Down n out :(
Published by Emery under on 8:26 PM
Third day of the tour, so far I have gone to the Great Wall for a grueling 11kilometer hike from Jinshanling to Simatai, the unrepaired section of the Great Wall. The hike was filled with broken rocks, steep up and downhill climbs, and treacherous pebble-strewn footpaths.
For nourishment, we were herded along by the tour guide to various tourist-trap establishments that served subpar fare at cutthroat prices. I have decided that I will not eat with the tour whenever possible.
At least Kaesi and I got some great shots on the wall. She claimed that the trek was difficult and taxing, but she seemed to scurry along like a little rock iguana whenever I saw her. I, on the other hand, had to take it one ponderous step at a time, amazed that I hadn't died each time I reached the next tower.
Other point of interest was Kaesi riding the flying fox, a zipline contraption that had her shooting across a stonebed river which saved her from a tiresome quarter mile walk down from the Wall. I had to take the walk. But along the way, I had a funny conversation with the tour guide about American and Chinese people.
We stayed in a guest house near the Wall, which was okay. Very hard beds, which was good for my sore back, and a really grimey bathroom, that was surprisingly bearable when I got used to showering with no curtain or tub while standing right next to the toilet. Upon finishing my shower, I found an innocent looking brown stinkbug sitting on the bed's headboard. I remarked to Kaesi how cute and unthreatening the bug looked and declared that we would be good friends. The stinkbug responded by scaring the shit out of me when it flew directly at my face with a belligerent buzz. I have to thank it for teaching me the lesson not to underestimate anything, even a lost brown stinkbug sitting on my bedframe.
Last night we went to a teahouse called Chamate, the first Kaesi and I have been to in China. It was very nice, with cool seating arrangements, circular booths, wood, and green leather. We ordered a dish of fried squid (excellently cripsed with a side of sweet chili sauce), a plate of broccoli doused with a thick crab egg sauce, and a pot of silky white almond milk tea. The finale to the meal was a tower of powdered ice drenched in red bean with a creamy mound of pudding hidden underneath it all. Total cost of the meal: $18 total or $9 a person. I rate it a 8.5/10 and would definitely go again. It wasn't fine dining prices and didn't quite have the sophistication of a fine dining establishment, but it sure as hell was some of the best casual dining I've ever had.
This morning, I find myself very much under the weather. Scratchy throat, something wooly is hiding behind my eyes, and my skin is hot to the touch. The cold, dry weather is starting to get to me.
So, I've decided to skip out on the day's events, which is quite alright seeing as I've been to everything on the itinerary already; AKA Tian'an Men and The Forbidden City. Now I'm just waiting for Kaesi to get back from the tour, while I rest in bed and try to recover.
For nourishment, we were herded along by the tour guide to various tourist-trap establishments that served subpar fare at cutthroat prices. I have decided that I will not eat with the tour whenever possible.
At least Kaesi and I got some great shots on the wall. She claimed that the trek was difficult and taxing, but she seemed to scurry along like a little rock iguana whenever I saw her. I, on the other hand, had to take it one ponderous step at a time, amazed that I hadn't died each time I reached the next tower.
Other point of interest was Kaesi riding the flying fox, a zipline contraption that had her shooting across a stonebed river which saved her from a tiresome quarter mile walk down from the Wall. I had to take the walk. But along the way, I had a funny conversation with the tour guide about American and Chinese people.
We stayed in a guest house near the Wall, which was okay. Very hard beds, which was good for my sore back, and a really grimey bathroom, that was surprisingly bearable when I got used to showering with no curtain or tub while standing right next to the toilet. Upon finishing my shower, I found an innocent looking brown stinkbug sitting on the bed's headboard. I remarked to Kaesi how cute and unthreatening the bug looked and declared that we would be good friends. The stinkbug responded by scaring the shit out of me when it flew directly at my face with a belligerent buzz. I have to thank it for teaching me the lesson not to underestimate anything, even a lost brown stinkbug sitting on my bedframe.
Last night we went to a teahouse called Chamate, the first Kaesi and I have been to in China. It was very nice, with cool seating arrangements, circular booths, wood, and green leather. We ordered a dish of fried squid (excellently cripsed with a side of sweet chili sauce), a plate of broccoli doused with a thick crab egg sauce, and a pot of silky white almond milk tea. The finale to the meal was a tower of powdered ice drenched in red bean with a creamy mound of pudding hidden underneath it all. Total cost of the meal: $18 total or $9 a person. I rate it a 8.5/10 and would definitely go again. It wasn't fine dining prices and didn't quite have the sophistication of a fine dining establishment, but it sure as hell was some of the best casual dining I've ever had.
This morning, I find myself very much under the weather. Scratchy throat, something wooly is hiding behind my eyes, and my skin is hot to the touch. The cold, dry weather is starting to get to me.
So, I've decided to skip out on the day's events, which is quite alright seeing as I've been to everything on the itinerary already; AKA Tian'an Men and The Forbidden City. Now I'm just waiting for Kaesi to get back from the tour, while I rest in bed and try to recover.
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