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Published: August 23rd 2006
Just one of the supremely cheesy and almost propaganda-like lines used to link together the acrobatics show we went to see the other night. Apart from sniggering at the subtitles the performance was pretty amazing - no-one should be able to bend in those ways. And getting 12 people on one bicycle has to be seen to be believed.
We arrived in Beijing on Saturday and despite the scale of the city managed to find ourselves in a really cosy little neighbourhood which is fantastic to stroll around (if you can avoid the thousands of bricklayers currently resurfacing the alleys, the bicycles carrying entire shops and the rickshaws which take no heed of pedestrians).
When we say we found ourselves here, we really mean that a taxi driver managed to quiz enough locals to get some sort of idea as to the location of the hostel.
During these several discussions we picked up a rather strange accent floating about the hutong. Most of the locals sound like they're constantly impersonating Marlon Brando in The Godfather.
We were to discover later from a friendly English guy in our dorm (who spoke some Chinese) that there is a Beijing
Behind closed doors
Getting lost in the Forbidden CityChinese that is universally mocked throughout the rest of China. He likened it to Scouse in the UK. Though we'd never be so bold as to slag anybody's accent!
So - to the most important topic - food. So far we've seen claws, pigs ear, chicken hearts, bullfrogs, duck stomachs and curdled blood to name but a few. It's also strange to head into a bar where the tea selection is longer than the wine list, and the waitress presenting it has no teeth!
It would be easy to lose months in this place with such a choice of places to relax, including a little beauty salon where a back and shoulder massage is less than 3 quid. The pain is worth the end result.
Outside the shelter of the hutong life is a little different and somewhat less comfortable as everyone likes to stare, and stare and then perhaps stare some more. Maybe they're trying to see into your soul. One guy even took a photo of David today so his modelling career may finally be taking off in Asia. Or maybe it's just the novelty of seeing someone with hairy legs.
It's not just
The Child Emperor?
Kidding around in the Forbidden City legs which are on show for Beijing's youngest citizens it seems - instead of bothering with nappies parents seem to prefer having their children's shorts split up the backside. Attractive. As is the hawking and spitting performed in public by even the most dainty of females.
We're set to escape the clutches of Beijing's 15 million inhabitants tomorrow with a day trip out to some random structure that apparently sprawls all over the mountains here. I think it's a wall and people keep telling us it's Great.
Maybe we'll be able to pick up a t-shirt there as a souvenir. :o)
Provided we can sustain an internet connection for longer than seven and a half seconds when we get back, we'll hopefully have some pics for you.
Xiexie for reading,
Carolyn + David
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Sue
non-member comment
shocking joke about the great wall!!! Glad to see you're still safe, well and having a good trip! keep up the blog and the photos look amazing! Sue xx P.S. Dave - Newcastle won their 1st game of the season against the mighty Wigan (wasn't sure if you knew!)