On 02/03/2018 at 8:02 PM, ElsieD said:I love the way you show us Chinese customs, foods and festivals of a country I will never get to, although I almost did, once. My husband was invited by the Chinese Government to help set up their statistical survey systems and I decided to go along. I got my visa from the Chinese Embassy lickety-split but our own government wouldn't expedite my passport so I was unable to go. He had a most interesting time, with your government having provided him with a car and driver who took him around to various places on the weekend, such as the great wall. He loved it.
I'm sorry you weren't able to make the trip. Beijing isn't my favourite place, but the Forbidden City and the Great Wall are, I suppose, bucket list material for many people. The wall, as President Reagan said is a wall and it's great. I've been twice. Once in summer and once in winter.
The forbidden city was interesting , but as a Chinese friend's mother said "I prefer to live in my house." Her house is a two bedroom shack at the side of a river. Her home gets flooded every summer. And I mean totally submerged, not a bit damp.
I will also say that Beijing food is not my favourite. One or two dishes maybe, But outside of Imperial cuisine you can buy at eye-bleeding prices, the rest is pretty bland.
By the way, It's not my government! It's just the one I have to live under!
