Day Two in China

And now I will finally continue with my China trip pictures. These are from our second full day there. We spent the day walking around and checking out the temples that were practically around the corner from Devin's place.

Actually, I'll start out with the night before day two...we went to Tianemen Square which was another awesome, historic experience.

On our way back from the square I got an action shot of Melanie and Devin...

This was in an area of shops around a big lake in Beijing. A local gathering place where there was live music and such. We got bombarded by many Chinese people saying,"Hi, Hello, HELLO, HI THERE, Hi, Hello!!!" to the foreign tourists. We were quite eyecatching, the three white folks and one Chinese man. I tried to get a shot of the Chinese Starbucks but you couldn't make out the sign (the most important part) because it was overexposed.

On to the next day. This is a candid shot caught by Devin that morning as she came outta the public bathroom ('member, there's one on EVERY corner!), completely oblivious 'cause she just woke up.

Hey there! Everything come out alright?

Before we left for the temples I had to take some random pictures...

Ron is the bike fan so there are several pictures of old bikes that I saw all over the place. I even got hit by one! Not too hard though, I was just trying to avoid being hit by a car when a bike came sailing past my arm, cutting a nice little triangle outta my wrist. Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way there. I'd like it to be that way here. It would really help my road rage to be able to just mow down that stupid mutherfucker who decided to just step off the curb without looking... And I wish I would have gotten a picture of the dirty look I got from that particular Chinaman bicyclist. Hmmm, I wish I coulda gotten MANY pictures of all the dirty looks we got. Them people is always mad. Gee, I wunner why??

This is the view down the little hallway to the outside of the Hutong. I was ready to go.

And off we went...Devin closing the doors at the front of the Hutong entrance.

And then we made it outside the Hutong. This is what the "streets" look like. Many people make a living from their home. The front of their Hutong is the shop/bakery/whatever and they live in the back.

Oooooooooh! Another old bike! These were all over the place. The back part was used to carry food, laundry, children, pets, trash...

And I just had to get this lovely picture of the back of a Chinese car. I think they'd curse us if they saw the rediculous, overpriced, gas guzzling fucking SUV MONSTERS we all drive here. I really admire their economy... It's 'cause they have to, I know. They're not free and spoiled like us Americans.

After about 15 minutes of walking, we arrived at the first temple, Confusious Temple. It's mostly courtyard with a few temples spread out on the grounds. Unfortunately, the main temple was under construction and we couldn't go in. But it was still beautiful, not to mention serene... There were these amazing trees all around, covering the courtyard with dappled sunlight...

An altar to Confusious...I didn't realize that I was stepping on some incense offerings as I took this picture. Melanie's like, "Uh, Julie..." Don't worry, I bowed and apologized!

Inside one of the temples... I can't believe the gorgeous artistic detail! That's one of the things I love about Chinese culture, their amazing artwork. Everything is art to them...

Even the trashcans...

Yes, that's a Confusious trashcan. Lovely, ain't it?

On to the Buddhist temple...

Yea dude, I'm a fucking tourist, get the fuck outta my picture!!

There were a lot of temples to Buddha. Who'duh thunk it? Pfft...

Oooh, and they were burning incense and making offerings all over the place!

We had to do it, too. Gotta be respectful to duh Buddha.

Make some wishes!!

More amazing artistic detail. Wow...

Here we have the three of us doing our "handshake"...

Devin started this little ditty when he came to visit us over the summer. Every time we'd do/see/say something cool out came the hands for the handshake. Making it all the way to fucking China to visit our friend makes for a whole lotta handshakes! We had to catch one of them... I know, I know, we're just TOOO CORNY, aren't we?! Hehe!

So we visited two whole temples and all that walking around in awe made us tired and hungry. This is on our way back home to get ready for dinner...

Devin's all..."Hey birdlady! Oooooh, BIRDS! What are they??" Why, they're Myna birds! WOW! COOL! AWESUUMMM!!!!! Yea. These guys are famous for their parrotlike mimicking ablility. I think I posted this pic in one of my other deleted China trip entries. Here it is again. Birdies. Yay.

And then we ended the day with a wonderful Chinese dinner din din. Oh yummy yummy dumplin's!!!!

Okay, that's it for now. Next is an organized entry on our backpacking trip to The Great Wall.