Boog's Blog

For the Terry Prachett fans this is, unfortunately, not about “the luggage”, maybe his greatest character. No, it is the story of preparing to take a train.

It is Friday morning as I write this. On Saturday morning we take a train to Zhengzhou on our way to Luoyang.

In a few minutes we will leave our luggage at the front door. It will be whisked away and available to us Saturday night. Take a change of cloths with us we are advised. Luggage must be sent one day ahead.

Security requirements are the reverse of the USA TSA. All liquids, creams, must be in the hand luggage. They cannot be checked. Knives in the packed luggage are ok. Luggage should be locked. If, during a security check they need to look inside they will just break the lock.

Carry onto the train is limited to 5 kg. hell, I have that much in electronics itch me 🙂

The picture below, from the hotel room, is just filler but shows the local Hutong.

Sent from my iPad

Cool in mountains north of Beijing.

Great Wall walk. Obligatory. There are four especially popular sections north of Beijing. We apparently did the most popular. Disney like entrance with parking about 15 minutes walk, and many shops away. Steep sections followed by towers before the next hilltop section. Unlike Hadrian’s wall walls intact and no mud. Also, unlike Hadrian’s it is not free. Like Hadrian’s wall it is inconceivable that armies could scale these steep hillsides.

Divine road to the 13 Ming dynasty tombs. Only one has been excavated. The 7.8 km entrance road starts with the alley of the animals because of the large sculptures guarding the entrances to the tombs. Some are mythical beasts.

Beijing opera night. Tourist performance of traditional set pieces. Most Famous scenes. Elaborate dress and makeup. Excellent martial arts,acrobatics and high register singing. Stringed instrument for accompaniment.

Cultural discussions with native speakers. Views of America, how they learn about America, Chinese education system, courses taken, and never ending comments and observations about costs, long term economic security, family as well as guns in America. Met different groups at breakfast, and lunch who fortunately had excellent English skills. Seemed genuinely comfortable with discussing how their news is "refined".

Dinner : usual assortment of dishes. OK but not memorable. However, one clear difference to Queens Chinese is the lack of ice cream and fortune cookies at the end.

One of our fellow travelers said Queens Chinese now offers wine, included, with the dinner. No wine. No ice cream and of course no queens noodles or fortune cookies.

BTC beijing

Decent amount of pollution.

Early morning view from hotel room. Hutongs, low scale historical part of the city. Many are preserved buildings from the Ming dynasty era.

There is a peaceful gray haze or morning fog over the district as I write this. Few people out yet. This is a 9 am or 8:30start city. Very peaceful before the rush starts.

After a decent breakfast Off to the temple of Heaven, the enormous prayer park, 273 hectares, for the emperor to pray. Wonderful social setting for tai chi, dancing, and a large variety of outdoor activities as well as card, majong, Chinese chess, etc. I joined in two activities. A racquet exercise, film later, and street calligraphy.

Tianamen square. Room for 500k people but not on Google maps. Sculptures, souvenirs but no food vendors.

Two hour lecture on geography, cultural diversity, one child policy, confucian way of life, customs and manners.

Very frank discussion of the upcoming problems caused by one child policy, as well as the three gorges project disruptions.
Many heartfelt concerns with hope, just hope, that the government can find some solution. The lecturer was near retirement and her pain and concerns were very evident.

The high costs of medical expenses another major concern unless one has a government job.

Peking duck dinner at bian yi fang
-Ming dynasty provenance.

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BTC. Beijing
Warm. Quite warm. Hotel has not turned on the a/condition as the warm season has not started. Local conditions irrelevant.

Arrived as planned. Hotel an historic one from 1918,renovated. Designed to be part of the cultural experience.

http://www.bjdongfanghotel.com.cn/

Atrocious buffet dinner at the hotel. Group too tired from travel to go out. Queens Chinese level.

Domestic tourism is down as there will be a change of leadership this year. New rulers, new rules and uncertainty.

Our tour guide said that tourism from the USA would be down this year due to our election. Clearly a deeply ingrained view.

Tai chi at 07:00.

BSNT New Orleans

Cloudy a bit stormy, but the storms never came.

George advised that we should not miss the Ohr museum in Biloxi. It was an excellent suggestion and a worthwhile visit.

The museum is not finished so the exhibits are not all in place. The building and site is in itself an exhibit. Opened in November 2010 it was designed by Gehry. One interesting potter could not be looked at as an overly aggressive docent kept jabbering about his likes and files. Pics will come later.

The shoo fly, see explanation and pic below, is an alternative to the fly swatter we saw in Natchez at Longwood, and certainly of another type to the pie.

Speaking of pie, shoo fly is related to Montgomery and chess pies.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_E._Ohr

New Orleans is sold out. Hotel said that they have been full since the beginning the year.

Now off to food.

Tornadoes have passed, intermittent thunderstorms

In between storms a few good beach walks. Without the wind and dermabrasion good views and good strolling.

Much to my disappointment the hot tub has been closed for two days : inclement weather.

Have to leave tomorrow as there are no longer any large succulent shrimps left in the gulf. We have consumed them all. Ah……

For those of you who intend to follow us here there are some of the small ones still available. Sorry.

Dinner started with a lagniappe, QB supplied the term, of grilled oysters. The word is of gulf coast origin. From the Spanish. A gift from the bartender.

Oysters followed by blue crab, grilled, and then very very large and sweet gulf coast shrimp. Happily stuffed.

Sent from my iPad

BSNT. Biloxi two

Windy with tornado watch, our first, in the evening

A very special morning conversation.

As many of you know I like to sit down, in this case share a hot tub, with strangers to get their views. Unlike at home where I share my opinions here I am in listening and leading question mode.

A dentist from east texas, a student from texas, and a business person from just outside New Orleans, proud of being from Louisiana.

First leading question: why the visceral hatred for Obama? ( guessed correctly that all three would share that view).

In somewhat rank order: his social view on abortion, socialist, Tarp, wants to distribute income from those who worked hard to get it. All agreed that this more their rural view than they would expect from a Californian or New Yorker.

Did not believe it was racism based. Much more values based. Bush was ok, not great or good, but ok.

Lots of comparative info about dentistry in different states and countries. Texas, California and florida best. Real perfectionist training.

The dentist, complaining about his $25000 a year property tax bill, felt he could survive quite well on his 160 acres and a few generators. Little need for government.

One was a segregationist, the businessman. Was far better before integration for everyone. I just listened,amazed,and let him continue. Obama wants gas prices up. Stephan Chu, energy secretary likes the idea of $10 gas like Europe. Then Obama would have riots and he could, and would, declare marshal law and suspend Congress so he could impose his socialist views.
The speaker owns three companies, carries a gun,and is not loath to use it, for protection. Claimed to be a scholar of history. I have barely touched on his views. Very friendly person.

Everyone agreed politicians are just out for themselves.

QB and I took a dermabrasion walk on the beach. Not familiar with the term? Imagine 25-40 mph winds blowing sand on your exposed parts as you walk along the gulf.

Wind so strong pool and hot tub area shut down for safety. Flying umbrella stands possible.

Dinner at Oyster House, see separate pics for this very gulf dinner.

Sent from my iPad

Sent from my iPad

BSNT Biloxi

Yes, now off the trace looking for different balls of string.

With 30 miles left to bike, wind advisory, severe, and some extra days decided to see the gulf Coast before going to new Orleans. My total knowledge of the Coast has been provided by their commercials and the AAA book.

But first the largest octagonal house in America. Longwood. The tour was conducted by a costumed southern bell. Full petticoat, antebellum. At 10000 square feet on the first as well as the second floor, it ends up at 30000 sq ft with the unfinished fourth through sixth floors.

Built by the scion of a rich, very rich, plantation owning family it is now preserved by inclusion in the historical registry. Worth looking up in wikipedia.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longwood_(Natchez,_Mississippi)

And, some professional images

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Longwood_(Natchez,_Mississippi)

Food observation. This entire trip we have not had a single good piece of bread. Just not a bread culture. Bread has resembled wonder bread. Too far from the wheat growing areas?

Not many coffee places but it has been possible to get good coffee without too much searching.

BSNT. Natchez

Another almost perfect day.

Left one off the list: bugs. They seem to buzz the head and arms on warm humid days. Today it was in part bees.

Spending time in the rural areas one gets to understand a bit more of the American political collage. First, the church is not only the center of the community but seems to be the collector of all funds. There are new churches, large and we’ll built everywhere. Multiples where one would seem to suffice.

Second, while roads are excellent and few services such as hospitals and clinics are few and far apart. The churches probably along with the community help the sick and indigent as best as they can.

The areas are economically poor. Suspect few disposable dollars for more taxes.

Taken together little value from government and maybe less for Obamacare. Almost a mirror image of urban value.

Lunch on the back of the rental car.

Dinner at "Little Pigs Inn " By far the best BBQ we have had. Pulled pork, chickens, multiple sides, beer, tea. $20 for all.

The Mississippi is large and powerful here. Bridge to Vidalia a delight.