Back in the US

Nearly 13 months after leaving the US for my grand adventure in Afghanistan, I have returned home. While the next chapter hasn't been written, my immediate future is filled with plans of reacquainting myself with family and friends, and making up for lost time with Princess Anne.

To those of you that made this past year possible, a sincere 'thank you.'

Beijing

Frozen Kunming Lake inside the Summer Palace, Beijing.

Skating on Kunming Lake, Beijing.

Tower of Buddhist Incense on Longevity Hill, Beijing. I climbed all of the stairs up the circular building and took the photo below.

Looking back toward Kunming Lake from the top of Tower of Buddhist Incense.

A closer look.

Mutianyu section of the Great Wall of China, about 70km north of Beijing.
Mutianyu.

Rooftop dragon on Great Wall.

Tian' anmen Square, Beijing.

Inside Forbidden City, Beijing.

I finally have a free moment to post a few photos taken in China early this week. I stopped and visited with family in Beijing on my way back to the US. It seems that the bitter cold of Kabul followed me to China.

The trip to the Great Wall was probably the high-point of the tourist ventures. I arrived at first light, so early that my escort had to wake up the operators of the ski lift/cable car to take me to the top. The reward was standing alone on top of the highest point of the wall at first light on a crystal clear, and bitterly cold, morning. It was humbling to look upon the miles of incredible engineering.

The same day I visited the Great Wall I also visited the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square, along with the Summer Palace. Walking through Tian'anmen Square, it was hard not to recall the young man that in 1989 bravely reminded the world that a single person can indeed change the course of the world.

The Summer Palace is enormous. I walked and walked and walked and probably saw less than ten percent of the grounds. Every time I thought that I had seen what a particular hill had to show me, I would find another spider-webbing series of trails leading in every direction. The grounds and buildings were beautiful.

Everywhere you travel throughout Beijing you see signs of the upcoming Olympic Games. To the consternation of many, China has given itself a regional face lift and is preparing to host the world this summer.

After four wonderful days, I left China on my final leg back to the US.