Day 1: Beijing in a haze under the rain...
Bo and his cousin were waiting for us at the airport. It was hot and humid, even worse than a New Jersey summer. Yanyan couldn't find the hotel because it is in a "hutong", a network of courtyards and allies built by the Ming dynasty. The hotel's nice- 3 courtryards hidden behind the walls and the rooms are decorated with black wood furniture and there's air conditioning.
We took showers and then went wandering. Bo grabbed a taxi to go to a restaurant near the Forbidden City - I think our hearts are weaker for that. There are no rules here, except that pedestrians have no rights. It's a maze of cars, biks, rickshaws, motorized bikes and people trying not to get crushed. And it's scary as hell! Some of the taxis use their hand break to stop at lights which is very reassuring.
The Auto Club restaurant was empty when we got there, except for the 10 waiters sitting around watching TV. Bo got us through the menu and we decided on sweet and sour fish - our meal was presented to us in a bucket and then killed - mixed veggies, smoked duck and noodles that were too spicy for Jerome, and flower tea with the spout of th tea pot carefully pointed away from us. As we were eating, the waiters and chefs went back to watching TV. Struggling with the chopsticks, I looked around and saw the chef sitting next to us with a cigarette in one hand and a finger way up his nose. Yum.
We rolled out of the restaurant into the rain and walked around the outside of the Forbidden City, through the gates and into Tianneman square, every 5 feet someone pestering us to buy another umbrella and pushing their way through. We all got poked by umbrella spokes and pushed around except Jerome. Contrary to what we thought would happen, we almost felt invisible. People knock me around and Jerome just glides through - little kids look at Jerome funny and men seem to take an interest in my boobs.
The rest of the day is hazy and wet - we took the metro, Jerome successfully pushed his way through a non-line to buy a map. We had a drink in a posh bar in Lotus Lane with leaks on the table but just beside the imperial lake. And then we ate again - clay pot of tofu, animal parts and brown sauce, fried noodles and chicken.
We took showers and then went wandering. Bo grabbed a taxi to go to a restaurant near the Forbidden City - I think our hearts are weaker for that. There are no rules here, except that pedestrians have no rights. It's a maze of cars, biks, rickshaws, motorized bikes and people trying not to get crushed. And it's scary as hell! Some of the taxis use their hand break to stop at lights which is very reassuring.
The Auto Club restaurant was empty when we got there, except for the 10 waiters sitting around watching TV. Bo got us through the menu and we decided on sweet and sour fish - our meal was presented to us in a bucket and then killed - mixed veggies, smoked duck and noodles that were too spicy for Jerome, and flower tea with the spout of th tea pot carefully pointed away from us. As we were eating, the waiters and chefs went back to watching TV. Struggling with the chopsticks, I looked around and saw the chef sitting next to us with a cigarette in one hand and a finger way up his nose. Yum.
We rolled out of the restaurant into the rain and walked around the outside of the Forbidden City, through the gates and into Tianneman square, every 5 feet someone pestering us to buy another umbrella and pushing their way through. We all got poked by umbrella spokes and pushed around except Jerome. Contrary to what we thought would happen, we almost felt invisible. People knock me around and Jerome just glides through - little kids look at Jerome funny and men seem to take an interest in my boobs.
The rest of the day is hazy and wet - we took the metro, Jerome successfully pushed his way through a non-line to buy a map. We had a drink in a posh bar in Lotus Lane with leaks on the table but just beside the imperial lake. And then we ate again - clay pot of tofu, animal parts and brown sauce, fried noodles and chicken.
posted by Gros Joe at
4:30 AM
2 Comments:
very interesting... sounds fun too!!!
daniel says hi!
what about nose picking?
i need to know...
thanks
mary-jane
Sounds like a great time. You are so open to new things and aware of your surroundings. Loved the pictures, too.
Wonderful way to stay in touch.
Mom
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