Beijing

Since getting to Beijing we've found some lovely places to eat, we've visited places like tianimen square, and the forbidden city. Mike and 2 of the girls in the group both flew back after a few days to the UK, so it's just me an 2 other guys I know from the rally now in Beijing, and they're staying with me until my Birthday and then they're flying back that day.

We've checked into an awesome hostel, its actually a hotel but the top floor is a hostel with bar etc so we're pretty pleased, it also has free wifi etc... The only problem is that I still can't get my photo's off my bloody camera, its definitely their computers not the memory cards, but most annoying!

One day we ventured down to the silk market in town, it was only a few stops on the tube, and definately the best market I've even been to. Just outside we were asked by a film crew whether we'd be willing to talk to them, after a moment I thought why not, who's going to see it anyway. It was a weird interview, I was asked many questions about the "monkey king" not having any idea what they were on about I presumed it was some kind of Kungfu thing. I jibbered on about how I'd heard about him on the Internet and as predicted the interview was pretty short haha. All in all a good start to the morning.

At the market, as you're walking through all the sellers who obviously have a set english vocabulary try to pull you in to their stores etc, but nothing too agressive. All the goods there are fake, but the best fakes you'll come across. We were already told that what ever the starting price they ask, you should try and settle at about a sixth of that price. My shopping by the end of the day included an I "heart" BJ t-shirt, a tag heurer carrera watch and all three of us picked up somewhat an impulse buy of a Chinese fighter pilot helmet each, we each have different colours and after some deliberation our call signs are chop sticks, chow mein & crispy duck! All in all a great day!

On a variety of nights I ventured out to several suggested night spots. They varied from a largely ex-pat area with many small bars and a couple of cool roof terraces. To a Local clubs, that we stood out as the only westerners there (that and I'm taller than the vast majority of the populus), they all had dj's playing western dance music varying between classics, new tracks and as always with a few timeless Michael Jackson tracks mixed in. The local clubs are interesting, I'm not sure whether it was because we were westeners or if this was normal practice but we were shown to a table where you get table service for your drinks and they watch your stuff as you dance. Another strange thing, is going to a club and seeing people not buying shots of alcohol but instead buying whole bottles, and then leaving most of the bottle on the table and walking off, an group of girls next to us had about a tenth of a bottle of Jonny Walker Blue, then left.
We also ventured to a club that was Russian owned, it was very much Russian in it's decor, such as the shiny gold urinals and tables etc... We didn't feel entirely comfortable so left after one drink, after meeting some pretty dodgy people in Russia this had much the same vibe.

Beijing was an interesting place, you quickly realise it's pretty smoggy, and very few people speak English, mainly because with nearly 2 billion population, why should they!

It's staggering how big everything is there, and how much construction is still happening. When you consider it costs just 16p for a single underground trip anywhere in Beijing, and that an hours taxi journey cost about £4, it puts it in perspective with the UK. All the modern ammenities are available in Beijing, and obviously there's a wide range of variances with the West, it's definately taking the better pieces of the west, then putting their own slant on it. You could almost say they've reverse engineered the city from the likes of New York & London. There's still alot to happen in China as a whole, but Beijing is somewhere that I could potentially see as good place to work; but not a place I'd consider a long term relocation.

It's appears very much a case that China is the next big player, and not a world power to be laughed at. I for one, welcome our new Chinese Masters!