Thursday, April 3, 2014

The Great Wall of China (23 March 2014)

What is a trip to Beijing if it does not involve THE WALL????

Our trip to the great wall luckily did not coincide with Michelle Obama's, otherwise it will be closed and cordoned off, and we would not be able to even set foot on it.

I made it!!!!

So did they!!!

Actually, only the Badaling side of the wall has been refurbished and opened to the public where it is visited by millions...the Great Wall proper is tricky, treacherous and extremely punishing to hikers, let alone the poor men who had to build it.

beginning the ascent, note the nice steps and raillings....the actual wall had rough stony walk surfaces, NO STEPS...and no clear demarcation

cheats....we took a cable car to Badaling, skipping a major part of the wall entrance

our tix

scenic views of the fortress of the real wall proper

the part open to public and probably the most photographed part of the wall

ooohhhh!!! cup mee!!! Mummy I want!!!!

so slanting, it was a chore trying to keep upright!

All hail, citizens of the world....I am 16 (well 16 this July) and I conquered (nearly) the wall...my mum is 60..(well 60 next year) when she did

Please help me I'm falling......

..................in love with you......................

intrepid hikers made it to the far side of the wall....picture made with my 20x zoom camera

a further away picture...

we took so much time to take so many pictures at the bottom, we did not have time to go the other side, or even the further side....

Michelle Obama visits Great Wall of China

View Photo Gallery — Michelle Obama visits China: The U.S. first lady meets her Chinese counterpart, Peng Liyuan, as part of a seven-day, three-city tour.

By Krissah Thompson, Published: March 23 E-mail the writer

MUTIANYU, China — As her daughters strolled ahead, peering down to a great ravine, Michelle Obama walked a stretch of this towering stone wall along walkways that date to the Ming Dynasty.

They walked from Towers 14 to 15, strolling along while their staff and security detail hung a little ways back

U.S. first lady Michelle Obama shares a light moment with

her daughters Malia, front, and Sasha as they visit the

Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China in Beijing

Sunday, March 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Bandar Kinrara first lady (me lah) shares a light moment with her family as we visit the Wall with hordes of public....and no bodyguards....

U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama toured the Great Wall of China with daughters Sasha and Malia after holding a roundtable discussion on education at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing.

The Great Wall, which has steep walkways undulating through a chain of mountains, is a draw for both tourists and dignitaries. Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, skipped the hike and stood on a platform just below the wall that offered a sweeping view of the scenic spot.

~~Obama's mother skipped the hike....~~ Auntie Guek skipped the hike and sat on her tongkat-chair that Uncle Yam bought for her (I need one too!!!heheh)

Justin Bieber Carried on Bodyguards' Shoulders at Great Wall of China