Walling out the Mongols

Beijing is very hot in August.  Peter, our tour guide, brought us to visit a section of the Great of China called Mutianyu about 1.5 hours drive and about 70 m NE of Beijing.  This section of the Great Wall is said to be one of the best preserved and served as the northern barrier defending against the nomadic and warring lords from the North.  The alternative section to visit is called Bedaling, which is a lot closer to Beijing but can be very crowded during the tourist season.

Built on top of the mountains, the Great Wall in Mutianyu forms an impenetrable spine in an already difficult terrain to cross.  The whole scenery from the top is breath taking.  Mutianyu with its rugged mountains and deep valleys is covered by thick forest and lush green.  We took a chairlift to go up the Great Wall from the valley and descended using a wheeled-slide or known as toboggan down the mountain along a winding route.  Walking along the Great Wall from one watchtower to the next can be quite daunting especially if the elevations differ greatly.  It only made us to realize even more that the Great Wall is a real challenging masterpiece especially considering constructions in the past relies on manual and backbreaking labour. 

Selamat Hari Raya Maaf Zahir & Batin

Two years have passed since my last entry.  I have now moved on to a new phase in my career. Those past two years have been very interesting. I felt very fortunate, privilege and truly humble for the opportunity given and entrusted. I gave my best and worked tiredly and hopefully it has led to something good for our beloved country.  And at the same time I want to convey my sincere thanks to all my colleagues and everyone that I have worked with in the last two years and helped me along the day. I pray and wish them all the success in their lives and career.  On the occasion of the Hari Raya, my family and me would like to wish everyone who celebrates Hari Raya Maaf Zahir & Batin.

Now I am taking a short break before I assume my new role.