No first tourist trip to China could be complete without a visit to the Great Wall of China.
Our trip to the Great Wall was very special. We tramped one morning all over an un-restored section of the Great Wall.
This is a section that the tourists do not usually see. When we were there, the only people walking this section of the Great Wall that day were those in our group of 16 plus one lone Chinese man. He came from ahead of us and skipped briskly along and kept on walking the Great Wall, as if this were just a walk in the Summer Palace.
In any event, a walk along an un-restored part of the Great Wall of China is really special.
Most tourists do not get here.
Now we did hear that Bill and Hillary Clinton came here when they were in China, but most of the diplomatic guests go to the restored section of the wall at Ba-Da-Ling and do not visit the unrestored section of the Great Wall.
A trip to the un-restored section of the Great Wall begins with a ride into the countryside. This un-restored section was also in the Ba-Da-Ling section, about 20 miles from the restored section to which most tourists are taken.
We went past a number of army units drilling on the drive to the site. Just above is a picture of the entrance to the un-restored section of the Great Wall. There was no one really guarding it but then, who would they guard it from?
We then walked on a pleasant hike up to a hole in the Great Wall, walked "through" the hole in the Great Wall and climbed up onto the walkway of this un-restored section of the Great Wall of China.
Wow. It takes your breath away.
This guardhouse was visible to us from a long way away and we felt we had really climbed quite a distance when we got to the foot of it.
Soon, however, we had climbed up the walkway 
on the Great Wall enough so that we were even with the guardhouse and then high above it.
It was awesome
Truly, you have got to see this.
The marvelous engineering of the Great Wall is eye popping. Its spectacularly beautiful setting - all on mountaintops, afterall, provides vistas that are a rival to any hiker's dream.
The hiking was rough. You had to watch carefully where you stepped as many stones, laid centuries ago, had gone awry.
But
we were not in a hurry and it was well worth the slow climb on one of the wonders of the world.
There was one other person on our trip. He was someone from the Chinese Army. They did not seem worried that we would "take pictures" of that military fortress, the Great Wall. So, we wondered why he had been there to greet us when arrived at the un-restored section of the Great Wall.
It soon became evident. He helped everyone climb the un-restored sections. He would help one person, dash down, then help another. 
He had boundless energy and enthusiasm and we all appreciated having him along.
We decided that he was the Chinese Good Will Ambassador to these 16 tourists. And quite a good Ambassador he was, too!
We did go to the regular, restored section of the Great Wall at Ba-Da-Ling. 
Truthfully, it is quite awesome itself. It has, however, been painstakingly restored--probably is in better shape today than when they were worried about the Mongol hordes!
There were hundreds of tourists on the restored section. That, to me, made the experience less remarkable than when we were by ourselves with the natural beauty of the un-restored section of the Great Wall.
So, how would I rate the restored section of the Great Wall, with its tourists and giant Olympic slogans ("One World One Dream") ?
It was spectacular. Not to be missed.
But, of all the parts of the Great Wall of China that we saw, the UN-restored section was the best!
An easy hour drive west of Bangkok brings you to an interesting tourist entertainment spot: Thailand's Floating Market.
It is modeled after actual markets of old when the best, if not only, method of transportation was by water. 
Nowadays, they sell fresh vegetables, T shirts and anything else a tourist might need.
It is a great place to let your camera lens feast. There are many bright colors and people shouting in a friendly fashion as the little boats try to maneuver around each others to take their tourists on a complete circuit of the little shopping area.
You also can see it quite well by walking and there is a conveniently placed bridge for photographers.
With a little luck you can get lunch during your tour of the Floating Markets, cooked for you on one of the Floating Kitchens in the Floating Market while you watch.
