Suzette's Parenting and Breastfeeding Blog

Last week, I went to Great Wall, Ming’s Tomb and Temple of Heaven in Beijing. For Great Wall and Ming’s Tomb, I joined a local tour, which cost only CNY 150.

This is the outside of Ming’s Tomb. When I went inside, dare not to take photo because it IS a tomb. Got to observe the rules… Anyway, I was very disappointed with this. The tour brought us to 长陵(chang ling) instead of 定陵 (ding ling). The latter one is already been dig and opened for visiting, you an actually see the underground palace. The former is only some stone roofs/architectural built on the ground, and it has not been opened, basically nothing to see at all. When we were at Chang Ling, I was very excited thinking we could go down and see the underground palace, didn’t know it is not opened. At that point of time, I didn’t know Ding Ling is the one that most people visits. Have to blame on my lack of research. (Really embarrassing because I am a researcher but I never do my own homework)

As for the Great Wall, am glad that we were given 2 hours to climb up. It was very tiring given that I have not been worked out in the past 2 months, since Chinese New Year (my pilates teacher is going to complain liao!). But I think the climb was worthy, though I didn’t see much scene due to air pollution.

This is what I saw from the highest point I reached (looking back). But, the highest point I went is not the highest achievable points… I didn’t have the time to climb up to the highest because I headed for the wrong route. Should have gone out half way to the 好汉坡 and walk along the dirt then join the other path. Instead, I reached a dead end, looking at the other side but not reachable (see photo below)…

BTW, we took an auto cart up to half way before walking up with foot. Maybe we should have taken the cable car, which is on the other side of the Great Wall. That one is closer to the highest point. Actually I think back about the auto cart, it doesn’t look safe at all, and I wonder how safe can the cable car be. This is definitely against HSSE policy in my company, I should have avoided it…


On our way down the Great Wall, there were so many bears (not Panda though) around. They look so adorable. People feed them with dried apples.

When we were back, we headed straight to WangFuJing 王俯井 hawker street to have some dinner. I ate at the roadside for the first time, together with the locals. Bought the 过桥米线 (a type of meehoon soup) and ate by the roadside. It didn’t taste well, but we bought it because we saw so many people queuing, naturally we thought it was very good. Anyway, while we were eating, we saw real beggar. Unlike some of the Malaysian beggars, I think they are real – this guy he was waiting at the waste bin. When there are people who throw the bowl in (disposable), he quickly went and search for leftover. I felt so sorry for him, and I left half of my meehoon – put on the ground so he could eat them. But come to think of it, my act actually encourages more beggars to be there, which I don’t think their government will like. OK, I will not do that again…

During my last business trip to Beijing, I extended 1 day on my own to sightsee. This was the 3rd time I went to Beijing. During the 1st trip, as the return flight was at 4pm, I had the morning to so short visit to the Forbidden City. 2nd trip, return flight was early morning, so didn’t have the chance to sightsee.

I have visited the followings in my 1st and 3rd trip:
- Forbidden City (故宫博物院)
- Great Wall (长城)
- Ming’s tomb: Chang Ling (长陵)
- Temple of Heaven (天坛)

Of all those that I have visited, I really enjoyed Forbidden City. There is an auto audio guide for rental, at only CNY 10 (around RM4.70). The audio guide explains very well on the history and structure of the palace, and it also has an electronic map indicating where you are. The only weakness of the audio guide is, it is activated by some sensors in various points of the palace. If you walk to a new place before it finishes explaining the previous one it will not repeat nor continue what it has not finished. So, just watch out for that, and let it finish before you walk into the next section should be ok.

I did not carry a camera during my 1st trip, so didn’t have any photos to share for Forbidden City. I spent 3 hours, walking every parts of the palace that are opened for visitors. It was a slow and relaxing walk, I really enjoyed it. I never liked going anywhere alone, but this is so enjoyable that it changed my attitude towards being a lone-ranger. It is definitely worth going. BTW, the entrance fee is only CNY 40!

Many years ago, when I was still in school (cheh, sounds like I am very old already – next time should not use this to start), I used to like writing diary. Well, I always WANTED to write, but ahem… lazybone me, I never write ‘diary’ everyday. The gaps between my ‘diary’ entries have been increasing until sometime reached 1 year!

So, I have given up writing diaries. I call my little booklet 事记, i.e. event note. I only write when I feel like writing, or when there is ‘big’ things happened, or when I am very upset. Actually I have a very bad habit, I feel like writing stuff when I feel very upset. So, my little booklet is full with unhappy moments. Sometimes it is very demotivating when reading those entries. I remember reading somewhere that, someone only records happy moments in her diary, so when she is upset she reads them and makes her happy. Hey, why am I doing something reverse?

Actually, I did that because I need a channel to release my frustrations/upset feeling. Writing is a good way because it will not betray you, nor upset you by telling you what you should or should not do (hey I just need a listener!). So, my little booklet is my loyal listener.

Of course, I also try to record down happy moments, e.g. the birth of Ian, DH did something for me etc.

And now, looking at blog… at first, I thought maybe I could convert my blog to the ‘event book’, but I realized I couldn’t do that. You just don’t know who is reading, maybe your boss is there, your friends are there, etc. So, I would still stick to my little booklet for any sensitive matters.

Though I have been breastfeeding Ian since he was born, he has never been attached to me. Every time when he latched on, he either closed his eyes or looked elsewhere, not looking at me at all. At 2/3 months old, I was so frustrated, and I kept wondering does he know who feeds him or not.

The first time I traveled on business after delivery, was to Jakarta for 1 night. When I reached home, the moment he saw me entering the house, he was very excited and DROOLING! I guess he saw me as a source of food rather than a mother. But, whatever it is, he was so adorable when he did that.

Most of the time, Ian is not attached to me, despite me taking care of him every night (when I don’t have to travel). During the last CNY, when there were a lot of people in the house and he cried, he only wanted MIL – his caretaker. I actually felt really hurt. I kept consoling myself not to feel bad about it, as MIL really loves him. I kept telling myself that MIL deserves it, etc. But frankly speaking, I had never felt any better despite all the self-console.

But… after my last trip to Beijing (away from 14-20 Mar), I reached home past midnight on Sunday. I was only able to see Ian the next morning, before I left to work. He was still lazing on the bed, I touched him softly, lifting him up, hugged him and fed him. Wow… he just couldn’t hide his happiness! And in the evening, when I reached home early, he just cling on to me, didn’t want to let go. When MIL pulled him away to bath him, he cried so badly – never happened before because he loves bathing!

I am very happy about this. He knows me! He wants me! Not because of milk only! Yeah!

I have been having sore tendon on my both wrists since Ian was only 2 months old. According to the orthopedic, it is because of improper use of strength/angle to pick up Ian. Everyone in the family teased me for being a ‘lousy mother’, because they have never heard of this before.

Anyway, yesterday, MIL told me she is having the same problem on her right wrist. And, somewhat, my husband’s back is hurt. Both of them cannot carry Ian now. What does it mean? I thought because I was lousy I got problems like this? Hehehehehe! So, my conclusion is, Ian is heavy! He is now 10.5 kg at 11 months old. Heavier than his cousin, 10kg at 3 years old!

I am so proud of him, in particular I am so proud of my breastmilk. Until now, Ian has not been supplemented any other types of milk even though he has started eating some semi-solid food. Breastmilk 万岁!!! Yeah!