Wall


Me and my new Dike Bike ($20 goes a long way here)
My bag receives much needed repairs...
and so does my camera (translator/helper/friend Tommy)
and so does my camera (translator/helper/friend Tommy)
Some fancy tourist restaurant
A street parade

The first Peking Duck (I've had better)
The new 'Forbidden City' ...
and the old...
Mao watches proudly over Tiananmen Gate
At the entrance to the Forbidden City
Which they insist on calling 'The Palace Museum'
Brought to you by American Express
Ants marching
The Forbidden City, a tourist mecca
Golden dragons
Golden dragons (closer)
It's a statue
There really wasn't much to photograph...
resting
The palace garden
Look at the kid on the right... How's that?
Actually the sky was the most impressive sight

Leaving the Forbidden City
Beijing, where it's all about bikes...

backstreet Hutongs...
where old men hover over games of Chinese Chess...



and most importantly the food... (a special wonton soup?)
The candy man
and ofcourse confused English
This shot cost me 12 yuan
A day at the market
Where you can get anything from an old phonograph to a Mao wristwatch that salutes you on the hour

'Antiques'

Buddas

A long, slow, thoughtful day...
Kid in a can


Welcome to Temple of Heaven park
Lining up the perfect shot
Rock carvings

These goofballs are everywhere


The corn ladies
An afternoon of flying kites in Tiananmen Square
This guy was 'the master'
up up and away...
'I think she's got it'
A killer shark passes dangerously close

This $100 hand made monster was incredible (over 100' long and the eyeballs spin)
'What the?'
Tiananmen Square at night

Silk Road
'Uh... Ok'

Welcome to Yonghe Gong Buddist Monestary
The sign says it all

The buring of incense for prayer...
and offering
I think this lady got a little carried away
Chinese Script

Just another temple
and another
and another
Welcome to the Summer Palace



















On my way to the Post Office, Beijing style (2 more bags were added shortly after)
Chinese Acrobatics



'Hard Seat' to Datong