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Published: August 23rd 2010
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“Chinese police carried out another high profile prostitution bust at a nightclub in Beijing. The complex undercover raid, which involved officers singing karaoke for two hours while wired, resulted in the 79 hostesses being detained.”
Funniest thing I’ve read this week in Chinese press!
The heavens have opened - I never thought I would be glad to see torrential rain - OK, very British talking about the weather but it has been so brilliant to feel some FRESH air. Today I went out and about in Beijing wearing my flip flops because I knew the puddles would be so deep that I might as well embrace them Asian monsoon style rather than try, and fail, to stay dry.
Well I said I hadn’t ‘done’ the Olympic Park so as you will see from the series of pics I have now done night and day versions. There has been a Cultural Festival over the last 2 weeks to celebrate exactly 2 years since they held the Olympics and to demonstrate that the park is still bring used, and my big boss Mr Guo gave me VIP tickets. So last Saturday I thought it would be amazing to see
one particular event in the programme - 10,000 people demonstrating Qigong, now that is mass participation as it should be (we would be thrilled with 400 in England) So I got up early and arrived in good time for the 9am display. I was met by a row of guards at the gate telling everyone it would not be open until 10.30. Now knowing how things change here at the drop of a hat and plans are just made to be altered I wasn’t too surprised and took myself off to the forest park nearby - I had a lovely walk and got back by 10am just in case - only to see masses of people in white satin 'pajamas' getting back on the coaches - you wouldn’t think you could miss 10,000 people would you, but I did!.
I still had good fun playing in the dancing fountains ……………….it was so hot nobody cared about getting slightly damp - OK soaked! I then went and bought myself a pretty Chinese umbrella - but not for the rain - to protect myself from the relentless sun - who would have thought it.
Having been recommended to see the
park in the evening, my Spanish friend, Laura, and I went up to see an open air performance (this was before the storm) and found ourselves ushered to front row seats - no champagne buffet though. It turned out to be a kind of Chinese variety show with song and dance from different parts of the country, strangely old fashioned magic like sticking knives into a girl in a box and then the finale was the strangest thing I have seen - about 60 ladies of a ‘certain age’ in their very best qipao (traditional satin Chinese dresses) basically walking around to music with fixed smiles on their faces and hands clutched in front of them - like formation dancing but just ‘parading’ - still not sure exactly why? Of course Laura and I could not resist leaving the stadium in the same style! Anyway, a good evening’s entertainment especially because as the sun went down the lights came up in all the buildings and the whole park took on a different festive atmosphere. Exactly 2 years until we have this in London …………
Other outings I have had recently……….
A trip to the Capital Museum which to be
honest was more exciting for the architecture of the building itself than for the exhibits inside.
Saw a controversial Chinese film called ‘To Live’ in a 12 seat cinema in a cultural centre tucked away in one of the ‘hutongs’
Attended the launch of a charity magazine at the Bookworm ( my favourite bookshop / library / cafe bar hang-out which keeps me sane with its supply of English language books)
Joined an interesting bunch of people in a social innovation group at another tiny hutong theatre to discuss how the new social entrepreneurs of China can help the children of migrant families to a better future
Started some more Chinese lessons
‘Wo xiang lianxi wode hanyu’ - and just in case all my readers don’t happen to speak perfect Mandarin that’s ‘I must practise my Chinese’
Yes, I know, I do put in some work as well honestly………………………but I can’t waste time, I’m exactly half way through already!!!
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sue walsh
non-member comment
still following yr blog!
hi gill so pleased you are still having such a great time! I can't keep up with you! Must have been lovely to see the girls jenny and matthew! We are just gettin over 3weeks of kathryn tim esme and oliver living with us because of building work at their house! So many broken nights and early mornings but will miss them!! Esme is so funny now and never stops talking do you remember that stage? oliver is 6months old now and so sweet sitting up and grabbing everything and putting it in his mouth! We had a lovely week in our house in spain in july and we are all going in september looking forward to that as the weather at the moment is rain rain and more rain! Look forward to your next blog can't believe you're half way time flies! lots love suexx