Rise and Shine
Coming from somewhat of a Luddite upbringing, this is my first experience with a blog. But I've finally figured out how to use this thing I think so we're up and running!
It's 7:30 Beijing time and we're up to spend a day at the Summer Palace and then a more touristy chunk of the Great Wall. It will be hard to compare to what we saw hiking the other day outside the village but I'm sure it will be a great time.
Yesterday wandered around 798 Beijing Art District after the drive back from the village. It is a really incredible strip of town - somewhat detached and abstract but simultaneously defined by/ obsessed with Beijing's militaristic past. The art is versatile and all pretty interesting, from bead on silk replications of American currency, to sexualized suicide shots in public arenas, to photographs of daily life, to more classical Chinese prints. We picked up a few old chairman Mao propaganda posters lying in a stack in a little shop which I'm sure will not help me too much if I ever try to get a job with the state department.
Then it was back to the hostel, a quick shower and out again. Dan, James and I went back to the section of town (Western?) where Dan had tracked down a cello, and while he bought the cello, James and I picked out a gee-tar for the group to fiddle around on in Jishou. As of now we just have James' backpackers' guitar, a few kids who play and a bunch more who'd like to. Found a guitar with a big full-bodied sound for only 300 yuan!
Dinner of Peking duck and watching the acrobats also kind of crazy. 12 girls on one bicycle, and a guy that could do this little flip thing while balancing on a lever and flip porcelin bowls onto his head. Now the group is all assembled and it's time to head out so there will be more to come later!