The Great Wall and the Forbidden City (With Katiedid and the Commander)

On Saturday my parents arrived in China!  Last night Chad arrived!  I am one happy lady.  All three of them have hit the ground running.  On Sunday, an old friend took us to the Great Wall and the Ming Dynasty Tombs.  Yesterday, Mom, Dad and I visited the Forbidden City.  Below are some pictures from those two days, enjoy!  (Most of the photos were taken by my Dad!)

Our trip to the wall consisted of a gondola ride up, a long hike on the wall, and a toboggan ride back down.  We had an absolutely amazing time and I don’t think Mom and Dad could have picked a better first day adventure.  Above are a few beautiful shots of the wall that my Dad took.  Below is a photo of me, Mom, and Mark from the end of our Wall visit.  Notice all of the vendors below.

After the Wall Mark took us to an amazing restaurant/glass blowing studio converted from an old school.  Daddy had a lovely Father’s Day lunch!  ”Dad’s Eat Free!”  It was such a treat to be with my Dad on Father’s Day.  It was a rare, wonderful occasion.

After lunch we headed to the Ming Dynasty Tombs.  Dad took some great shots but I particularly like this photo of Mao resting in the same place where we took a rest.

On Day 2 Mom and Dad were still going strong!  We visited the very large/long Forbidden City.  Below is a picture of a friend I made.

Welcome to China, Katiedid and the Commander!

Cheers from China

Hello, Everyone!  I landed less than three days ago.  In order to fight the jetlag I have packed a ton into my first two full days in China.  The first I spent with three other artists wandering the 798 distrtict, visiting Tiananmen Square, and walking around a university district.  Yesterday, I attended a Tedx confrence on the Great Wall.  Tedx conferences are independently organized Ted events.  It was an incredible day.  Here are some highlights from the lecturers:

*The Great Wall of China is the only dive-able wonder of the world–part of the Wall is underwater!

*Brain state is more inportant than brain circumstances.  This bit was accompanied by a story about a teacher who thought her students’ locker numbers, roughy 150-170, were their IQs.  The students had the best scores the school district had ever seen.

*The brain thinks in pictures not in words.  Think of a horse.  Was it a big animal or block letters?  I actually pictured a painting I had seen the day before but it was a picture nonetheless.

*”Genius is the art of non-habitual thinking” –William James

*”The sound of rain needs no translation.” –Alan Watts

*Live the questions.

I didn’t get all of the lecturers names.  They are on the site but I don’t want to miss label the information.

The photo above is at the beginning of our hike.

After the talks we hiked a part of the Great Wall.  They brought wine and beer up to the Wall for sunset.  When the sun set we headed back down to the area where the conference was held, ate dinner, roasted s’mores, and headed back home.  What a day!

Today I am hoping to unpack and but art supplies. I hope that you are all very well!