Beijing: Tuesday, September 6, 2011:

I learned a new Chinese phrase: “Ma ma hu hu” or “tiger horse” which translates as “I am not too bad but not too good”.

We take a rickshaw ride through the hutongs which is the traditional form of housing in Beijing. They date from the Ching Dynasty which was anytime up to 1911. The word hutong translates as people’s culture.

Victor, our guide, who was born and raised in a 300-year-old house says: “It’s such a shame that we demolished the hutongs. This is the best preserved hutong district in Beijing.”

Our convoy went through the tight alleyways like a snake with the constant screeching of brakes and around us there is the ongoing building work complete with the smell of cement and the constant banging of the worker’s tools.

Off-duty drivers occupy their time either playing cards or reading newspapers.

We are in the Back Lake district and the homes are listed as a heritage site and the Government pays for their upkeep. Around 20,000 people live there.

We visited the home of Mr Jing and his family. He is a retired mechanical engineer whose family bought his home in 1949. It used to have no facilities but now the inside is very modern.

Homes are usually bought for 70 years and the children inherit them.

Victor said: “They are very fortunate. I wished I married a hutong girl but instead I married a high rise girl.”

We later visited the Beijing Drum Tower (red) and the Beijing Bell Tower (grey) which were built more than 700 years ago.

Persistant hawkers are selling tourist tat such as Chairman Mao watches.

Apparently it is common to dye the fur of pet dogs and I even saw one with orange ears.

We went to another local restaurant for lunch which included very hot chillies. Karen managed to get some Chinese medicine to help with her swollen feet as she is suffering from the heat and humidity. The medication is large and need to be taken with water.

Next stop was the Lama Temple which dated from 1694. Apparently there was turmoil in Tibet in 1750 and the 7^th Dalai Lama couldn’t control the situation and petitioned the Chinese Emperor who agreed to send in troops.

There was a world record 26m tall gold Buddha there but photography was banned.

It was very calm and peaceful with incense sticks and prayers.

I got asked if I was a photography student but I answered that it was my job to avoid saying I was a journalist.

Our evening meal was at the same restaurant as Sunday and there was the smell of woodsmoke. The meal was okay but not as good as the other night.

Apparently the sleeping powder tastes disgusting but it seems to work.