Day Five: Complete with the Hand Jive

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

We got started little late this morning, but saved money on a cab by taking the subway to T.S. Upon arrival, what do you think happened? Oh yes, we were "mobbed" by tourists for pictures - okay, so it was only a man and his wife, but still this small amount of "fame" is giving us a peek into celebrity, and I have to say, I kinda like it. ^^ Unfortunately, Mao's Tomb closed at noon and we got there slightly after, so that's on the agenda for tomorrow along with the Temple of Heaven (starting early at the South Gate to see the old people practicing their martial arts and such) and walking around some hutongs.

After walking around windy T.S. (ps - there are security check points everywhere, from entering the subway to going into T.S. to this, that and the other place... possibly more conveyor belt security checks than I've ever gone through in my entire life, yes, even after the Terror Levels were put in place - wow!) it was nice to find solace within the halls of the Forbidden City, though the cold was still biting. Ooh! I bought a Commie star flap cap, and it was only 30 yuan (or you could say "guay" like saying "bucks/cash" instead of "dollars")! Ah-nice! It kept me warm and made for some ridiculous photo ops. Also, it will make a nice addition to the hat/costume wall back Stateside.

I was surprised how long we were able to wander through the labyrinth of the F.C., a few hours for sure. Appendages were hurting and we had to stop and warm up inside galleries and gift shops a few times. After the F.C. we made our way back to the WFJ area, along the way out of the F.C. we were tagged by a couple of girls who seemed to be scamming us into a "friendship" and possibly tea party ditch (there are stories of Beijingers being extremely friendly towards tourists and promising to show them a good time around the city, starting with a tea house fun-time where they rack up the bill and slip out before the check comes, leaving the tourists high and dry), but we were wise to their tricks and left 'em in our dust.

We ate at a semi-shady, but semi-delicious restaurant; we only ate a little bit because there was a little food vendor strip we passed on the way there - ooh! We tried some sesame roll thing that was desserty, but it didn't get a second bite from me; fried milk (huh? it was a clearish thin rectangle block [before fried] that had a tofu-ish texture) covered in cream sauce and sugar; fried banana balls; dumplings; lamb - oh! those lamb sellers were the best! They sold testicles and the way they pitched in their enthusiastic, gravelly voices was supremely enjoyable and probably the only reason we bought a skewer... that and the fact that he invited us behind his stand!

Finally we met up with Whitney who took us to the acrobat show - the 180 tickets were sold out, but somehow she managed to get us 280 tx for 200!! Ah-nice, especially since we were in the sixth row! Wow. That performance! They ranged from 12ish year old girls to possibly early 40s, so I imagined. Insanely strong and flexible, balancing on backs, upside down while balancing bowls on their feet. Extreme gymnastics to the max. Again, the theatergoers brought snacks and talked and coughed and burped, but it was a good show. We were scared for the shaking muscles, but I was watching the whole time and no one screwed up once! The finale was 12 ladies on one bike!! Ahhh!!! I was so nervous!

(The order of the acts.)

After the show we decided to grab a drink at a sports bar. We walked in and there was a belly dancer by the door - how strange! The owner tried to give us "tips" about Beijing that we already knew and flex his insider muscles... it was amusing and only slightly annoying.

Man. Cab drivers in B-City never seem to know where they are going! The guy that drove us home tonight had to stop and ask directions four times!! We gave him the card with the address for Tony's apartment complex, but he still couldn't find it right away. This is the norm, too, it seems. I guess it's nice because we get to see more of the city... yeah, let's try to be optimistic about it. Also! Man, the architecture here! It's WONDERFUL!! It's not the same structures every block like in Korea, but the buildings look different!! Maybe that's because the city wasn't torn apart by a war 50+ years ago, but still... it's just nice.