High Adventure!
Or maybe I should have called it LOW adventure! Since the adventure that we went on revolved around things found undergound! Yesterday was the day that my friend, Cindy, and I were going to see the Terracotta Warriors! WE had originally planned to go just us two and take the metro - but when her hubby found out we were going, he wanted to tag along too -- and so he drove! That's always so much better because you actually get to SEE the city rather than riding underground on the subway. I had HOPED we would catch a glimmer of the Chinese New Year parade in China Town - but Bill skirted around it to avoid the crowds... and so I missed it. (so sad) I wouldn't have seen it from the subway either - and didn't even know it was going on yesterday until THEY told me! Such TEASES they are! LOL! But anyway... we did get down to the National Geographic Museum and DID get to see what we went for! SADLY... oh SO sadly, we were not allowed to even take a camera or a cell phone out of our pockets while we were in there! WHAT ever happened to the good ol' days when you could photograph ANYthing? These days you are not allowed to photographic ANYthing - and they had guards posted too to make sure you don't! I wasn't even allowed to photograph the cute little pagoda you go through to ENTER the exhibit! Sheeeeeesh! They did have this one PHONEY warrior at the end that you were allowed to take pictures of and touch and for Pete's sake CLIMB on if you wanted to... but it does not look like the real warriors! See?
Cindy & Bill with P.W.
And me with P.W. too!He gives the basic premise of what they look like -- but they were each different - each completely hand made, though done in a production line. It was positively fascinating! They had an exhibit set up that showed how the work would have been done to create them. Each warrior weighed about 350 pounds -- and there horses weighed about 750 pounds each! The legs were all made solid, but the bodies are hollow. The neck was left open when they were fired and the head added on later. The heads are solid and each one different! There were photo's on the walls showing what the site looked like when they were first done excavating --- can you just IMAGINE 7000 of these things lined up row after row after row??? And we just happened to talk to another visitor who had visited the excavation site back in 1984 - and was able to actually stand on the ground around these warriors and take pictures! WHAT a BLESSING that must have been to him! He was of Chinese ancestory -- and we didn't get into his religious beliefs - but just from a history standpoint -- that must have been an AMAZING thing for him to see. Of course, he admitted that at the time, he was really too young to appreciate what he was seeing - but his PARENTS I'm very sure were quite impressed! And I found myself, once again, in AWE of the artistry that went into these creations. And when they were created, they were all brightly painted and glazed! Oh, it must have been really SOMETHING to see back then! We are talking 210 B.C.!!! You know... I am really NOT a history buff... but I am an ART buff - and it just really takes my breath away when I see things like this and see what capabilities these people had - with the most primitive of tools! It was an AWESOME exhibit! Truly! If you get the chance - if it comes near you - GO! See it! Read and appreciate it. Cindy and I just kept wondering what God must have THOUGHT of all this -- of course, he KNEW it was going to happen! But honestly - the GREED of this emporer and the suffering that he caused to so many people JUST so he could HAVE all these "toy soldiers" to "protect" him in the afterlife... oh my goodness. My head HURTS from all the thinking this exhibit made me do! And not ONE picture do I have to share with you... So sad...
I DID find some cute stuff OUTSIDE the museum to share with you! They have a little garden area between the buildings with some of the most whimsical little creatures! Well... not so little... take a look!
I DID find some cute stuff OUTSIDE the museum to share with you! They have a little garden area between the buildings with some of the most whimsical little creatures! Well... not so little... take a look!
*singing* The ants go marching one by one, hurray! Hurrah!This was the first one I spotted outside!
And this was the last one I spotted!He was so up high I almost missed him! But he's beautiful!
But THIS guy just stole my heart!I love a praying mantis anyway... but this
one just seems so personable!
I have one more - but I'm saving him for another day!
haha!
After the warriors, we went and viewed a photography exhibit in the other building, and then walked the city for a bit, ate dinner at Chipotle's and then headed home. It was a delightful day! I had sO much fun! And now Bill has forbidden Cindy and I to go out without him anymore because HE wants to come have fun too! LOL! He is MORE than welcome! I WISH Dennis would have joined us -- he would have enjoyed it! (and yes - I did ask - but no, he didn't want to.) His loss. ;)
posted by Melli at
11:40 AM
10 comment(s):
Your looking good skinny minny :) What a great day. It is sad that now days you can't photograph things such as they. Some places use the excuse that it will damage the artwork, which I suppose is true. I love the parying mantis. I can't wait to see what else your saving. Have a great day :)
By
Anonymous, at
2/22/2010 1:21 PM
Looks like you had a fun and facinating day even if you couldn't share the photos with us. I love the bug garden. What fund discovering these must have been.
By
quilly, at
2/22/2010 1:22 PM
How sad when that emperor discovered those soldiers couldn't do anything for him...but how enriched the art world is with their discovery.
When we were in Charleston, we could take pictures, but could not use a flash -- so most of them didn't come out very clear. I don't know if it has to do with not wanting photos on the Internet, or the repeated light flashes doing some kind of damage.
The bugs are cute, too -- the praying mantis does have a cute expression.
By
Barbara H., at
2/22/2010 1:35 PM
I learn about the best exhibits from you!! And I only found out about the parade by noticing the front page of the Post this morning on our way out from an appointment. (That would have been something to see, too! The parade, not the WP, LOL)
I have a museum setting (no flash) on my camera and hope to be able to use it soon.
Looking forward to more of your bug garden pictures!
By
Karen (formerly kcinnova), at
2/22/2010 2:10 PM
I can only imagine, it must have been awesome!
By
Jientje, at
2/22/2010 3:13 PM
Oh what fun, and yet what poops that place is for not allowing pictures! I hate that!
By
Maribeth, at
2/22/2010 8:42 PM
I am so glad you went to see them, I loved the exhibition and...I took about 3 shots in the dark (tsk, tsk). Only the pics are in my sick pc...got a virus yesterday and won't have it fixed until next week, bummer! I just hope to get my pics back. If not, I will go out to take new ones :)
By
MaR, at
2/23/2010 2:43 AM
The exhibit sounds so very wonderful. I would love t see it. I have to figure out how far it is from me. Such a shame about the pictures.
RnPB Update
By
Nessa, at
2/23/2010 5:32 AM
Melli,
That looks like a really fun day trip! I know what you mean about taking pictures in museums. When I was in Cuernavaca a few of us went to a museum that had a lot of Diego Rivera murals. I thought they were great and whipped up my Polaroid and snapped a picture. I thought the museum workers were going to have a hissyfit. I told them I wouldn't take anymore with the flash. Well, Polaroids, at least mine, had an automatic flash that couldn't be turned off. The next picture I took just flashed away. I thought I was going to wind up in a Mexican jail.
The leaf cutter ants, preying mantis, and the dragon fly are fabulous! I want to go to the display of the people with the muscles and insides showing. It was here a year or so ago but we missed it.
By
Amber Star, at
2/23/2010 8:53 AM
Thanks for coming by and accepting your award!! I sometimes hate to do that because I love every one of my blogging friends but this time I fell for it.
We are doing pretty good here lately. Just hanging in and working at Curves when I am asked. I have supper ready and waiting on Mike to get home.
Yes, we were talking about moving back to illinois so you did not dream that one up..I told you. I am not sure where God wants us yet..Just taking one day at a time for now.
Sandy
By
Ramblins of a middle-aged goddess, at
2/23/2010 6:37 PM
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