China proved to be a beautiful, intriguing backdrop for spring break family time. After a few days getting reacquainted with each other in Beijing, we headed to mountains and the Wall for our family collective highlight of the week. Indeed, that old Wall is great!
Grateful for no Thai firewalls keeping us from internet research, we found the charming Red Capital Ranch to house us for 3 awesome days/climbs on the Wall. The Ranch sits in a river valley an hour & half out of Beijing. Wall runs along south side of property, so we technically stayed in "outer China."
Sidenote: The girls went online a few times to experience China's cyberspace... they found no youtube and no facebook in Beijing, but Rob got FB at the Ranch. At all of our hotels, the staff's parting words were, "Please go to Trip Advisor.com and give us good reviews!"
Built just a few years ago, Ranch buildings were constructed of materials found on property and from old buildings torn down in Beijing a decade ago to make room for Olympics.
Tibetans run the Ranch, and they dressed their own housing/buildings with fabric slipcovers over gorgeous stone. The Tibetans were a fascinating staff, giving their all to give capitalism a go... though it did kind of feel at times like they just opened last week. They were trying so sincerely, we didn't mind and had fun with our adventure that at times reminded of camping.
Red Capital laundry
The backyard
We arrived, lunched and conquered.
The hills were alive with flowering chestnut trees.
Only slightly reconstructed compared to more heavily visited sections of Wall. Tricky climbing at times, but we enjoy puzzles.
Entering our first watchtower... a thrill!
On the overgrown Wall
Thankful for strong, healthy kids, as terrain was steep.
Walking Wall/ridge on top. The girls can sure bicker & squabble, but put them in this setting and teamwork prevails.
The Wall was essentially ours for afternoon, as we passed only a solo Singaporean hotel guest on our climb back down. Dinner first night was delectably spicy Tibetan Yak, cornbread cakes and baby bok choy cabbages. Girls found ham sandwiches with taters... these Tibetans make a wickedly fine french fry.
Next morning we awoke freezing and ready to explore another section of Wall, the more popularly traversed Mutianyu.
With handrails & nicely assembled stairs, a very different feel from previous day.
Slightly cheapened by a Subway shop & trinkets for sale at the Wall's base, still gorgeous in its own way.
Greeting us at top with cold water & Snickers bars for sale was this happy guy...
"Where from?"
"America"
"America good," he said with a smile & thumbs up.
"China good," we replied with smiles & thumbs up.
"China & America, friends," he beamed.
I wonder what allegiance he had to Mao a couple decades back. He now proudly wears an Obama pin, seen next to Ry's right eye.
Peek-a-boo
Not Quite a Window Sill by Riley Mei, age 9 years minus 4 days
I sit upon a wall, next to a ridge,
not quite a window sill,
no glass nor panes,
just a bare cut in the wall.
As I sit the wind blows my hair.
I soon find a sill, nice and cool,
the wind gently blows a tune.
I look out,
the world spread about me,
blossoms in bloom all around,
a pine wood front, a blossom back.
At the sill I rest, as peaceful birds sing a sweet tune.
The wall steps up, I move on,
more sills await,
sweet smells come as I walk.
I am amazed.
The poet was writing in a Wall cutout, then moved on and later found the above pictured "sill" where she completed her piece. I can't believe my baby will be 9. And then I see her excitedly reach for pen & paper, "I have a poem!" and I know I must let her number swell.
Allie would rather race to the top & see what's beyond the next tower, than sit & write about it all. I'd love to help her slow down & enjoy the journey, but need my own mentor for that.
A perk of visiting the touristy section... bumping into Dutch friends from Thailand. We knew we'd span some of the same days in China, but didn't know of each other's plans. We then ran into each other at the Wall & had a super afternoon hanging together.
Mae & Mei
They used to take riding lessons together, but Ry's taking a break to train for swim competition in Taiwan.
Just beyond a sign that warns guests of path's end, the untamed Wall goes on for many days' journey.
They enjoyed the cool of this watchtower, building kitchens from rocks & plants and daydreaming together. Too hot to do in Thailand.
Ming Generals
built a wall
to keep the world away.
Blonde Dutch girls
now pick up its pieces
to create and laugh and play.
Wonder if past Dynasties dreamed of luging down the hill...
Back to the Ranch and its riverbed playground
Early our last morning we let kids sleep while Rob & I climbed last unexplored section of Wall at the Ranch.
Each of the 3 climbs was unique.
Climb every mountain....
