Update from China Study Tour

Sadly, this will be the last update from Beijing. We have spent the last couple of hours repacking our suitcases for the journey back to Melbourne, and it has really hit home that our adventure is nearly over. It took so long to pack that I've decided that I have bought far too many treasures at the markets, but who can resist a bargain or two?

This morning we visited Beijing's Olympic Park, the location of the 2008 Olympic Games. We were fortunate enough to be able to walk around inside both the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube, the venues for the athletics and swimming. They are unique structures, but strangely they have hardly been used since 2008. The Water Cube contains a water fun park which is popular with families, but the actual racing and diving pools are partly covered and not in use. (The Chinese teacher in the photo outside the Bird's Nest is Miss Liu from the Fang Cao Di International School, who is hoping to come to Melbourne to teach Chinese later this year).

This afternoon we returned to the Silk Market for a final shopping opportunity. Most of us only intended to buy one or two little souvenirs, but from the number of bags which were carried back onto the bus, the temptation to bargain for a few more T-shirts or another pair of shoes proved too much.

For dinner tonight, Tony, our guide, took us to a traditional Chinese noodle restaurant, where we not only enjoyed some delicious noodles but dumplings as well. You will see a photo of Tony (on the left) and our bus driver (we never did find out his exact name) in the restaurant. We will be particularly sorry to say good-bye to Tony tomorrow; he has been an outstanding guide. Nothing has been too much trouble for him, and he has been very caring with the students and organized everything for us with "no problem!" (his favourite saying).

Tomorrow morning at 10am, six or seven teachers from the Fang Cao Di International School will be coming to our hotel for a formal farewell. We have so much to thank them for, they have provided our students with the opportunity of a lifetime. We have seen many fascinating sights and experienced many aspects of Chinese culture in our ten days in Beijing. The memories will always be with us.

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Our first stop this morning was the Temple of Heaven, a huge complex of beautifully decorated pavilions set in expansive and lovely gardens. This was the temple where the Emperors of the Qing Dynasty would come to worship the God of Heaven with their royal entourages - but only twice a year. They believed that the emperors were just slightly less powerful and important than the God of Heaven, whereas the common people had no importance and were not permitted in the temple or the gardens.
However, in modern times the gardens and forecourts surrounding the temple are for the use of the elderly, retired citizens of Beijing. We saw them carrying out a variety of physical activities to keep fit
and healthy, including ballroom dancing and a version of soccer. As you will see in the photo, some of our students joined in an aerobics class with the elderly citizens for a while.
Before lunch we visited a famous and traditional tea house called the Laoshe Tea House. Here we were shown into a very tranquil private room where the hostesses in gorgeous traditional costumes poured a variety of flower based green teas for us. The tea began as a small ball of tightly packed leaves, but when the boiling water was poured on them they blossomed into flowers in the glass. Some of us really liked the taste of the tea; others not so much. I liked that the jasmine tea that l was drinking 'prevented the aging process', among other medicinal benefits - until
Mr Rice kindly pointed our that it was too late for me. Watch out Mr Rice!
In the afternoon we went to an Arts and Crafts Centre to learn a traditional Chinese craft. Unfortunately the students from Fang Cao Di International School were not able to join us after all, but we still had a great time learning Chinese knotting. Using two strands of satin cord and five beads we gradually mastered the knotting technique and we all made colourful and attractive bracelets to bring home. We were very proud of ourselves! Three Chinese ladies who didn't speak English were our teachers, so it was a bit of a challenge for them, but they were very patient and helpful. They showed us some of the stunning craft works they had created by knotting, we were amazed at what they could do. Google 'Chinese Knotting' to see some examples.
Tomorrow is our last full day in Beijing. We can't believe we are almost at the end of our journey. We are visiting the site of the 2007 Beijing Olympic Games in the morning, and touring two very distinctive buildings - the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube; (very timely with the London Olympics about to commence). The students have requested to go back to the Silk Market in the afternoon - our last opportunity to shop for last minute bargains and souvenirs.