10 November 2011
The forbidden city
I found out that my hotel used to be a summer holiday home for the communist party before being turned into a hotel in the 80's. Theres a long list of famous people who used to stay here.
The room is quite strange, it has a fax machine as I mentioned, but also full office supplies including a stapler, hole punch, ruler etc. The tv comes with free internet and a keyboard (I have taken the ethernet cable out of it and stuck it in my laptop), and they also have usb keys for sale in my room.
Yet after all that, no chair! theres an old desk with an ornate wooden stool with no back on it which I am perched on like a fool.
Speaking of the minibar, they also provide some camera film and what I think is a popcorn popper as well as a fully manual coffee machine including separate grinder.
Head into the bathroom, and theres 2 hairdryers, 2 sets of bathroom scales, 4 toothbrushes, 4 razors, 2 entire boxes of condoms all free.
Exactly what were the communist party members getting up to?
Onto the forbidden city, I took lots of photos.
Room rate doesnt include breakfast, so I had a giant coffee (not quite as giant as the soup bowl from last week) and a delicious muffin.
This was at 8:30, the place wasnt open and I had to convince them to turn the coffee machine on.
Entrance court, full of tour groups with blaring loudspeaker systems, flags, whistles etc. Some now have loudspeakers where they press a button and it makes a series of car alarm sounds.
Picture number 200.
The autumn leaves are everywhere. Excellent weather today, despite it being 2 degrees when I set off, its already about 15C an hour later and I am wishing I didnt have my coat with me.
Brace yourself for a few pictures of tourist stuff.
You can only walk on the right half of everything.
It was last rebuilt around 1400, so its not particularly old.
Difficult light for photos looking into the sun.
Enjoy my attempt at blurry art photo.
Many of the tourists are Japanese schoolgirls, behaving as the stereotype suggests, posing in a cute manner everywhere, non stop giggling and panda hats for most of them. Oh and also surgical masks for at least half of all Japanese school girls.
I look like a secret agent in a bad movie. If I just had an earpiece and pistol with a silencer.
Apparently, according to the Engrish signage, this is where concubines were sent if they were 'caught misbehaving'.
Exit from the palace museum part of the forbidden city, and I spot a big hill, only one thing to do then.
Excellent view, very difficult light, should be up here at dusk not dawn. I can also tell from here that there is pollution haze, but compared to pictures I have seen its nothing.
I can also tell that the centre of the city, where I am staying, is indeed left undeveloped, and off in the distance in all directions I can see more of what looks like modern neon China.
More redundant view.
Last one.
Spot where the last emperor hung himself. I havent seen the movie.