Getting to Dubai

The ladies are getting ready to board the long 14.5 hour flight to Dubai.

I flew Emirates Air.

 BIG 777, the seating was 3, 4 center and 3.

 Nice uniforms.  Got great service and good food.

After you stowed your luggage and got in your seat, the ladies brought around hot damp hand towels.  Nice touch!

 This was the flight path.

Notice the language is in Arabic.  It would switch from that to English.

First sight of Dubai.

Persian Gulf shore line. 

 How cool was this, you get to watch a forward looking camera, and watch the landing.

It worked for takeoff also.

That's the runway off center to the left.

 Nice modern airport.

 Our flight took us just south of Bagdad, just north of Kuwait, and right down the center of the Persian Gulf.

 If any of you ever watch the Discovery Channel, i think it was that channel, they showed how the Arabian's hired huge ships that sucked up sand from the sea floor and then blew it into piles to make the Palm Islands.  There are 2 of these islands.  I am the little blue dot.  (my apartment)   Really close to one of the islands, can't see it form my 5th floor window.  I am guessing that view would cost $$$$$.

My view, well about 80 feet away is another building, i have NO view.

When i get time i will be able to drive out onto the Palm Island.

Forbidden City

This is the Forbidden City, also known as the Imperial Palace

 A very large court yard area.

 If you look close at the dragon heads there is a small hole in it's mouth.  When it rains and the water runs off the roof and upper walks, all the water goes through these holes.  My tour guide said it is a sight to see during a rain.

 There are hundreds of these dragon heads at most every area we visited.

 Back in the day, these large pots were kept full of fresh water for drinking and cooking.  In the winter time there was a fire kept under the pots so that they always had water to use.

These pots were every ware also.

 I was told it is good luck to touch it.

 Hand carved stone.

 At the end of the day and the tour, my tour guide Cherry bought me some fruit candy.

That's nice of her.

Never mind that it's on the back of a scooter, out in the open air unwrapped for days.

Just shut-up and eat it!

I hope you have enjoyed my blog on China, it was interesting to meet people, try their food, visit their buildings and cities.  If any one would care to take a trip there, during parts of the month of Dec and Jan they offer a Visa no charge for a 6 day entry.  You could get a lot done in 6 days flying into Beijing.

Public social area

The last blog and this one are related.  In other words the picture below is the start of a long walk to the Temple of Heaven.  It would have made a really long story to make it all into one.  So in the picture is Cherry again and this area around the Temple is a meeting area to socialize for all ages, but mainly older people meet here to play games and exercise.

 There were a number of groups like this that were kicking a sack with feathers on it.

 There was dancing to Chinese music.

 There was group exercise to music.

 There was card games.

 A lot of card games.

 And some type of checkers.

CAN YOU GUESS THE NAME OF THE CHECKER GAME?

 We stopped by a silk factory.  Below you will see little white balls.  Those are the silk cacoons, and they float in water while the thread is wrapped on a cylinder above.  Interesting machine.

 These ladies are stretching probably thousands of little threads, layer upon layer, until they have enough to make a mattress pad.  They say silk is the best to sleep on.

Of course they would say that because then they ask, what size your bed is.

You see all the product on the wall.  Nop, didn't get one.

 In the next room these pretty girls were selling silk material.

They didn't ask if i needed some material.  Maybe the Wranglers i ware said no silk for this guy.

Temple of Heaven

I need to introduce you to the people that got me to these locations.  This is my driver and he doesn't speak any English.

This is Cherry, she went to a Beijing University before the 2008 Olympics and studied English and was a translator during the games.  After the games she went to work for this tour agency and is very good at it.  The rates for a private tour was really reasonable.  I spent 3 days with them and it was a great way to get to the different sights.

 A picture i took of a kitchen that we ate at.  

 This is the Temple of Heaven

 There is so much detail and color.

 The inside 

 More large doors

Afterwords we went to a Chinese tea house.  This gal gave a very interesting speech on Chinese teas, the history and what teas do what for you.  I think we spent about an hour there and just enjoyed drinking different teas.

In the picture you will see a large slotted wooden tray.  Most all Chinese homes will have this and when they make tea and spill the water goes through the spots and cought on a tray under neigh.

I ended up buying 4 different loose leaf teas and they are soooo much better than in a bag.

I think i have enough tea for the next 3 years.

Tea is number 1 with the Chinese and they don't drink that much coffee.  I found that out really fast at breakfast time every ware,  my cup was always empty and wating for a refill.

And you can't penalize your waitress for not keeping your cup full because you don't tip in China.