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Summer Palace and big crowds
This morning the first TaiChi lesson was held on the driveway in front of the hotel. There were a lot of people and the same instructor as last year. Joy and Jennifer and I did the Taoist TaiChi style nearby while the larger group were learning Yang style. I think there may be a few who come to try the Taoist style tomorrow morning. Joy is a qualified instructor and is easy to follow and she has shown herself to be a leader here in our large group, first by speaking at the Forum and then by her positive attitude on the bus and everywhere else. She told me she is glad she came despite having been to China twice before.
Today’s itinerary begins with the Pearl Market. This is an obligatory stop for all tour groups but it is also worth while. Many people spend Canadian dollars there this morning. I did the same last year and it was worth doing as Jen and Bridgit both liked the jewelry I brought back for them.
The big event for the afternoon is the Summer Palace. It is an overwhelming site filled with exquisite pagodas, bridges, plants, statues and an amazing history of selfish greed and arrogance at the end of the Qing dynasty. The lake, Kunming, is said to have three treasures – carp, especially red; lotus plants; and fresh water pearls. It is Sunday and this is a day off for the people of Beijing and the grounds are full of people enjoying themselves. I enjoy seeing the young children, especially the little girls who are dressed in bright dresses with special hats or decorations in their hair. I ask permission to photograph several different children and always give them a token friendship pin from Canada. Often the parents want to take a photograph of us with them. Although it is very busy and the crowds seem interminable I am thrilled to be among them. This is a place that was enjoyed by privileged nobles and now is open to the people and they love it.
There have been a number of fellow tourists in our group who have openly complained about the trip over many issues particularly related to the itinerary. They carry about their newly acquired Lonely Planet or Rough Guide volume on China and announce their intention to go elsewhere to see something much better than what the group is doing. They have a pretentious attitude of being well-travelled and knowing better than the tour guides or James, who designed this tour for educators. Three of these people have pointedly not attended events and have clearly separated themselves from the group. They slipped away again today. At some point near the end of the afternoon Nina received a phone call from Tianjiao to tell her that one of the scorners had become lost in the city. She has blatently refused to wear the group identification card which held the telephone number of the hotel and of the Tianjiao office staff in Beijing, in case of emergency. When she realized she couldn’t call Tianjiao for help she was left with the alternative of finding a policeman and seeking his assistance. They contacted Tianjiao, who contacted Nina at the Summer Palace and a drop off was arranged. It was a satisfied group of sightseers who watched the police van pull up and deposit the lost world traveler on the sidewalk. We all boarded our busses and headed for the restaurant for our dinner.
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