Day 32:

I got my visa! I guess that my hundred bucks was enough cash to forgive whatever sins I committed by not applying back in Korea. Chinese nationals, curiously, get the visa for free, and the bunch that were there to pick up their visas at the same time as me all looked rather wide-eyed as I handed over my cash, enough to live on for a few months in this country.

This is good news, but it turns out that there is a whole lot of civil conflict happening right now in Pakistan. General Mushareff who is Pakistan's leader and George Bush's dear friend is trying to subvert democracy, and the Pakistani people have been starting a lot of riots and general strikes in response. There were 30 people killed by government forces at a recent demonstration. I'm not sure what I am going to do. In the past, I've not given too much thought to my personal safety when travelling, but these days I feel like I might actually enjoy my return to Canada, and would like to return in one piece.

Oh well. More on that situation as it develops.

I went to Niukie Mosque (cow-street Mosque) this afternoon. Visiting there was so pleasant, and it is my favorite place in the city so far. Dating to 996, the mosque is the largest and oldest in the city, and it has just as much (chronological) history as the Forbidden Palace. At present, though, it has none of the tiresome crowds that plague the Forbidden City. When visiting, I was able to explore the grounds very thoroughly, but was also able to spend some quiet time in contemplation.

The Mosque is a visual treat. The exterior of the buildings are very Chinese in style, looking very much like a Buddhist temple, rather than an Islamic Mosque. But inside of the buildings, everything is Arabic in style. That makes for a neat fusion of history and culture.

There was a young boy begging for money outside of the mosque. I think he was begging in Arabic. I gave him lots of money.

More temples and things tomorrow.