Blogs from Dongcheng, Beijing, China, Asia - page 5

I realise as I arrive into China that I am (for the first time on my travels) a little nervous...but excited! I have booked into a hostel called “Fly by Knight” which at 13 pounds for a dorm is steep by Chinese standards – i'm hoping that it makes up for it with quality. Its in a Hutong (an old traditional Chinese alleyway and courtyard) about 20mins away on the subway from the Forbidden City in the Doncheng District. Although Ivy has taken great pains to write down instructions on how to get from the airport to the hostel – I arrive in at 5am into 30 degree humid heat and a monstrously overweight backpack. I decide to get a cab and make the rookie error of getting in one from a man that approaches me ... read more

I woke up early morning and after organizing my bad, which is a joke, because I cannot figure it out how to find the things I need. I took the subway to go to LamaTemple again. This time I was one of the first people to get there. The building is impressive, big; all the ceilings are painted with amazing colorful details. It is crowed even early in the morning. I was moved to see a kid of 2 bowing with dedication trying to mirror his mom. Very funny as well. This temple is very interesting because people go to pray and they burn incenses and then they pass, after bowing to their deity, from one temple to the other one that is behind. And there is always another one behind. At least I count 4 ... read more

The AC031 flight from Toronto to Beijing was more or less uneventful. The food was adequate - no surprises there - and I was able to watch a few movies during the almost 14 hours we spent in the air. My attempts to manage the blood flowing to the feet proved successful with simply walking about the aisles and with ample foot room, stretching also worked successfully for me. Oh, and as for AC, well what could one say bad about it when the booze is FREE; so drinking was the order of the day on this flight and helped to while away the time. And, by the way, it was Johnny Walker Black they were serving us! I did manage to sleep some though my travelling buddies maintain that I slept more than I suggested ... read more

Be-king!! Päästiin näppärästi Shanghaista pikajunalla noin viidessä tunnissa. Juna-asemalla meinas olla vähän säätöö, kun kaikki aikataulut oli näillä paikallisilla koukeroilla. Metrot vie hyvin näissä suurkaupungeissa paikasta toiseen eikä sen suhteen oo ollu ongelmia. Väen paljous vaan ihmetyttää, vaikka sen on tiedostanutkin. Joka nurkalla ja joka nurkan takana on mitä kummallisinta vedonlyöntiä tai pikkuravintolaa. Nyt ollaan siis pyöritty täällä Pekingin ytimessä pari päivää. Tänään käytiin taivaallisen rauhan aukiolla, jossa rauhaa piti yllä satoja tyhjää toimittavia poliiseja. Varmaan neljännes torin populasta oli eriarvosia tai eri uniformuun sonnustautuneita isänmaan sankareita. Ihmisiä on kyllä muutenkin täällä työllistettynä vähän turhiin virkoihin, jos asiaa katselee näin suomalaisen silmistä. Kahvilassa voi hyvin toisen työntekijän kahvin tekemistä kattella kolme nel... read more

This school year seems to be fraught with ill fate. Scarcely two weeks had passed before I contracted a ferocious case of head lice - a situation I have NEVER encountered during my life. At first I thought the itchy scalp was just a sensitive reaction to the change of temperature or my shampoo. Then one fine morning as I was helping the children out of their coats I happened to catch sight of myself in the mirrors which line our walls. Usually I try to avoid eye contact, so as not to horrify myself at my typical ragamuffin appearance - duly doused in snot and paint - but this particular morning a strange rustling of hair (sans wind) caught my attention. I peered in closer to discover the cause of this phenomenon and was horrified ... read more