Next stop is…BEIJING!!!

 

 

Today, my friends, I will tell you a fairy tale…a new one, real one, that happened with me just recently, about a month ago. Actually, it’ll be an opening for my Asian story that I promised to write about. I’ll try to tell everything briefly (don’t trust myself when I say such things)), that I won’t become like Scheherazade with her thousands stories (even though they were interesting and helped to save her life and become a happy woman). 

And so…the first part of my fairy tale is dedicated to Beijing, because it was the city that opened my astonishing voyage.

Obviously, the city has a great history behind it, that makes it a bit difficult for me to write today, because omission of certain historical facts may be perceived as a lack of respect from my side. But at the same time, my blog is not unlimited ​​and going into details of the story doesn’t fit my plans (not today, at least). Therefore , as an aperitif to our big lunch/dinner (as it’s more suitable for you) I will say that “Beijing” is composed of two Chinese characters ‘bei’ (北), which translates as ‘north’ and ‘jing’ (京), which translates as “capital”. Literal meaning of Beijing – northern capital . For us, Russians, it’s Saint-Petersburg is a nortern capital, sorry Beijing)) 

Beijing National Airport is the second bussiest airport in the world (after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta ( U.S. state of Georgia)) for passenger traffic and congestion. According to the official 2006 census (I believe the statistics has not changed incredibly for the last 7 years) the most popular surname among the inhabitants of the town was the surname Wang . I don’t think it’s historical facts, that can really illustrate the power and greatness of the city, but my blog is not about that  anyway.

And now, after a short introduction, lets back to a fairyland of Cinderella. So, I arrived in Beijing. I should mention that I wasn’t alone, but with a cute lady in her early 25s)) , who I like to call “Mum”, but even though my blog is pretty personal and sincere, I still try to avoid writing much about my relatives and friends, and, consequently, as this story goes on, I will use more pronoun “I” (instead of “we”) , simply because my family – it’s personal for me, that I would like to leave unsaid , not open to the public gaze of curious, beautiful eyes. Maybe I am a bit strange but I am who I am))

The language barrier 

So BEIJING … I have an impression that I am about to start writing my article for the third time today and it’s only an endless introduction going on here))) 

Being such a positive person I want to start with the fly in the ointment))) to the city’s residents. And I am really sorry about it, in advance. My problem is that I was able to visit the only one attraction during those 8 hours that I was there, and I’m not a turtle, I move quickly. Especially when I have a very busy schedule I am like a meteor, but how difficult it was to navigate in Beijing, while almost nobody could speak English (though we have pretty same situation in Russia). As I jokingly (with a big exaggeration) say ” I speak English perfectly “) ) ). Anyway, I am always sure that I’ll find what I am looking for because I speak English, but it was different in Beijing…When I was asking: «Excuse me, could you please help me? Do you know how to get to the Great Wall of China?” I usually got an answer like this: “Oh tse, nishou sama uate emputo nor HuaShen chyuon na kul.” I know, it’s a bit strange that I could not understand what was said to me. I was asking myself: “How?? How does this city host the Olympic Games in 2008?” Or, perhaps, the whole world speaks Chinese, and the problem is just me. Anyway, I was amused by the situation and, according to a statement “people who laugh more live longer”, I extended the life on this trip quite a lot (while laughing), so thank you very much for the people I met in Beijing. At some point I felt like a Hoax-show’s participant  while asking the Chinese a way. They couldn’t really say anything but were showing me the direction with a hand and, just in case, after a few meters I was asking the same question and direction another local resident, and he/she was showing me the opposite direction from where I had just come. Perhaps it was funny and I must say, I did laugh. From this story I can make the following conclusions, contradictory to each other. The first one is that  my experience illustrated that knowledge of English is not a big advantage while travelling in China, therefore it’s maybe better to visit other countries or even to learn Chinese. The second conclusion is quite a contrary one. I know a lot of people who do not speak the international language at all and feel all right going abroad, using only gesture language, which means that you do not get deprived of any benefits (that English-speaking travelers have), so welcome to Beijing! Although, who knows – maybe there are only 100 people out of 20 million living there, who don’t speak English and I was lucky enough to meet this hundred))) 

The Great Wall of China

My big wish was to go to the Great Wall of China in Beijing. Of course, I wouldn’t mind to  capture the EiffelTower in the same touristic plan, but apparently “nothing is impossible” doesn’t work always. What’s more, Beijing and Paris are still to be different cities) ) ) .

As I said earlier, finding that cherished wonder of the world wasn’t that easy and it is not because cherries and miracles were in shortage. No, everything was fine. However, it would be much better if only I knew Chinese language (although I think it would have provided several years of torment before, if I decided to learn this really hard language). I can imagine – Cinderella, speaking Chinese. That would be fun) )

I want to make a point here – if you are an independent tourist, you’ll better be prepared to go to the Wall, like, for instance, knowing which route to take, varieties in prices, how to get there, which part of the Wall you need, etc. I had a slightly sad experience in search of the wall as a local taxi driver himself was not sure exactly where to go and even when we came to the most coveted and popular attraction, he could not drive up to the gate, so I was offered to go there on foot. Well, thank you for this help, at least.
The walking way to the Wall also didn’t  inspire much as it was laid along kind of forest, trails, some strange terrains and the thought was no longer about getting to the miracle of China, but about how to then find a way out of this miracle and catch flight at the airport. Anyway, at some point in time, all the stress was left behind, and in front of me appeared the Great Wall of China! It was doubly beautiful, partly because of the difficulties that have been experienced earlier in the search of this miracle place.

I’ll tell you a little about the mind-blowing experience I had there. Obviously, the wall itself was stunning and powerful. But it looked even more beautiful due to the recently awakened in the morning, nature, and slightly enveloping the landscape misty haze. It was magical! It became even more powerful while adding the feeling that you “touch”  the ancient, cherished, world-famous miracle. It was too much written, said, shown about it, and now you are a piece of history, past and present, now and then. It is unbelievable!

And some facts:
– The Great Wall of China was built about 2000 years ago in order to protect the land (particularly agriculture) from enemies as well as a barrier to local residents’s movement from the empire;
– there were over 1 000 000 people (prisoners peasants, soldiers) who attended the building process of  the wall’s structure. About 1,000 of those people were killed during the construction of buildings;
– Earlier this wonder of the world referred to as “The Ten-Thousand-Li-Long Wall” that referred to the structure’s length (1 Li = 500 m);
– Today the Wall divided into 4 sections: Badaling, Mutianyu, Simatai and Juyongguan.
I was lucky to visit  the part called Badaling (as it was planned). It is believed the area is good for tourists named Natasha (or Cinderella), who arrived from Siberia and who also loves ballroom dancing … (kidding, of course).

Of course, I was struck by its beauty (the wall I mean), majesty and length, as well as … curvature. The thing is that the stage which tourists used for descending from the wall were really crooked, angled, somewhere even erased. Thus, the parting with the object of great beauty was a bit complicated (maybe it’s a special trick by the Chinese sages that prevents tourists from leaving this popular place. The photo above proves my words, where you can see a girl sloping down the stairs and as her feet bent. Imagine how I risked my life, when taking a photo during the descent. It’s all for the blog and my loveliest readers!))

I also noticed that many bricks of the wall, were inscribed with some characters, words, signs. Alas, I did not have free time for leaving my own ” footprint” in the form of an inscription “Cinderella of Westminster was here “))

In general, the impressions of the seen were incredibly awesome! This is a must see and for sure it’s better to experience yourself than to read many times from different sources. 

The way back, from the wall’s part called “Badaling” to the city, took about an hour, maybe a bit more. I cannot say exactly now, but I know that it was not as short as I would like it to be (especially when you can spend less than a day in the city and each second becomes priceless). By the way, this touristic attraction (meaning the wall) has its own bus station and you can easily reach the city from there, at the same time you buy a ticket on the bus, which, in my opinion, is very convenient.

Another important point of “I love Beijing” programme was tasting Beijing duck, but, alas, when there are scales appered in front of my eyes, where there is a world-famous dish (duck) on one half, and on the other one is a flight (in addition with Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong), the second option outweighed and the duck remained live… ( I want to believe so ) ). Thus, the airline saved an innocent soul!

Also, on the way to the airport, I was able to taste a fruit skewers (unfortunately, I have no idea how it’s called there, in Beijing) . The dessert was consist of some pieces of kiwi and sour red apples (probably local harvest), caramelized, skewered on a wooden stick (the photo above). I would advice to try it! (Of course, if you don’t have that difficult choice between the food and an aircraft) ) ) .

In conclusion, I would like to say that I, personally, didn’t like Beijing as much as I liked other cities that I visited in December 2013, but I can convince that it is wrong to judge a city (or even a country) by only 8 hours spent there (4 hours of which were spent on transportation anyway). I should also consider how tired I was after a long flight when arrived to China. Anyway, sincerely apologize to Beijing and people who love the city ! In my case it happened this way…

I may sound a bit sad and pessimistic but it’s not like that! I am still to be very happy and will then provide some colourful and lovely posts here! See you soon, dear readers!

In the wonderful world of photography!

Hello my dears! Hope you are all feeling fabulous!

I am here today to tell you about my special day and I would like to start with a quote by Brad Garrett (an American actor and stand-up comedian):

“You take away all the other luxuries in life, and if you can make someone smile and laugh, you have given the most special gift: happiness” ©

 I absolutely agree with this statement and I am always for happiness and happiness! Nothing else matters! Also, I had my birthday on the 12 of October and that’s why I’ll try to make my post today a very happy and a bright one!

So…my birthday (not the 100^th but I am slowly, slowly getting there)). To be honest, it was a difficult thing to make a programme as it happens that last years I celebrated “the process of getting older” abroad and had really amazing things to do, to see, feel and touch. And here I am – in the middle of nowhere. I was going to pretend it’s an absolutely ordinary day and do nothing or work…But then I wouldn’t be a real Cinderella. Well, there is a hard work in her story but we shouldn’t forget about those magical moments in the fairy tale! So I got a kind of present which was a photoshoot in a lovely place called “fashion box”. Isn’t it lovely to celebrate a birthday in a box?))) Apart from this event I had some others while also meeting with my loved ones but I don’t really like to mention my friends here as I won’t be able to mention all of them anyway and I don’t want to let anyone down…so going to tell about my experience “being  a model” (even for a couple of hours)

To start with, I was asked to bring about 4-5 costumes (outlooks), I selected them in advance and brought even more while going there with 2 luggages and a bag! I laughed a lot about it. It looked like I was moving to another part of the world))

One of the photographers saw my stuff and asked me if I just came from Egypt (for those who are not familiar with Russian “tradition” – a lot of our citizens go to Egypt or Turkey and buy a lot of clothes there). Anyway, I went to Egypt only once and it was 10 years ago so if I was coming to the studio from that hot country, that would be one of the longest trip I’ve ever had so far:))…

And then the fun begins. I got introduced to an absolutely lovely visagist called Alyona. She didn’t look posh, overdressed and that I liked! She was just like me – with no make-up, simple clothes, so I felt relaxed and good. In addition to that, she was such a friendly and smiling person. I got on well with her and we talked a lot during my make-up and hair-styling session. As I was sitting right in front of a mirror I could see the big transformation! It was almost like in the fairytale but instead of the God-mother I had my visagist and I wasn’t preparing to go to a ball but to a photoshoot))

After my face and hair were done, I met my photographer. I was really happy that I was going to “work” with him because there were different photographers and I saw that one at first and knew – I needed to have this experience with this professional!

The whole photoshoot was really cool and great! I was so happy I found this event as a part of celebrating my old age). My photographer’s name was Oleg Evseev and he was such a sunny, friendly and interesting person to talk to. I actually felt that I talked so much that the information I said there was enough for writing a new blog))) As we were working with the curtains closed and other people couldn’t see us, I bet they were thinking that Oleg put a radio on but it was just me (Radio Nata)).

The problem of me being photographed was that I couldn’t relax and had a tense face at first. That was a bit strange because I am actually a very open person and not the one who gets stress while meeting new people.

What I really liked about that birthday-experience that Oleg were suggesting me a lot of things, face-expressions, positions, places and other things in order to have as better result as we could. And all the lights and shadows he made…I felt that I was by one side with a magician of photography! We also joked and laughed a lot (and with the visagist as well) and I believe that the best experience is the one that included fun!

I am not sure what else I want to say and share. It happened more than a week ago but I am still overwhelmed with wonderful emotions! That day was a really special for me and apart from having such a photoshoot for the first time in my life, I also met incredible people there and that just another evidence of life being such a gift no matter where you are! What’s more I was left with 111 stunning photos which will be a lovely memory for me.

And now I want to return to the quote I used at the very beginning of this post and say – I didn’t have luxury presents on my day but I smiled and laughed a lot (actually I do it every single day) and I do hope I also bring some happiness to the people around me and then the world gets brighter and more enjoyable! Lets smile and laugh together, lovely people! 

With the most wonderful wishes to everyone, from Russia!

A present from the sky

Russian Natasha is writing from Russia today but upcoming stories in my blog will be about virgin India and modern Dubai as I just came from those fairy-tales. It is life – sometimes a clock needs to ring 12 o’clock at night and the fairy-tale has to be finished but surely not for a long time as another miracle is always about to happen.

Last time I promised to tell you about my incredibly wonderful 8^th of March. It was men’s favourite day because they usually should be nice to their wives, daughters, sisters, mothers, etc.

Anyway, that day I was in Varkala which is situated in the south of India. I wasn’t planning to make it a great day of my life but sometimes everything is already planned without your efforts. One of my friends invited me to a dynamic meditation which wasn’t far away from us, therefore I agreed. I didn’t know what was it about, but being a naive Cinderella, of course, I imagined a ball with a prince (that’s what I always do when I don’t know the details. If someone invites me to Summit 20 – it’s a ball with a prince, Oscar Ceremony – a ball with a prince, Formula 1 – a ball with a prince…life is easier when you always think about the only thing)). Anyway, it wasn’t a ball, there was not a prince, but it was marvelous! I am not sure what to say and how to explain, but I will try to give you some flavor of it…

The place we went to, was on a cliff with a lovely house and a garden full of palms and other exotic plants. Everything looked lovely and picturesque. What’s more there was a stunning view on the powerful endless ocean from the cliff. I am not sure how many people came to experience bliss dance but I suppose there were around 20 of us, majority of whom were women. I think men simply preferred to stay inside their houses at this day as it was 8^th of March – women’s day – such a dangerous point in the calendar))). Our bliss DJ was a Finnish man coming from Amsterdam. Apart from his music and what he did for us, I could also feel that he was an absolutely lovely person. His energetic could not leave you unimpressed.  He was also a good example of showing his dedication to the music, sometimes he danced with all of us and we saw this joyfulness and there wasn’t a chance to resist the celebration of the rhythm.

I know many of you reading my post will not understand why I marked this day and the event itself as a special one. I think I did so because of the atmosphere. The music was selected specially to awake you up I would say, to make you feel the life. It was a salad of different kinds of music and all of them collaborated with the nature around. I felt enormous happiness inside, while moving near palms and observing the ocean. Everyone was free and could dance, shout, lie down, etc. It’s better to experience once than talk many times (but you know my logic which doesn’t exist))) – therefore I am writing and describing it here, in my blog). In addition to all that beauty, my friend I came with, had couple of minutes joining the musical dish while was playing a flute. That was real magic!

There was another miracle that happened at the bliss dance. Maybe not all of you know, but my dream about London became truth and for now I am dreaming to speak French and to work and live in Paris for some time. I already know the alphabet)) so I suppose a week more and I will speak the language fluently)). One interesting thing was that majority of soul dancers were French there and another thing – when I was lying down on the ground, listening to a very slow and melodic song, I was looking at the sky through leaves of a palm that was near me. There were a lot of bright stars in the sky and I decided to make a wish. I chose one star and said to myself that it was Paris and I should take this sky-object with me, which will help me to make my dream as a reality and I did so. I actually rose my hand and moved it softly and plastic with a rhythm of the melody, I took the star and imagined it was my Paris (not like I took the whole city for myself, I just took my wish from the sky). I could not believe my eyes what happened next. The clouds covered that part of the sky where I grabbed that lovely smiling star! What a coincidence! First of all, I was scared about it but then realized that the sky gave it to me and I should know and feel that this star that symbolizes Paris will be always with me!

That how I spent my 8^th day of the third month of 2013^th year.

I wish you to find your own bright star and keep it in your memory, heart and soul! All the best, my dear friends!

Combination of life and magic.

After such a long time keeping the silence (it wasn’t “the silence of the lambs” because I couldn’t find enough money for Anthony Hopkins this time), I am taking my blog to Mozambique today where northern people of the country clap hands three times before saying hello! I suppose it is a musical rhythmical greeting then. So clap, clap, clap and HELLO everyone!

Today I am going to tell you about one of the happiest days I have ever had. It might be difficult to explain what I felt and experienced, but I will try my best.

My very stunning day happened on 02.09.2012. I woke up and it was already an amazing day as every single day when you wake up and realize that you are still alive and can breathe the air full of love and happiness.

On that day (second day of the autumn) everything was as clear and obvious as it should be: Greenland was green, Iceland was full of ice (I suppose), all the KFC workers had a beard and a similar face to the one in the logo, Tom Cruise was on a mission that was possible only to him, and finally, there was a Circus day on Piccadilly Circus! Of course, being a very active girl I needed to participate in something and as Tom Cruise didn’t call me (I waited till the very last minute), I decided to go and see the circus with my friends (as usual it was an international salad of Russian, Spanish and French ingredients. I mean my friends).

We met around 4pm I suppose and discovered a lot of interesting things such as dancing performances, small theatres on the street, acrobats, beautiful opera singers and so on. It was full of marvelous spectacles; risk and fun were in the air. However, we were all waiting for 8pm and a very extraordinary show performed by a French Circus which was Les Studios des Cirque.

Somehow we managed to find a place on the Picadilly square (even it’s not a square but who will check? Also, it’s my blog so I can call it even “Picadilly sphere”). Anyway, there were a lot of people (probably Tom Cruise didn’t call them as well and the tickets to Greenland and Iceland were a bit pricy so everyone went to see French show which was free of charge).

The show started with some lights, fire in the dark, a bit of Arabic music and acrobats moving from one roof to another by some ropes. It was already very spectacular. Afterwards the performers started to throw some white feathers from the high point where they were situated. I do not know how to explain how was it but just imagine this picture. It’s London – the capital of Great Britain, amazing Picadilly street, beautiful impressive buildings, light in the darkness, music which goes straight into your soul, acrobats performing just for you, and a lot of white feathers in the air, coming from the sky, looking like magical snow. And with the time there were more and more feathers on the street, and everywhere. People started to dance with them, to throw on each other, to play and do all crazy stuff they could think of. Isn’t it magical? It’s London, baby! It’s the city which I would be thankful for till my last days!

And, of course, I was absolutely amazed and impressed by the work of the circus! I want to mention that I am not promoting this French show here, I am sharing my experience and if I really think it was one of the best days in my life so far, I am more than happy to say it, to shout it and to write it!

If you ever have a chance to enjoy yourself in the feathers with fantastic atmosphere and experience this fairy tale, do not miss!

(The show – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrJk_eUinag

Circus day – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=en0J19-Q_f8 )

Much love and speak to you soon, lovelies!