When in Beijing, China, one of the places that any kind of traveler MUST visit is the Great Wall of China. So, naturally, we included that in our very tight itinerary.
Unfortunately, we woke up on such a gloomy and rainy day. We wanted to interchange our itineraries and go to the Great Wall instead after three days in the hope that the weather will be better by then. But since our itineraries have been fixed and transports have been booked by our host, we had no choice but to push through with the trip to the Badaling Gate of the Great Wall.
Since the weather was worse than that in Xi’an, I made sure my son had several layers of clothing enough to keep him warm. The cold weather doesn’t really bother my son that much as he has a bit of hyperidrosis. So, yes, he appreciates the really cool weather.
During the one and half hour drive to the Badaling Gate, we were all praying that weather would be a bit better there. It’s an hour and half hour’s drive, so, maybe… Just maybe…
But it was not.
We were greeted with rain and thick fog that the visibility up on the Wall was only up to 10 to 20 meters. The temperature was at a freezing 6-degrees.
Not wanting to walk through the Wall at the onset of rain, we decided to eat lunch at one of the restaurants lined up near the parking lot. When we finished and the weather hasn’t cleared up even for just a bit, we decided to head on and buy ourselves a ticket.
While climbing up the concrete steps, Mokong said that he thinks his feet were wet. I ignored it. I had too much to consider as we were walking – my camera, our raincoats, our umbrella, etc. Even him. And I can’t deal with a “I think my feet are wet” comment.
So we went ahead with the tour and the trek and the picture-taking up on the Wall, amidst the heavy rain, the thick fog and the very cold weather. Since we never really saw the Great Wall in its grandness, we coined it as The Good Wall of China. Still, we had a lot of fun taking pictures… of whatever we can see.
After our Great, err, Good Wall tour, we went straight to the Underground Palace to see some of the Ming Tombs.
We got home around 9pm. While helping Mokong undress, I realized that his feet were indeed wet. His shoes were wet, and so were his socks. Good thing he wore two layers of thick socks. The first pair, the outer layer, was really, really wet. But the second pair, the inner layer, was half-wet half-dry. Still, it must have been really cold for his feet.
Oh, yes, my son has endured his cold feet while we toured the Good Wall and the Underground Palace. For about 8 hours, I never heard him complain except for the time when he told me that he thinks his feet were wet. He complained that he was tired, but so did we. In fact, we complained more than he ever did that day. But, he never said anything more about his cold, wet feet. He didn’t even go into any tantrums. He just told me later on that he wished we could go home sooner while we were touring.
It was a super boo-boo moment for me, as a Mom. I felt I wasn’t able to take care of my son as much as I should. I apologized to him, hugged him and promised him that the next time I dismiss a comment from him, he should repeat it over and over again until I realize that whatever he says is also important.
That’s my Mokong, a good boy. A good traveler.
Awww… I should also remember to listen to what my baby says. Anyhoo, your son is very lucky to get to travel to different places — it’s a form of education, and it will give him a very broad view of the world in general.
yup, totally agree with you. of all the places that we’ve been to, my son remembers the Great Wall the most because he reads about them in his books
Wow. That was really cool. Lucky are the kids these days. Hehe. I wish to see the great wall, too!
By the way, can we exchange links?
hi, lizzie! surely… will add you up
Wow what a good boy you have!! I’ll remember this too ..to listen to my boy all the time. Now he’s a baby ang hirap pa eh…di nya pa ma i communicate what he wants
true, hirap talaga to bring kids during a trip. i’m so blessed talaga ‘coz i don’t have any problems with my son while travelling
no doubt, mokong is super cool when it comes to travelling ….. he’s everyone’s excuse whenever one needs to rest or hungry (“let’s rest, mokong might be tired already”; ‘let’s eat, mokong must be hungry by now” …. when in fact the titas are the one who really need the break …. hahaha! we love you moks! =)
hahaha! ginawa pang dahilan si moks
btw, mukha lang talaga tayong mga plastic na basura sa pix ….. hahaha!
Ang swerte naman ni Mokong, nakapag Great Wall na
hehe! nakarating nga… ganyan naman ang itsura
you guys are adorable!!
your son is awesome!! what a trooper he is!
@ Jenjenk – thanks!
lovet sis! sayang nga dahil sa weather but i love the fact that u got to the great wall na. in the future talaga, pupuntahan ko yan! haha
@ dreamworld traveler – thanks! actually, we were able to go back on our last day in beijing. it was a sunny day. will post it soon
U forgot to mention that you made him wear plastic as socks the next time we went out para di na na mabasa
@ Tita Os – eh kase, next day na yun. LOL. wala nang kinalaman sa great wall…
ouch sayang ang trip!
then again, when you’re traveling with friends, kahit ano pa yan, laging masaya! lol 
you know sis, kaya hindi na nagcomplain pa si mokong kasi alam nya na madami ka iniintindi that time. you’re so lucky to have him as your son. sobrang love ka nya
@ gie – thanks! true, alam din kase nyang naha-harass na rin ako. buti na lang, understanding sya
haha ang cute ng blogpost na to.. Swerte naman ni mokong nakapag great wall!
@ juanderfulpinoy – thanks! good thing there’s a cebupac sale for china, we were able to buy tickets to china very cheaply.
Wow, I’ve always dreamed of putting up a mother daughter travel blog as soon as she’s able to, too. I have so many mommy booboos myself. Sometimes I just dont tell anybody about it. lol. Or else the DSWD would be on my tail.
Great post and Great blog!
@ Eileen – thanks! go & set-up your mother-daughter travel blog. i’m sure that will be superb
Bait ni Mokong! My gulay, gininaw ako sa photos ;p
WOW, what a great opportunity to see the wall in mist and rain – I don’t think I’ve seen too many other photos of it like this! But you won’t be forgetting this trip, will you?!?!
Congratulations for raising such a good, uncomplaining son! They come rare these days, you know.