China 2010 - Day 2 - The Great Wall - April 10

With the hostel provided internet, we were able to determine that today's expected sunshine (high of 60) would be the better day to visit the Great Wall as rain was forecast thereafter. We had explored several options for getting to the Wall and had some discussions about which section of the Wall would be best to visit.

There were many options – including a hostel organized 4+ hour hike (around 200 yuan a person), a private car tour (600 yuan for all), and a tourist bus (100 yuan per person). Because we knew we didn't want to commit to another day of strenuous walking that the hike would require and we procrastinated organizing a car tour, at breakfast we hatched a plan to take the the tourist bus. However when we approached the hostel staff about cab directions to the bus tour starting point, the desk clerk recommended what she said was a better option – taking a regular, express bus for 12 yuan each. The clerk provided her own handwritten note (in Chinese characters) to show the cab driver and get us to the boarding point. The bus option turned out to be a wonderful adventure amongst Chinese tourists headed to view the Wall on this spectacularly beautiful day.

As with all non-tour controlled travel, the experience is not just about the destinations – but also about successfully resolving every challenge that is forced upon you as you venture outside the comfort of routine and familiar. I've often said that if one wants to have a totally relaxing travel experience they should take a cruise where your mind can escape every challenge and your every need is resolved by a simple choice on a schedule of your own making. Traveling like we are here in China is the exact antithesis – where nearly every moment is filled with decision making – where/what to eat, where are toilets when you need one, where and how to go for every moment. Of course, it is the fun and the challenge of such travel – and here in China the obstacles of language (nearly no one, including cab drivers, read/understand English) and unfamiliar food make those challenges even more intense – and might I say, more rewarding when successful.

I'm out of time to finish this day's entry -- but hopefully the photos will tell the story as well as we continued the adventure from the Great Wall to a street market where we stepped outside our comfort zone to try some different foods including silkworm cacoons.

This link will take you to some photos of our visit to the Great Wall and night market.