Beijing, here we are! We arrived Tuesday morning, dirty and exhausted. The trip was much more tiring than I had thought… a six-hours Greyhound ride, a five-hours wait in Toronto, then an eight-hours flight to Beijing, another twelve-hours layover in Finland, the plane was two hours late, another eight hours to Beijing and… that’s it. Phew.
Beijing is hot and humid, as I remember it. The smell, the crowd, the people… that hasn’t changed. However, there are now skyscrapers everywhere and the city is somewhat cleaner. Subway lines were added and new buses were implemented. People are still queuing horizontally though!
My first challenge in Beijing was to find a 传接器插头。 In a word, a plug adapter for my laptop that, of course, I had forgotten (as usual). Now, I hadn’t spoken Chinese in a while (except with my in-laws I guess) and it’s not the easiest thing to find when you are jetlagged and tired. But I finally bought one and here I am.
One of the first place I really wanted to come back to was Wangfujing, a huge street market. I had loved the atmosphere when I was studying in Beijing and I was glad to see it didn’t changed much.
In case you’re wondering, I didn’t have any of the above delicacy. I love Chinese food but I draw the line at silk worm and live insects.
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Wow, great pictures and “documentary” as usual. Enjoy your time.
I might have tried the scorpions just to taste 🙂
I much rather have the silk than the worm!
Spyders last great read…That’s right I’m back
Hi Zhu,
Love the fact that you’re in Beijing. We’re so close by way of current location yet it seems world’s apart. I can feel the excitement in your post despite the fatigue and the long trips. The expectation of returning to a place and seeing how it hasn’t changed much, if ever for the better, is truly exhilarating and gives a rush of a sense of familiarity and security, doesn’t it.
I was hoping to be able to “escape” for a few days to go to Beijing myself, but its just not possible. My conscience spoke against it as there are a zillion things that need to be attended to.
I was salivating at those photos of the fresh goods cooked before your eyes. Well, i think we’re even. Last time it was so cold in Canada, I commented about being in Boracay beach with my feet buried in fine grain sand. Now, I see can imagine expertly prepared fresh Chinese food and can actually sense its smell and I can see you having a grand time eating it!
Enjoy yourself Zhu, and take care. Glad you made it safely. At least, you can practice your Chinese language skills much more in Beijing. 🙂 –Durano, done!
durano lawayans last great read…Bakaasi and the Baptism of Blood Oil
Hey Zhu !
There you both are in Beijing 🙂
I’m sure that you will enjoy going back to places, tastes and sights that you once enjoyed.
I’m enjoying the guided tour of the market, though I don’t think that I’ll try those bugs or scorpion on a stick ! I think I also spotted a sea star to the right that is also for eating.
I’ll pass on all 3 !
Nice to see you enjoying your fav delicacies 😉
Bises
barbaras last great read…Becoming friends outside of your PC
sorry; my directions are off in the morning; sea stars on a stick to the left !
barbaras last great read…Becoming friends outside of your PC
I’m exhausted just thinking of the trip, but it sounds totally worth it. If those pictures are any indication it looks like you are having a blast!
SilverNeurotics last great read…Dad’s sick…
Yeah Yeah……….Beijing finally 🙂 Have a great time.
Chinese food is always a surprise for me…..That looks odd but tastes good 😀 Enjoy dear!
I tried the silk worm during my previous trip to Wangfujing night street in 2002. I didn’t dare to try the other foodstuff such as scorpion, grasshoppers etc 🙂
Chens last great read…Cute Dogs
Great to know you are there, safe and sound, but hey: 12 hours in Finland – make it Norway next time, we could have lots of fun for 12 hours you know.
Its so great to see Beijing through your eyes and I can tell you felt almost like home right away: Such an expert on eating with stick you are!
Have a great stay and keep us posted.
RennyBAs last great read…Nature adventures in Norwegian wood
Silk worms and scorpions?? I’d much rather have what you’re having. Great pic of you, btw, and the sites aren’t bad either. Lucky you!!
Have a fantastic time and a safe trip back!
Scarlets last great read…shakin’ it with shahar
Hi Zhu,
Are those scorpions still alive? They used to be when I was there a couple of years ago. The vendors would bang on the counters to make those scorpions move. I literally screamed when I walked by.
fyi, I found you on my friend’s blog. 🙂
Yulings last great read…My ugly kitty
I bet it is getting crowded at this time of the Olympic ya and no I did not see that insect thingy stuff when I was there 😉
Have fun and enjoyed!!! Can’t wait to see more pictures!!
cicada,silkworm,Scorpion,what is the first one from left?
@Froggywoogie – Of course you would have: you’re a guy!
@Spyder – That’s also what I thought 😉
@durano lawayan – Beijing was a bit crazy during the olympics so I perfectly understand it’s difficult to come, even though you are geographically close. But hey, the world is a small place… 😉
@barbara – I’m not brave enough to taste any of these… especially the star fish. Oh and by the way: the scorpions are alive…! Don’t worry about “right” or “left”, I always get it wrong too 😆
@SilverNeurotic – <The trip is even better than the pictures 😉
@Annie – Fortunately, most if time, food is fairly “normal” 😉
@Chen – I’m curious now: what does it taste like? It is soft? Hard? You’re braver than me!
@RennyBA – I thought of you yesterday, we ended up with a bunch of Norwegian and Finnish at the stadium, cheering at a track and field game. Norway got the javelin’s record!
@Scarlet – Baozi are safer, we both agree on that!
@Yuling – Hi and thanks for visiting! I don’t have much time while in Beijing to visit new blogs (connection isn’t that good) but be sure I’ll stop by when I’m back next week. And yes, the insects are alive… till they get eaten!
@shionge – It’s just crazy, there are people everywhere. More than usual, for sure, but not that many westerners, mostly Chinese.
@kevin – The sea star maybe?
Hey again,
You look great, girl!! 😀
LOL LOL well, I was wondering if you had tasted those delicacies, and now that I know that you haven’t…who will explain me what they taste like? lol
Cheers
Max Coutinhos last great read…Sib Ethics
Zhu, these images are so scrumptious! (Especially that beautiful one of you! You look absolutely gorgeous!!!). I love the photograph of the shopkeeper calling for customers… it kinda reminds me of a scene from an opera…lol! I love chinese food so much. I am lucky that we have recently has an authentic chinese supermarket open up not far from me. So I have been experimenting with lots of different foods recently (I even had steamed chickens feet the other day, but the jury is still out as to whether I actually liked them). I would love to visit China and Japan to learn how to prepare and cook food like they do.
Thank you so much for sharing these moments with us 🙂 and once again, that photograph of you is sooooooooo beautiful.
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