Today we went to the Forbidden City. For only $300 RMB we could hire a “tour guide” to take us through the city. Sounded like a good idea at the time….
Our tour guide was pretty good at english, much better than most people. She was very excited that we had 3 kids, she couldn’t believe we had that many 🙂 There were so many things that she said they needed to learn about the Forbidden City!
We started off pretty good. There was an ancient pot with gold dragons that were good luck. When you rubbed them you could make a wish. Back when the English and Japanese came in, they tried to scrape all the gold off and you can see all the scrapings.
If you are supposed to rub the dragon for good luck, why put a gate around it?? So we helped Paige over the fence 🙂
Have you seen Mulan? Oh yes baby! I told the tour guide I wouldn’t need her, you see, I have seen Mulan almost 200 times and I am pretty sure I could lead this tour myself. Because this is the place that when Mulan came back with her friends to save the emperor they were doing all the crazy tricks on the roof top with the hanging lanterns…
Have you seen The Last Emperor? Yes, most of my knowledge of Chinese history is through movies, sadly. Well this is where the scene where they are throwing the Emperor out of the city is filmed.
For all of you worried I might starve to death, where there is Nutella and croissants there is lunch! I was optimistic that I would loose 10 pounds while I was here, but my diet looks like it will be mostly carbs, and chocolate.
This is where the day took a turn for the worst. See, our tour guide was really concerned that you know ALL the history of China and the Forbidden City. We had a 1/2 hour lesson on concubines, eunuchs, and MUCH more. While I know that this is an important part of history and I don’t want my kids to miss anything, I was TOTALY not prepared to try and fill in the gaps where my kids had no idea what she was talking about. Plus she did NOT leave anything out. Holy smokes!
At one point, my son just shook his head and walked away as we were trying to explain to the girls what a eunuch was. I left most of this to my Mother who happened to be with us, I figured I would make her squirm!
Since my kids are always looking for ways to earn money, and I have always been interested in what a Chinese prison looks like, I told my son I would give him $50 if he ran off the porch and jumped on the back of the 600 year old deer statue. When he balked, I offered him $100 for the dragon. He was not as excited to see the inside of a Chinese prison so he passed. 🙂
Seriously, it was REALLY cool to see all the history. It was an amazing day and we really did learn a ton!
Part comedian, part Dad, part athlete. He will boss around your children while they play ball.
Just as angelic as she looks, this girl could easily raise a Village by herself, and all the children would grow up to be President.
Self proclaimed, she would be a webkinz dog. Because, "they're cute, and puppies are too. And they're sweet and they always get along with other puppies."
This mini-Martha Stewart can handle ANY craft you send her way. She isn't all bows and rainbows, she's got karate kid moves!
Not "Pick-Me-Up" like caffeine, she wants you to pick her up! AND NOW!
Anything that can be destroyed WILL be destroyed!
Practically Perfect in Every Way for now! Nicknamed "The Panda" she is rolly polly and lives by the motto, "the little one, is KING!"
The resident Labradoodle, Miller got his name because Mom won and got to name the baby! Need something chewed up? He'll take care of it. Especially if it's expensive..
I’ll have to come over when you get back so I can hear the rest…..
You paid 300 RMB for guide! We had a coupon for that! Don’t let mom negotiate for you again, she too soft.
Dad
Thank you so much for writing about your adventure. I’ve never been there and reading your daily adventures along with the pictures is so fun to read!!! I look forward to more!!!
GlaD you are in china! I mean glad you’re having fun in china but it was awesome to see Anna and her family and the rest of your family at church wed they all looked healthy happy and well! Stay safe! Loved the niagara falls pics I grew up near there. I miss it. May have to sneak up this summer!
Tell your red headed daughters to get used to getting their pics taken. My sister Sue was in China in April. She said she probably had her pic taken a million times. She is a red head too.