Tastes of Beijing

From train sink to hotel sink to The Forbidden City

From sink to sink

The top left picture shows the shared sink on the Trans-Siberian Express and, by way of contrast, the top left is the elegant sink they are currently enjoying in China’s capital city. Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City are key sights to visit in Beijing and Sally is seen above entering the World Heritage Site of the Imperial Palace complex. Maggie is shown below in the same place, alongside the appealing outdoor corridor and private ablution area of the quaint and welcoming Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel. The Sudoku book (look closely) travelled across Asia to be there; it doesn’t come as standard issue in the hotel.

Return to China

Sally has been to China before (with Emily, Harriet and me too) on an extended visit during a hot July and August back in 2009. That time we travelled widely and saw a total eclipse of the sun; this time Sally will be based in Beijing at the end of a journey with her pal, Maggie, from Saint Petersburg, via Moscow and the Trans-Siberian Express through Mongolia to China. As far as I know it’s the first time for Maggie in China, though she has recently travelled to Japan with her daughter, Amy. As I said in the first of these dispatches (by proxy) from the East, the world is at once a small place and an immense, unfathomable place.

The Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel

The images above are from the magical oasis where they stayed in China. After travelling 4,992 miles to reach their destination, rest, relaxation and restful lighting were all appreciated.

Ri Tan Park to Shipley

One less obvious place (not on the main tourist routes) visited by the dynamic duo was Ri Tan Park with extensive gardens, a small lake and dramatic “Star Gates.” The picture above has interesting vertical imagery with nature and man-made structures, ancient and modern, mingling on the eye…. All that remains is to trust British Airways to bring the intrepid travellers back to their families and friends in Yorkshire and the UK.... and the world....

Mission Impossible? Mais non....Mission Accomplished!