Beijing China - Tian'anmen Square and surrounds

A fast and furious trip but I was so close I was committed to finding time to at least get a taste of the Square and a bit of the history. Many of the key things are all located together so I had a full experience with the time I had.
I didn't expect the square to be as big as it was. The locals I met with while here told me it isn't as big as it used to be and it is now all fenced in as well. That didn't diminish the openness and grandness of the space - the Mao memorial takes a big chunk of the space. And they need it all to host the amazing amount of people that were there wandering around on a Tuesday morning.
There are certainly many new structures in the area and plenty of old items as well. But then you start to see structures and items that go back to BC up to the present. Pretty amazing it is all there and continues to be maintained.

Beijing China - Vehicles everywhere but also a great spot to walk

I wasn't quite sure what to expect when I arrived at Beijing. As my previous post indicated I found the airport over the top. It should have been my first indication that the Chinese have always had large scope as part of their vision when they take on large projects. When you get to the Forbidden City you realize that they have had large scope and vision for a very long, long time.
As the oldest know City in the world it is something to see. It is also as new and flashy as any modern City - building upon building as you roll along the ring roads that catch your eye - for better or worse but certainly eye catching.
I was staying in a high rise hotel at a major intersection. 24 hour a day traffic - a car city. A very safe place to be so I took off to see what was out there behind the miles of new towers. The city is mostly a grid, even in the back streets, so it is very easy to navigate. It was great to wander the neighborhood near me and experience a bit of the real Beijing - where the Chinese people live and operate every day.
Just like the rest of us they get up, eat breakfast, get everyone off to school and work and get on with life. Other than local variances we are all very much the same - no matter what government structure that hangs over us.
And I always marvel that the most enterprising people seem to appear and be working in the most non-capitalistic places - lessons for all of us.

Beijing China - WOW is not my usual airport experience

I have seen more airports than most and don't usually pay much attention to them as I wander through.
I arrived in Beijing in the evening and was immediately struck by the shear size and the vast openness - with the lights glittering above it almost felt like we were under a gold colored sky. I don't think any photos can give you the sense of the size or even the feeling it gives you as you wander through.
And after the train ride to the main terminal I got to the even bigger and grander feeling experience - WOW!

Tokyo Japan - Central Park outside my door

Across the street from the hotel was Central Park. A beautiful green spot surrounded by high rise towers. Also a homeless village has developed throughout the wooded areas in the park.
It also serves host to a very famous shrine in honor of those fallen in the World War.
A great way to start off a Sunday morning...before the next wave of storms arrive.
And we are getting ready for another wedding in the lobby this morning as well.

Tokyo - Misty and Rainy...but the lobby had plenty going on

It has been either raining or misting since I arrived. Tried to get out and wander between storms and always arrived back wet.
But each time I wandered back the lobby of the hotel was full of activity. Friday night we had an Opera singer. And today I ran across 3 wedding ceremonies in the center of the lobby. It is a lovely spot but not the typical "church" approach that Americans usually opt for.