Vacation 2014 (Part 1) - Enchanted China

Enchanted China - China

Our first vacation of 2014 takes us to the most foreign place we've ever visited. The people there thought that we were some of the most foreign things they'd seen, and would swarm around us to take pictures. We saw the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Hong Kong Disneyland, got lost in Beijing (and loved it), and a whole lot of other interesting things.

All of the daily journals are arranged that the top half are David's pictures and the bottom half are Amber's pictures. Descriptions on this page are written by David.

Day 2: Pedi-cabin' the Hutong

This day starts out with us taking a Pedi-cab tour of the Hutong district in Beijing. We stop and learn how to use Chinese Yo-yo's, and then learn to tie Chinese Knots, and cut paper in Chinese designs. We then went exploring on our own to find the Temple of the Heavens, and got horribly lost and had a great time.

Day 5: Panda-monium

We visit the Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. We learn lots about Pandas. Then we return to the hotel for a Stick Fighting demonstration and lesson. And then we head off to the Sichaun Face-Changing Opera, which is less like an Opera, and more like a variety show on late night TV.

Day 11: Hong Kong Top to Bottom

Today we spend the morning shopping in Stanley Market. And then go up to Victoria Peak to get an incredible view overlooking the Hong Kong bay. Take the Star Ferry across the bay, and wind up in Disneyland, Hong Kong. Disneyland is quite strange as it's so familiar and yet completely different. No Pirates, no Haunted Mansion, but Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Small World, etc..

Vacation 2014 (Part 1) Enchanted China - China Our first vacation of 2014 takes us to the most foreign place we've ever visited. The people there thought that we were some of the most foreign things they'd seen, and would swarm around us to take pictures. We saw the Great Wall, Terracotta Warriors, Hong Kong Disneyland, got lost in Beijing (and loved it), and a whole lot of other interesting things. All of the daily journals are arranged that the top half are David's pictures and the bottom half are Amber's pictures. Descriptions on this page are written by David.
	Day 1: Nimen Hao! The first day of our trip is our arrival in Beijing. We arrive at the hotel after they already have everyone on the bus to go to the welcome dinner, so we're scooted off immediately to dinner. We meet our newest guides in our ever expanding collection, Jannae & Steven.
	Day 2: Pedi-cabin' the Hutong This day starts out with us taking a Pedi-cab tour of the Hutong district in Beijing. We stop and learn how to use Chinese Yo-yo's, and then learn to tie Chinese Knots, and cut paper in Chinese designs. We then went exploring on our own to find the Temple of the Heavens, and got horribly lost and had a great time.
	Day 3: Great Wall Glory Our third day sees us off to visit the Great Wall, and I gotta say, it's pretty great. It's incredible how much construction went into making this wonder. We even ate lunch at the same place, and rode in the same tram, as Michelle Obama.
	Day 4: Forbidden Magic We visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, and then we depart Beijing and head off to Chengdu, which may as well have been the set of Blade Runner on how it looked.
	Day 5: Panda-monium We visit the Panda Breeding Research Base in Chengdu. We learn lots about Pandas. Then we return to the hotel for a Stick Fighting demonstration and lesson. And then we head off to the Sichaun Face-Changing Opera, which is less like an Opera, and more like a variety show on late night TV.
	Day 6: Terra-ific Xi'an Today we get up at an hour that should be illegal... and we fly off to Xi'an to see the Terracotta Warriors. These Warriors were guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi in the year ~240AD by over 700,000 workers as the story goes.
	Day 7: Lijiang River Riders Today we take a cruise down the Lijiang River winding through the famous Gum Drop Mountains. These are the mountains featured on the Chinese 20 Yuan bill.
	Day 8: Shanghai Noon and Night This day is mostly a travel day, but we have dinner overlooking the bay in Shanghai. Another version of a Blade Runner landscape.
	Day 9: Shanghai A La Carte We start the day off learning Tai Chi Fan Dancing & Tai Chi Sword Dancing. Then we go to what can only be described as Chinatown in Shanghai China.
	Day 10: Hong Kong or Bust We start today with a visit to the Shanghai Museum, which has some amazing millennium old artifacts, then it's off to the airport on a Maglev train, and then fly to Hong Kong.
	Day 11: Hong Kong Top to Bottom Today we spend the morning shopping in Stanley Market. And then go up to Victoria Peak to get an incredible view overlooking the Hong Kong bay. Take the Star Ferry across the bay, and wind up in Disneyland, Hong Kong. Disneyland is quite strange as it's so familiar and yet completely different. No Pirates, no Haunted Mansion, but Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Small World, etc..
	Day 12: Zai Jian! - So Long Not much to this day, head to the airport and being the most dangerous part of our journey, the trek home.