Day 6

Our final day was in Beijing.  We asked to have a free day.  No tour guide.  We figured we would just do it all on our own.  We wanted to see the Olympic Stadium, a panda, and an art museum.  We never got to an art museum.  However, we did go to the Beijing Zoo.  It was packed and again crowded and the people are super pushy.  But whats new!?  There's no such thing as a line in China.  You just shove your way to the front.

We took a cab to the zoo and saw these guys:

mama panda

baby panda

so cute!

We also saw rhinos and one hippo, leopard and many other animals.  Those were one I'd never seen before.  It was a huge zoo!!  

After lunch we went off to the Olympic Stadium!

This is not the stadium, its just a cool building.

The Bird's Nest

(Designed by Alex Weiwei who is now in jail because his art shows how corrupt the Chinese government it, which they don't seem to like.  Never the less, this building is still really cool)

The water cube.  A very creative and cool building.  Its looks like a block of water.  

passing the torch!  

(poor form)

So thats our last day.  Overall the trip was a success!  It was thoroughly exhausting, but worth every minute.  I cant say i will be rushing back to China. but i am very happy i was able to experience a new culture.  

Here are some random photos from the trip:

Forbidden City: Biggest Lion in all of China

In Xi'an: their city's mascot, the pomegranate

"I believe"

Cheese Lobster flavor and Fried Prawn Flavor

The funny thing is that we saw a tv commercial for these chips.  It was quite entertaining.  I can't imagine ever eating these.

Hot Pot

the bowl on the top is filled with boiling water and you cook your food in there.  This is a very popular way of eating in China.  

Ironically, her shirt read, " No pictures, please"

Yes, it's alcohol called a "bomb" and 7.00 yuan converts to about $1.16.  

This is my favorite thing.  He would crawl and shoot.  They were for sale.