Saturday, February 23, 2008

Beijing.

Being back in Beijing has given me a chance to explore the city a little more.
Its intricate network of winding streets, full of street vedors selling all forms of colourful clothing, desperate at times for a sale. They shout to get your attention, they show you things, they grab you and hold you. Breaking free only leads you onto the next vendor, into the next set of hands. Coming from a small place in the north of norway, the contrast is huge, (before anyone compains and tells me to get my head straight and remember im an Aussie, i know, but i left for china from Engavaagen....). Some cant handle it, they hate the big crowded spaces when there are people to bump into everywhere. They breath on you, its its hot they'd sweat on you and if you're unfortunate they will spit on you, by accident ofcourse, not out of spite, you were just in the wrong spot at that moment in time...

The food ventors fill the steets with their wafting aromas, if your lucky enough it will overpower the local putrid smell that hangs over the city. Their delicacies might be tasty, but they are usually scary to look at, sampling them can be a risky buisiness but usually well worth it. Pancake fill with vegies, like giant flat springrolls, or filled with meat, like pasties. Or the men at the side of their shops that barbeque meat over hot coals and paste the most rediculously hot, but very tasty, sauce over the top, sheep shanks for 6 quai (90cents).... mmmmm....
Men on tricycles cart round tasty lumps of fruit and nuts, all glued together with sugary goodness, selling it by the jin (1/2 kg)

To cross a street you sit back, take a deep breath, open your eyes and ears, and then walk slowly... dodge the cars, wait on the lines that divide the lanes, hope the cars will see you and miss, then keep on walking. To drive is worse. Its like you're in a video game. Anyone played need for speed? Taxi's take the racing line, cutting lanes and corners, they turn infront of oncomong traffic but its all in slow motion, you cant drive too fast with rediculous driving like this happening everywhere.

We visited the markets and faught tooth and nail for a bargain, usually getting one. Its frustrating here, haggling starts out fun, trying to get the cheapest price, then your consience kicks in. You dont want to get a deal soo good that they cant make a living out of it, but at the same time they try and rip you off. At times I wish they could just give you a straight up price and if your lucky you could get 10% off or something. when they start ripping you off on food its even more frustrating... they'll dish it up then change the price sometimes, tell you you said more than you did. just walk away i guess...

We've walked through tienamen square, and the forbidden city, the seat of chinese power for hte last 600 years. Its amazing, massive and mindblowing. Centuries past have seen the stones that paved the massive courts worn down and crumbling. The doors are all painted red, but underneath lies solid stone. throne room after throne room hint at the grandure bestowed upon the emperor.

more than that however, as we wander the streets usually lost, we are reminded of the common people, we live in tiny cramped boxes, stacked one ontop of the other, with views of other tiny cramped boxes.
Thankfully after each day we have a place to crash with a little bit of space away from the hustle and bustle of the city to sit back relax and well... sleep.

No comments: