Approved!

[KenJulio]

Ok, it's a big deal to me, but I got approved for 3 consecutive weeks of vacation for a tour starting in Beijing through to the western edge of the Great Wall and back to Beijing.

Our stops:
Beijing
Tianjin
Hutongs
Olympic Stadium
National Opera Hall
New National Library
Peking Opera
Peking Duck Restaurant
Dunhuang
Mogao Caves (“Regular” Caves; Special Caves)
Minshashan (Mingsha) Sand Dunes
Crescent Lake (Crescent Moon Spring)
Jiayuguan
Jiayuguan Pass – Westernmost fortress on the Great Wall. Near obligatory entranceway into China for caravans traveling eastward on the Silk Road.
Great Wall on the Cliff
Great Wall Museum
First Fire Tower of the Great Wall
Wei-Jin “Art Gallery” (Ancient tombs … 220-420 A.D. ….. with murals)
Gobi Desert
Xi’an
New Terra Cotta Soldier excavations
Mt. Huashan
Qian Ling – Imperial Tombs of the Tang Dynasty
Temple of Flourishing Teaching and the tomb of Xuanzang

[dmcantrell]

wow, what an awesome itinerary -- congrats!

[popawalker]

Congratulations. I went to Bejing in 2002. Lots to see and take pictures of. The Hutong was very interesting as was the Great Wall Tienamin Square, and The Forbiden City They even had an Alpine Slide at the section of the wall we went to. What a way to come down off the wall. We'll probably be going back sometime in the next couple of years as one of my daughters is going to be teaching there again.

[bryanlindsey]

Awesome. We'll want to see pics :-)

[KenJulio]

I'm excited as I dont have to worry about 'work' for 3 weeks and the biggest thing is spending time with my father and letting him be my translator :D

Oh yeah, and take a few photos. :)

[PhotoByLeal]

SWEET!
I have my GREEN CARD, your going to need a Mexican!

[KenJulio]

If you make some killer Mexican food, you're in!

[Wil_Bloodworth]

Wow! That's awesome. We expect to see a HUGE gallery when you get back!

- Wil

[midlight21]

Congrats! Can't wait to see all the pics you come back with!

[Hanky]

Awesome! What camera will be using ? Perhaps the new Panasonic.

[Fireball]

That's sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime trip! When do you leave?

[KenJulio]

Clarissa/Wil - yeah, there will be a handful of photos taken. ;) Lets hope I do the landscape and environment justice!

Henry - I'll have the GF1 with me with the 20 1.7 attached of course, the D700 will be my 'go to' body. To add, like the good son, I'll be carrying the lenses. I'm dreading that, but I'm a big boy.

Charrie - Yeah, for me it'll be a worthwhile trip, going back to my father's home country and spending time with him now has gotten more precious. BUT anyways... :) The trip starts on May 10 and back in the US on the 28th, which gives me the weekend to recover.

Not sure if anyone would be interested, but I can inquire if there are any more spots open. I was told I will not be the only English speaking person in the group.

[venchka]

What? You already covered the the what gear do I take thread? Not fair.

Enjoy. Be safe. Have fun.

[KenJulio]

Wayne - haha...not yet, but as of right now, I dont have much of a choice, 20-35, 24-70, and 70-200, though, I'm debating the 24-70, since my step mother will have hers.

D700 gripped
20-35 - widest lens i have
24-70 - ?
70-200
SB900 w/ GF Lightsphere
GF1 & 20 1.7
Tripod - need to purchase one, any recommendation will be noted
1.4 TC - I'm thinking no
16 AA's
13" MBP & Sanho Hyperdrive
1 - 16gb, 4 - 4gb cards
And no, I wont be carrying all of this. I know I can easily fit the 13" MBP & HD, 70-200 and SB900 into the center compartment of my thinktank UD60, strapped D700 with 24-70, and have plenty of room for the misc small items, memory and batteries. Tripod i could possibly slide under the handle across my back if not another case.

My parents will have their D700 with 24-70 and D300 w/ 18-200, and I'd figure they'll leave the 80-200 at home since I'll have the 70-200.
4 - batteries
Bunch of CF cards
Sanho Hyperdrive

Too much?

[shutterfire]

maybe a small monopod to lighten the load. LOL