tiabunna's photos

This thread has touched on food a few times. This restaurant in Xian (see also previous image) specialised in dumplings. Not just plain ones, but different types and all delicious and beautifully presented. Looking here back to the preparation area.

This pleasant young lady is playing a traditional two string "Chinese violin", more correctly known as an Erhu. She was providing the background music in a restaurant, very proficiently I might add. She completed her set by playing a piece called the "Csardas" , based on Hungarian folk music. You can hear a version of it played on an Erhu here (though I suggest skipping to about 3.00 to start). The latest news (8 Sept ) on IMA/ipernity is here: www.ipernity.com/group/2260604/discuss/188146

A section of the old Beijing city wall. HFF, everyone.

Here's a collage of some of the many large modern buildings in Beijing, ranging from new "Art Deco" style to the "flame" shaped building of the 2008 Olympic accommodation. If you look closely at the lower left image, you will see a KFC sign.

The view from our Beijing hotel room. Coming from a small regional town, it was a little daunting to be in a city with a population greater than the whole of Australia! But there were surprises, such as the number of trees and parks and the familiar "arches" (also several other worldwide chains).

This little "Daddy-long-legs" spider decided to drop in on me. The tricky part with this shot was that, every time I moved, it created enough draft to make it sway out of focus. :-)

Looking from the Great Wall, with the road and railway leading toward Beijing.

What's a series on China without a shot of the Great Wall? Unlike most of the promotional images, you can expect that you will be sharing your visit with quite a few other people. :-)

It was something of a surprise to find these extensive gardens in Tiananmen Square. HFF, everyone.