3/14/09

We went to Tian'anmen Square and The Forbidden City and The Summer Palace today. It's true what they say, Chinese people love the novelty of Americans. I had a bunch of people ask me to take a picture with them. Everyone seems to think I was asked more because I have red hair.

The Forbidden City was fascinating. Apparently for centuries, the only male allowed inside the city was the emperor. His own sons had to leave the city as soon as they turned 10. So inside this city (and I mean city, it's freaking huge) was one man, and hundreds of women (his wives, and concubines). The city was only opened to the public this century. Even today, there are many rooms, like the Empress' bedroom, and the throne rooms, that are still no access. I was really difficult to try to get close enough to look in, there were so many people pushing their way in.

We went to lunch at a buffet style restaurant (which so far was my favorite) and then afterwards we went to a Pearl Market, where we were given a lecture on how to tell the difference between fake and real pearls, and then of course we were shown the jewelry. I luckily walked out of there only buying some facial cream and a bracelet. I believe Caryn spent about $200 (American) in there.

Right after that we went to the Summer Palace. It was beautiful. It's right on the lake. It has a beautiful Buddhist temple. We got to see the infamous Marble Boat the Dragon Lady had sanctioned, which cost China its Navy. Apparently, the mother of the Emperor, the Dragon Lady, was the Empress because her son was only 5. She also loved power and beautiful things. She had the Marble Boat built, taking all of the money for the Navy, leaving China without protection. Crazy.

Neil and I have been sharing his camera, recording each other in each spot. Can't wait to see all of the footage, and start working on it.

3/12/09 (3/13/09 in China)

All I have to say about today is 14 hr flight.

Torture.

"Happy Times"

I watched this great film the other day. I really liked this movie. The main character is a man in his 50's who wants to get married. He has found a large woman, with 2 children, who is willing. The only drawback is that he is unemployed and she wants 50,000 yuan for the wedding. He decides to go to his friend, who has the idea of converting an abandoned bus into a lover's nest and charging lover's to enter. They call the bus the "Happy Times Hut". When he tells his fiance that he is the General Manager of a big hotel, she decides to heft her blind step-daughter on him, with the premise of him getting her a job at the hotel. When the bus is unfortunately hauled away, the man decides to recreate a massage room for the girl in a factory, as she is very good at massage. Him and his friends believe that because she is blind, she won't be able to tell that the massage room is not real, and that she has the same clients coming in, over and over again. The girl is very sweet, and from the beginning, knows of the deception, but because she understands that it was done out of kindness, she goes along with it. Her and the man start to have an unlikely friendship. Both have been left by the unkind fiance, and both find comfort in each other. I thought this film was very sweet. The character of the girl is very endearing. And though at first you may not really like the bumbling, lying man, it becomes clear very soon that he has a heart of gold. Not once did the relationship between the two become awkward, or sexual, as some movies may have taken it. It is obvious the two care about each other, whether they came together by chance and unhappy circumstances. They had happy times together. Unfortuately, the end is not so happy. Neither knows what has happened to the other. The girl has decided to leave, and the man has been hit by a truck. In a very sweet and brilliant scene, the man's friends reads the letter his friend has written pretending to be the girl's father, to the voice recording of the girl's goodbye. I really liked this movie, and am looking forward to watching more from this director.

2/3/09

Handed in my visa application today...I actually think my photo for my visa is better than the one for my passport...too bad its too late to change it. But at least I'm one more step to the trip...it's only a month away! I can't wait! I'm actually going to have a stamp in my passport (which I didn't get when I went to Mexico). I'm gonna be a world traveler! (I'm such a dork.)