Footsteps in China Intro or Index

Back November 21, 2000 Ran a little late this morning, gobbled down breakfast, skipped the bitter coffee, and jumped on the bus to do my make-up. We started the morning with the Temple of heaven, which was used as a kind of emperor-centric religion. On opposite ends of the North-South Axis are the Temple of Heaven and the Temple of Earth. The Temple of Heaven was a big open raised platform of several tiers that was left open to the sky. The emperor would kneel at the very center to pray. In the various surrounding buildings were tablets and tables as well as bronze calves and such. The Temple of Earth was a big building raised on levels of stairs. A group of soldiers were also visiting the Temple - got my picture with one - lots of soldiers/military everywhere, some on duty, some not. Lots of elderly people and middle-aged people around dancing, singing, painting characters with water on the stone tiles, and exercising. The whole place sis surrounded by parks and very busy with people. We were late getting to a 10:00 appointment at the UN headquarters in Beijing. Listened to a power point presentation then asked questions about the World Food Program. Very interesting. We all ate together at a decent Chinese restaurant where I finally found thimbles for Kelli (thanks for Caroline). After lunch we visited another temple, but this one was a functioning Lhama or Tibetan Buddhist temple with around seventy monks. Many lay people were there kowtowing to the large statues of Buddhas and burning incense. Even the temples are surrounded by little shops and trolleys and people selling wares and pestering tourists. The temple (Lhama) was build in 1694 and were full of brightly painted statues. There was also an approximately twenty-five foot Buddha as well as a mandala made of differently colored sand (ornate and lovely) and prayer wheels that you spin. I wanted to take more pictures but they weren't allowed inside, plus I felt intrusive and in the way when people were praying all around me. Beijing University, our next adventure, is a walled and gated area that's restrictive in entrance. Many of the buildings were old and dilapidated; the classroom we met in was covered with peeling paint (although the desks were nice). The bathrooms we've seen, except for a few, aren't very clean and are "Turkish style." The professor we met is a friend of Dr. Landry's and gave a LONG talk about environmental awareness in China. It was at least interesting and logical, hence the notes I took. Hopefully they will be of some use for my paper. Also stole an ashtray from the classroom we were in. We all ate a special Peking Duck dinner with the professor and a few students from the University. We sat with "Sally" and one other girl. Got tipsy on Beijing beer and sweet China red wine. Came back to the hotel early to pack our checked luggage for the flight tomorrow. A group of us met in the bar at 10:00 PM for some drinks: me, Emily Sindalar, Gordon, Isla, Anna, Blake, Mike and Danny. Had fun just chilling. People slowly dwindles away until it was only Danny, Anna, and myself. We stayed up until 1 AM talking about religion, Buddhism, and general stuff. Was quite tipsy and happy. Crashed briefly before the early wake-up call at 6:00 AM. Next: Shandong Province, school children, and dancing with the tour guide.