More Beijing

This post might not make that much sense because I just went through the pictures and posted them here. They're not in any particular order but are highlights of our stay in Beijing:

Getting around Beijing on bikes was great. It's definitely the cycling capital of the world and I don't see any reason why you shouldn't use one here. Parking space for bikes are everywhere (that is if you care, you can park anywhere really) and bicycle lanes are not an afterthought but an integral part of the road system. Oh road system! How can you not love the road system. Basically, apart from traffic lights telling you to stop or move on, the Chinese roads are absolutely lawless. Pedestrians are so crazy and brave here, they never care about speeding vehicles or anything. They expect everyone to stop for them. The rule here as I keep on saying to Usman is not to show a single speck of hesitation - just walk and don't look right or left. Usman said he'll include that pearl of wisdom in my eulogy. Everybody honks at everybody, everybody drives insanely and tries to over take using the opposite lane (and expecting oncoming cars to move away) but no one gets pissed off. NO ONE. If you tryed it in England, you'd get the obligatory "you fucking prick" shouts but here it's not like you've done anything wrong. It's just the way you do it. Crazy drivers like Abdul Rauf and Zaar would've loved it.

Beijing underground metro station

We used the metro every now and again whenever we can't be arsed cycling. This is one of the places where you can't help but to feel the sheer density of the city. Some of the lines have just been completed recently for the Olympics but it's already running on capacity load.

Singing traditional Chinese music, practising opera songs with erhu players and writing caligraphy on pavements - Chinese culture is alive and well.

Despite rampant Westernisation, I'm pleased that we can still see Chinese culture in the public squares and parks. In the Temple of Heaven Park, people come not just to visit the grand architecture but Beijingers particularly come here to chillax (Usman's word). People were singing, playing traditional musical instruments, traditional games and were doing some exercise. Old people seem happy in China. They well cared for, they have many friends and so many things to do - morning taichi in the square, afternoon Chinese Opera singing with "erhu" players, and more recently Olympic torch relay-watching.

Temple of Heaven

Our hostel in Beijing

The hostel that we stayed in was pretty good. The staff were friendly and spoke some English which is a relief. We feel stupid for thinking (maybe expecting as well) that people would speak some English here. We have a Beginner's Chinese book with us but never really got around to learn much from it. I learnt 3 chapters of the 21. Usman learnt 2. So yeah you can imagine how we've been struggling ever since we left Beijing. A simple thing like telling the taxi-driver-man (my new word) where to go is a daunting task in itself. Thankfully we've got a phrasebook with all the Chinese characters in it.

-Ihsan

Beijing Zoo - pleasant park but the animals seem to be inhumanely kept.

Giant Panda - Usman's latest obsession