Beijing Day 1: Confuscious Temple, Lama Temple, Birds Nest, Silk Factory, Pearl Market, Hou Hai Area

Today we met up with our tour guide Candy and driver Mr. Wong. Candy told us how today would go and we would see several places. It was very evident from early on in the drive that we should be thankful for our driver. You literally risk your neck walking and driving. Bill later told me the highest pedestrian deaths are in China.
Fist we stopped at the Confuscious Temple. It was very beautiful. We then went next door to see the university that had been converted into a temple. The paintings, carvings and detail work was beautiful. This morning it was chilly and I was glad to be wearing long sleeves.
Next we went to the Lama Temple. It used to be the residence of two emperors. The son of the 1st emperor changed the residence to a Buddhist temple in hopes of being a long ruler of China as well as gaining favor with Tebet. We were not allowed to take photos of all of the Buddhas we saw. They were amazing. There was one that was 18 meters tall and carved from one tree. It was a sight to see.
After the temples we went to the Olympic village. There is nothing really to see other than the structures. The birds nest and the water cube are no longer used for anything.
For lunch we went to a dim sum restaurant. Candy ordered for us. The food was amazing. I am not sure I would have ordered any of it for myself, but having a local order was great because she knew all the good stuff to get. I wish I would have taken pictures of what we ate, there was a red chili noodle dish, a pork noodle dish, a sweet sticky dim sum, a red bean sweet dim sum, garlic fried dumpling, a pork egg patty and broccoli in soy sauce.
Afterwards Mr. Wong dropped us off at a silk factory. We learned about the life cycle of a silk worm and how they obtain the silk thread. It was neat watching them work and how it all happens. Did you know that sometimes in that cacoon, there is a male and female worm mating the same time they spin their cacoon. Their silk thread is so intertwined you can not separate it. So they pull on it and spread it out to make a silk comforter.
Bill and I bought a beautiful silk duvet cover. The quality will last forever, that's what they say.
After the silk factory we went to the pearl market. It has little to do with pearls and a lot to do with knock offs. I was literally assaulted as they tried to make a sale. Not my fav thing. I wanted out. We walked around a little and left.
We took a cab with Candy. She got out half way and took the bus home. Our cab ride home only cost us $5. And we were in the cab more than 30 mins.
Back at the hotel I took a nap as Bill watched TV. At 6:30pm we got ready to go out to an area called Huo Hai. We took a cab there hoping he knew where we wanted to go. We were told there was a lake.
We are not sure we made it to the right place, but the cabby dropped us off at a nice lake area surrounded by restaurants. First we walked the whole lake and then stopped for some dinner. Nothing strange or fantastic to write about. Good food and good drinks.
We took a cab home, Bill slept the whole way home.
It was a great first day! We saw some neat things. Also experienced some culture. It is hard not speaking to the Chinese in the little Japanese that I know. The two cultures are SO different. Tomorrow my parents arrive at noon. Should be another great day!