While not a post on design per se, I took some cursory notes on each of the 7 days I just spent with my wife in Beijing, China. Sadly, the Notes app was about the only use I could get out of my iPhone that week (re: major withdrawal). In any event, I was there to meet my new extended family, see many historic sites, eat lots of good food, and walk like I’ve never walked before. All videos below are ours from the trip.
Day 1
After a 14 hour flight and 24 hours without sleep, I meet the new family for dinner 45 minutes after landing. Needless to say, I was pretty spacey (in fact I don’t remember much of what happened). Out like a light at 8:30PM in our room at the Zhaolong Hotel.
Day 2
This morning I notice the body temperature sensors on either side of the hotel lobby entrance. They sound an alarm if your temperature is above normal, in an attempt to then contain/quarantine any possible H1N1-contaminated people (does a cage drop down from the ceiling?) Train to Tiananmen Square. The subway is the true test of having social anxiety disorder. Completely packed with bodies; not an inch to move. When you think it’s at a laughably-full stage, 10 more people force their way in at the following stop. We visit the Forbidden City, Jingshan Park, and Beihai Park. Completely unreal to be walking around here. As an American, I’m stared at incessantly (even by people on the street while we’re in a cab). Make the wife take me by the Apple Store Beijing. The smog layer over the city is insanely dense. My allergies aren’t having a good time. Blow black soot out of my nose at night, and every night here thereafter, from the heavy air pollution.
Day 3
Breakfast from a street vendor: ham, egg, and vegetables on flatbread. Unbelievably fresh and explosive flavors. Train to the Summer Palace ruins. Cab to new Summer Palace after lunch. Dinner with more new family members at a restaurant called Wahaha (that joke writes itself). Driving in China is pure insanity; due to the incredible overpopulation, traffic signals and “rules of the road” are treated merely as suggestions. People make u-turns from the right lane across 5 lanes of traffic (saw that twice). Then factor pedestrians, bicycles, and mopeds into the mix. Absolute chaos.
Day 4
Bus, subway, then train through the mountains to reach the Great Wall. Ate a “ham flavored” meat sandwich for lunch along the way. Some local fellow wanted his picture taken with me. The wife bought a panda hat after our walk along the Wall. Hot pot for dinner, Chinese arcade games after. Checking email at night on the MacBook pro is frustrating; Internet censorship is brutal. Also sites like facebook, Twitter…blocked by the government.
Day 5
Shopping at Wangfujing. Bought a jacket. Workers in the store literally follow you every inch of your visit as a “personal service”. Drives me nuts. Still-moving scorpions, roaches, and crickets on skewers to eat in the market. Went to a bargaining market at night to haggle with wife and mother inlaw. Good bargains on nice stuff. Peking Duck in the stead of turkey on Thanksgiving in China. After dinner we walk over to a local video store; 3 movies still in the theater on DVD, for under 10 bucks.
Day 6
Train to Tiananmen south end. Lots of little shops here. Over to the Temple of Heaven after lunch at Duyichu Restaurant (built in 1738). Outside the Temple, an old man does calligraphy on the ground with a giant brush and water as his medium. Dinner at grandpa’s apartment, then over to see the humongous LED screen (2nd largest in the world) at The Place Mall later in the evening. Good java at Esquires Coffee.
Day 7
We all go pay our respects to some of Kaity’s relatives who have passed. After, we stop at a nearby artists’ market, as I’m on the hunt for a large-format calligraphy piece for our home. I find one I really like; we negotiate, and I bought it. After the train back we pass through another bargaining market. A Chinese girl says while smiling, “you look familiar; do you have many Chinese girlfriends here?” The wife’s mom is not amused. “Just this one” I answered, pointing at Kaity. “You’re lucky, then” she replied towards Kaity. Scandalous! Dinner with family again on our last night in Beijing. We watch a mask-changing performance while at the restaurant. The guy comes off the stage into the audience and shakes my hand. Another perk for being the only American in sight. Flight out the next morning at 11.