On Safari: Great Wall & Farewell to Sam -China 2010

""One World, One Dream" is simple in expressions, but profound in meaning. It is of China, and also of the world. It conveys the lofty ideal of the people in Beijing as well as in China to share the global community and civilization and to create a bright future hand in hand with the people from the rest of the world. It expresses the firm belief of a great nation, with a long history of 5,000 years and on its way towards modernization, that is committed to peaceful development, harmonious society and people's happiness. It voices the aspirations of 1.3 billion Chinese people to contribute to the establishment of a peaceful and bright world."

A great shot of our group with the flag of China and the Great Wall of China in the background.
Front row left to right: Jonee Jue, Julie Kinder, Kristi Jue, Allen Jue, Milton Lau, Karen Jue
Second row left to right: Don Wong, Jeannie Jue Wong, Daisy Jue Yang, Dorothy Jue Lee, Marianne Jue Moy (red blouse), Barbara Scott, Donna Riley, Ella Lau, Maggie Lee, Rod Lee, Peter Jue and Cedric Yang.
Photo was taken by Chuck Schuman.

Donna and Allen on the way to the top.

We made it to one of the top tiers of the Great Wall,

Left to right: Allen, Donna, Jeannie, Ella, Barbara and Milton. Karen Jue also made it and was the photographer.

The rest of the group conquered their own portion of the wall.

This is the view from one of the top tiers, we started at the bottom where the square brown building is located.

The National Olympic Stadium (nicknamed the Birdnest).

"Great architecture can never be fully conveyed through a television screen, of course, and it saddens me that so many Americans will experience the building only via satellite. In a site for mass gatherings, Swiss architects, Herzog and de Meuron, have carved out psychological space for the individual, and rethought the relationship between the solitary human and the crowd, the everyday and the heroic. However the structure attests to China’s nationalistic ambitions, it is also an aesthetic triumph that should cement the nation’s reputation as a place where bold, creative gambles are unfolding every day."

We are lining up to enter the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City, situated in the very heart of Beijing, was home to 24 emperors of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The construction of the grand palace started in the fourth year of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty (1406) and ended in 1420.

Our official group picture in Tiananmen Square.

Front row left to right: Sam Yang, Dorothy Jue Lee, Julie Kinder (black), Chuck Schuman, Jonee Jue, Lana Osterholt, Kristi Jue, Allen Jue & Cedric Yang.

Back row left to right: Jerry Osterholt, Daisy Jue Yang, Marianne Moy, Jeannie Jue Wong, Don Wong, Peter Jue (yellow), Milton Lau, Ella Lau, Barbara Scott, Donna Riley, Karen Jue, Maggie Lee & Rod Lee

Beijing is full of modern architecture and world class buildings.

After climbing the Great Wall for most of the day, we've worked up an appetite, what's more apropos than eating Beijing Duck at the famous Quanjude Restaurant in Beijing.

By the Qianlong Period (1736-1796) of the Qing Dynasty, the popularity of the Beijing Duck spread to the upper classes, inspiring poetry from poets and scholars who enjoyed the dish.

The inside of our restaurant is nice and modern bristling with lots of business. By the mid 20th century, the Beijing Duck had become a national symbol of China, favored by tourist and diplomats alike.

Henry Kissinger was served Beijing Duck when he lunched with Premier Zhou Enlai, it became his favorite. The same day they issued a joint statement inviting President Nixon to visit China in 1972. Hence the Beijing Duck was considered one of the factors behind the reconnection of the United States and China in the 1970's.

The hung oven was developed in the imperial kitchens during the Qing Dynasty and adopted by the Quanjude restaurant chain. It is designed to roast up to 20 ducks at the same time with an open fire fueled by hardwood from the peach or pear tree.

Chef's wheel the ducks to your table and prepare them.

These ducks have been roasted at a temperature of 525F for 30-40 minutes, during that time, the chef dangles the duck over the fire for 30 second intervals.

Chefs are trained to slice the duck in a certain sequence in order to have the correct ratio of skin to meat. Some restaurants only serve the skin wrapped in a bun.

Besides the Beijing duck, we had plenty of food to eat, more than enough for our American diet criteria, our food consumption bordered on the absurd. Yuk, but honestly, it was sooo delicious.

There is a proper way to eat Beijing duck, pick it up with your chopstick and dip it in the soy paste. Next lay it on the thin pancake, add green onions, wrap like a burrito and eat. The real secret of Beijing duck's flavor lies in your carefully nibbling away at the mixture. You will find the different ingredients very compatible. That's the Chinese way, American way is two or three bites and you're ready for the next one. Give me six more of those.....

Tomorrow, we fly home to the US, this is the last moments of our trip with our national guide, Sam Yang. Marianne is telling Sam she was so grateful he spoke beautiful English.

She also spoke of his effectiveness in dealing with problems along the way such as hard beds, quality of the foods, keeping us senior citizens out too late and lack of air-conditioning in certain rooms.

In Beijing on a warm night, Marianne was so exasperated her air wasn't working, she walked to Sam's room in her pajamas and traded him rooms because his air was working. He made a "big no, no" the next morning when he asked us how we slept, he got an ear full from a number of us. Donna remarked, "she would have preferred Motel 6 over this", others were vocal too. However, everything was repaired and we're cool....

If truth be known, it was hard to be irritated with Sam, he was a prince and made our trip the dream trip of our lifetime.

Dorothy is telling us we had two birthdays on the trip, Chuck and Jonee. The birthday tradition is to share red lucky money envelopes and when you are given one, you in return wish them a happy birthday. My red envelope contained the 13th president of the United State, President Millard Fillmore one dollar coin.

Sam, in you, we discovered a wonderful human being. In the United States, we refer to you as one of the good guys. We thank you for your kindness and personal caring: you took the time to know each of us.

Your leadership in guiding us from place to place was seamless. As Marianne said, this was our ancestral trip to five villages, we shared those poignant moments with you and in turn, you shared yours with us.

Aside from the political rhetoric and ideology, there is that common thread of friendship that we can use to bridge our understanding of the peoples of China and the United States. The thread we take with us will be nurtured and possibly brought to fruition during our lifetime where we will live as one peoples of the world.

We have seen China through your eyes. We appreciated your knowledge of China's history which you unselfishly shared. It enriched our trip to contemplate 5,000 years of China's history.

As you go on with your life, please remember us as the "ancestral pilgrims" and/or the "air-conditioning gang".