Our time in China

En route to Mongolia and on the way out again, we spent a couple of days in Beijing. We explored the Great Wall, the Hutong district, Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Below are a few photos from our time in and around Beijing.

慕田峪 - the Great Wall of China, Mutianyu

The Great Wall of China at Mutianyu in Huairou County
about 70km northeast of Beijing. We were fortunate to be able
to explore the Great Wall on a very quiet day. At times, like
here in this photo, there were no other tourists to be seen along
stretches of the wall.


The heat and haze unfortunately restricted
the view a little.


A solitary Samuel on the Great Wall...and below solitary Samuel

gets a helping hand from Grandpa and Dadda.




Hannah alone on the Great Wall.

Here, Hannah is, strangely enough, rolling dried apricots
down the Great Wall. If you look very carefully you can see
rolling apricot where the sky meets the wall, just to the right of
Hannah's foot. It worked suprisingly well.


Little boy encouraging me up the steps of the Great Wall.


My Mum and Dad on the wall.


We all thought the wall was "great".

Little boy thought the idea of joing the People's Army was laughable...

北京 - Beijing, the Working People's Cultural Palace

The Working People's Cultural Palace by Tiananmen Square.
That's the sun in the photo, not the moon, dulled down by the Beijing
smog. Gee, that Olympic marathon is going to be fun...


The omnipresent Mao looking down from the front of the Working People's
Cultural Palace.


His presence seems to keep all the guards standing very straight.


Samuel boy claiming some space in the courtyard of
the Working People's Cultural Palace.


Guards being marshalled in a tunnel under the Working People's
Cultural Palace's in preparation to march across to Tiananmen Square
for the lowering of the national flag on the Square. We got stopped inside the Palace until the whole process was complete.


The national flag coming down. Still stuck in the Palace...


The boys returning from Tiananmen Square with the national flag!

天安门广场 - Tiananmen Square

The family on Tiananmen Square, along with about three
million other people!


Time for a bit of soccer on Tiananmen Sqaure. Little boy insisted
on kicking his ball around a number of famous landmarks in China
and also across the Mongolian steppes.


Samuel being adored by his fans on the Sqaure.


Further adoration from Samuel's fans. We were lucky they
didn't wheel him away then and there!


There were many, many children on the Square being
ordered by their parents to pose with the national flag as straight as
guards. As soon as the photo was taken they looked like kids
again, running and clowning around.


And again...

紫禁城 - The Forbidden City

The Forbidden City on a quiet day.


Rooves of the Forbidden City


Samuel making friends in the Forbidden City.


I think she wanted to keep him...




Samuel insisted on walking up and down all the steps
in the Forbidden City.


Here he's having a rest against a very, very big door
after all those steps - see below.

You know it's been a good meal when...

both your main course...

and your dessert are still on you face when you're done!

Mmm, ice cream!

On boxing day Samuel had his first ever ice cream. As soon as he had buried his nose in the cone it was quite obvious that he wasn't coming up for air any time soon. So, we left him to it and ten minutes later he was showing us that all he had left was the very tip of the cone (see below).

Our little pants dragon

Isa, Sander and some more Samuel, of course...

This weekend we had an impromptu visit from Isa and Sander. I went to school with Isa many moons ago in Braunschweig and she was passing through Canberra with her partner Sander. We had a lovely weekend and it was a great chance to reconnect with an old friend! What's more, little boy was quite taken by them both and will surely miss them.


Little boy hanging out at home with Isa.


Catching up on Isa's and Sander's adventures in Canberra.


Navigating the various obstacles on the path up Mt Ainslie.


Samuel explaining Burley-Griffin's grand plan to Isa from the top of Mt Ainslie.


Super Sam having some well earnt banana after the walk up Mt Ainslie.


Samuel is now eating 80% of his meals by himself. If it sticks to the spoon, then he's not to keen on any help.


Tasting the South Aussie white from Isa and Sander.