Today I went to the Temple of Heaven, which I missed last summer. It's the temple where the emperors used to pray for things like good harvests and pay respect to their ancestors. Like the Forbidden City, thankfully, it managed to escape the rebuilt touristy feel of the majority of Chinese historical landmarks.
Pretty nice, huh? There were some pretty interesting birds wandering around, too. Below is an example, but as you can see, I have neither the patience nor the camera of a nature photographer, so it's a little blurry.
Lest you think there is still even a pretense of Communism around here, check out the picture below. Even the plaque for the sacred Animal-Killing Pavilion has a corporate sponsor. The highlighted text says something like "Presented by Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Company."
But that's not the only interesting signage from today. Far from it! The next one was in front of the urinal in the bathroom. It could be more accurately translated as "One small step forward, one giant leap for culture." Who knew the Chinese had such knowledge of Neil Armstrong (or didn't know how to use urinals)?
The last picture was on a storefront, and appears to be advertising some sort of computer, maybe one to help you think about your thoughts. Whoa.
That's it for today. Thanks for all the great feedback so far!
8 comments:
That photo of the temple is wild, there is nothing in the background, no building or mountains or anything on the horizon, no horizon. It gives it quite the eerie feel.
maybe if i can't find a job ill come visit this summer. i better see pictures of you holding a panda on the next post
I think we all know why the Chinese need to step extra close to the urinals...
Also, that picture of the temple is pretty incredible, as Adrian says. I am now officially jealous of you.
I guess you guys are right about the photo; I didn't quite realize how it looked since it's not actually up that high. The temple was pretty amazing.
I think every boy's bathroom in every elementary school in the U.S. needs a batch of those urinal signs. Who'd have known the Chinese were on the leading edge of this important sanitation issue?
I just like imagining Sam in the men's room with his camera out. that's just great.
yay! keep up the blogging!
sam, did you 到底 get ziyo's cd? ill be over in BJ in two weeks, and you know i'll be trying to find that cd, and going to mao livehouse to hear a show.
and yeah we may have missed the temple of heaven the first time around, but the mimosas at the vinyard were pretty amazing too...
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