Goodbye Beijing

Well, tomorrow Natalie and I head out of China and into Mongolia. It has been fun to be here and we've seen some beautiful sites, but we're excited to move on. I did want to share a few final thoughts and pictures before we go.

From Natalie:

Things that have surprised me so far about China:
1. The weather and vegetation are quite homey and similar to Wisconsin in April.
2. Everyone spits huge lugies everywhere. All the time. Everyone.
3. Chinese food in America is nothing like Chinese food in China.
4. There are no egg rolls.
5. Tiny children everywhere want to come and stare at you.
6. Everyone keeps trying to rip me off, much worse than in Thailand.
7. Peking Duck, in Peking is served with rice pancakes, cucumber, shredded onion, and duck sauce, and leaves the unwary diner with the unpleasant feeling of having just bathed in grease.

From Emily:

I have to comment on #2. People really do spit - with huge exaggerated sound - large lugies everywhere!!! It is disgusting. Old, young...rich, poor....delicate, gross...fancy or ragged - they spit. I HATE IT! Ew!

On a totally different note, we have seen many many western parents with Chinese children touring sites of Beijing. Because many Chinese baby girls are abandoned at birth (the parents hoping for a boy -especially under the "one child per family" era) many westerners adopt Chinese daughters from orphanages. It's been really touching to see these parents exposing their children to their heritage.

Here are some shots I've taken since we've been here:

Chinese children are SO cute!

Parents love their children.

Sometimes people do funny things when they think nobody is looking.

Interesting signs.

Fashion Faux Pas! (Well, at least they think it is cool!)

Funny eats and treats

thousand year egg

People around town

Please get OUT of my picture! Arg!!! (Personal space here is about equal to Thailand - N/A!)