Beijing

After our first few days in Hong Kong, we took a flight for Beijing. We spent 4 nights and 3 full days there and explored the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace and did some shopping (of course!).

The first evening: We looked for a very authentic Peking Duck Restaurant and we found it!
The duck was good, but the thick layer of fat below the crispy skin was not so great.

Behind Ken, the chef is preparing the slices of duck.


The Peking Duck is generally rolled up in small "pancakes" and garnished with cucumbers.

Le restaurant!

Direction The Forbidden City: On our first full day in Bejing, we thought of going to The Forbidden City, however once we got to Tianamen Square (opposite); we saw this huge line up. Therefore, following the recommendation of a local, we decided to head to The Temple of Heaven build by the Emperor.

La place Tienanmen juste en face de la Cite Interdite.

Ken et une chinoise qui voulait une photo avec lui!!! Wouhouuu!;)


Paysage asiatique

Une partie du temple du paradis.

The Great Wall: On our second day in Beijing, we joined a tour to go to the Great Wall. It took us about 2h-2h30 to get there. On our way, we visited the Ming Tomb (location of the tomb of a Emperor during the Ming dynasty).
The Great Wall experience was incredible. The scenery was beautiful and it was amazing to think that this wall was built approximately 2200 years old and that we were steeping on it!

L'allee qui mene a la tombe d'un empereur de la dynastie Ming.

Les telesieges qui nous amenaient a la Grande Muraille de Chine!


Hourra! Je suis sur la Grande Muraille de Chine!!!






Admirant les magnifiques fleurs de cerisier.




The Forbidden City & Summer Palace: On our third day in Beijing, we visited The Forbidden City. We magaged to get in quite easily using the back entrance and starting our visit by the Emperor's Garden. The City is very big and there was A LOT of people. We did not stay for too long, but we crossed the whole site.
Then, we took the subway to get to the Emperor's Summer Palace. Again a very big site with a lot of people. It was nice though to waslk by the lake and enjoy the sun.

Seulement une petite partie de la Cite Interdite.


La foule

Ken et des chinoises en visite a la Cite Interdite.
Plusieurs des touristes etaient chinois.


Photo du bas: Ou est Genevieve?

Pas moyen de voir a l'interieur des batiments!

Nous!:)


Les jardins de l'empereur

Ken posant avec le palais d'ete de l'empereur tout au loin.

Une bonne biere (Tsingtao) pour finir la journee d'exploration!


Other pictures:

Une artiste chinoise ecrivant nos noms sur les deux peintures sur soie que nous lui achetons.

une rue traditionnelle chinoise

TRIP TO CHINA: Day 1-2-3

Hi!

We just returned from beautiful China this morning. We had an amazing trip and are really relaxed.

Here are some pictures of our first few days in Hong Kong. Mind you, we returned for a day at the end of our trip, but did not do much (cinema/eating/ shopping).

First day in HK: We did not have a plan and did not even have an idea of what to do in Hong Kong. We just started walking around using the Hong Kong Tourist Map and discovering the city by foot. It was very nice!


Au début de notre journée d'exploration!


Des touristes qui prennent des cours de Taichi.

Le sommet!





Second day in HK: We decided to go by cable car to see the Giant Buda on another island. It was good, however; we never made it to the Buda because there was too many people. Instead, we looked at it from far.

Nous avons pris un téléphérique avec le plancher en verre..ouff!

Moi et ma soupe qui goutait les légumes mouillés:(

Third day in HK: Before heading to the Main Land, we wanted to try out a delicacy from Honk Kong: the Dim Sums. Dim Sums are a variety of little bites of food eaten to make a lunch or dinner. Later that day, we took a boat to watch the HK Lights and Sounds Show.




La croisière n'était pas géniale, mais le spectacle sons et lumières de 15 min. valait la peine.

La classe!

Dhow Cruise with the School

Je n'ai pas pris beaucoup de photos, mais voici quelques moments de notre aventure en bateau de ce matin.

Arabic Day

We had a wonderful celebration at school yesterday! It was Arabic Day!
The students had to come to school dressed with one of the Arabic Countries' national dress.
The kids were soooo CUTE!

Danse arabe (eleves de secondaire 1)

A gauche: eleve de 1e annee presentent les pays arabes
A droite: quelques filles et gars, a l'arriere, de secondaire 1 & 2

Moi, Laura (Prof d'education physique) et Nicola (prof d'anglais)

Moi et Fahima (prof d'arabe .. elle est algerienne donc parle francais)

Les profs aussi avaient a s'habiller pour l'occasion:)
Je porte l'abaya d'une maman d'eleve.
Je crois que je devrais m'en acheter une, car ca fait plusieurs fois que nous devons en porter a l'ecole. En plus, ce sera un beau souvenir!
Mon abaya avait tellement de details, elle etait super belle. Nicola, pour sa part, portait une robe de soiree que les femmes portent lors de mariages (quand elles sont dans leur tente entre femmes). Sexy hein!?!

On Saturday, we are going on a Dhow Cruise with all the Moms for Mother's Day. The students are all excited, but the teachers .... hummm not so much! A Saturday!!!! Who thought about that?!

Je vous metterai des photos!