Beijing Shopping

Got off early from meeting today and took a cab to the popular Wang Fu Jing area for a walk. This place is huge. Wide streets, hotels after hotels, shopping malls after shopping malls. Too tired to write more. Enjoy the pics, taken from my N70, as I forgotten to bring out my camera.

Stumble upon an eating street and went in. Guess it's not only the Thais who ate bugs. I ordered some lamb kebabs. Stomach too week for such stuff. Not that cheap either, RMB 5 for a foot long stick of meat.

And finally, Noodle Set (炸酱面 + 冰可乐) - RMB 13 (S$ 4+)

Massage

Someone pass this to all the guys as you stepped onto the bus that was taking us out. Talk about translation... Look at the second service... the wholw body cares to massage???? Who cares!!

Dinner, Out of Hotel, Finally!

Yeah... After being cooped up in the hotel the whole for the Sunday meeting, it's time to get out! After the China Review Meeting, all the participants took a bus and took us to this place called "鬼街" - Ghost Street... I thought.. wah.. got such place in Beijing meh....

Actually, it was a busy street, with all (rather 80%) different kinds of restaurant... Chay! So we ended up in this restaurant, where you walk like forever and end up in a backyard. Then they feed you like there was no tomorrow and the food got "打包" back by the staff.

Course after course, they bring the food, until the Ang Mo Kui (红毛鬼) call tolong. But again, food was nice... din take any pictures of the food though, cos the backyard was kind of dark.

Beijing Onsen

Went up the the mountain area near my friend's house for dinner.

This is one giantic place, with so many buildings that you'd think you are in the palace. All the water are from the natural spring, according to the information. Just took some pictures for remembrance. God knows when I will be back to China again.....

Then, we walked, talked, walked, talked, and we stumble upon this....

Dip pool for lovers. RMB 298 for 3 hours.. and No Discount hor. Don't even bother to bargain....... Too bad it was empty...

Cool Bike

See the old man in the background? That's his dad, 70+ and still very strong. He zips around the neighbourhood in this "Harley" of his, and yes, it's almost as old as me, according to Old Man Li!

And you know what? He spends a lot of his time fishing at this big lake just a stone's throw away from the house. Too bad didn't get a chance to see it. Old Man Li says... Next time you come to Beijing, we go fishing.... Yes! I like this guy man... Real Cool!

Beijing Brudder

Here it is... my Beijing Brudder, and his 2 kids. Big Boss now, MD of a factory that makes machines for metal industry. Big US MNC... You've made it in life Max! When's my turn.....

This is the view from the front gate of his house, currently under renovation. It's in a mess, yes, but it's farking big. 2 houses actually, and now he's joining them into one BIG house.. How much? Don't bother asking. Can't even buy you a decent Condominium in the outskirts of Singapore.

Now, that's what I call reality.

7 Nights in Beijing

Finally, the chance to get into Beijing. Arrived on Saturday afternoon and after checking in, gave a call to a good friend "哥儿们", as he calls it. I have not seen him for about 10 years now, but still in touch and within half an hour, he was at the lobby. Cool!

Then, took me in his Buick 7-seater and off we zoomed to his factory. Obviously wanted to show me his labour of fruits. Anyway, after that, we popped by to meet his kids and sister, who was at that time, 摘杏. At that point of time, I didn't knew what the heck was 杏.... Almond?

Reached the garden and what the heck.... it was apricot. That tells you my Mandarin standard. Anyway, walked around and enjoyed the fun a little. A bit hot though, on a hazy afternoon, temperature was about 33 Deg C.

After the kids were done, we walked out to the roadside, weighed the bag of apricots. Scales says "四斤", or 4 Katis, about 600 grams. Total: RMB 8/- (~ S$ 1.60)!!!!! Cheap? You decide!