Beijing in Winter
Well, 1 week holiday in Beijing has confirmed certain stereotypical images in my mind about Chinese, but it has also "humbled" ( as Mark puts it that way) me in many sense when I visited those historical sites that could only portray the greatness of the race. So I should be proud to be a Chinese? Although not a purebred one.
Met up with Aaron, a long-time close friend of mine, we met way back in the tropics of Malaysia -- now residing in Beijing after his life in Boston. It was 6 years ago since we last saw each other. Other than the fact that we both look older now, but hot as always, hehe, everything was fantastic as we caught up, and he brought me to:
Yong He Gong (Lama temple)
Tian Tan (Temple of Heaven)
Forbidden City
Lu Gou Qiao (Marco Polo Bridge) -- I took pictures of every single lion on one side of the bridge. Couldn't take the other side as my memory card was running out.
Bei Hai park -- gorgeous scenery with a serenity combining history.
Wang Fu Jing nightmarket where I ate "a" silk worm. Did not manage to eat more than one, as the worm juice spewed out from its crust...and my mind was sending messages to my body to reject it.
Dong Hua Men nightmarket - whereby I ate Tau Foo Fa, Popiah-like thing, and a bowl of what seems to be similar to Char Kui Kak.
Summer Palace -- by far my favourite spot. The lake was frozen, Aaron and I played on it, the sunset was absolutely stunning, and I saw sceneries which I thought could only exist in photoshop and Chinese dramas.
Last but not least, of course the Great Wall of China. Funny how I was not crazy over it when Aaron and I climbed it.. The climb was good, we went to the part of the wall where no other tourists in their large, loud tour group go. Looking at the wall, I actually said "it is just another wall" to Aaron, and we both burst out laughing. Its like the Eiffel Tower when I visited it 2 years back. It's just the Tower. I think the more I see something on advertisement, and the more I hear people talk about it, my interest in that "something" will wane. Yeah, so the wall.
Other than that, food was excellent, cheap and cost near to nothing. I ate much of my missed Chinese food which includes Cantonese Dim Sum, Peking duck, chinese kuih etc.. even had Malaysian Char Kuew Teow on my last night there.
Watch loads of DvDs as well. I watched more English movies in China throughout my 9 days there, as compared to my 5 months in Japan.
Taxi drivers are honest. People are rude, loud, and they spit everywhere.. yups.. every time I hear someone clearing their throat, I quickly heighten my sense to see where the spit is coming from. Hell, they even squish the spit after spitting it, as though they are extinguishing a ciggi butt...
Oh yeah, pollution is horrible too.
But all in all, it was a fantastic trip. No regrets, highly recommended place to visit.
Now, as I sit in my little LeoPalace in Tokyo, I felt the trip was too fast, and I am back to reality, working in Japan...wonder when is the next time I will see Aaron again....maybe in another 6-7 years?
Met up with Aaron, a long-time close friend of mine, we met way back in the tropics of Malaysia -- now residing in Beijing after his life in Boston. It was 6 years ago since we last saw each other. Other than the fact that we both look older now, but hot as always, hehe, everything was fantastic as we caught up, and he brought me to:
Yong He Gong (Lama temple)
Tian Tan (Temple of Heaven)
Forbidden City
Lu Gou Qiao (Marco Polo Bridge) -- I took pictures of every single lion on one side of the bridge. Couldn't take the other side as my memory card was running out.
Bei Hai park -- gorgeous scenery with a serenity combining history.
Wang Fu Jing nightmarket where I ate "a" silk worm. Did not manage to eat more than one, as the worm juice spewed out from its crust...and my mind was sending messages to my body to reject it.
Dong Hua Men nightmarket - whereby I ate Tau Foo Fa, Popiah-like thing, and a bowl of what seems to be similar to Char Kui Kak.
Summer Palace -- by far my favourite spot. The lake was frozen, Aaron and I played on it, the sunset was absolutely stunning, and I saw sceneries which I thought could only exist in photoshop and Chinese dramas.
Last but not least, of course the Great Wall of China. Funny how I was not crazy over it when Aaron and I climbed it.. The climb was good, we went to the part of the wall where no other tourists in their large, loud tour group go. Looking at the wall, I actually said "it is just another wall" to Aaron, and we both burst out laughing. Its like the Eiffel Tower when I visited it 2 years back. It's just the Tower. I think the more I see something on advertisement, and the more I hear people talk about it, my interest in that "something" will wane. Yeah, so the wall.
Other than that, food was excellent, cheap and cost near to nothing. I ate much of my missed Chinese food which includes Cantonese Dim Sum, Peking duck, chinese kuih etc.. even had Malaysian Char Kuew Teow on my last night there.
Watch loads of DvDs as well. I watched more English movies in China throughout my 9 days there, as compared to my 5 months in Japan.
Taxi drivers are honest. People are rude, loud, and they spit everywhere.. yups.. every time I hear someone clearing their throat, I quickly heighten my sense to see where the spit is coming from. Hell, they even squish the spit after spitting it, as though they are extinguishing a ciggi butt...
Oh yeah, pollution is horrible too.
But all in all, it was a fantastic trip. No regrets, highly recommended place to visit.
Now, as I sit in my little LeoPalace in Tokyo, I felt the trip was too fast, and I am back to reality, working in Japan...wonder when is the next time I will see Aaron again....maybe in another 6-7 years?
