Day 3: Tiananmen Square

I didn't sleep from the bachelor party night. I decided to walk to Tiananmen square. It was a 40 min walk from Deshengmen Inner street (where the hotel is). As I walked close to the government buildings, I observed guards standing still like statues. It was nippy and I was amazed how they did that. I stood and observed for long. Their eyes would flutter and move around but not their bodies. They looked thin and young but they definitely demonstrated inner strength and resolve that made you want to respect them.

At the square, the security check was no big deal. In fact, the guard missed checking me at all. This I noticed everywhere in Beijing. They haven't had the troubles of Mumbai and it shows. It was a pleasure to walk into public places without being frisked.

The square was beautiful. It was clean. There were several local tourists who were taking pictures of themselves in front of the monument, in front of the Mao image on the other end of the road at Forbidden City. People were flying kites that were in the shape of birds. I saw one man in a suit pay his respects to the monument - he bowed thrice. The soldier on the other end looked on. I missed the flag hoisting that happens every morning at sunrise. I saw a group of soldiers taking their morning run.

It was cold, I was tired and sleepy and I left.