Tuesday, July 13, 2010

4 weeks vacation - Beijing



Our 4 weeks vacation almost come to an ends. In the past few weeks, we've been to many places: seen a lot, eat a lot, shop a lot, and of cos having a lot FUN.
Left Toronto at 1am, transit in HKIA. It was 4am in the morning, many stores in the airport weren't open yet. We were seating at the eatery area, where the wifi signal is kinda strong, surf net to kill time, 4 more hours before our next flight to Beijing.
Check in to China Airline, as soon as we step out the door to the shuttle bus, our first welcome was the humid heat. It was 8 in the morning, the sun hasn't really out yet but the heat make me feel like it was noon time. Got on the plane, getting ready to buckle up, announcement from the crew, "due to the storm weather, the traffic control in Beijing not allow any planes land."
Delay!?!?!
Thunder storm??? It was clear outside the window.
I thought only half an hour delay, no big deal. First hour past, second hour past, third hour....
We were sitting in the plane total of 7 hours before we finally take off to Beijing. Yes, a total of a good 7 hours wasted on the plane. Ryan was slept thru the whole time until we arrived in Beijing. By the time we arrived in Beijing, it was night time. Our plan ruined. We were supposed going to 王府井 and taste the famous Beijing duck. Because of the delay we were sent back to the hotel and retired.
First time step foot in China, the impression wasn't very great! A lot of crazy drivers out there, they just like to honk and they don't follow the traffic rules. People aren't very friendly. They like to spit and smoke indoor. I need to mention about the public washroom, if not because of urgency, don't even go near to the public washroom. They don't provide soap let alone the toilet roll. I think the flushing system is not designed to flush the tissues, you have to throw the used tissues in the basket. Ooh, it was disgusting. I rather Ryan pees in the plastic bag or on the street than the public washroom.
Beside the public washroom, what killing me was China man likes to smoke in the restaurants, hotel lobby, non smoking hotel room, anywhere indoor.
We went to Silk Market (秀水街), it was an eyes opened experience.
You have to bargain, not 10, 20 percent but 70, 80 or even 90%. Tactic is you don't show interest and stand firm with your offer, don't give in and don't trust them when they say their quality better than others. There were 7 floor with every floor offers different goods. Every stalls selling pretty much the same thing. So, don't worry, if one stall doesn't want to sell you, try next door. Trust me, the moment you turn your back, they sure will call you back and put the goods in the bag. All the fakes stuff look so "real". I don't mean the designer purse, cos I will never buy fake designer purses.
We spent whole afternoon there, bargain until my voice turn hoarse and physically exhausted, but it was fun though. We were so tired, partly because of the jet lag. Poor Ryan, he was sleeping in the stroller the whole time. If our body allows us to continue, we'd probably continue bargain until the mall closed. Too bad, we'd to call it a day. I have to admit that was one of the highlight in my Beijing trip, beside the Olympic studium (bird nest), Forbidden City and the Great Wall of China.

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