Once again, my adventures began, and carried on, with being LOST. And lost we were, from the moment we landed on Beijing soil. We were told to wander around the "hutongs", or alleyways, to get the real sense of the city. Well, needless to say we wandered through them...for hours. We were like rats in a maze, with a scientist from above laughing hysterically at our horrific sense of directions. But being lost is when the spontaneous and unpredictable happen. When the fun occurs!
Our first night began on a search to find our hostel, which was said to be a five minute walk from the subway. It was, in fact, only five minutes away. But not for two girls with a map and directions...and not a clue. By the time we made it to our hostel, we had accumulated a search team: an Italian man, a young Chinese, and an Australian. All of us, drunk off 45 cent beer and drenched in cold rain water, finally made it to the doorstep of P. Loft Youth Hostel. We were like two Dorothys scooping up new friends along the way, and all on a mission to find the Emerald City. But in Beijing. And with beer rather than opium.
One night we went to a club, Solutions, where girls entered with what is equivalent to $1.50, and it was all-you-can- drink anything until 4am. There, I met a French guy going on his fifth year in Beijing, who swore that the government controls the weather. Okay, the government might have the ability to control nearly anything...but the weather?! No way, José!
One night we went to a club, Solutions, where girls entered with what is equivalent to $1.50, and it was all-you-can- drink anything until 4am. There, I met a French guy going on his fifth year in Beijing, who swore that the government controls the weather. Okay, the government might have the ability to control nearly anything...but the weather?! No way, José!
...Or does it?? I decided to look into this jibberish conspiracy of his...it's not just a French thing to be off the wall crazy, right?!
So, in time of need I stop my reality and look at life in a cartoon state of mind. My guess is that the Beijingers did this as well. Since I'm getting all conspiracied out, I recommend watching one of my favorite Looney Tunes episodes (click on the pic below) and then take a look at one of the many websites containing this bit of insanity. The Beijing Weather Modification Office does as Porky Pig did in "Porky The Rain-Maker" - Shoot chemicals into the sky to control the weather.
95 percent of the time we were there, it was perfect weather. It so happened to be a week-long Chinese holiday....I'm just saying...just saying...
So, in time of need I stop my reality and look at life in a cartoon state of mind. My guess is that the Beijingers did this as well. Since I'm getting all conspiracied out, I recommend watching one of my favorite Looney Tunes episodes (click on the pic below) and then take a look at one of the many websites containing this bit of insanity. The Beijing Weather Modification Office does as Porky Pig did in "Porky The Rain-Maker" - Shoot chemicals into the sky to control the weather.
95 percent of the time we were there, it was perfect weather. It so happened to be a week-long Chinese holiday....I'm just saying...just saying...
Back to my Beijing brief, the food was spectacular, the beer was cheap, Beijingers were kind beyond belief, and the Great Wall was as magical as I'd always imagine. Yes, it is true that the Chinese eat everything under the sun. And if they could eat the sun, I'm sure they'd find a way! And when you look beyond the live scorpions on a stick, it's quite an amazing thought. Why not eat everything including the sun? (Well, unless it endangers animals, or any form of life...)
If you really want to get to the deep heart of Beijing and bond with the locals, well! There are two ways. You can stumble into a local smoky restaurant filled with tables of empty beer bottles and constant fresh food served, cigarette butts scattered all over the ground, and a wave of heat from the amount of Chinese packed inside. Or stumble upon a tiny side road where the locals flock to hang out with you while drinking a beer.
OR you can go with the second option. Why not go squat across from a local in the public toilets? Many of these outhouse restrooms have no stalls in between, and no doors to relax behind. It's just you squatting over metal squatter holes (in the ladies room, that is) in a large room in front of a local doing her thing. And from my experience, she will not hesitate on letting it all out, all sounds included. Anybody with toilet stage fright should get over this quickly!
Nonetheless, within six days I fell deeply in love with this city and the dwellers within. Each moment we were lost, we met a group of amazing people (Chinese and foreigners alike), or another hutong to wander through, or a rooftop to spend the afternoon under the sun. And when we actually did find our way around, we made it to the insanely spectacular Beijing Acrobatics Show, 798 Arts District, and...well...the Great Wall, of course (and in this case we took a tour bus ^^).
Long story short, I ♥ BJ, aka I love Beijing.
<3 ReneeInSK
Love the pictures! Especially strange creatures on sticks!
ReplyDeleteThank you!!! Yeah, they were a bit too interesting to eat...hmmm! x
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