Circles

The Summer Palace

The place where the Emperors came to get away from it all.

A Sense of Ruins

Big tents and restorations are almost as ubiquitous as pagodas at Chinese national landmarks.

The Forbidden City is one of the top tourist attractions for not only Westerners, but also Chinese citizens benefiting from a good economy and some free time from eking out a living.

It's no wonder then that the palaces have been made into a well greased money-making machine.

But if you wander (or get lost) from the main paths in the city, you can get a sense of the Forbidden City as ruins.

Hood Ornaments

These little guys protect the building from evil spirits. As with most things, the more the merrier. This building isn't very important, but it made for a great shot.

Details from the City

Cauldron Handle

Palace

Family portrait at the palace.

Heads Above

Paul--the Automatic Guide.

Mao's Big Head

Maomorabilia is still a popular commodity among tourists. Here at the entrance of the Forbidden City, the seat of power of past Emperors, Mao glares down and out into Tiananmen Square.

Tiananmen Square

A squared-off section in the infamous Tiananmen Square where anywhere between hundreds and thousands of students, intellectuals, and labor rights protestors were killed (depending on the source) in 1989.

The square was filled with people celebrating the Chuseok holiday and large floral arrangements.

I didn’t see any kind of plaque or memorial, yet China's not exactly the kind of country you’d expect to memorialize the victims of state sponsored violence--especially since the protesters were pretty much denounced as traitors.

The Taxi Queue

Just outside the station we were hit with the reality of being in a Communist country's capital. The atmosphere differed from Shanghai. If you look to the right, you can see the line forming to grab a cab.

Arriving in Bejing

We took an overnight train from Shanghai to Beijing, which was pretty nice. We were worried about it a bit after having been comfronted by squatting toilets in a Mickie D's bathroom and at the train station. But all in all, I think that it was more comfortable than flying.

Our new friends

They seemed interested in the local culture but didn't have a lot to say.

Breath in.... breath out

Nothing gets the blood flowing better than some Tai Chi in the morning.

Snack Time

The Chinese are famous for eating just about anything that can walk (or can't)?

The Bird Market

The bird market is really just a collections of stalls and vendors down a side alley in the middle of the city. Crickets, birds, rabbits, turtles, pigs, cats...you can find them there.

Getting into the mix

How much was that taxi,

which way are we going,

where are we?

Temple meet High-rise

Downtown is a collision of old and new,

depending on which side of the Bund you view.

Pictures from the South Korean Mountains

All the pictures below are from the South Korean national park, Seoraksan. And as you know, Korea has four distinct seasons...

Seorak Mountain

The main attraction

Descending the Mountain

This precipitous mountain can be scaled by women in high-heels thanks to a cable car lift to the summit. For Korean women, any time is a good time for stilettos.

Temple

You've seen one, you've seen them...

Mother & The Monk

Stefanie pays homage

Teeter Totter

Teetering Rock

The Hike Up

The hike up to the...

The Taylors & Buddha

Pausing to reflect with Buddha

Fairyland Hotel

Sokcho.