(updated with pics) Discovering the Roots: Travels to Shanghai and Beijing

the trip to Shanghai and Beijing is an enlightening one for me. not only because it connects me to my roots, but also i get to see one of the seven wonders of the world - the Great Wall of China.

the journey began in Shanghai. we arrived at Pu Dong Airport but we were held up for an hour because a fellow passenger had a high fever. 10 passengers around the affected passenger were quarantined. luckily for us, we were free to go. we then went to Cheng kuang miao, Shanghai Old Town. that's where arts and crafts are sold, and mozie and i bought some Chinese paintings from some friendly Chinese art dealers.
we found that in Shanghai, mopeds rule supreme, so it's a norm to see them honking at pedestrians. after lunch, we checked into our hotel - Holiday Inn, a nice 4 star hotel.

on the second day, we went to the Freshwater Pearl Centre. the staff opening a 4 year old oyster and scooping the last of the pearls.
it's normal to see white, pink, peach, black and grey pearls, but it's not normal to see purple and brown pearls. so i bought a purple pearl ring and brown pearl brooch. i asked to see the golden pearl, which is revered by the chinese, and that's when i learnt something abt the China chinese - ask to see something, and they will make sure you pay for it. these pearls were lovely because they're not cultured ones, they're natural pearls! 1 pearl costs RNB1280. one caught my eye - they're chocolate pearls, they look so much like chocolates that you want to eat them but hey, who wants to buy a RM600 pearl? we then went to Nanjing Road, a stretch of road full of shops selling expensive items. how expensive, you might ask - well let's just say my RM200+ Clarks costs RM300+ over there. in the afternoon, we left for Suzhou. we stayed at a cekai hotel but never mind, it's only for a night.

the next day, our guide Andy, took us to the Government owned silk factory. the silk cocoons

making silk quilt
the silks are nice, but they're very expensive. i didnt buy any silk here. we were then taken to the Gate of the City where they still have a very ancient bridge which stood for 1700 years. i love the park, the lake looks so serene. if i had to move to China, i would want to live in Suzhou. in the afternoon, we went to see a World Cultural Heritage site - Master-of-Nets Garden - the house of a government officer of a few hundred years ago. at Master-Nets Garden
after the visit, we went to shop at Suzhou Old Town, where we discovered a street market and bought Crocs for RNB15. we even saw a man pulling a monkey with an amputated leg, begging for money. i felt sorry for the monkey, because it was obvious that it lost its leg for the greed of a man. how cruel man can be! after shopping, we boarded the train to go to Beijing.

we arrived in Beijing to a rainy morning and it was 15 Celcius. we breakfasted at a muslim restaurant and received a very bad service from a sullen waitress. amidst the rain, we made our way to Tianamen square and took pics under our disposable umbrellas and rain jackets. we then proceeded to the Forbidden City. i marvelled at all the work and detail that went into making this magnificent palace - nothing was left to chance. we were told that no man could enter this palace except for the Emperor, the rest were his eunuchs, his empress and the 3000 concubines.
in the evening we went to watch an acrobatic show.

the next day, we went to the jade centre. after a briefing, we were taken to the display room where all grades of jades were sold. i bought a jade pendant and a small jade to be set on a ring.there were also bolts and bolts of silks and i bought a very pretty white silk. after that we were taken to a crystal centre. i wasnt impressed with the coloured ones because they can be found in malaysia, but i bought a very elegant and exclusive looking brooch with clear crystal stones. in the afternoon we had lunch at Cloisonne Enamelware Centre - where they sell enamelware but since they're all expensive, i bought a small enamel egg. in the afternoon, we climbed the Great Wall. it was magnificent! i marvelled at the architecture and at its sheer length and size. that's the feeling you get when you have to pant while climbing the steep stairs. you feel respect for the builders. of course, the first thought that came to my mind - how did they feed all the guards at all the towers?

the next day i could feel pain everywhere at my thighs and legs. even the bus driver laughed when i was ouching while boarding the bus. we visited the Summer Palace and the manmade lake. after the visit, we visited the panda zoo. then we went to the Russian market to shop for tablecloths and tablerunners. then we went to Ya Shao market where 2 hours is just not enough for us to shop. that night we had a dinner of Peking duck. seriously, i didnt see anything to rave about.

the next day was our last day. we took pics of the birds nest olympic stadium and went to the jewellery centre which was one of the sponsors for the games. the manager is a malaysian chinese who's very realistic and blunt about malaysians and beijing people. our last stop was at a mosque where the people there talked to me in mandarin.

at 4.45 we took off to go back home.

so what do i feel?

i just went to know how my ancestors lived in China. but as in all my travels, i'm glad i'm a malaysian.

how i miss malaysian food.