Monday, August 21, 2006
14.8.06
today we went to the great wall. It was beautiful. Everywhere you turned, it was postcard. The weather was perfect—not too hot and yet not raining, and the usual fog seemed to have lifted somewhat. We climbed a lot—some of the steps were almost vertical; it was like we were actually climbing a wall. We took a lot of fun shots and I also tried to take some nice shots, but I found it a bit hard with the camera that I’m not used to, and I can’t really control the apeture. I really wished that I had my D50. It was the most amazing place for taking photos. I would come back here just to take better shots. I know that I shouldn’t have to rely on a camera to define my phototaking, but I’m not good enough a photographer to feel confident when I can’t actually see the shot properly, and when I’m using buttons and digital menus to control everything.When we reached the top of the wall, or at least as far as we could go in that particular area (mu tian yu), joel got out his guitar and we sang. We sang How Great Thou Art, which is one of my favourite hymns. Like I shared with the bank people the other day during my testimony, I believe that god has put me in Cambridge simply to bring me near to the very thing which draws me closest to him and directs my eyes to him most-- nature and beautiful architecture. The great wall was both of these things.
We took a toboggan ride back down. It was the epitome of dangerous Chinese tourist rides—a beat up plastic racer going down a metal chute, with no safety functions whatsoever. Its amazing the kinds of things you can bring yourself to do in the name of fun and under the blessing of lady luck. But it really was fun. I wish it could have gone faster.
We’re now sitting on a bus, taking a really long journey to this funny spa place that we’re supposed to be chilling at for the night. I just want to go swimming or play tennis or go shopping. I don’t really care for a massage. But its what a lot of people like to do. Somehow I don’t get that much pleasure out of health treatments. They are boring and there are things in the world that make me happier.
14.8.06 9pm
another totally random experience. Step into this spa and you’re immediately greeted by the most hideously garish deco—faux coroninalian pillars, gold paint, fake frescoes, you name it. A huge, mismatched mish-mash of anything and everything vaguely western looking, put together in no order whatsoever. Yet, this place is probably the epitome of luxury and grandeur for the rich in Beijing. Here, you get pampered sick. You don’t have to do anything—you don’t even have to think. Your belongings are taken from you. You strip naked, shower in front of half of china, and then get into a dressing gown that the rest of the rest of the customers are ALL wearing. You do your hair, face and skin, get a massage (the big feel—back AND front) if that’s your thing, and then go upstairs to feast on a huge spread of weird and wonderful delicacies. In your dressing gown and tracing paper underwear. With another 50 people wearing exactly the same thing. After the meal, you can get a manicure, pedicure, haircut, facial, play table tennis or pool, watch TV, watch a cabaret show. At 11pm there’s supper. Its ridiculous. But I can see how its appealing. Whatever indignity you suffer from being stripped (figuratively and literally) of your identity, you somehow redeem from the fact that this experience is strangely liberating. Everyone looks the same, nothing on you belongs to you, the staff wait upon you hand and foot, and you don’t even need to know the time. Yet, this place gives me bad vibes. I feel as if this is such a stark and sudden re-entry into the secular world of materialism, luxury, extravagance and pleasure. I feel sorry for the staff here—how they have to kowtow and pander to the client’s every need. All the boot-licking—its sad and disgusting. I’m glad we’re not staying here for long.
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