Monday, May 03, 2004
Take me home, country road, to the place, I belong...
Alright, alright, alright, alright, alright...
So, tonight is my final night in B-town. Had a great day hanging with another one of Ben Brink's friends, "Chrystal". Not her porn name, but her self-selected American-ized name. Guess you can do that here.
We toured her campus, Peking University, which was stunningly beautiful. And they have this great "Unnamed Lake" which we walked around as we chatted. Had "all-you-can-eat" sushi for 48 Y($6!) at a student dive. Though when we tried to leave with some fish left on our plate, the Nazi waitress ordered us to finish it before she would pass along our bill. (We hid the fish in the cabbage salad bowl.)
Whenever I mentioned Peter, Chrystal would get upset, thinking she was missing something by him not being here. I assured her she was better of with me Sol-o. ;-)
Unfortunately, I haven't heard from Mr. Brink. I wrote down his hotel on a scratch of paper, which was tossed by the cleaning folks @ the hotel. Neither Chrystal nor Li has heard from him either. Li wasn't able to join me and Chrystal for drinks tonight, which was also a bummer (jealous/upset boyfriend). She and Chrystal were great, friendly, engaging contacts here in Beijing! Here's to new friends!
Now it's time to finish this can of Tsingtao Beer (with those nasty, sharp pull-tabs circa 1978) and sign off from the neighboring corner market Peter and I visited each night, which has everything! Oreos, Nestea, Snickers, bicycle rentals and Internet access. Go figure.
Perhaps a wrap up from Portland. And definitely pictures forthcoming...
Ciao for now,
Sol
PS Pete, how was Moscow???!!!
So, tonight is my final night in B-town. Had a great day hanging with another one of Ben Brink's friends, "Chrystal". Not her porn name, but her self-selected American-ized name. Guess you can do that here.
We toured her campus, Peking University, which was stunningly beautiful. And they have this great "Unnamed Lake" which we walked around as we chatted. Had "all-you-can-eat" sushi for 48 Y($6!) at a student dive. Though when we tried to leave with some fish left on our plate, the Nazi waitress ordered us to finish it before she would pass along our bill. (We hid the fish in the cabbage salad bowl.)
Whenever I mentioned Peter, Chrystal would get upset, thinking she was missing something by him not being here. I assured her she was better of with me Sol-o. ;-)
Unfortunately, I haven't heard from Mr. Brink. I wrote down his hotel on a scratch of paper, which was tossed by the cleaning folks @ the hotel. Neither Chrystal nor Li has heard from him either. Li wasn't able to join me and Chrystal for drinks tonight, which was also a bummer (jealous/upset boyfriend). She and Chrystal were great, friendly, engaging contacts here in Beijing! Here's to new friends!
Now it's time to finish this can of Tsingtao Beer (with those nasty, sharp pull-tabs circa 1978) and sign off from the neighboring corner market Peter and I visited each night, which has everything! Oreos, Nestea, Snickers, bicycle rentals and Internet access. Go figure.
Perhaps a wrap up from Portland. And definitely pictures forthcoming...
Ciao for now,
Sol
PS Pete, how was Moscow???!!!
Sunday, May 02, 2004
May Day! May Day!!
So, Pete is gone. Fucker left me last night to go party with some Russian chicks in Moscow. Seeing Peter go signals the ending of this trip.
I'm leaving on Tuesday morning for home. Hope to catch up on my sleep and hammer out my story on Sabonis before that. Speaking of The O, they're hiring for a staff photog, the first such opening in 4 years. So, I'll have some work to do on my portfolio when I return. Hopefully, there are a couple gems from this trip for consideration.
Yesterday, Peter and I walked around town and gathered with the masses to watch the Chinese flag come down at Tienemen Square in an official military May Day ceremony. But once down, that was it. Pretty boring. Within 5 minutes, the streets were no longer packed. What they do for excitement here in China!
Ben Brink, a colleague from The Oregonian, is arriving today from Portland for his holidays. Hope to hook up for dinner on Monday before I return home.
Well, that's about that for now. Peter, have fun with the ladies (but not too much fun). And let me know about your layover in Kazakstan...
c-u,
sol
I'm leaving on Tuesday morning for home. Hope to catch up on my sleep and hammer out my story on Sabonis before that. Speaking of The O, they're hiring for a staff photog, the first such opening in 4 years. So, I'll have some work to do on my portfolio when I return. Hopefully, there are a couple gems from this trip for consideration.
Yesterday, Peter and I walked around town and gathered with the masses to watch the Chinese flag come down at Tienemen Square in an official military May Day ceremony. But once down, that was it. Pretty boring. Within 5 minutes, the streets were no longer packed. What they do for excitement here in China!
Ben Brink, a colleague from The Oregonian, is arriving today from Portland for his holidays. Hope to hook up for dinner on Monday before I return home.
Well, that's about that for now. Peter, have fun with the ladies (but not too much fun). And let me know about your layover in Kazakstan...
c-u,
sol
Saturday, May 01, 2004
Hitting the Wall, Flying Time & Listening to Propaganda
Pete and I started Friday by visiting The Wall. We were warned by pretty much EVERYONE (in English and Chinese) that starting today, Monday May 1, Beijing (and it's nearby walls) would be over-taken by zillions of vacationing Chinese, since today is the beginning of their week-long (?) holiday.
Before we got to the bus area, we were side-swiped by another "tour agency" chick who swept us away to another locale. Another scam? We didn't spot any playing cards. Yes, she said the main stop of our "new" bus trip was The Wall, though she communicated by speaking in slower and slower Chinese that I was laughing pretty hard. Oh, the bus tickets with the stops were in Chinese, too, which she of course re-read to us several times in Manderin.
Anyway, we got to The Wall, and took this cart ride up, up, UP! to a wall enterance that OSHA would have a field day with! Insanely hazardous, though the old folks seemed to manage well. (The slide down was also nuts!) A gorgeous and hot day, the spot made for great pix. Especially of the really steep parts that took everyone's breath away... literally. Of course, there were vendors hawking "I climbed The Great Wall" t-shirts and hot dogs (??!!). Added a new sense of charm, Capitalism hits The Wall.
The rest of our mysterious bus trip involved random stops to buy shit (gems and dried fruit). We also made a stop at this "preserved" Old Town amusement (i.e. amusing) park. Buy your cheap souvenirs, shoot arrows or bb guns at targets and have your photo taken with Mao! (or his twin).
Did I mention that this bus was packed with Chinese tourists? So, we got the authenic Chinese tour. Though both Pete and me agreed that there was a reason why we never (seldom) join tour groups.
On the way back from our 9 hour tour, we realized that Peter was leaving a day earlier than we thought. Yes, they have calendars here, but we lost track of everything, especially after 3 weeks together. So, instead of him leaving Sunday at midnight, he leaves tonight. And I fly out on Tuesday, not Wednesday. I almost wish I hadn't brought that up, because it will be odd without having Peter here. But I'm also ready to get home and have some coffee, so it feels good that that's sooner than later.
We joined Li and her boyfriend last night at this trendy college bar, Propaganda. Tons of gringos, mixed with locals and Koreans (who knew?). The place was packed! On the train ride, I exposed Peter to Outkast. So when they placed "Hey Ya!", Peter went berzerk and attacked the dance floor.
We decided to split for a quieter environ and they took us to this Tawainese fast food chain, where we had pot stickers and some nasty, egg-tasting milk drink. The logo for the place is a total ripoff of Col. Sanders, though with distinctly Asian features. Funny.
So, that brings things to speed. We need to both pack. I'll be moving to a dorm room here at the hotel for the next few nights. And Peter and I need to figure out what we're doing on his last day here. The city should be crazy. And so will we!
Happy May Day!
Sol
Before we got to the bus area, we were side-swiped by another "tour agency" chick who swept us away to another locale. Another scam? We didn't spot any playing cards. Yes, she said the main stop of our "new" bus trip was The Wall, though she communicated by speaking in slower and slower Chinese that I was laughing pretty hard. Oh, the bus tickets with the stops were in Chinese, too, which she of course re-read to us several times in Manderin.
Anyway, we got to The Wall, and took this cart ride up, up, UP! to a wall enterance that OSHA would have a field day with! Insanely hazardous, though the old folks seemed to manage well. (The slide down was also nuts!) A gorgeous and hot day, the spot made for great pix. Especially of the really steep parts that took everyone's breath away... literally. Of course, there were vendors hawking "I climbed The Great Wall" t-shirts and hot dogs (??!!). Added a new sense of charm, Capitalism hits The Wall.
The rest of our mysterious bus trip involved random stops to buy shit (gems and dried fruit). We also made a stop at this "preserved" Old Town amusement (i.e. amusing) park. Buy your cheap souvenirs, shoot arrows or bb guns at targets and have your photo taken with Mao! (or his twin).
Did I mention that this bus was packed with Chinese tourists? So, we got the authenic Chinese tour. Though both Pete and me agreed that there was a reason why we never (seldom) join tour groups.
On the way back from our 9 hour tour, we realized that Peter was leaving a day earlier than we thought. Yes, they have calendars here, but we lost track of everything, especially after 3 weeks together. So, instead of him leaving Sunday at midnight, he leaves tonight. And I fly out on Tuesday, not Wednesday. I almost wish I hadn't brought that up, because it will be odd without having Peter here. But I'm also ready to get home and have some coffee, so it feels good that that's sooner than later.
We joined Li and her boyfriend last night at this trendy college bar, Propaganda. Tons of gringos, mixed with locals and Koreans (who knew?). The place was packed! On the train ride, I exposed Peter to Outkast. So when they placed "Hey Ya!", Peter went berzerk and attacked the dance floor.
We decided to split for a quieter environ and they took us to this Tawainese fast food chain, where we had pot stickers and some nasty, egg-tasting milk drink. The logo for the place is a total ripoff of Col. Sanders, though with distinctly Asian features. Funny.
So, that brings things to speed. We need to both pack. I'll be moving to a dorm room here at the hotel for the next few nights. And Peter and I need to figure out what we're doing on his last day here. The city should be crazy. And so will we!
Happy May Day!
Sol
