Day 2 in Beijing

Day 2 in Beijing

We woke up early headed to the Forbidden City. For whatever reason, none of us really thought it was going to be that cold because we thought that only Japan would be cold. FALSE. It was cold. But it didn’t matter because the Forbidden City was so incredible! We got there early in the morning and so it wasn’t crowded. For those of you that don’t know, the Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors (so the place is huge) and the whole city has a total of 8,706 rooms where 8,000 people lived. This place makes the White House look like Polly Pocket! But, the architecture was amazing and I couldn’t stop taking pictures of all the dragons that run along the rooftops. Fun Fact: The stone walkways were designed to be orthopedic as emperors walked around in their slippers. Then we made our way out of the Forbidden City and into Tian’men Square where Mao Zedong (chairman of Communist Party) proclaimed the founding of the People’s Republic of China. The square was super busy with lots of people and Chinese people rushed up to me to get a picture of me with my blonde hair. After lunch we went to a market and it was so different from the other markets that we have been to. In India and Morocco when you want to buy something they offer you a price. Then you can spend about a half an hour (unless you were in Morocco with us—then you spend an hour) arguing about a good price before walking away empty handed or with your new cool “whatever”(in Morocco we got a blanket).
At the market in Beijing it went like this:

Vender: Want to buy this?
Ru: How much?
Vender: name price
Ru: How much?
Vender: $250 Yuan (for a mug)
Ru: $10 Yuan
Vender: No
Ru: Ok, Bye
Vender: Ok! Ok! $10!!!
All in the span of 2 seconds. …

After success at the market we went to a migrant school in Shunyi. This school was started 4 years ago for orphans who are ineligible for government subsidies. They gave us a tour of the school. I have been to several orphanages in Morocco, Bulgaria, Croatia, Egypt and Ghana and this one was not as nice as some. The rooms were basic with metal bunk beds and a comforter, a locker for each child’s things, and they had decorated the white drab walls with crayon. They had no running water, and they washed their clothes by hand. When I looked in the medic room they had hardly any medical supplies. They only turned the lights on when absolutely necessary and while the children had coats, they needed hats and gloves---it was FREEZING outside. While we were there we painted a mural, played basketball and ran around. They were really sweet and nice, but I wished that everything were brighter and cleaner.
That night we had a dinner that Guy would have LOVED! It was everything Duck. Everything that can be made from a duck (right down to the webbing in their feet) was served at this dinner. We couldn’t “duck out of it!” (Thank you for that one Mandy! So funny!) And so we tried it all and then headed out to the mall for a break. The mall was fun because the style is so different. The colors, the window displays and even the fashion show happening in the lobby was all unlike our Nordstrom (etc) at home. We got hats and gloves so that we wouldn’t freeze at the Great Wall. It was fun to poke around town and be out at night. Beijing is HUGE and so downtown felt like NY!

Beijing!

We flew from Hong Kong to Beijing (the Capital of China) for our Beijing trip! At this point I had a full on cold and so I was SO HAPPY to see Starbucks (don’t judge me—you know I support local at home) and got a Chai tea latte and orange juice. Fun fact: Starbucks has REALLY good food in Asia. We got to Beijing and it was FREEZING! But, I was so happy when I stepped off the plane and smelled Fall—which my friend pointed out, was probably burning pollution—but I am going to picture a nice cozy fire instead! We took a pedicab (which is a three wheeled bicycle) to a local families house. It was so cold outside, but it was really fun to get to ride through narrow streets and see all the neighborhoods. We arrived at a little house where a lady and her husband had prepared a traditional Chinese meal for us. The kitchen area was small and we all gathered around little tables and got our own chopsticks and had all kinds of yummy food. She served sticky rice, spicy things and hot and sour things with chicken and beef, veggies, soup, pot stickers. It was so good. While we ate she told us about her family, her house that was over 300 years old and the traditional customs of a family, inheritance, marriage, children etc in China. Her husband was the fourth generation living in his family’s house and the house is only passed onto the oldest son. Her husband was an artist and so they showed us all of his paintings and his studio. The artwork was beautiful and the rice paper was amazing.

Hong Kong!

We arrived in Hong Kong! I was fighting off a cold and not feeling very good and so we had an easy day of no agenda and exploring! We took a ferry over to a little island and visited the Hong Kong Po Lin Monastery. At the Po Lin Monastery is a HUGE Buddha that sits on the hill. The Monastery was really beautiful and had a garden, a walkway lined with horoscope statues of every year you could be born. My statue (the year of the snake) had a mean looking warrior with a snake on his head. We made our way to a small open square that was lined with small fires to light in scents and in scents that were burning in long rows. We bought a package and I lit them for friends and family that have passed away and whom I wish were here. It was really peaceful. We got lunch and spent the rest of the day just wandering around the Monastery and the Temple. Happy Birthday Grand dad! Love you!

Dear friends and family,

It has been a while since I checked in. After every port my brain is like a boiling pot of water that is overflowing with stories, thoughts, and happenings from all of my adventures. I use my blog as a place to share everything in one long, unedited, train of thought. My words spill out onto the page as I write from trains, planes, my room etc. However, this post was the first time where I have had to truly sit down, reflect, think hard, and deliver some very sad news. On the 6th of November a student passed away on our voyage. Although I did not know him personally, his death was a huge loss to our community.  Because we are away from our friends and family back home, the ship becomes our home, the community becomes our family, and each and every one of us was affected by his passing.  As we gathered together on the ocean to support one another, as we made our way to China, I couldn’t help but think of all of you (my friends and family) at home. I am so thankful, so grateful, so lucky to have each and every one of you in my life. Every single one of you has given me love and support and made me who I am today. Now, I am in China, practically a day ahead of all of you, and as I wrap up my day and you start yours, keep in mind that life is short and we all have to live everyday to its absolute fullest! Peace and Love. I can’t wait to see you all soon! Xoxoxo

Mekong Delta

I keep meaning to say, happy November Everyone! Only one more month and a little bit and I will be home! Today we went to the Mekong Delta. Along the Mekong, rice, fish, soybeans, peanuts, and tobacco are produced. The guide also said that The My Tho area is famous for its coconut palms. We took a boat along the Mekong to a house where they were making coconut candy. They let us taste all the different kinds (plain, chocolate, peanut butter etc) and we watched them make the candy and package it. Then we took a small canoe up the river and had lunch in a thatched hut by the water. I was sitting by the edge of the water and a HUGE (I say huge meaning like the size of my hand) lizard came out from the marsh and walked under the table! And they had these land fish that are basically fish with feet that walk up out of the water and onto dry land and then walk back into the water. I have NEVER seen them before. You guys should all Google image walking fish! They are nuts! It reminded me of the duck mobiles that drive on land and then drive into the water and turn into boats. We wrapped our own spring rolls (Stevie, wish you had been there, you would have been a pro!) and they brought a WHOLE cooked fish to the table and skinned it and boned it there. Then they brought out shrimp and we had to shell them, and then they brought out burners and bowls and they made us soup. The best thing that we had today was that they cut up fresh pineapple and they dip the slices into salt with chili peppers. It is sooooooo good! From now on, that is the only way I am having pineapple! Hawaiians are going to think I am so weird when I ask for salt with my pineapple! Haha! On the boat ride back we drank from coconuts! Now we are back on the MV and getting ready to head out for dinner. I just had a friend ask what I was doing? And I said, “I am updating my blog” and she said, “Does anyone read your blog?” I don’t know? But I hope so, and I hope that whoever you are, you go and find your self some pineapple and dip it in salt! Bon Appetite!

Vietnam!

Hey All!
I woke up at 5AM this morning to watch us come in! It is really beautiful and all the little fishing boats and houses were fun to see from the water as we arrived. One of the things that you can only experience on SAS is the fact that you get to wake up in a cool new place every few days and that on mornings like this one, you can find a friend with a French press, grab some mugs and go sit and watch the sun rise over a brand new city that you have never been to before. I feel very lucky. Once we got in port we visited the History Museum, which was really cool and had lots of pictures and descriptions talking about Vietnams culture in the past, present and future. At the museum, they have a water puppet performance. This is a tradition in Vietnam and dates back to the 11th century. I didn’t know this and so I was totally surprised. The stage is a pool of water and the puppets emerge from the water and the puppeteers are hidden behind a large set. It was really cool. Then we went to the Presidents Palace and got to walk around and see all the rooms. It was fancy. Then we went to the Thien Hau Pagoda which was really interesting. People come there to pray and light in scents and depending on how many they light to burn, means different things. Some only light one to pray for everyone and everything. Others light many to pray for good health, a job, work, happiness etc. There were also in scents that hung from the ceiling and burned. It was really beautiful. We had a really amazing 6-course meal for lunch. We had a lotus salad (I think that is what it was) and it was tasty. Then we had spring rolls, then fruit, then sticky white rice, tofu, sweet and sour soup, and rice cakes. It was super yummy. We saw the Notre Dame Cathedral and City Hall. The last place that we visited was called Handicapped Handcrafters where they employ handicapped people to make this AMAZING eggshell and etched stone pieces of traditional Vietnamese artwork. It was really neat to be able to see the process and time that goes into each of the pieces.

That night, we went to what we thought would be a coffee house and music place and it turned out to be just a big seating area with a stage. The music was not a small coffee shop setting at all and the singers were in these VERY sparkle and shine outfits and sang a whole bunch of Vietnamese songs. It was like something I have seen out of a movie.

Vietnam is huge and there is a ton of traffic. Everyone rides a moped and there are NO traffic rules whatsoever. You can ride on the sidewalk, you can go through a light, and you can do whatever you want. I have seen mopeds carrying up to 5 people, with babies, with dogs, with HUGE loads of whatever. If you happen to not have a moped and are crossing the street (me) you just start walking and you don’t stop or flinch or sprint. You just move at a cow like pace and all the mopeds go around you at a bazillion miles an hour. I swear, when I get home, is going to be the quietest place ever compared to here!

Singapore!

Hey All,

Some of you are wondering where I am and I am behind on blogging and ahead in traveling. I left India with so much in my head and my heart that before I knew it we were in Singapore! Singapore was a 360-degree turnaround from India. It is clean and organized in kind of a “big brother” kind of way. They have lots of rules to keep the city in tiptop condition and so it makes it safe and easy to get around. There is a LOT of shopping in Singapore! The first day we didn’t have any plans and so we went into the main part of the city (the whole island is only 26 miles long! It could be run!) And I have to admit; I caved and went to Starbucks. It was my first coffee since August. There was 2 huge yellow labs sitting out front and the holiday cup was a little pre-game for when I get home at Christmas! We wandered around and looked in the windows of all the designer shops and all the malls. Then we took a tram over to Sentosa, which was an island built for tourists. They have Orlando Studios and the Hard Rock Café and lots of touristy things to see and do. They had a butterfly garden and beaches and resorts. We saw a surf competition going on and the surfers were in these huge glass boxes with high-powered water. The whole thing was really weird. We felt like we were in Pleasantville or some made up city. That night I went to the zoo for a Safari dinner and Halloween party. The zoo was really great, similar to San Diego or Washington DC. They had a big Halloween party and that was Halloween. Actually, on the ship, a few days ago, the little kids came by and went trick or treating from cabin to cabin and so we had Halloween on the ship too! I hope everyone had a good Halloween at home!

The next morning we got coffee again and wandered around town before grabbing lunch and heading back to the ship. When we left India I had 4 tests in 3 days and so I was exhausted in Singapore and it only took one day to get to Vietnam and so I had to do laundry and finish up any homework and get ready for Vietnam. And that is where I am now!!!

So happy to hear about the Giants and the Ducks! Three Cheers! Or as my mom likes to say, “three chairs!” hip hip horray! Hip hip horray! Hip hip Horray!