Badaling Great Wall - Beijing(China)

sulhan · 21st October 2003

Hi pals...

I was just sorting my CDs albums and stumbled through my CD on travel to Beijing some time back....in the days where i have my Canon Powershot S10 as my work horse till it died....

I went to Beijing by Bus from Tian Jin where I was stationed for that period. Not knowing much mandarin and all alone was a real challenge....so i basically made do with what i knew...and my secret weapon....(you will see it as you go through the pics)....

Took off from Tian Jin on a Bus drama....(some personal stuff...can't share it here)...arrived in Beijing Bus Station. My key intention was to set foot on any Great wall...while in Beijing. How i got there....???? Read on....and enjoy this little adventure...

Got off the bus and was swamped with taxi drivers and "tour agents" touting to bring you places....so i just randomly chose this guy .....who was wearing RED...(caught my attention)...a Taxi Driver...

He was blabbering all sorts of destination and God knows what was he talking about....well...i just took out a pen and paper and DREW a sketch of the great wall...!!!! And he said..."Ker i'ee (means: Can!!). So then he wrote the price of the trip and we bargained....to a comfortable price...and off we went...

This first Photo shows me in the Cab..

Hahah!!! my personal Driver for theo whole day.....he even stopped along the way to get me a "Tii Too..(Means: Map)"...and some drinks....and kind enough to bring me to the World Trade Centre in Beijing to access an ATM machine.

Travelled for about 1hr++ and can't believe my eyes...that i am already at the foot of the BADALING Great Wall...(I know that that are many other GW spots but this seem to be the easiest reach).

Made a deal with the Taxi Driver and handed him Half the Deal ($$) as this will ensure that he will wait for me while i wonder up the Great wall....As another precaution...i took his Drivers's details...

Took off and the next moment i was already up there...(hehehe played cheat by taking a cable car up!! as i need to buy time to got to Tiananmen Square in the afternoon...)

The view up there is awesome.....YES!!!! I DID IT!!!....setting Foot on Great Wall!!..At the higher peak...there aren't that many people....OBVIOUSLY!!!

The view was spectular but the weather wasn't that good due to the foggy period...

View from the top.....

ANother view from the top...

Nearing to the base of the Wall...there are more people who walekd up...yeah!! to a certian height only of course...Surprisingly there were many old people there...i guess for morning exercise i guess Those flags are for some events...and also because on that day...there were some political delegates from some neighbouring country visiting...

The photo above i took with some locals....sign language does help...strangers like me.....to make new friends...

Finally ...I'll share this little secret weapon of mine.....which i really depended on while travelling in China......

The above photo was taken at a chinese Halal restaurant in Tian Jin....really had great food there...

As i was there for a while....the people there recognise my by my red little book each time i visit Tian Jin!!!

Well...hope fully the photos did show some glimpse of what you could do in Beijing...There are lots more places that i went after that but too bad...there is space only to share those photos above.

My Little advice for such travel...
1)....is that do not bring heavy gears...and attractive CAMERA BAGS
2) Get a MAP
3) Do some homework on prices for such full day bookings...
4) Be yourself and be friendly to the locals....they are willing to help you 99% of the time...

Hopefully i would share some more pics on other places that i went in Beijing....

Regards,
me

P/S: Hope i didn't bore you ppl out!!!!

megaweb · 21st October 2003

Thanks for sharing your nice shots

No the shots do not bore me

Megabyte · 21st October 2003

Originally Posted by sulhan

Hopefully i would share some more pics on other places that i went in Beijing....

Regards,
me

P/S: Hope i didn't bore you ppl out!!!!

Hi Sulhan,

You've got PM.

sk_online · 22nd October 2003

Enjoyable series of pictures.. Never been to china, thanx for the glimpse..

Leongfm · 22nd October 2003

Hi Sulhan

I really enjoyed reading your story and seeing your photos. You are really adventurous considering that fact that you do not know the language well. I went to Badaling section of the Great Wall exactly a year ago on a tour with a small group of people. I was the only person in the group that tried to climb up the steep wall...stopped half way to the top which never seemed to end.

The photos you took are nice...good colour, composition, nice weather and tell a story. The ones I took were very flat because the weather was cloudy and foggy. (If you are interested, here is the URL to the photos I took at the Great Wall: http://ImageEvent.com/leongfm/travel...ingtripoct2002 Photos 60 to 74 )

FM

sulhan · 22nd October 2003

Hiee.....

Your photos are great tooo.....

FYI...the Beijing trip ...i went to the following places...
- Badaling Section (Great Wall)
- Underground Tomb
- Tiananmen Square
- Niu Jie Mosque...
- Beijing City...

...hope to be able to do a short write up soon...on some of those place...

I like travelling alone to new places...as the adventure is not only on its photography opportunities but also the adventure in getting to make people understand what you talk...about...

Here is one example....went to Taiwan....looking for toilet.....so drew a square with a stick man figure....in side..... and guess what.....the PRETTY LADY of one of the Kao Shiong shopping centre.....led me to the LIFT!!!!!!!

regards,
me

zOOm · 28th October 2003

sulhan,
Thanks for sharing. they look great!
walls of Badaling are very vandalised.

Try simatai or jinshanling, view are better, less tourists too
it's 3hrs drive from Beijing.

btw, how much u paid for the badaling trip by taxi?
I went via tour bus no 1 that goes to badaling & ming tomb.
won't do that again as there aren't enuff time for me at badaling, very rush, only an hour to go up & down.

during autumn (best end of Oct), do visit frangrant hill (beijing) to view red leaves too.

one more tip when visiting great wall, do keep your self a little fitter to enjoy the view better

sulhan · 30th October 2003

Hehehe....

Hopefully to be able to get web access next week from Beijing....maybe i can post some more....street photos...

rgds,
me

isomers007 · 31st October 2003

a wonderful photolog, sulhan...

zOOm · 31st October 2003

WOW! going to beijing again? u going to frangrant hill?
Internet is cheap in Beijing, only 1 RMB for 5mins access

Originally Posted by sulhan

Hehehe....

Hopefully to be able to get web access next week from Beijing....maybe i can post some more....street photos...

rgds,
me

sulhan · 6th November 2003

Hiee....All..

Looks liek there are some hickups from the free Broadband Access i am getting from the hotel......I can even pull my photos to view on my web.....
Hopefully will share some photos....(not many this time.....was very busy).....

I'm currently stuck in the hotel now ...freeeeezing!!!!

Its SNOWING...like crazy and there would be enough ice for ICE kacang to feed the residents here.....out there....

Last check....0 degrees......till then...

Rgds,
me

21st October 2003	#1
sulhan Advertiser Join Date: May 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,051	Badaling Great Wall - Beijing(China) Hi pals... I was just sorting my CDs albums and stumbled through my CD on travel to Beijing some time back....in the days where i have my Canon Powershot S10 as my work horse till it died.... I went to Beijing by Bus from Tian Jin where I was stationed for that period. Not knowing much mandarin and all alone was a real challenge....so i basically made do with what i knew...and my secret weapon....(you will see it as you go through the pics).... Took off from Tian Jin on a Bus drama....(some personal stuff...can't share it here)...arrived in Beijing Bus Station. My key intention was to set foot on any Great wall...while in Beijing. How i got there....???? Read on....and enjoy this little adventure... Got off the bus and was swamped with taxi drivers and "tour agents" touting to bring you places....so i just randomly chose this guy .....who was wearing RED...(caught my attention)...a Taxi Driver... He was blabbering all sorts of destination and God knows what was he talking about....well...i just took out a pen and paper and DREW a sketch of the great wall...!!!! And he said..."Ker i'ee (means: Can!!). So then he wrote the price of the trip and we bargained....to a comfortable price...and off we went... This first Photo shows me in the Cab.. Hahah!!! my personal Driver for theo whole day.....he even stopped along the way to get me a "Tii Too..(Means: Map)"...and some drinks....and kind enough to bring me to the World Trade Centre in Beijing to access an ATM machine. Travelled for about 1hr++ and can't believe my eyes...that i am already at the foot of the BADALING Great Wall...(I know that that are many other GW spots but this seem to be the easiest reach). Made a deal with the Taxi Driver and handed him Half the Deal ($$) as this will ensure that he will wait for me while i wonder up the Great wall....As another precaution...i took his Drivers's details... Took off and the next moment i was already up there...(hehehe played cheat by taking a cable car up!! as i need to buy time to got to Tiananmen Square in the afternoon...) The view up there is awesome.....YES!!!! I DID IT!!!....setting Foot on Great Wall!!..At the higher peak...there aren't that many people....OBVIOUSLY!!! The view was spectular but the weather wasn't that good due to the foggy period... View from the top..... ANother view from the top... Nearing to the base of the Wall...there are more people who walekd up...yeah!! to a certian height only of course...Surprisingly there were many old people there...i guess for morning exercise i guess Those flags are for some events...and also because on that day...there were some political delegates from some neighbouring country visiting... The photo above i took with some locals....sign language does help...strangers like me.....to make new friends... Finally ...I'll share this little secret weapon of mine.....which i really depended on while travelling in China...... The above photo was taken at a chinese Halal restaurant in Tian Jin....really had great food there... As i was there for a while....the people there recognise my by my red little book each time i visit Tian Jin!!! Well...hope fully the photos did show some glimpse of what you could do in Beijing...There are lots more places that i went after that but too bad...there is space only to share those photos above. My Little advice for such travel... 1)....is that do not bring heavy gears...and attractive CAMERA BAGS 2) Get a MAP 3) Do some homework on prices for such full day bookings... 4) Be yourself and be friendly to the locals....they are willing to help you 99% of the time... Hopefully i would share some more pics on other places that i went in Beijing.... Regards, me P/S: Hope i didn't bore you ppl out!!!!

21st October 2003	#2
megaweb Moderator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: East Posts: 8,106	Thanks for sharing your nice shots No the shots do not bore me __________________ See my Photo Gallery at the Clubsnap \| Pbase

22nd October 2003	#6
sulhan Advertiser Join Date: May 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,051	great pix you have there.... Hiee..... Your photos are great tooo..... FYI...the Beijing trip ...i went to the following places... - Badaling Section (Great Wall) - Underground Tomb - Tiananmen Square - Niu Jie Mosque... - Beijing City... ...hope to be able to do a short write up soon...on some of those place... I like travelling alone to new places...as the adventure is not only on its photography opportunities but also the adventure in getting to make people understand what you talk...about... Here is one example....went to Taiwan....looking for toilet.....so drew a square with a stick man figure....in side..... and guess what.....the PRETTY LADY of one of the Kao Shiong shopping centre.....led me to the LIFT!!!!!!! regards, me

30th October 2003	#8
sulhan Advertiser Join Date: May 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,051	Beijing......return... Hehehe.... Hopefully to be able to get web access next week from Beijing....maybe i can post some more....street photos... rgds, me

6th November 2003	#11
sulhan Advertiser Join Date: May 2002 Location: Melbourne, Australia Posts: 4,051	Too Bad...I can't pppppost... Hiee....All.. Looks liek there are some hickups from the free Broadband Access i am getting from the hotel......I can even pull my photos to view on my web..... Hopefully will share some photos....(not many this time.....was very busy)..... I'm currently stuck in the hotel now ...freeeeezing!!!! Its SNOWING...like crazy and there would be enough ice for ICE kacang to feed the residents here.....out there.... Last check....0 degrees......till then... Rgds, me

22nd October 2003	#4
sk_online Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 270	Enjoyable series of pictures.. Never been to china, thanx for the glimpse..

22nd October 2003	#5
Leongfm Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 198	Hi Sulhan I really enjoyed reading your story and seeing your photos. You are really adventurous considering that fact that you do not know the language well. I went to Badaling section of the Great Wall exactly a year ago on a tour with a small group of people. I was the only person in the group that tried to climb up the steep wall...stopped half way to the top which never seemed to end. The photos you took are nice...good colour, composition, nice weather and tell a story. The ones I took were very flat because the weather was cloudy and foggy. (If you are interested, here is the URL to the photos I took at the Great Wall: http://ImageEvent.com/leongfm/travel...ingtripoct2002 Photos 60 to 74 ) FM

28th October 2003	#7
zOOm Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Singapore Posts: 243	sulhan, Thanks for sharing. they look great! walls of Badaling are very vandalised. Try simatai or jinshanling, view are better, less tourists too it's 3hrs drive from Beijing. btw, how much u paid for the badaling trip by taxi? I went via tour bus no 1 that goes to badaling & ming tomb. won't do that again as there aren't enuff time for me at badaling, very rush, only an hour to go up & down. during autumn (best end of Oct), do visit frangrant hill (beijing) to view red leaves too. one more tip when visiting great wall, do keep your self a little fitter to enjoy the view better

31st October 2003	#9
isomers007 Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: leepublic of singapore Posts: 1,812	a wonderful photolog, sulhan...