Back to Fragrant Hills Park.

My second visit to Fragrant Hills Park was just as fun as my first with Kim. The hike up the hill was just as gruelling too, which would imply that my level of fitness hadn't improved. What was a little humiliating as we were climbing the hill was when old grannies over took us while we took numerous breaks along the way.

Thinking that we could shave off a few minutes from the paved path, Squid, his co-worker, RANDOM0RAMBLER, Kim, and I all took a path less travelled further up, which required some actual rock climbing and gravel walking. But from all the huffing and puffing from our strenuous climb, I think it actually took us a little longer than those who took the pavement with railings to the same scenic lookout.

Out in the distance and through the dense smog of pollution, we could see the Summer Palace, Zhongguancun, and the CCTV tower. The air atop the hill wasn't all that fresh either. Further up the hill, we were able to see even further out over the ridges of other hills, and to my disgust, I saw coal burning power plants and smoke stacks nestled in the valley. It's hard to find beauty here.

RANDOM0RAMBER got his first lessons in Putonghua on this hike as he kept pressing everyone how to say certain words, most of which were insults and swear words. That's how most people get their start in any new language.

In the parks, there were peculiar looking tree stumps scattered all over the place along the pathway, almost blending in with the surrounding nature. With a large hole made to look like a knot in a tree that fell out, RANDOM0RAMBLER and I saw it as a strange tele-transporter, and we were out to look for our Happy Tree Friends. Upon closer examination, we swung the hatch door open and found a rubbish bin concealed inside. The joke was on us.