Hello from Beijing.
>Monday, May 31, 2004
where the great wall meets the sea
We were good little Americans this weekend and celebrated Memorial Day with a trip to the beach. Beidaihe is Beijing's nearest beach and it kind of fits the bill of the typical, tacky beach town: no boardwalk, but there are lots of seafood restaurants and lots of kitsch. It's also right near the spot where the Great Wall (which i have finally now seen) runs into the ocean. See for yourself.
all local trips must start at the always crowded train station
it's a good place to sit around and hang out, apparently. think of this group times several thousand.
welcome relief: the state can safekeet dagage, if necessary
and then, three hours later: beidaihe. our hotel had ostriches! yay!
then to shanhaiguan, where the great wall climbs down from the mountain
the fish go nuts for food. a little frightening, really.
recycling. unrecyling. do your duty.
semi-excited to have their picture taken with some wacky foreigners. this time, we also insisted on also having my picture with them.
then i snapped them by themselves, 'cause we're buddies
you do not know the willpower it took not to buy a photo of me hovering over the gate like a genie
by request: more pictures of me with Chinese people. (also by request: more pictures of ridiculous binoculars.)
more for you binocular lovers
hello there.
so! many! bikes!
leaf hats are so ridiculously cool.
on to where the wall meets the water
farm animals, however random, make me so happy.
no pollution = the most beautiful day i've seen in China
note: sometimes you will be passed by a truck of pigs
just some proof that i do bake
Monday, May 24, 2004
My, how the time does fly. I can't say I have much to show for it, other than piles of research (essential to new "writing career"), about a thousand hours of google-ing, and a batch of really, really good oatmeal raisin butterscotch cookies (cooked on tin foil, after realizing my cookie sheet does not fit into the miniscule Chinese oven. Still, an impressive substitue -- that tin foil really rose to the challenge.) I still have no cat, after multiple attempts to buy a cat and lots of phone calls to various cat agencies. (Instead, I have a very sad empty litter box, and a very lonely matching food bowl.) Still, I think (I hope!) this could be the week I find a kitten.
The weather in Beijing has been clear and sunny (and getting ridiculously hot), and the bike and I have been just about everywhere together in the last few weeks. The attendant in the bike storage knows who I am now and gets my bike ready when she spots me coming (she says she recognizes me because I am hen gao -- very tall -- a phrase I learned pretty quickly here.) You'll be happy to know that I've started wearing a helmet, mom -- not for any real reason, other than the fact that I thought that it was stupid not to, especially the way people drive (and walk) here. Oh, sure, the schoolkids laugh and point at me -- apparently the only person in the entire city to wear a helmet while biking -- but
it's for safety, right? I'm not trying to win any cool contests. Or at least, I'm not going to.
The rest of the time is spent working on articles -- I've had some good assignments lately -- or pitching articles, so I don't run out of things to do. Then, there are the obligatory warm weather things: Our first Beijing barbecue (they roasted chuanr -- which are little kebabs, the warm weather street food here -- instead of burgers); outdoor eating (on a large selection of roof decks and patios); and a lot of talking about boating, golfing and go-kart racing (all widely available). I promise to put down the fruity drink (or, like today, the handful of cookies) and pick up a camera soon.
Thursday, May 6, 2004
they were not kidding when they said everyone travels during the holidays. the crowds were worse than disneyland.
Ahhhh... Shanghai. Sometimes, it's hard to believe Beijing is the second most cosmopolitan city; the difference between the two is really amazing. Beijing is donkeys and $1 lunches and bicycles; Shanghai is skyscrapers and fancy health food and sitting out by the pool in the sun. I do miss the simple life of Beijing a bit, but for a few more days, I'll be soaking up my fill of chicken salad sandwiches and big fat salads.
We've mostly been just enjoying life from the 17th floor of our (borrowed) Portman Ritz-Carlton apartment. (Sigh. It's the life. I know.) Nida and Josh have been keeping us busy with what is quite possibly the most fun board game ever, cool sewing tips and never-before-seen episodes of The Office. We are quite spoiled. We even made it out to (rainy) Suzhou for some quaint Chinese gardens and dumpling lunch.
avoiding the rain in suzhou
All this "vacation time" (i.e., the weeklong holiday celebrating International Labor Day) has got me on a new project: Funny signs of China. There's plenty more where these came from. Enjoy.
learn to crazily speak english!
the dumb ones are just terrible
beware of the pond. the pond may attack.
nothing says "bar" like "today" and "beer."
ahem. all righty then.
i'd like my eyes checked and... la la la la!
please to not urinate or shit in this public park. okay?
lard! yummmmmm.
Friday, April 30, 2004
It has rained more since my return than the whole rest of the time I lived here. Which is only like 8 times total (5 days lately, 3 before) in six months, but still. Apparently, it's a good thing, as it keeps those pesky sandstorms at bay. (There have been three official
ones this year, and it doesn't look like the air is doing so well either.) My point is: Rain + adjustment to life as freelance writer = no pictures. (You'll be happy to know that the non-rainy days are beautifully balmy and sunny, and I'm planning to take the bike out in just a few minutes.)
In the meantime, a few answers to burning questions:
No, I have not been to a naked sushi restaurant;
No, I do not have SARS. (Don't worry, mom: I'm fighting it off with beer. Just kidding.)
Yep, I am heading out next week for the week-long May holiday. We're going to Shanghai tomorrow, and maybe Suzhou, Hangzhou and/or Nanjing. There has been talk of more go-karting. Very excited.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
fun with shoes in central park
Ok, ok. So I'm not quite over the Pacific yet. But in just a few short hours, I'll be giving up my current life of luxury of
cheesesteaks, large salads, and ample shopping opportunities to return back to the Mainland. Home has been very, very fun. But, a girl's got to
make a living sometimes. So, back I go.
there were concerts...
and trips to new york...
and goofing around...
and bowling (that's andy). you know how i love bowling.
tad bowled too. he owns his own ball, you know.
my score is slightly suspect, but i (authentically) nailed the spare and strike for the one-point win
there were some photo shoots, though the camera did not make many appearances
only fashionable people may cross
on the way back from new york, a lady got stuck in the bus bathroom for a half-hour. i snapped a shot of her triumphant return to the rest of the bus. there was clapping.
Monday, April 5, 2004
sort of how i'll look in two days...
It's almost time! I am mentally packing for my trip back to the states right now. (Note to self: Save plenty of room
in suitcase for vintage finds, toothpaste and girl scout cookies.) See you soon.
Rick and Alissa (who came bearing cool belts and samoas) have just departed from their week-long visit. (Newsflash: I have just discovered that they make Samoas ice cream. Oh my goodness.)
I think they would say the trip was a big success (heck, I had a great time just doing touristy things with them.) Here are the pics.
the weary travelers take a break
hello, mao.
inside the forbidden city.
i never get tired of the costumes. never!
pause for refreshments.
on to the summer palace!
fun with shadows!
um, may have gotten slightly carried away.
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