On Saturday I woke up early to head out to the Panjiayuan (or Dirt) Market to get in some shopping. I first had to find food, and as it was to early for breakfast in the hotel, I went onto the street looking for grub. I walked by a tricycle that had a stove on the back of it. They were cooking pancakes with eggs in them. I ordered two for 2 yuan. Pretty fricking good. I found a store down the street and bought some strawberry yogurt and had breakfast at the side of the road. I took a cab to Panjiayuan and started perousing. The guidbook says you're supposed to ignore the 1/2 rule when bargaining, things can be as much as 10 times cheaper than what the vendors start out at. But I'm a terrible bargainer, I think I got a good bargain once in my life. I walked around and looked at all the stuff to buy, lots of silver (which I like), jade, knives, pots, glasses, everything you could not want. The market consists of an outer ring of stores with a covered inner area with about 30 rows of vendors. You could spend all day and all of your money here. I quickly spent all of my money. I even went into my reserve money that's stashed under my insoles of my shoes.

Read More

I got moving a little earlier today,almost got out of the hostel by 8:30. It's cold enough outside to see your breath in the morning - maybe a reason why I sleep in. I got to my new hostel/hotel and got a room for the next 3 nights. This place is in a much more central location, 2 long blocks to the subway or bus station to the Great Walls. And near a Pizza Hut in case that hankering kicks in. I have 3 rooms, a bathroom, a bedroom and a main room with a movable wall dealiebob that separates the couch area from the kitchen. Pretty snazzy. I mosied over to the bus station and asked a few people where to pick up the 916 bus to Huanghua. An hour or so later we arrived at some little town where it's necessary to take another bus or hire a taxi to get to the wall. A mini-bus driver came up to me and asked if I wanted a ride. I was thinking I didn't because the bus is 4 yuan and he wanted 80 yuan round trip. But he pointed at the time (1pm) and I realized that I only had like 4 hours of daylight left to see the wall. I had to find a bathroom first and he took me to one. (that sounds a bit strange.) I went in and saw there were no stall doors, just one door to the bathroom. He came in and went and then stood there. I looked at him and then at the stall and back to him. He smiled, nodded and left. Which was good, cos I wasn't about to use a doorless stall with someone in there.

Read More

Day trip to Lantau Island, home of a very large Buddha.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

On Wednesday I moved to a new hostel and then headed out to the Forbidden City. I rented one of those cassette tape deals so you can hear about what you're looking at. I put it into my bag a few minutes later when I realized I had no idea what the lady was talking about. So I made up my own history for the buildings I saw. I took a bunch of pictures of doors and walkways, I figure that all the normal pictures have been done already and maybe my 'artsy' shots will be cool. My parents told me there was a Starbucks in the City, but I was skeptical until I actually saw it. While it was sad to see it there, it wasn't too bad because there are lots of little shops to buy coke, 'fast food' and toilet paper for the toilets. While there are a fair amount of hawkers and 'guides', they leave you alone as soon as you say 'no thanks.' Which is a bit different than in India, where they don't leave you alone until you throw rupees or rocks at them.

Read More

After sleeping in I went to the north west part of Beijing to catch a bus to the Summer Palace. I was expecting a bus terminal but it was just like a normal town with bus stops along the streets. I had to walk a little ways to find the bus stops, but couldn't find the number (375) that I wanted. I used my fluent Mandarin to say hello and point at the number 375 and the Chinese for Summer Palace and got directions to the other side of the street. I hopped on the bus and pointed in my book to the Summer Palace and the fare lady nodded her head. I paid my 1.5 yuan and sat down for the ride. I didn't end up getting to the Summer Palace until 12:30 and it closed at 5. I was a bit worried that I wouldn't see everything I wanted to in such a short time (everyone says you need a full day.) But it got to be pretty cold and windy so I didn't think I'd be itching to sit around and do people watching. I was still a bit bummed from leaving my jacket in Hong Kong - who woulda known that it was super cold and windy? Everyone else had on nice North Face parkas and wool jackets. :( I walked around and looked at the various halls and walkways. It was nice to not hear the city (until you get to the top of the hill.) I can see why royalty hung out here, it has a beautiful lake and neat looking palaces. They have a bunch of large stones or rocks that have much significance. They look like large pieces of coral and seem really alien to the place.

Read More

I flew into Beijing from Hong Kong this afternoon. It was strange to get to someplace that is cold and rainy, kinda like going home to Portland. My guidebook said that the taxi people would hound you while you're inside the terminal, but that you're supposed to go outside to the normal taxi queue. A bunch of them came up to me and showed me their "offical" laminated cards. I went over to the Information booth and asked them to write out in Mandarin the location of the hotel I booked. They did that and I headed out to the taxis. I got in a taxi and he nodded when I handed him the little piece of paper with my hotel on it. We cruised into downtown Beijing and seemed to take the long way to get to the hotel. I started to wonder where we were going because the guy at the hotel said it should cost around 70 yuan, and we were up to 100. He stopped at some hotel that had a red exterior (my hotel was called Red House) and I asked the doorman where we were. "Hotel!" Super. I paid the taxi and went in. "Am I at this hotel?" I asked, showing the reception lady my book. "You're at this hotel." "Ummm,, is this 'Red House'?" "No, [some other name] hotel. You want to leave?" I looked outside and it was already dark. "How much?" "380 yuan." I used the calculator and saw it was $50. I debated about hopping in another taxi and trying to get to the hotel I had a verbal reservation at, but it was late and I was getting tired. "Ok, fine." It kinda felt like India, when I was told the hotel I wanted was burned down by the information people and then got an overpriced taxi to a hotel that wasn't super friendly. But I think for one night it's all good. Better to spend the money then wander around Beijing at night with all my crap. The room was a little small and you have to use your card to turn on the lights and the AC (which is a heater this time of year.) I did a little cursing until I realized how to turn on the lights. Then I got my pants on and took off to find a SIM card for my (Moo's phone.) I walked all the way to Tianemen Square and saw a few restaurants on the way. I mosed around the Square until a girl came up to me and started talking to me. I thought she was wanting to sell something so I lied that I didn't speak much english. It turned out she was just a friendly student or something. I found a phone store and went in. No one spoke English, and I don't speak Mandarin (more than saying Happy New Year - which isn't useful.) I used my Mandarin Phrase book to say "to call....USA" A few more people came over to try and help. A minute later there were 15 people crowded around, talking away. I had no idea what was going on. Then another cell phone materialized and I was talking to some lady in English. It turns out you need a Beijing ID card, which I don't have. And it'd cost 1800 yuan to get it all sorted. A lady there told me I should follow two employees to another store and they could help me out. I got my stuff together and took off with these two kids. We walked by Tianemen Square and by the 3rd KFC of the night. We went into another phone store, where no on spoke English. A few minutes later another cell phone was produced and I was talking to another gal in English. Same deal, no card no phone. So that sucks. I thanked them and walked out towards the restaurants. I saw one that looked pretty cheerful and went in. A table of men next to mine looked over and smiled a bunch. As I was ordering my food one guy produced a small cup and poored some white liquid into it and gave it to me. I took a sniff and realized it was some distilled grain alcohol. Not wanting to offend, I swigged it down. They all smiled as I squeeked and gasped. I remember reading that their drink here is pretty strong, either 65% or 65 proof. I think it was 65% alcohol. The guy filled up the cup again and waved. I tried to drink this, but it was too strong for me. So I had a coke. I saw what other people were eating and ordered that. I got a big plate of Kung Pow Pork with peanuts, a huge bowl of Hot & Sour soup, 2 cokes and a plate full of dumplings. All for $9. I got pretty stuffed and didn't end up finishing the soup. The guys at the next table kept looking and smiling. I drank a little more fire water each time. When they got up to leave I thumbed through the phrasebook to say "thank you" and "goodbye" They all smiled and one guy shook my hand. Which was pretty cool. I payed my bill and stumbled out of the restaurant and back to my hotel. I just looked up another hostel to go to and booked it online. I'm not quite sure how I'm going to get there, the address is in English and you need Chinese writing to give the cabbies (usually.) And there is no phone number. Hopefully it'll be pretty painless. I have all day tomorrow to figure it out.

Day trip to Peng Chau island.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

On Sunday Moo, Gerry and I went to dim sum near the waterfront. We had shumai, century egg, pork buns, rolls, pork, chicken and fried rice. It was all good (except the century egg, I opted out of it this time.)

After picking up my ticket to Beijing and arranging for a hotel I went up to Victoria Peak by tram. It was much easier than jogging up. It was a bit touristy, with a Wax Museum and a Ripley's Believe It Or Not, but the ride up was worth the ticket. We stopped at a platform on the way up and the tram bounced up and down with the stretch of the cable. At top I had a small lunch of Singaporian Noodles (to get ready for down south) and a fruit shake. I then walked around a bit and took in the sights before heading back downtown and home.

On Saturday Moo, Gerry and I met up with their friends Jake and Pat for a trip out to Lamma Island (south of HK.) We took a fast ferry to Yung Shue Wan to start our walk to Sok Kwu Wan on the south side of the island. We stopped for a snack, little dumplings and sweet bean curd. The walk went through the Yug Shue Wan village, by a jungle (in my book), a beach and over a little mountain range. We got to see the lovely strip coal mine when we were by the beach. There was a sign warning people to stay out of the water because the shark net wasn't working.

On the other side of the hill we saw the fish farms in Sok Kwu Wan bay. We walked by small tunnels that were bored into the side of the mountain by the Japanses in WWII to be used in surprise attacks on the Allies.

In the village there were tens of restaurants, and only one was busy, Rainbow Restaurant. We plopped our things down there and looked at the tanks of sea creatures, picking out which we wanted to eat. Well, I didn't pick any, I wasn't sure what some of them were. Except for the largest prawns I've ever seen, at least 4 inches long.

Lunch consisted of many courses of different sea foods; prawn, long clams, garlic scallops, crayfish, shrimp fried rice and century eggs. I tried the century egg and have to say it wasn't too bad, but I don't think I'll be going out for more of them. The scallops were pretty amazing, very fresh and flaky like real meat. The crayfish was awesome too.

After stuffing ourselves we took the Rainbow Restaurant's boat back to Hong Kong. Jake and May went home and we went to Moo's work to pick up some mail. He works on the 65th floor and has a great view of downtown Hong Kong. Here is a picture from his office of Victoria Peak (where I'm going tomorrow.)