Goings and comings?

Overstaying your VISA in one country then coming to another isn't the usual way of going about things. Normally they toss you in jail and fine you out of your travel savings. Fortunately I chose Japan as my target and managed an escape to China, where I am now. (thank god for the US-Japan relationship...)

Today's Beijing is not the one I remember. For one the air is cleaner, the streets are tidier and there seems to be a lack of those charming old men who show you their bellies when it's hot. (well, during the day anyway) This can all be traced to the upcoming 2008 Beijing olympics. As part of a mass effort to prepare the city (once again filling me an awesome fear of a country than can get over a billion people to move towards the same goal) things have been built, cardboard meat buns have been banned and you can now go to the loo on almost every corner complete with the luxery of having 3 walls and a door. Charming.

When I came here roughly 6 years ago and 4 years ago repectively, China was a teeming state of people and chaos. It was brutally hot. People were as likely to yell as they were to smile at you and pants on children seemed optional. While I am enjoying the fun of breathing in this new Beijing, I miss the raucous crowds and predatory taxis. Small complaint when the beer is still cheap though.

Anyway, here's the current progress on the Great Escape...

Night 1: (Aug 9th)

Rose at 4:30 am and was accompanied by a very sleepy Anita who saw me off. 10:30am flight to Seoul where I was deposited an hour later and left to rot in the airport for 7 hours. Oh the delights of Incheon International. Departure at 7pm, an hours wait on the tarmac and then off to Beijing where we miraculously arrived on time...I still haven't figured that one out. Easy EASY time at customs (Mam are you bringing any livestock with you? Er....no?) and a timely pick up by my hostel (pre-arranged) to grab me from the airport. At 16RMB compared to 100RMB for a taxi ride, a steal! Made it to room, sans Ross but he was so obviously there (who else looks like their suitcases spontaneously blew up in the middle of the room?). Shower, reunion and beer, and the blissful sleep...

Day 1: (Aug 10th)

Woke at 9, had a shower and was immediately set upon by my caffeine addiction. Yes, said Ross, fearing for his life, let's get some coffee.

Breakfast was soon followed by a trek to Tianamen Square (entirely too crowded for my weak social defenses) then a 3 hour long tour of the Forbidden city. Having already been before I amused myself by telling Ross complete lies about various historical objects, buildings and that I had just seen a baby held over the garbage can to take a poo. Sadly he had rented the audio tour headset and managed to teach me more about the Forbidden city than I was able to fib about.

Having soaked up as much ancient history and sun as my body could stand we returned to the hostel for a shower and change of clothes. Dinner and drinking took place here....


Peking duck. PEKING DUCK! The food is good enough already without the 8 hours gap between breakfast and dinner. Spent an agonizing 1/2hour in the bustling restaurant thinking we had no chance to eat this local delicacy when lo, number 82 was screamed repeatedly in Chinese before some kind soul said rather pissily "82!". We were then seated and treated well despite being insufferably foreign. (I say this kindly to them and ashamedly for myself)

The duck was amazing. There's really nothing like it when you're already drooling over plastic replicas of it outside the venue. It was so delicious and fatty. It was flavorful and tender. It was so rich than I very nearly puked after my 3rd pancake. Seriously. I'll bet even that chuck-up would have been tasty.

Anyway, following the extreme eating session we took a much needed walk around Beijing's newly refitted downtown district. After fruitless walking about in Colors of Benetton (still can't afford it) we hit Sega World and made fools of ourselves playing the whack-a-mole game and some very 'realistic' rafting adventure. I laughed so much a little pee almost came out.

I'll add the video later somehow.

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