Another fairly relaxed morning, struggling with internet and cable tv issues. Oh well, I guess this is a TIC (this is China) thing. I decide to see what’s out in Beijing today, inspired by my taxi ride yesterday. Since every train station seems to be the center of major activity, I’ll ride to a train station I’m not familiar with, and come above ground and see what I find.
I pick Guomao for today. It’s a transit station serving two different lines. When I get off, I start looking for signs of what points of interest there might be. I see something that says World Trade Center, and it looks like it covers several blocks and has numerous buildings. IT’S HUGE! Someone later told me it’s the biggest shopping mall in Beijing. I usually have a solid sense of direction, and I can read a map, but I GOT LOST in this mall. Every high-end luxury brand I’d ever heard of has a store in this place. Where do this many people get this much money? My only purchase was lunch at Fatburger, a fast-food burger joint out of Las Vegas and California. Burgers and fries were great!
I must have looked like I was lost because two nicely dressed young Chinese people walked up and started talking to me. They were very friendly. Before I knew it, I was being escorted out of the mall and into a nearby building where they were displaying their art. They were students at a Beijing University and having an art show. I walked out after purchasing two small pieces. There must be a sign on my back that says “I’m Buying.”
Judy comes in around 9:45 pm. She is wound up and excited, talking about all the new experiences in Shanghai. At the same time, she’s scrambling to get everything put away, and herself into bed so she can teach tomorrow. I’m getting the weekend stories in small pieces. To get the real lowdown, we’re all going to have to wait for her to write about it, or talk about it to me in more detail.
The Girls, Cheryl (now teaching in Guonzhou), Alexis (birthday girl), and Shannon.
We’re where?
When I get lost, look for me under this thingamajigger.
In my own words, she saw some amazing sights and buildings, and ate at some great restaurants. They walked the “Bund” along Shanghai Harbor. She spent some fun time in an antiques market, and helped one of her friends shop for a cricket. Yes, a cricket! Apparently they went to a really large pet market, looking for a pet cricket. There are two types, singing crickets, and fighting crickets. They have little houses, and food, and other “gear”. Cheryl couldn’t settle on a price, so no cricket is purchased. I keep remembering the occasional fall football game when crickets would swarm to the lights and I couldn’t give instructions to students without eating a cricket. Midnight, and Judy finally conks out.
Cricket anyone?
Cricket condos.
Shanghai Harbor from the Bund.
