Saturday, September 25, 2010

Vacation Day At Ho Hai Park

So here in China they do vacation days a little different then the US! They often get days off in the middle of the week, but then are required to work saturday and sunday! This week was the moon festival (in honor of the full moon) and everyone gives mooncakes to everyone else. Seems a little pointless to give them away, only to receive a lot more back - but hey, that is the tradition here...I guess like giving goodies at christmas - altho it is only mooncakes! Anyways, they are weird, and some have whole eggs in the middle - but others are better! Cash LOVES them! He wakes up some mornings asking for his moon cake!

We took advatage of the Friday off and went to Ho Hai Park - it was great fun! Great weather, and a fun way to spend time with our family! We bought tickets for a rickshaw ride and tour and it took about an hour to go around the park, checking out the hutons (little houses) that apparently the rich live in - it was interesting and fun...altho a LOT of work for the guy riding the bike pulling us, but so worth it!

On the bridge overlooking the Ho Hail Lake!
The bridge behind us (u can barely see it) is one of the oldest in Beijing!
A view of one of the Hutons, where people still live!
Closer view outside of one - getting ready to go in and see the courtyard
Inside the Courtyard
Cash was really excited about the fish!
Us with the driver of the rickshaw
Another view of what it actually looked like - pretty sweet ride eh?
Another view of the lake and a native chinese person!
At the tourist shop this parrot was just inside and free to do as it pleased - Cash loved watching it
Checking out the shops - cool street!
The park supposedly has the best tower to overlook the forbidden city - wasn't the best day to see everything - but when it is clear I am sure the view is amazing!
The big drums in the tower...awaiting the show!
The show was pretty sweet, altho a little loud for poor Griffin's ears!
No easy way up - had to climb all the tall stairs to get up to the drum show....pretty amazing how many elderly folks were up there!
The Bell Tower also had a Ton of stairs - we sure got our workout in!
The Big Bell - really cool stories about this - including a girl jumping into the fire to help cast this bell
The view of the tower from the bell tower!
Griff was worn out by the end of the day - conked out on the way to dinner!
cute sleeping ghosti!

2 comments:

Rian Krommenhoek said...

what an awesome weekend. griff looks so cute in his little ghost hat. yesterday Kees told me that Cash was going to go to school with him. we wish!

Jessica Brown said...

WOw! What a cool weekend. Last time I checked you guys were in the US? What brought you to Beijing? So cool!