the city of Beijing is well...huge! Where to start the adventure?
The image of the city's past is not a whisper in one's ear. You can still wander around and get lost in the back alleys of the old Beijing "Hutongs" (the courtyard houses). The family laundry hangs to drip dry, the old ladies sit outside on their little stools laughing away as they shoo away the constant bother of pesty mosquitoes. Peddlers screaming what they sell. the old gents slowly walking with a birdcage or three in their hand as they head to the park. They nod w/ a smile as an old friend passes by. Children running frantically.
Aside from the modern facade of a post-Olympic city, Beijing still has intact a wide spectrum of humble folks spanning from different generations.
I am fucking lost.
I'm glad Amy got here earlier. Otherwise I'd be really indecisive as to where to go. Now with her I can have some motivation to get out of the apartment. Beijing is another place where you'd get the feeling of "where do I begin?" Luckily we decided to visit one of the most expensive shopping districts in Beijing aka "Guomao" 国贸。 As the levels get higher the prices tend to sky rocket. If you don't feel like going back to the US, Beijing has everything to satisfy your western needs. (For those who enjoy the yuppie lifestyle). The CCTV building aka "Underpants" can be found right by Guomao. Next door to underpants was housed the Mandarin hotel, which was burnt to a crisp when their CCTV neighbors decided to light a factory of fireworks for New Year's last year. Good thinking guys.
Wrapping for the night Amy and I (through luck and wit) found the DIY (do it yourself) Hot Pot restaurant.
One of the most scrumptious Hot Pot meals. I burnt my tongue due to impatience and desire to slurp down more of my delicious Thai chicken curry soup base. Yum!
