APPLES BACK ON AMERICAN SOIL

China Tour A Success
Peace Intact

Commiebastards
Nashville, TN

THIS IS A LONG READ..

"Incredible, simply incredible" said AGFHOF Don Bernitt when asked to describe the Apples just completed trip to China. "We've have all heard that you really don't know how great we have it here in America until you go away and see things from a different angle. I now know first hand how true those words are" said Bernitt as he battled the effects of his 31 hour travel day that started at the Ritz Carlton in Shanghai, China and ended when he pulled back into the Apples Nashville compound early Sunday morning.

"We had the gift of being able to see and hear so many incredible things that it is just about impossible to explain it all" said Bernitt as he drank his first truly cold drink in almost two weeks. "I take so much for granted" continued Bernitt as he explained that the water in China can not be consumed by westerners due to the high mineral content which of course bars one from using ice and therefore leads to lots of cool or warm soda, bottled water and beer. "I guess our idea and the Chi Coms idea of cold is different, because we never had a ice cold drink our entire trip" added Bernitt as he slammed his 3rd cold beer in his first hour back on American soil.

In an even greater then normal daze following the grueling trip home, Bernitt briefly explained a few highlights of the Apples goodwill tour which began with a 13 hour non stop flight from New York City to Beijing. "That was pretty cool, we actually headed due North out of JFK and flew over the top of the world, across the North Pole and south to Beijing." "I'm pretty sure I got a picture of Santa's workshop but I'll have to wait to get a look at the pictures to be sure" added Bernitt.

Upon arriving in China, the Apples were immediately confronted by the Chinese Red Army to ensure all paperwork and visa's were intact and current. Following admission into the country, Bernitt and fellow Apple Patty Pender, along with Bernitt's father Dan, and nephew Matty Oliver, headed to the heart of Beijing and within hours found themselves standing in the middle of the now infamous Tiananmen Square. "It was surreal" said Pender when asked what crossed her mind as she stood on the spot that is the history of the 1989 Tiananmmen Square Massacre. Pender also pointed out that the city of Beijing, with a population of near 17 million people, is now a very polluted city.."Just picture a grey cloudy day and then imagine the cloud hanging down to ground level" continued Pender as she described the irritating air quality of the city. Along with all else in Beijing, Pender confirmed that there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people riding bikes. "Anywhere, anytime, there are throngs of people on bikes" said Pender.

After several days in Beijing, which included visits to the Olympic venues of the 'Birds Nest' and 'Water Cube' the Apples toured the 800 year old Forbidden City before venturing out for a 2 1/2 hike along the Great Wall of China. "The Wall is amazing" said Bernitt as he described the 3,000 mile structure that is regarded as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.. "It's very difficult to walk" said Pender as she explained that it is almost never flat and instead flows up and down as it follows the mountains of China. "To make it tougher" added Pender, "the steps up and down are not the steps we are accustomed to, instead they are half size steps which throw your stride off." Pender then pointed out that one hill tackled by the Apples included a stretch of 454 steps up before reaching a flat surface and a few minutes of relief.

From Beijing, the Apples caught a 2 hour domestic Air China flight south to the city of Xing for a visit to what is commonly know as 'The Terracotta Soldiers' The sight, discovered just 20 years ago, has come to be learned to have been the burial sight for an ancient Chinese Emperor.. In his burial tomb stands thousands of life size Terracotta Soldiers meant to protect him as he headed to the after world.. "Another amazing day and sight" Bernitt said as he recalled the visit to the long buried army.

Next up for the Apple delegation was a treat to behold. As special guest of the Penn State Astronomy Department, and in conjunction of Peking University, the Apples traveled to the mountain tops of Anji, China where they had the awesome experience of witnessing a Total Solar Eclipse. "Again, words can not describe it" said Bernitt as he attempted to relay what it is to see this rare celestial event. "The eclipse was an 4 hour spectacular that I will never forget" continued Bernitt. " For the first two hours we of course wore specific protective eye glasses that allowed us to follow the shadow of the moon as it blocked the sun. When the eclipse went 'Total' we then witnessed with our naked eyes the awesome sight of seeing only a white outer ring of the sun in what is known as the Corona. It was stunning." Bernitt then told of the HD Video that he took of this moment and how he and others are heard repeating the same word time after time.. WOW! WOW! WOW! is all that is heard and can only be described as an involuntary reaction to a sight never before seen by the Apples. "Seeing that was worth the price of admission by itself, much less having the chances to see the rest of China as well" concluded Bernitt.

After leaving Anji, the Apples headed off for a few days in the bustling city of Shanghai. A city with over 20 million people, Shanghai was night and day different then the capital of Beijing. Said Pender, "it is a very western like city, very modern and very stylish in the dress of the people as opposed to the dull and drab garb that was Beijing. To describe Shanghai as huge is an under statement. To make a point, Nashville, TN may have 6 or 8 buildings that are over 30 stories tall, in Shanghai, there are 4,000, yes 4,000 buildings over 30 stories tall.. The skyline is very modern as future pictures on this blog will show.

Along their tour of China, the Apples took the advice of future Apple Sue Krawczyk as they made a point to eat anything put in front of them and not to shy away from a dish because of what it was. To this end, the Apples were treated to dishes of Octopus, Jellyfish, Pig Knuckles, Chicken Feet and Duck Brains just to name a few. "When in China" quipped Matty Oliver as he sucked the brains out of fresh catch of shrimp.

On the media and photograph front, Bernitt let it be known that although he has returned to America to begin training for the 2009 fall season, Apple Patty Pender as well as Dan Bernitt and Matty Oliver have remained in China and will not be back for another week. "I left all photography equipment behind and will look forward to sharing pictures and video in a few weeks" said Bernitt.

In the meantime, Bernitt made a point to say that his "big picture" of China is as follows:

In America, perhaps 80% of us are middle class and 10% are very rich and 10% are very poor.. "Do not be fooled" said Bernitt, "In China 80% of the 1.5 Billion people are very poor and live in poverty." "They have no passion, no purpose and no future." "It is not a pretty thing to see and I don't want to hear that 'they don't know any better'. "It's a damn shame, and each and everyone of us should be oh so thankful to have what we have." "I have no doubt", said Bernitt, "we are the most fortunate people alive, and yes, America is the greatest country on earth."

How bout them Apples...

***Limited First View Pictures Below***
***More To Follow In Coming Days***