A spiritual release day in Beijing Botanic Garden

Do you constantly have a headache because of the hustle and bustle in economic boost central Beijing? Everyday when you get up, do you hear one voice in you left ear screaming: I need fresh air; and another voice in your right ear murmuring: can’t I get some quiet and calm somewhere? If you are suffering symptoms like these, I would recommend you Beijing Botanic Garden for a day’s runaway.

Beijing Botanic Garden lies in the foot of the beautiful Western Fragrant Hills, just 15km from central Beijing. If you start from Xizhimen (西直门) you could take either 360 or 634 bus; if you are from Wudaokou (五道口), you can take bus 505; if you are from the Beijing Zoo, you can luckily take 360 fast bus (快车), all of these will take you directly to the south gate of the park. (bus fare is only 0.4-0.8 Yuan)

The entrance fee is 5RMB (pets are not allowed). Once entered, you will definitely cheer the all green, colorful flowers surround, and most important: fresh air mixed with the clean scent of cut grass! We took a slow stroll along the path heading north and came across a beautiful lake. There is a small shop with long wooden chairs and tables. If it was noontime, I would have an ice-cream for sure :) Following the signpost, we walked to the Cherry Valley.

What makes the Cherry Valley so special is the Water Fir (水杉) forest, which is described as living fossil. The thick branches and leaves of plants seem to block out the sky. The temperature was lower in the valley so I got my jacket on. I couldn’t describe how delight it was when walking on the zigzag redwood deck bridge that is built following the spring path. I leaned against the bridge handrail for a rest. I could see the beautiful scenery, hear the sound of flowing water and some birds, and smell the fresh air… all these just relaxed my body, calmed my spirit and soothed my mind… I believe I could stay there just do nothing for hours.

The return way of Cherry Valley took us to the famous Temple of the Reclining Buddha. We went to the teahouse at back first. It was behind a large pond in a gloriette. As fall is coming, we ordered frozen mountain wulong tea (冻顶乌龙 35RMB with unlimited refill). The tea was so sweet-scented because it was made by the spring water here. I took many snacks (crisps, cookies, mooncakes as well… mid-autumn festival in a few days time) which we enjoyed during the tea (bring your favorite snack because they don’t sell here). Nothing can be fresher than a hot tea, sweets and somewhere comfortable to sit for a tired body. Our conversation jumped from one topic to another, unbelievable we spent nearly 3 hours and none of us wants to leave! We all felt our five senses have long been buried in the busy city, but the Qi (气) here helped to draw back their functions! Finally, we visited the temple and placed some good wishes in front of the reclining Buddha. I love the fish pool there so much! The fishes are so red and look at those lazy tortoises!

Personally, I think this is the best route for a day trip in Botanic Garden. Time to come back to the noisy city for some good restaurant? If you want to take bus, after you went out the south gate walk one more stop so you come to the terminus (360 fast bus to the Beijing zoo). The drive will take at least 1 hour, so it’s wise to get a seat.

Breakdance

Back 10 years, I used to be dazzled by Micheal’s movement on stage. Later, I found more and more teenagers started wearing very loose trousers and preferred to hide their heads inside the hood, which was due to the huge influence by the South Korean Fad to China. Along with the fashion tide, breakdance became popular around young people. I’ve seen some videos on TV or internet, but never a live one. So when I heard there was going to be a live breakdance competition in MASTER CLUB, I slipped on my shoes and got a taxi to the bar.

The bar was on LUCKY STREET beside 21st century hotel. We paid 30RMB each for the door fee and entered. The doorway is quite narrow and the dance floor is on basement2. Personally, I don’t like underground bars or really fancy hip-hop music. As we arrived early (advertised starting at 9pm), we sit down with a drink and started chatting. There were players from several teams formed a circle on the dance floor and did their warm-up. However, until 10:30pm the competition hadn’t started yet. If I didn’t pay the door fee, I could have left and missed great performances J finally, the commentator announced the competition begins and the loud music surged up! At first competitors performed in the middle of the dance floor one by one. The dance ground was immediately heated super hot! I was amazed to see how they used their arms and hands to support their bodies and move the feet and legs in the air, spun around even with the head and flipped in such small space! (one of them did strike the audience drinking table and broke few glasses)

I couldn’t judge which one is better, they were all excellent to me! Anyway, the judge picked out First Eight pairs. The quarter-final/ semi-final were much more exciting as it played “immediate death”. The music was much louder and the whole audiences were also lighted up. We sung and danced with the music, clapped and whistled. There was a rule that one group could defy the rival with all style of popping-breaking movements but they should never really touch the rival, otherwise they lose big points. Now they looked much more like some characters from the computer game STREET FIGHTER…

Though I was not a good judge, the guy with the green cap, blue and pink (wired combination of color really) jacket caught my eye from the beginning. He was my favorite and aha … he did get in the final!!! Bravo!!! Many people use mobile, MP4 or camera recorded the final and here is mine by mobile which I uploaded to youtube (though the image was not very clear, I hope you still get the impact). Guess who is the winner? Haha, trust my insight!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECV1N3IqLPk

This was such an excited breakdance competition. I absolutely enjoyed it. Even when I got home, my heart still pumped strongly and fast. The music was a bit too loud for my ears, I could still hear as if someone was rapping next to me. Oh shut up!

Howl's moving castle

Howl’s moving castle

After the huge success of “Spirited Away”, I think “Howl’s moving castle” is another great piece done by Hayao Miyazaki. Again it is full filled with weird imagination and very impressive characters.

Howl was a handsome, intelligent and ambitious wizard but traded his heart with demon. Calcifer, the little fire demon and the servant of Howl, gained power from his heart and supplied engine to the moving castle (it walks with four steel legs, can you imagine that?). Sophie was an ordinary girl working in a hat shop but with very kind heart. She was brave, independent and hardworking. Though she was cursed and turned to a 90-year-old by the Witch of the waste, she didn’t despair. In stead after she found out Howl’s deep fear and loneliness, she tried her best to encourage and help him. Finally, the two broke all spells and saved people from the war.

Howl is a very self-contradictory character. He always appears strong in front of others, dressed smart and behaves as a gentleman. However, deep inside he is still a boy who fills his bedroom up with toys and amulets. Although he can make a very clean house with his magic in a few seconds, he would let dirt and dust cover ceiling and floor, and lives with bugs, spiders and mice as if he never sees them. If Sophie didn’t enter this castle in accident, I suppose he might live there and eat the same junk food all his life like that… Howl is very capricious with Sophie only, while I think he just wants more care (or more attention?). He showed Sophie his beautiful secret garden and little summer house where he spent his childhood, but hided the horrible story where he sold his heart to demon behind the screen. Though he liked Sophie very much, he could not face or admit his own feeling. When Sophie told him her true heart, he fled away… until finally, before he lost all his strength, he opened his fragile heart with all secrets to Sophie and asked her for help…

Sophie is another big character. If every girl likes her, this world will be very clean, peaceful and harmonious. Man will enjoy comfortable house and delicious food and lose interest in conquering. Is that the original thinking of God when he made the first woman?? Haha… There are also other interesting characters such as freedom restrained Calcifer, cute apprentice Markl, horrible looking the Witch of the waste… and many more! Check it out yourself ~

Maybe everyone has his/her own moving castle with hidden past, buring heart and hope moving alone, looking for or simply waiting for a miracle to come...

Sinen

呵呵~~ 近来越发发福了

表哥家做客

我最喜欢表哥家的“毛球”，一只mini雪达瑞狗~
可是“毛球”今天一点也不配合照相！ 不久就被大姑带走了。
先贴张sinen的照片吧~
它可是只脚步非常轻的猫哦……

现在饭店竟争激烈，海底捞火锅也有自己的绝招~

拉面条也是现场表演，把饭店气氛搞得很活跃。

注意：拉面的小伙还戴着耳机呢，看来是随着音乐拉面呢~

表哥

星期日到表哥家做客。去见又高又帅的表哥从来都是件让人开心的事！
前一段他一直忙生意人瘦得吓人，所以我们快快到海底捞火锅城进补，呵呵~
我嫂子剪了个和我很像的发型，可爱~ 不过她也累坏了，脸上长了好多豆豆。。。
这里吃火锅还发围裙，真的想的很周到。