Visiting the other only Asian-wonder of the world

A few years ago after I have visited the Taj Mahal in India, I told myself I will one day step foot in the other wonder of the world that is in Asia-the Great Wall of Beijing. Since then I have been building up my excitement to such height that when I managed to reach the Great Wall (from the Badaling station two weeks ago, to be exact last 27 November), I felt a little bit disappointed. The feeling I had when I stepped inside the gate and I first saw the Taj Mahal was so overwhelming and so magical that I was quite surprised that those same feelings were absent when I climbed the Great Wall. And I wondered to myself, is this it? Is this THE GREAT WALL of CHINA? I even thought that I will not be able to climb it to the top as I was imagining that the height will be too much for me and my back. But lo and behold, I managed to climb the steep steps. And then as I started to get near the top, all I could see was the de-forested mountains across with no vegetation whatsoever. The only thing I found amazing was when I saw a train got inside one side of the mountain and then I waited till it came out on the other side. And from the height I was viewing it, the train looked one of those that my nephew Carl likes to play.

I felt more emotional when I was at the Tiananmen Square, especially when at some point, I found myself in front of a line (like in rallies and demonstrations) and there were soldiers (v serious looking Chinese soldiers) and they were not allowing us to pass the gate so we could go out of the square. For a while I thought to myself, what the hell did I let myself in for here? I should have walked faster before the gate was closed. What if they will not open again the gate? What if all those people behind me start to get fidgety and unruly? I dont think I will be able to take cover anywhere. Nor would I be able to understand any instructions at all to take cover if anything unruly suddenly happens. All these crazy thoughts ran through my mind as I remembered what has happened back in 1989 right in that same square where I was standing.

After I managed to get out of that square and had gone back to the hotel, I thought phew, that was indeed an experience to remember. Unfortunately, I have no picture to show about this as the soldier I was trying to ask to take a photo of me said he cannot do it and the Chinese lady beside me at the front line also said no.

Oh well, at least I can tick off the Great Wall from my list of places to visit. Hmmm...which of the 5 other wonders of the world should I dream about now? Stonehenge in the UK perhaps? LOL! What say you my bao bei?