great wall

going to beijing and not visiting the great wall would be like going to the mall and not buying anything. uh, wat? lol. anyway. so our tour guide dropped us off at some place where you can go 8 towers one way and 3 towers the other way. i wanted to do as many as i could so i immediately split off from the group. i only did 7 one way but then i doubled back and did two more. it was pretty cool. most people only do the long way but going the other way was nice because the views are actually really different. the towers are built different as well. thing that surprised me the most about the great wall? how damn steep some of it is! eesh!

        

picture one: first leg. looking up the long way. picture two: window looking out. picture three: window at short way looking back towards long side. picture four: shadowy me at a tower looking down into stairwell. at nearly every tower you can step outside the wall. and at most of the towers there is a little souvenir stand. you can also take a picture wit a camel or horse. and, if you wish, you may dress up in some 'traditional' chinese outfit and pose. and yes, it really is as hokey as it seems. :) i lost that hat somewhere btw. :( i got it in taiwan the last time i went. it said ucla on it. lol.