Getting back to normal after China:)
August 31, 2013
Sorry to repeat myself;) From the left: Kim Ga-Young, Alisom Fisher, Line Kjørsvik, Pan Xiaoting, Fu Xiaofang, Liu Sasha, Ine Helvik, Shu Han Chang , Cha Yu Ram
I have been home for almost three weeks now, and finally I had the time to sit down and and finish the trip. I have been very busy after coming home, opening the poolhall after the summer break and also catching up with other work, Now, I am getting back in to my normal rhythm and have some spare time to follow up my blog:)
After the tournament Lyndall Hulley, Taylor Meyer, Alison Chang and myself went to Beijing for 1,5 days. We had a great time and found time to visit the Temple of heaven, Forbidden City, The Great Wall (Mutianyu), Beihai Park Jingshan park and Ghost street.We figured out that we walked for 10 hours in one day! We started the day on the wall, then went to the Forbidden Ciy, Beihai park, Jinshan park and fiinished on Ghost street with chili dinner. We started the day at 7 am, but still…. close to 35 degrees.. I almost forgot the Dadong restaurant and their famous Peking Duck! That is a must when you are in Beijing:)
I have a bunch of photos, some by me and some by Alison Chang. I will post them all, fisrt the photos from Shenyang taken during the torunament, then our oturist trip to Beijing. Enjoy:)
Shenyang:
Opening ceremony, serious stuff:)
The draw as it was presented to the players. Different system from what I am used to:)
Every day they put up this list for the practice tables. First come first serve. The Qualifiers and the main event shared the same 4 tables, it was kind of busy at times…
The Tv table ( this is were the big banner was displayed, on the outside) This is the semi with Alison Fisher on the right playing Han Yu.
The main venue. The tables were placed in the hall, on a big cross. 7 tables one way and 8 the other way. Low ceiling, soooo warm, sweat dripping. We still love it…
DumplingS!! Suzette Booyens, Myself, Ina Kaplan, Lyndall Hulley, Taylor Meyer and Jasmin Ouschan and Alison Chang.
The dumpling restaurant. Fresh food is fresh food…
The dumpling restaurant.
The dumpling restaurant. I am not sure what this is, but is is fresh….
The dumpling restaurant. With frogs. I do not understand why they just sit there. They are alive and free, JUMP ALREADY!!!
My last day in Shenyang, have you ever seen grapes that big???
FROM BEIJING:
Our bacpacker hostel, Downtown Backpackers
We had a room with skylight… Quite different from the 50 sqm suite in Shenyang.. But clean and cheap:)
The reception:)
Temple of Heaven. Lyndall Hulley, Myself and Taylor Meyer on the meridian. Alison Chang behind the camera:)
Dadong restaurant. A MUST in Beijing:)
Dadong restaurant. Waiting for the duck:)
Dadong Restaurant. Finally the duck arrived, with a chef..
The Great Wall
The Great Wall. This is the cart we took up to the wall
Taylor Meyer and I in the cart on our way up
The Great Wall. Alison Chang and I.. and Taylor Meyer in the corner:)
FUN!! The toboggan we went on to get down from the wall. We had to go back up and take it down for a second time. Yeay
More FUN! This is how we got back up to take the toboggan back down. Adrenalin kick! Lyndall Hulley and Taylor Meyer in the cart behind us:)
T
Tiananmen square. Taylor Meyer. myself, Alison Chang and Lyndall Hulley. In 35 degrees.. Not easy being a Norwegian on this country..
Forbidden City. We are walking under the umbrellas. The sun was unbearable so we had to do something
Forbidden City, Impressive stuff
Forbidden city, inside on of the houses
Forbidden City..
Standing in the Forbidden City, looking at our next stop Jingshan park
Jingshan park, on our way to the top. How many steps can you climb in one day….
Finally on the top of Jingshan park! Now you realize the size of the Forbidden City. Amazing
After wlaking down from Jongshan to Beihai park, we decided enough is enough. Renting a boat was the solution
We decided on the fast boat:)
Ghost street, were I ended my Beijing trip this time. Great food (hot!) and all the lanterns really look nice. Perfect way to end a long day:)
If you ever go to Beijing I can recommend visiting the places I went to. It is an amazing city and I am sure you can stay for a month and still not see it all. The DownTown backpackers were friendly, clean and cheap and a new experience for me. You get very accustomed to stay in 5 star hotels when you play tournaments, good to land on your feet before returning home. I would not stay here for a tournament, but as a tourist, no problem.
Until next time, take care:)
Ine:)
Ine Helvik 
Great report and ditto pictures. I took the liberty of downloading several. You really seem to enjoy the moments. 🙂
Dad