Sars in Great Wall

Sars in Great Wall 21
Originally uploaded by BadeeDadee

More Proxies Blocked in China

We are disappointed that on the height of the 60th Anniversary of People's Republic of China, more
proxies are being blocked. Now
I can't login to the proxy tool that I've been using for months. Boo.

My Bungy Jumping Experience in Shidu

I'm beginning to love this "out-of-the-city" trips on Sundays. We've been to different tourist attractions already and we're taking advantage of the weather in Beijing now, coz I know we'd bore ourselves to death in the hotel room when winter comes.

Anyway, we heard about this place from our Filipino friends who are playing at the Westin Hotel in Financial Street. They've been to this Grand-Canyon like place outside Beijing and we got curious about it. It's not even in the Beijing tourist attractions list. After Googling and seeing some online photos, Marl and I decided to take an early trip last Sunday 100 kilometers from the city - to Shidu.

THE JOURNEY

Before leaving the hotel, we asked the hotel staff to write all the necessary stuff in Chinese for us so we won't have a hard time explaining to the non-English speaking locals. We went to Tianciao bus station at 6AM. It's quite far from our hotel so we arrived there 30 minutes after and paid RMB48 for the taxi fare. Ouch. Next thing to do was to find the Bus No. 917 to Shidu. Wow, there were few bus stops of No.917 buses - going to different places! Luckily, there was a guy who overheard that we wanted to go to Shidu and so he ushered us to the right bus stop. There were few elderly locals waiting there when we got there and so we queued after them. Shortly after that, more people came as we waited for the bus to come. It was kinda funny to see all of us getting ready for the approaching 917 bus, only to be passed by, leaving us staring at the passing bus. :-)

Exactly 7AM, the right 917 bus to Shidu stopped and we all got on the bus. I handed a note to the lady conductor who was issuing the tickets. I had a note written in Chinese: Please tell us to get off the bus when we reach Shidu, thank you. She smiled and said, "Hao! Bu ke xi!" (Ok! Don't mention it!). There were lots of stops on the way but we didn't mind as we just tried to take short naps throughout almost the 3 hours journey.

THE SHIDU STOPS

Marl woke me up when we were approaching Shidu - which actually means "Ten Ferry Crossings". From afar, it looks so beautiful and everyone was just in awe of the view. But we need to pay attention to the "stops" in Shidu because the bus would be stopping 10 times - to mark the Shi-Du or Ten Ferry Crossings.

Our friend told us to go off at the last stop - which would be the "ShiDu" - but a lot of people got off the "Liew Du" or "Sixth Ferry/Crossing" (stop). Because there are remarkable views there and places to stay in. But we were told not go off until the last stop. So we waited patiently in the bus as it goes to the zigzag path.

AT THE NINTH/NINE FERRY CROSSING or JIU DU

I know we should be getting off at the "Tenth Ferry" stop, but when the bus stopped at "Jiu Du" or "Ninth Ferry/Crossing", I saw the bungy jumping site, the same view that we saw on the photos. And the Juma Recreation Park is pointed there. So we just got off the bus. There are lots of small shops selling different kinds of souvenirs, beverages and snacks. There were also restaurants around if you're hungry. I saw a nice sun hat which matched my outfit (I think) so I just bought it and off we walked to where the river is.

When we got there at the base of the mountain by the river, I was so amazed - not with the view - but with the people jumping off the Bungee Jumping platform. One after another, they'd jump off. And as more people jump off, I started having a different kind of excitement and feeling butterflies in my stomach. We sat in one of the restaurants facing the river, where we could see the Bungee Jumpers, the beautiful scene, the bamboo rafts and swan boats in the river - relaxing sight!

But just before noontime, we made our move so as not to waste any time. We went to the ticket counter and there, we had difficulty in choosing what kind of ticket we want. Everything is already in a package so what we got was the RMB 80 ticket - which has the round trip cable car, entrance to the JiMu Paradise (up the mountain) & the "bird ride". Since I wanted to try Bungee Jumping, I also bought the Bungee jumping ticket separately at RMB 205. Yes, I know it's kinda pricey since I've been researching on the net before we went there (it was said to be RMB 185), but I was kinda surprised to know that it's actually RMB 205. They were explaining something to us, maybe because it was weekend or something. But to cut the long story short, I paid for the ticket. Marl also wanted to do the Bungee Jump, but he's got a camera with him and bag so we only bought one Bungee Jumping ticket - for me.

ADVENTURE STARTS

There is no other way to go up there than riding a cable car. So if you have acrophobia (thanks to @gmac239 for the term!) or fear of heights, you might want to think about it. The cable car crosses you from the base of the mountain, over the river and up to the mountain. We enjoyed the view while we were on the cable car. There are two stops for cable car (yes, true!): first is where you get off for Bungee Jumping and Rope Flying - which I'd like to call the "stop for the brave ones" and second is the station before the cable car U-turns back to the base of the mountain.

When we got off the cable car and walked around. There were few recreational booths there. Like games and stuff. Now I understand why they call it Juma Recreation Park. We had to climb lots of steps to go to the peak where you can appreciate the view of the Grand-Canyon-like ShiDu. It was such a beautiful clear day but it was sure hot being nearer to the sun - at noontime! LOL

After reaching the peak, there was nowhere to go than go back down. Our ticket entitled us to have a "bird ride". So we took the stupid bird ride which would best be enjoyed by kids like my 10-year-old daughter, not by adults like us, who went to Shidu for some mind-blowing adventure - like Bungee Jumping. We surely didn't enjoy that but it was such a good laugh between us two.

MY BUNGY JUMPING EXPERIENCE (Video posted below)

When we rode the cable car back down, I couldn't relax because I had mixed feelings about the thing that I'd be doing next. I emptied my pockets, removed my jewelries and watch. Marl took my bagpack with him as I got off the "stop for the brave ones". LOL. As I watched Marl's cable car leave, I suddenly felt alone. It felt so strange that it felt like I was putting myself into something that I shouldn't be doing. It was kinda confusing.

When I reached the white booth where they have a small office inside, I was really uneasy. I kept on telling the receptionist to wait, saying "dengsha! dengsha!", coz I want to make sure that Marl was back in the base of the mountain coz he wanted to take a video of it. But the girl told me that I have to sign a waiver, need all my information, weight, etc. As I was reading what's written in the waiver, coming across words like "death, lifetime injury, etc", I really got nervous about this whole thing. But it was too late to back out. Besides, I already paid for it and I don't like wasting money! Hahaha!

So anyway, I was told to go to the platform where there were 4 men (staff) waiting. I thought it'd be fun with people waiting up to jump - just like when we first got there. But I was the only one - the only brave one - at that moment. It's a solo performance for me and I felt the need to conquer my fear. But my knees started shaking when they put a wide Scotch tape around my feet, so my flip-flops won't get thrown off, and around my waist and hips so my clothes won't flip over together with the Braver Certificate. They actually do the "taping on clothes" for female only. Then they attached the thing in my ankles which looked and felt more like ankle weights. I kinda panicked when I learned that it's the only thing they're attaching in my body. I thought there'd be a harness that I'd be wearing around my waist & hips - but there was none of that.

The emcee started announcing on the microphone about me, a girl from the Philippines, who's brave enough to jump, which can be heard by basically everyone in the mountain. I saw people down the base of the mountain flock around where Marl was standing. I saw the bamboo rafts stopped in the river. The staff were so insensitive, or maybe I just wanted some loving affection or words of encouragement at that time - even if I can't understand Chinese. LOL. But they were like, "time is running", "jump now", "you're wasting our time". I don't know. LOL.

As I stood up, I said to myself, "OMG, what are you effin' thinking, Sarita?". For a second there, as I was already standing on the edge of the platform, I could almost hear my brain telling me, "This is it! You can do it, Sarita!" and I could almost feel my heart getting off my chest. The emcee said "Okay!", and I said "Dengsha! Dengsha!" coz I wanted to take a moment. But I just told myself, "Okay, let's get this over with". I spread my arms while a staff pushed me slightly.

OHHHHH MYYYYYYY FUCKINNNNNNN GAAAAAAWDDDD! I closed my eyes and the next thing I saw was the blue skies. I thought I was already dead and I was already in heaven - but I found out that I was swinging like a pendulum - a vigorous one. I couldn't even scream, nothing was coming out of my throat. My legs were shaking of fear, especially my knees. I didn't move to relax everything, but on the video, I looked like I passed out! LOL. The real reason of that was I was just relaxing and enjoying being hung upside down. I couldn't wait to be put down. The guy on the boat put a plastic pipe on the air so I could hold on to it and stop swinging. When I got up after he removed the gear from my ankles, I waved at the crowd right away! Hahaha! I had to do that, coz most of them were holding out their cameras - maybe I was on video. Hahaha! After the jump, I couldn't wait to get on the bus because I was feeling dizzy and light-headed. Maybe coz of the blood rush in my head and from turning round and round while I was hanging upside down.

I surely didn't enjoy the jump at all. It was a mix feeling of excitement, confusion, fear and panic. Not a good mix at all. But at least, I was able to conquer my fear and I was able to try the thing that I've been longing to try for the longest time. Yayyy for that! :-) Now I don't know if I would want to try it again. Now I'm thinking if I should remove "skydiving" from the list of the things I'd like to try in this lifetime. LOL.

Need a model? Need a photographer?

I just thought I'd post this since I've been looking for some modeling gigs here in Beijing - for fun.

I'm up for a modeling job as long as it wouldn't interfere with my night-time job. I have quite a few portfolios posted online. A local modeling agency took interest in me but I figured out that since I'm just doing it for the fun of it, I'll just go freelance. At least, I can choose on whatever opportunities comes my way. I haven't turned down the offer coz I know there are advantages when you're actually in a modeling agency.

Also, if you do need a photographer in Beijing, commercial or even just for building up your portfolio, my husband Marl is available.

For Marl's port, check out www.badeedadee.com
To view my port, check out http://pix.saritaonline.com

Have a fun Sunday everyone!

Our Great Wall Adventure at Mutianyu

--- Photos and video to be posted soon! :-) ---

Having spent more than a month in Beijing now and just staying most of the time in the hotel room made us plan for this great adventure. Main goal: to go back to the Great Wall of China like other adventurers did - at a minimal cost. So I did my homework the night before, listed all the important notes and printed whatever that's needed to be printed - especially the ones with important Chinese characters.

We woke up at 7AM and I immediately finished my coffee after a quick shower. Left the hotel at 7:45AM in hopes of catching the 8AM bus to Mutianyu. But the Dongzhimen bus station was nowhere near the hotel so we had to sit in the taxi impatiently while watching the time go past 8AM. When we arrived Dongzhimen, the taxi stopped opposite the bus station so we had to find a subway or underpass to go to the other side. Then I started holding out my paper with the written 936 on it - that's the bus number that we had to look for on those bus signs. I tried to ask most of the newspaper shopkeepers where the 936 bus stop is. So we had to walk all the way to the farthest end of the street - say 10 minutes - until we got to the 936 bus stop. There already around 10 people waiting there already coz like us, they also missed the 8AM bus. The buses come in hourly.

So the 9AM Bus No. 936 finally arrived and we just started boarding it. The bus fee was only RMB 16 compared to RMB 200-300 per person on a private vehicle. We had to wait for more than 5 minutes till everyone is settled and we left few minutes earlier than scheduled. The joruney to Mutianyu was rather flawless except for several stops. But we didn't mind coz we just took quick naps every now and then. And I sometimes played with some iPhone games.

At last, after a long journey of 2 and a half hours, we arrived at Mutianyu at 11:30AM, right at the base of the Great Wall. Before leaving the station, I had to double check on how often the buses would be leaving from Mutianyu back to Beijing. Didn't want to miss especially the last trip.

On the way trekking up from the base of the mountain, you will see lots of shops with different souvenir items, beverages and food stalls. It's amazing how these mountain people can speak perfect English with an accent! I was tempted to buy a Red Bull but I saw an ice cream shop, so priorities first - ice cream!

During our trip there with our friends Wayne Kline and PH Tan last year, we rode on the cable car going up. But this time, we did the hard way - trekking up. It wasn't that hard and that long, it took us around 30-40 minutes going up to the wall. Of course, along the way, we had to stop so hubby could take some photos. No, not of me. He wanted to take scenery photos actually, that's why we planned this trip. But boy, was it tiring trekking up.

We spent two hours up on the wall, taking photos and videos at every opportunity. Because it was Sunday, there were few tourists we saw along the way. And because most of the tour group would go to Great Wall at Badaling, we were quite lucky to be one of the few ones there at Mutianyu. There were lots of guys selling overpriced cold beverages, snacks and souvenirs along the way. I feel for them. I know it's not easy to bring their goods by trekking up on foot and be basked under the sun every day there. I didn't care if they were selling Snickers bar at RMB15 and a Coke in can for RMB10. I bought them and in fact, they tasted better because I bought them with all my heart.

We went east from the Gate 6 and ended up at watchtower number 1. But after that, there is a restricted area and no tourists were supposed to go there. But we there's a pathway, so what do you do when you see a pathway? Yes we followed that pathway and we ended up in the unrestored area of the Great Wall, full of bushes and plants. I scratched my legs a few times from the plants and stems sprouting from the ground. Since it was the unrestored part, there wasn't any wall to protect us if we ever fell from its cliff. Kinda scary but it was fun. It felt like we're kids again and curious about something. I almost got lost at one point because there was a part there where the pathway split up, Marl took one way, I took the other and I ended up at the edge of a deep cliff. Kinda scary. Marl thought it wasn't safe for us to be there, and so we went back to the restored part of the wall and back to Gate 6 where we took the Toboggan Ride or Slide Way on the way back to the base of the mountain. Boy, it was fun!!!

The moment we went out of the Great Wall premises, we immediately looked for a toilet. While waiting for the Bus No. 936 to come, Marl bought some paintings. We were able to bargain the 2 paintings from RMB200 each to RMB120 for two. We had to wait for the bus for another hour, don't know why it took so long because the only thing I knew was I wanted to sleep on the way back to Beijing. Which I did. I woke up when we were already near the bus station and it started to rain. It took quite a while for us to get a cab and Marl was even got bumped by a motor bicycle - to my shock. But luckily, he's okay.

With just an hour sleep and no meal for the whole day, except for a chocolate ice cream and two Snicker bars plus Coke, we were quite amazed at how we were able to keep up with the energy. But yeah, I slept like 20 hours during the next 24 hours so I guess that explains the tiredness. LOL.

Anyway, here are some things that one can take note when going to the Great Wall in Mutianyu:
1. Take a bus from the Dongzhimen Station. You just ask around where the bus stop for bus number 936 is. Since the buses come hourly from 8AM, it's better to allot time for finding the station since it's situated at the end of the street. Some may offer to take you by private car or taxi. Tell them no, you want the bus and you want to only pay RMB16.
2. The entrance fee is RMB45 each and they will give a CD ticket which is then scanned at the entrance gate.
3. Aside from the entrance fee, you can either take a cable car going up - for another fee - or you can go trekking all the way up. There are two kinds of cable cars. The first one is an old-fashioned kinda-scary 2-seater Ferris Wheel gondola look-alike. And another one is an enclosed kind which I think is more safer and is more fun for a group of four. The cable car costs around RMB 50 for two way.
3. You should bring food and drinks if you don't want to spend more. And if you want to buy for souvenirs, be sure to bargain at 1/3 of its given price.
4. On the way down, you have 3 options: go down on foot, by cable car or by a more fun way - toboggan ride - which costs RMB40 for a ride. Don't force your friends to it especially if they have medical conditions. It gives an adrenalin rush, I tell you.
5. Be sure not to miss the last trip of the bus at 4:30PM. There would be lots of private cars offering you to take to Huairou, but you will have to take a bus from there, too. So better wait for the bus number 936.

--- Photos and video to be posted soon! :-) ---