Dec 18 MonI joined a tour for Great Wall and Ming Tombs. When I was brought to the tour coach, I was a bit surprised to find a bus full of local Chinese plus the tour guide himself. (For the previous tours, I’m used to seeing a group of real foreigners, mga puti in short, and the tour guide would speak straight English) This tour guide started speaking in Mandarin, made his long intro speech while injecting a lot of jokes. Oh my golly, I told the hotel staff I am booking an English-speaking tour, they seemed to naturally put me with the locals thinking that I can understand Mandarin well. Hmm this is something quite new. Mandarin in Beijing is a bit different, it has a lot of ‘R’s (chuan se, curving tongue), and though I know basic Mandarin, I have to listen closely to be able to decipher everything. . (My long-unawakened Mandarin knowledge, nahugot ko pa at nagamit kahit papano hehe, thanks to watching chinovelas, those HK gamble films and series, as well as Star Mandarin for the Chinese movies with English subtitles) Actually this trip made me realized Mandarin is useful. In HS days, I don’t know if you'll agree with me, but graduating with Honors in Chinese class is not really something to be proud of. In fact, minsan ikahihiya mo pa because people will think wala kang magawa sa buhay at nagpapaka-bihasa ka sa Chinese class haha) Anyway, going back, listening/deciphering the tour guide's speech would keep me busy for the next 8 hours of the tour, that’s what I was thinking and I started having doubts if I will enjoy this after all.
The first stop was Ming Tombs, it’s the tomb of a king named Yong Le. I tried looking for a potential companion in the bus, and I only found one girl who was also on her own, the rest were all in groups. I tried approaching her but she didn’t seem to be wanting a companion, so I backed off. Anyway, the tour for this spot ended soon. The only peculiar thing I can remember on this is that there’s a gate that you have to pass by and shout ‘I am back’ (wo huei lai le) so that your spirit will not be left in the tombs as well, some Chinese traditions.
The second stop was the Great Wall, Badaling. The tour guide had given a lot of warnings – such that you should not overestimate your strength by climbing too far, as the trip back would consume you a lot of energy. Another thing is that better to be in groups when you get up so that there would be no risk of being lost by oneself. Taking this into consideration, I tried my 2nd attempt to approach another group – my seatmates in the bus. It was a family – a son about my age, a mother, and a grandmother. I spoke to them in Mandarin if it’s okay if I walk with them, and they cheerfully nodded which makes me more than happy.
It was -2 degrees Celsius. But somehow I felt that it’s still tolerable, I was wearing 3 layers of clothes with thermal undies beneath plus my big furcoat and the thick scarf around my neck (that’s why I looked like ballooning :)
There was this cable ride that will bring you to the fourth station which costs an additional of 60RMB. Since the family was also taking this, I paid for the ride as well. When we reached the 4th station via cable car, we started climbing up. The way up was a bit tiring, some steps are really high. I was amazed to see this grandmother (age 73) climbing faster than I am, shame on me. I’ve been lacking exercise for like 4 months of not being able to go to the gym because of work. And even though I think I am adventurous, it’s a pity that I am not actually physically fit to challenge strenuous sports (must be related with my family background, being raised in a family of 4 girls, I think we all lean towards the dainty side rather than the sporty side. Too bad, I wasn’t able to inherit the genes of my 6 footer father who used to like playing basketball hehe)
The son is actually a nice guy. He kept on checking on me if I’m still okay, and offered several times to take my pictures with my camera. He actually looks nice as well, tall (probably 6 footer +), slim, with glasses and a nice hair to match with. Funny to see him chasing around his grandmother who happens to walk very fast. He seems to be very ‘siao suen’, my golly again, where would you be able to find a guy who is willing to accompany the elders in a Great Wall hike?!
After reaching the top (8th station), we paused awhile, took pictures and started our way down. I was initially thinking that the way down should be very easy, which I was mistaken. Not all the parts has ‘steps’, some are just slopes, downhill. The way up on these slopes without steps is manageable, but the way down isn’t as smooth as I expected. Imagine yourself walking downhill without steps, tendency is that you’ll slide all the way down if you’re not careful. Actually the problem is more with the soles of my rubber shoes I think, the grip is not good.
Okay my first slip happened, it was actually okay, parang nadulas lang, I still managed to balance. Mr Nice Guy (I don’t know his name, I’ll just use Nice Guy for the rest of this blog), he was worried and ask if I can still continue. I answered no problem and I just manage to smile a bit.
Now my 2nd slip on the big slope happened half way down. It was a big slip, I fell on my butt, napaupo ako, and it hurts so much. I can't manage to stand instantly. Habang inaaalayan din nya ang lola nya, Nice Guy came up to me, reached his hand and wanted to make me stand, he looked very worried this time, and of course I felt embarrassed. It took me like 20 seconds to stand up and I rested like one minute before proceeding with the way down. I could feel the pain in my butt, but luckily I didn’t have any major discomfort like sprains or fractures.
Finally the hike was over, and I was excited to go back to the bus to rest. I really made an unpopular and crazy decision to go side-tripping in Beijing for Great Wall. Take note, that’s alone and with weather conditions below 0 temp!. But then I stick to my decision and live with it. Finally I conquer Great Wall.. mission accomplished haha.
Now another nice part of the trip, Nice Guy and I were seatmates again in the bus. We have bonded a little in my helpless moments, we started talking a lot on our way back to the city inside the coach. My, 2.5 hours seem so short for the talk. I discovered that he just graduated and is pursuing Masters. I can understand his Mandarin because he’s from another nearby City, not so much R’s in his accent. He is majoring in English, speaks good English contrary to the typical Beijingese. As part of the curriculum, he has to study current events and history of several countries in Asia, Philippines included. He knows the names of the presidents from Marcos onwards, he knows about US navy, on economy status, etc. I am inspired by his brilliance.
I asked him what he wanted to be after Masters, and he answered he wants to be a diplomat someday. Honestly I don’t know what a diplomat exactly does, I just know they are people regarded highly who deals with VIP on matters of importance to the country on national policies, law, etc (haha vague noh). He also likes exploring diff countries and would like to be in politics someday. Hmm I think I can sense a great figure, deep inside I have a feeling this person beside me has a long way to go. Who knows, after 10 years I might see him on TV hehe.
He asked me what my work is, and I told him I am working for HP as a systems analyst. He seems to be impressed because he said that HP is a big company and asked me what do i usually do in my work. Seriously for the first time in my life, I feel proud working for an internationally known company haha. He suggested I might want to try working in Beijing for a change because of my IT experience coupled with strong communication both Mandarin and English, is a big edge. (Wow that’s flattering for me hehe)
He has shared a lot about Chinese traditions to me, about the one-child policy, about how people used to prefer only sons and not daughters. We also talked about hobbies, and when I asked his, he answered they only do 3 things as a student, 1) study, 2) play ball (basketball and football), and the 3rd is to watch for pretty women in the campus (the freshmen). Hmm not bad, this guy has great humor it seems. He looks fit too as he recalls the story about one time when he and his friend were so much bored in school, they decided to go to Great Wall for a walk and they finished jogging in Great wall for all the 8 stations in 15 minutes. (naks macho!)
Anyway, hndi ko talaga namalayan ang oras because I was enjoying the talk. At the back of my mind, probably I think I was hoping that he’d ask for my contact details, but he didn’t. (haha I think awkward din kung gagawin nya yun in front of his mother and grandmother na katabi ko, and it actually wouldn’t be of much importance afterall since we don’t reside in the same country) Sayang, he seems to be a good 'friend' material. He waved at me before going down and said ‘chu ni lui you yu kwai’ (hope you have a happy vacation)
That was the end of the story. It’s amusing how a person can leave a good and lasting impression in just a couple of hours. I wish him all the best and I hope one day, he’ll still remember the girl he assisted in Great Wall Dec06, who keeps on falling but strong enough to stand. :p
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