Juicy Hongluo Si

Hello, everyone!

Our class recently took a trip to a couple of places in the greater Beijing area. Our first stop was at Hongluo Si (红螺寺), a large temple complex which is approximately 40 km from the Fifth Ring Road encircling Beijing. According to my instructor, it's the largest such temple in China north of the Yellow River. Among its older treasures are a statue of Maitreya Buddha (the buddha of the next age) surrounded by the 500 Arhats and the famed Guanyin Temple. Its more recent treasures include a Mutianyu-esque 'Alpine Slide'.

After leaving Hongluo Si we went to a juice factory for a buffet-style lunch and a tour of the facility.

I don't really have much to say about either place so I'll let the photos do the talking. :)

Maitreya, the buddha of the next age




One of the 500 Arhats

His name-plate

More Arhats

Arhats with the Colour Checker




Be careful!

Ready ... aim ... fire!

Yahr!

Termi-what?

Mine!

1020 ban class photo


Taking care of the bamboo


Pee-nguin


Our tour guides

Dinner Party And Mutianyu Great Wall

Hello, everyone! I'm sorry for taking a while to post again -- I've recently been busy with several different little projects and also with preparing for the HSK (Mandarin Proficiency Test, 汉语水平考试). I didn't do so well on the HSK but I didn't expect to do well. I shall write it again in June, and then again in October after I return to Canada.

Before I continue with this post, I shall bring to your attention the unfortunate but inevitable death of Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., the author of Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast Of Champions. I highly recommend that each of you read at least one of his novels.

Dinner Party
On 14 April, Cheryl, Courtney, and Dean hosted an expensive dinner party at Cheryl's home. According to them, Dean provided the good cooking, Courtney provided the expertise relate to wines, and Cheryl provided the locale. I didn't try the wine, but I did partake in some non-alcoholic beer. :)

Aiya!

Axel, Richard, Genjirou, Debi, Courtney, Cheryl, and Jeanette

Jiji, me, and something alcohol-free

Dean and Alice

From one of Sam's student's, 'Kinki'


Sam and Sam

Cheryl, Sam, and Me

Mutianyu Great Wall (慕田峪长城)

On 21 April, we took a school-organised trip to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall. The most amazing thing for me about this section of the Great Wall, and the main reason why I wanted to go on this trip, is that a 'toboggan' may be ridden on the trip downward. It's really crass and funny, so I just had to ride it. Otherwise, the trip was basically an outing with friends.

De toboggan, Boss!




Bactrian and Fortrian

Jeanette, me, and Guo Laoshi, our advisor

A class picture, of sorts: Said, Jeanette, Jinchuan, Sergey, and me



Jeanette, Sherlyn, and Llana


Guards, seemingly off-duty, and Sherlyn






My new buddy, a small lizard


How much for this section of the wall?

Tee hee hee!

Masaki, me, and Da Miyuki

Jeanette with the Colour Checker

Me with the Colour Checker



China's Wonderland? Super-luge?




So it goes

This sign defies adequate description

A far-out way of mounting something

I thought I already saw the best cable car

Um

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