Tuesday 26th August, 2008
Today was a full-on day, and I'm feeling really content that I have done everything that I really wanted to do in the city of Beijing!
This morning I woke up really early (7am hehe) to lug my fridge downstairs and meet everyone in the lobby at 8am to go and see dead Mao's body in Tiananmen. When we finally got there it was around 9am and because you weren't allowed to take bags in we took turns visiting. As we walked through, it was rather creepy seeing a body in a glass case just laying there, but some people were very moved by it - even to the extent of shedding tears.
After Mao we hung out in the Square for a while, taking pictures with people and taking pictures of people - I'm pretty big in Beijing you know. The joke was made that if Brooke and I (who were both wearing our new 'Australia' shirts) set up shop in front of Mao's portrait in Tiananmen Square we could charge 20 yuan a photo and make a fortune!
We then went our separate ways - Brooke and Matt decided to come with me to visit the Temple of Heaven via subway while the others went to Beihai Park. The Temple of Heaven was amazing and I'm so glad I finally got around to going! When we got there though, the main temple was closed but no one would tell us why, just that it would not open until 12pm. I was thinking "just my luck" but then as 12pm rolled around and we were finally allowed to enter we were treated with a dress rehearsal of some ceremony for the paralympic games! What timing! We strolled through the rest of the park quite leisurely, then caught a cab to Hou Hai to meet some girls for lunch and go for a mani/pedi.
After much mucking around trying to find a place (because the one we were going to go to was booked out until 8pm) we eventually found an amazing underground shopping centre we never even knew was in Xinhua. Finally we found a place to go and it was relax time for the girls.
For dinner a lot of people went to Purple Haze (my fave thai restaurant), but I really felt like some good old Beijing Duck before we went. So in regal style (as we have been doing a lot of lately) Liz and Lucas and I went to a Beijing Duck Restaurant where they made us the most amazing meal I think I've had - it was definitely up there.
So now I'm back in my room trying to pack 2 months of living into one tiny suitcase and a carry on bag... it's packed within an inch of its life.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Day 47: A different side at night
Monday 25th August, 2007
I felt fine today, although that's more than what I can say for most of my friends haha. Liz and Manda and I started our day off with a Lush breakfast to cure the stomach blues we were all experiencing and afterwards I took them back to the dvd shop I was shown for some more pirated goodness.
I had every intention of going to see the Temple of Heaven today, but Liz and Manda were going to Silk Road Markets and I really thought it would have been too hot trekking around a park all day by myself, so I gave into temptation and visited the markets one final time. Lucky I did because I bought more crap I don't need!
By the time I got home though, it was time for me to go out with Jess and Rach and Mel to Tiananmen Square to watch the flag lowering ceremony, which turned out to be a bit of a flop and not all that inspiring - probably because we couldn't see anything for the amount of people there.
Afterwards we walked down to Wangfujing and did a bit of night shopping to soak up the atmosphere and get our last minute gifts. The food stalls are amazing there and they cook up almost anything you can think of right there in front of you. I was really tired and my feet were sore (I think everyone else was feeling a bit the same) so as soon as we had got what we needed and walked the entire street we hoped in a taxi and high-tailed it out of there!
I felt fine today, although that's more than what I can say for most of my friends haha. Liz and Manda and I started our day off with a Lush breakfast to cure the stomach blues we were all experiencing and afterwards I took them back to the dvd shop I was shown for some more pirated goodness.
I had every intention of going to see the Temple of Heaven today, but Liz and Manda were going to Silk Road Markets and I really thought it would have been too hot trekking around a park all day by myself, so I gave into temptation and visited the markets one final time. Lucky I did because I bought more crap I don't need!
By the time I got home though, it was time for me to go out with Jess and Rach and Mel to Tiananmen Square to watch the flag lowering ceremony, which turned out to be a bit of a flop and not all that inspiring - probably because we couldn't see anything for the amount of people there.
Afterwards we walked down to Wangfujing and did a bit of night shopping to soak up the atmosphere and get our last minute gifts. The food stalls are amazing there and they cook up almost anything you can think of right there in front of you. I was really tired and my feet were sore (I think everyone else was feeling a bit the same) so as soon as we had got what we needed and walked the entire street we hoped in a taxi and high-tailed it out of there!
Day 46: Grand Sunday Closing Ceremony
Sunday 24th August, 2008
Today was a fantastic day full of extravagances and luxuries. Liz found a magazine with a 'Grand Sunday Brunch' in it at the Grand Millennium Hotel which was around 350 yuan for all you can eat fantastic buffet full of beautiful vegetables, curries, meats, breakfast goods, fish, pasta, bread and pretty much anything else you can think of (oh I also forgot to mention the pastries and deserts made by a French desert chef) plus flowing champagne and cocktails. It was a blast. We got there at 1pm and by the time we had eaten all we could eat, and drank all we could drank, it was just about time for them to shut up shop.
We decided that it would be stupid to go back to the uni since the closing ceremony celebrations for ONS were at a nearby bar, so we should just find somewhere near to sit and have a drink. After walking about 20m through the hotel we spotted one next door to where we were eating, and decided that this place was as good as any other. We met a lovely friend named Andy there - Josh kept telling him how nice he looked, and asking how much for his tie.
After that it still wasn't quite time so we made our way to Sanlitun's Q Bar where we got some food and had a few more drinks. By the time we finally made it to Tun Bar where the celebrations had just begun, I'd already had enough! After the ceremony everyone had a great time dancing and singing loudly to pop songs that were familiar to us (for once). I went home earlier though because after a 12 hour effort I'd really had enough!
Today was a fantastic day full of extravagances and luxuries. Liz found a magazine with a 'Grand Sunday Brunch' in it at the Grand Millennium Hotel which was around 350 yuan for all you can eat fantastic buffet full of beautiful vegetables, curries, meats, breakfast goods, fish, pasta, bread and pretty much anything else you can think of (oh I also forgot to mention the pastries and deserts made by a French desert chef) plus flowing champagne and cocktails. It was a blast. We got there at 1pm and by the time we had eaten all we could eat, and drank all we could drank, it was just about time for them to shut up shop.
We decided that it would be stupid to go back to the uni since the closing ceremony celebrations for ONS were at a nearby bar, so we should just find somewhere near to sit and have a drink. After walking about 20m through the hotel we spotted one next door to where we were eating, and decided that this place was as good as any other. We met a lovely friend named Andy there - Josh kept telling him how nice he looked, and asking how much for his tie.
After that it still wasn't quite time so we made our way to Sanlitun's Q Bar where we got some food and had a few more drinks. By the time we finally made it to Tun Bar where the celebrations had just begun, I'd already had enough! After the ceremony everyone had a great time dancing and singing loudly to pop songs that were familiar to us (for once). I went home earlier though because after a 12 hour effort I'd really had enough!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Day 45: An Adventure
Saturday 23rd August, 2008
Today we woke up late and had a nice breakfast at Lush at 9am, but before we got there our taxi driver took us around the world trying out shortcuts and failing miserably! Luckily he turned off the meter so we didn't have to pay for all of his mistakes in trying to get there.
I had an awesome foccacia with bacon, eggs, hash browns and baked beans. It was so delicious.
After brekkie we went to a dvd store and got me sex and the city entire volume and a few others. Hopefully I can get them all in my suitcase because it's looking a bit difficult at the moment.
Afterwards we decided we might give the China National Museum a try, which is on Tiananmen Square. When we got there the square was closed for Closing Ceremony, so to get to the other side we had to walk all the way around in the stinking heat. They even closed off the underground passage!
When we finally made it all the way around the other side though, there was a sign saying that the museum was closed from 2007-2010!! I nearly cried! I couldn't believe that it would be closed during the Olympics. Stupid! So after we had trekked all that way, we decided we might as well keep walking, and it ended up being nice having a little walk around an area we hadn't seen - so all was not lost.
For dinner we went out to Purple Haze (the fourth time I've been there) and had a really nice dinner and awesome cocktails. Then we decided to go upstairs and try out Klubb Rouge, which in all the papers is a swanky cocktail bar - and they were right. Prices were a bit ridiculous, but we decided to stay for one drink and they made the most amazing cocktail I think I've ever had.
We left there and strolled around Sanliutan for a while looking for Nan Ji bar but no one could find it. So a few of us thought we would go to China Doll instead, but since the Olympics they have made a cover charge of free for women and medallists, but 200 yuan for men !! (and we had Lucas with us so that wasn't happening). We decided to call it a night right then and there since tomorrow we are having a massive lunch and big party, so don't want to be seedy for that!
Today we woke up late and had a nice breakfast at Lush at 9am, but before we got there our taxi driver took us around the world trying out shortcuts and failing miserably! Luckily he turned off the meter so we didn't have to pay for all of his mistakes in trying to get there.
I had an awesome foccacia with bacon, eggs, hash browns and baked beans. It was so delicious.
After brekkie we went to a dvd store and got me sex and the city entire volume and a few others. Hopefully I can get them all in my suitcase because it's looking a bit difficult at the moment.
Afterwards we decided we might give the China National Museum a try, which is on Tiananmen Square. When we got there the square was closed for Closing Ceremony, so to get to the other side we had to walk all the way around in the stinking heat. They even closed off the underground passage!
When we finally made it all the way around the other side though, there was a sign saying that the museum was closed from 2007-2010!! I nearly cried! I couldn't believe that it would be closed during the Olympics. Stupid! So after we had trekked all that way, we decided we might as well keep walking, and it ended up being nice having a little walk around an area we hadn't seen - so all was not lost.
For dinner we went out to Purple Haze (the fourth time I've been there) and had a really nice dinner and awesome cocktails. Then we decided to go upstairs and try out Klubb Rouge, which in all the papers is a swanky cocktail bar - and they were right. Prices were a bit ridiculous, but we decided to stay for one drink and they made the most amazing cocktail I think I've ever had.
We left there and strolled around Sanliutan for a while looking for Nan Ji bar but no one could find it. So a few of us thought we would go to China Doll instead, but since the Olympics they have made a cover charge of free for women and medallists, but 200 yuan for men !! (and we had Lucas with us so that wasn't happening). We decided to call it a night right then and there since tomorrow we are having a massive lunch and big party, so don't want to be seedy for that!
Day 44: Llama Temple and Beihai Park
Friday 22 August, 2008
Today was an amazing, jam-packed day. I set off by myself for the Llama Temple (Yonghe Gong Temple) in the North East corner of the city. It is an ancient Temple in the history of China which was turned into a Buddhist temple and now has 50 monks in residence. I got an audio guide and walked around the temple, and watched as hundreds of people prayed to Buddha for all their needs and wants. It was a pretty amazing place in that it was such an active place of worship.
After I was done there I made my way to Beihai Park to meet Jess Norgard - it is the park to the North West of the Forbidden City, and at the top of the white dagoba, there is an absolutely amazing 360 degree view of the city. We enjoyed just walking around, but parks in China are definitely not like parks in Australia. There is no grass, its all just concrete paths and trees! Oh well, we still found a place to have our little picnic, and went for a little boat ride =)
That night for dinner we took two of the people we worked with at Weightlifting (who also live at BFSU) out for dinner out the back of our uni. They showed us a really nice restaurant that we had no idea was there, so that was cool. But it wasn't good bye just yet, we are seeing them again on Tuesday to give them all of our leftover stuff.
Today was an amazing, jam-packed day. I set off by myself for the Llama Temple (Yonghe Gong Temple) in the North East corner of the city. It is an ancient Temple in the history of China which was turned into a Buddhist temple and now has 50 monks in residence. I got an audio guide and walked around the temple, and watched as hundreds of people prayed to Buddha for all their needs and wants. It was a pretty amazing place in that it was such an active place of worship.
After I was done there I made my way to Beihai Park to meet Jess Norgard - it is the park to the North West of the Forbidden City, and at the top of the white dagoba, there is an absolutely amazing 360 degree view of the city. We enjoyed just walking around, but parks in China are definitely not like parks in Australia. There is no grass, its all just concrete paths and trees! Oh well, we still found a place to have our little picnic, and went for a little boat ride =)
That night for dinner we took two of the people we worked with at Weightlifting (who also live at BFSU) out for dinner out the back of our uni. They showed us a really nice restaurant that we had no idea was there, so that was cool. But it wasn't good bye just yet, we are seeing them again on Tuesday to give them all of our leftover stuff.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Day 43: The Big Flop
Thursday 21 August, 2008
I had so many big plans for today, I was really going to make the most of it and go on my own little adventure. I even woke up early (8am) because I wanted to get out and have a big day of sightseeing. But when I opened my curtains I was greeted with the rainiest day we've had for ages, and of course it is my day off! Err! I went to Carrefour and stocked up on pasta sauce and pasta for the next couple of day's lunches or dinners, or snacks, and that was about it. It was raining so it was not pleasant at all. In the afternoon did some uni work, but of course I procrastinated so I hardly did anything at all. Later in the evening I planned to do some more, but then my next door neighbours Brooke, Rach, Jess and Mel were all having a Coke party (I will explain in a second) and they invited me round, so how could I say no?!
Rach is obsessed with Coke and she has collected a whole heap of cans from Beijing and can only take a certain amount of full ones back because her bag will be too heavy otherwise. So the ones she couldnt take back full we poked holes in the bottom of them and poured them into cups and drank. I sampled Cherry Coke, Diet Lemon Coke, Coke Zero, Normal Diet Coke, Vanilla Coke... yeah you get the picture.
I'm going to try to get to bed early tonight so that I can hopefully have a big day tomorrow if the weather allows. Fingers crossed!
I had so many big plans for today, I was really going to make the most of it and go on my own little adventure. I even woke up early (8am) because I wanted to get out and have a big day of sightseeing. But when I opened my curtains I was greeted with the rainiest day we've had for ages, and of course it is my day off! Err! I went to Carrefour and stocked up on pasta sauce and pasta for the next couple of day's lunches or dinners, or snacks, and that was about it. It was raining so it was not pleasant at all. In the afternoon did some uni work, but of course I procrastinated so I hardly did anything at all. Later in the evening I planned to do some more, but then my next door neighbours Brooke, Rach, Jess and Mel were all having a Coke party (I will explain in a second) and they invited me round, so how could I say no?!
Rach is obsessed with Coke and she has collected a whole heap of cans from Beijing and can only take a certain amount of full ones back because her bag will be too heavy otherwise. So the ones she couldnt take back full we poked holes in the bottom of them and poured them into cups and drank. I sampled Cherry Coke, Diet Lemon Coke, Coke Zero, Normal Diet Coke, Vanilla Coke... yeah you get the picture.
I'm going to try to get to bed early tonight so that I can hopefully have a big day tomorrow if the weather allows. Fingers crossed!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Day 42: A Much-Deserved Day Off
Wednesday 20th August, 2008
Today was the most relaxing day I’ve had in a very long time. I got to bed late because I’m used to working nights now, so I woke up late also (around 11am). I spent the morning just hanging around and by the time I got ready it was 1:30pm and we had to leave to go on our day spa trip we had organised as a thankyou to Peggy and Jane for being such good managers and friends to us.
We went to a spa in an area called Lido, which was a really nice district near where Jane lives. The spa was beautiful – we got 3 rooms with 3 in one room, three in another and then Steven had his own. I was in a room with Jane and Peggy. When we walked in there were red pyjama-type things laid out on the bed and I assumed we had to put them on. They were the daggiest things I’ve seen (worse than the bucket hat and bum bag that came with our uniform).
We all decided to go for a full body massage, which turned out to be a great idea. It went for an hour and they massage through the clothes with a towel on the top, which is a good thing because my girl pressed so hard it hurt. She got all the knots out of my back though so I’m feeling pretty good tonight.
After that relaxing afternoon we decided we didn’t want the day to end just then, so we went for a coffee at ‘Sculpting in Time’ – a café branch. It had great food and was cheap with a great atmosphere so I definitely think I’ll give that one another try. Steven had a coffee that came in a bowl that was literally bigger than the bowl I eat my cereals in for breakfast, and he drank it all in 2 minutes flat.
After that though we had to say goodbye to Peggy as she is leaving on the train tomorrow to see her family in Xian. Luckily it was a quick one and no tears were shed – if she had stayed any longer I definitely would have cried. She made our time at work so much more enjoyable and was a great friend to all of us. We also said bye to Jane, but hopefully we will see her a few more times before we leave. Only a week to go! I don’t want to leave!
I spent tonight eating pasta and sorting out my stuff and what I want to do tomorrow. It feels weird not having to go to work and having to plan what you want to see and do! I think I’m going to go on my own little adventure during the day, and later I will go back and visit Tiananmen and Wangfujing to see what they are like at night.
Today was the most relaxing day I’ve had in a very long time. I got to bed late because I’m used to working nights now, so I woke up late also (around 11am). I spent the morning just hanging around and by the time I got ready it was 1:30pm and we had to leave to go on our day spa trip we had organised as a thankyou to Peggy and Jane for being such good managers and friends to us.
We went to a spa in an area called Lido, which was a really nice district near where Jane lives. The spa was beautiful – we got 3 rooms with 3 in one room, three in another and then Steven had his own. I was in a room with Jane and Peggy. When we walked in there were red pyjama-type things laid out on the bed and I assumed we had to put them on. They were the daggiest things I’ve seen (worse than the bucket hat and bum bag that came with our uniform).
We all decided to go for a full body massage, which turned out to be a great idea. It went for an hour and they massage through the clothes with a towel on the top, which is a good thing because my girl pressed so hard it hurt. She got all the knots out of my back though so I’m feeling pretty good tonight.
After that relaxing afternoon we decided we didn’t want the day to end just then, so we went for a coffee at ‘Sculpting in Time’ – a café branch. It had great food and was cheap with a great atmosphere so I definitely think I’ll give that one another try. Steven had a coffee that came in a bowl that was literally bigger than the bowl I eat my cereals in for breakfast, and he drank it all in 2 minutes flat.
After that though we had to say goodbye to Peggy as she is leaving on the train tomorrow to see her family in Xian. Luckily it was a quick one and no tears were shed – if she had stayed any longer I definitely would have cried. She made our time at work so much more enjoyable and was a great friend to all of us. We also said bye to Jane, but hopefully we will see her a few more times before we leave. Only a week to go! I don’t want to leave!
I spent tonight eating pasta and sorting out my stuff and what I want to do tomorrow. It feels weird not having to go to work and having to plan what you want to see and do! I think I’m going to go on my own little adventure during the day, and later I will go back and visit Tiananmen and Wangfujing to see what they are like at night.
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