When you live on the other side of the world from your family, it makes it a bit difficult to see each other. And, when you’re a mama’s boy like me, that can be a bit trying at times. A few months ago, I was experiencing a real bout of homesickness. Not because my family wasn’t here but due to lots of other things such as life decisions and illnesses. As any good son should, my parents were consulted. In passing my mom said she got a deal alert for a cheap flight to Beijing. Then a week or so later, she tells me she bought a ticket. What!? I was so excited.
A few weeks later, I got to spend a week showing my mom around this fantastic city I call home. I gave her the Beijing Grand Tour. We had an enjoyable albeit short time together in Beijing. It helps when you live in a city full of history and cultural treasures.
Almost everything we did, I had done before including the Summer Palace, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, and Great Wall. However, doing the Great Wall on a clear day is spectacular, way better than my first visit. We also did some firsts for me that I have wanted to do since my first visit to Beijing five years ago—going inside the Bird’s Nest, attending a performance at the National Center for the Performing Arts, and ascending the CCTV Tower. All of which I would highly recommend.
We went shopping where I showed her how to haggle. We also went to the Beijing Botanical Gardens. It was nice, but so far out of the way and not that spectacular. Especially, when there are closer gardens that are much more beautiful though not as extensive. The desert exhibit did make me pine a bit for the Scottsdale spring I was missing.
I’ll share a bit about some of our adventures in following posts. Someday, I hope to give all of my family the Beijing tour and to share more of this marvelous country with them. Next summer, my mom will be back in China traveling with the Texas Boys Choir, and my dad will probably accompany them. Maybe I’ll have a chance to share more then. Until then, I’ll keep experiencing more, so I have more to share.
