Tian Di Yi Jia farewell

The lavish farewell dinner for Walti and mom was held at Tian Di Yi Jia, a wonderful oasis in the center of Beijing. From the noble and serene surroundings adjacent to the Forbidden City to the nuanced modern Chinese cuisine and tasteful decor, the whole experience was exquisite - not to mention the company (Walti, mom, Lina and me)!

The week went by like the blink of an eye, and many noteworthy sights - like the Summer Palace or Temple of Heaven - will have to wait for another visit. On the other hand, the visitors were able to experience the price extremes of Beijing dining, take a phenomenal hike on the Great Wall, gain some introductory bargaining experience - gotta love the stuffed panda for less than $2! - and begin to learn some of China's long, fascinating history.

It was sad to say goodbye to Walti at the airport this afternoon, but my 2-month stay is rapidly coming to an end, and I will be back home in NY in only two weeks...