Beijing cont’d
Hi Guys
Yesterday we went to the Summer Palace: we went on the canal which apparently is how the emperors used to go. It was really lovely – huge lakes, lots of pretty bridges and a few palaces (which we didn’t spend much time on as we are a bit “palaced out’). The best thing was that on the boat we met a little girl (aged 5) and her mother and granny. She spoke excellent English which she wanted to try on us. So I spoke in mandarin and she spoke in English! And she understood me! I was dead chuffed. So that is about the measure of my Mandarin – chatting to a 5 year old! But it is progress. We went on the lake in a pedal boat – very exhausting in the heat of the day but great fun. Our chopstick technique is improving all the time but we found last nights cucmber slices a bit of challenge!
Thanks for your message, Linda. We didn’t see many birds in Siberia but we saw lots of eagles and other birds of prey in Mongolia – ten to a tugrog!
Going to explore some hutongs today after lunch – washing the smalls this morning.
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