I've been to Beijing twice now. And I loved it both times.
The first time we went there were about 14 of my colleagues from India aboard the same Singapore Airlines plane. For all of us this was our very first trip to China.
There were thunderstorms over Beijing - obviously they hadn't quite perfected the chemicals they were to shoot in the air to prevent showers ; or perhaps our arrival was not deemed to be as important as the opening of the Olympic games - our flight was diverted to a little airport, whose name I shall never know, for 4 hours. It was a mere 30 mins away from Beijing and had no storms. It was a very large airport, but we could not disembark as it did not have an immigration and customs facility there. So 4 hours later we finally landed in Beijing.
As an American citizen, I was very nervous about coming to a communist state. I kept my hands in full view at all times, and tried to follow whatever rules I could. We arrived at the immigration counter - same chaotic mess as in Delhi. More flights than counters, lines snaking around the arrival hall - and stern looking immigration officials...
With a slight twist - they had little boxes on their counters which lit up and allowed you to let the Chinese goverrnment know what you thought of the immigration officer .... not quite ready to believe that they had actually decided to put the customer first - I went with the politically correct 5 out of 5. I was rewarded with a stamped passport and a blank stare.
The cabs were nice big Hyundai Sonatas. Hyundai ? China ? Whatever... The streets were well-maintained, wide - just like the American highways, planted with lots of trees. Traffic moved in an orderly pattern. Beijing is getting ready to put up a fine show for the Olympics. Sigh! How would I ever live in Delhi after this ?
Eventually we arrived at our very nice Starwood Hotel which looked just like any other hotel anywhere in the world - Are we in China yet ?
A couple of vegetarians decided they would take no risks eating the local food - they ventured out on foot looking for a grocery store at which to buy fruits and vegetables that they could peel, cut and eat - and be certain that it was not contaminated by any living creature. On their way back they were accosted by some rather aggressive ladies of the night. They returned to the hotel with their honor and fruits and vegetables intact. But no one protested, nor trotted out the fruits, when I volunteered to find them vegetarian food at the local restaurant. As the only woman in the group, I found my company sought after - not for my legendary charm, but because I would discourage their aggressors from approaching me !!!!!
Work was relatively easy since we had the office address printed in Chinese and the doorman made sure the cab driver knew where to bring us and most people in the office speak English. The folks at work knew where to bring us to lunch and what to order - so we had some of the finest chinese feasts - mostly vegetarian. I did try the famous Peking duck (Beijing duck just isn't the same) - definitely a highly cultivated culture experience if you ask me.
Across from the office was a shopping center.. jam packed with shops selling apparel, sports shoes, toys, traditional chinese gift items, porcelain, tea sets, prayer beads, pearls, silk fabric, electronics and my favorite - Grade 1 and 3 Rolex watches. We had been warned, prices quoted will be about 4x what you should pay. We spent many hours and many more Yuan there.
We bargained with gusto - releasing a spate of emotion from the young sales women. My colleague thought it was peculiar that there were only women working in the stores - after much speculation - we asked a chinese colleague - who came up with my favorite theory (untested for authenticity or feminism) - Women are far more outgoing and friendly - they are better at sales than the men, who tend to do the heavy lifting and carrying from the markets. That is why you don't see any men in the front of the house.
My boss - who is rumored to have a colourful life after hours - insisted on treating me to a foot massage. I was a little suspicious until he promised that this is where his wife went. It was the best foot massage I've ever had... and I'm an expert - having had massages in Singapore, Australia, Thailand, several places in India, California, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Las Vegas. PHENOMENAL!
On Saturday we took a conducted tour that included a visit to Tianmien Square - I stood in awed silence looking upon a square that could stand half a million people and people's republic dining hall that could serve a sit down banquet to over 10,000. From there we traipsed through the Forbidden City - grand despite the feverish activity to renovate it prior to the Games and then onto the Great Wall.
Never have I anticipated something so much, only to be totally let down. I am not big on historical monuments, but living in India, I've started to develop a healthy interest - the Great Wall was just that - a great big wall in the middle of spectacular scenery - an ugly reminder of the battles fought and the pains to which people must go to protect their way of life. Yes it is a wonder of engineering and carto-something-ing. But I am in no hurry to climb it or get to the other side. Like the Taj Mahal, it looks exactly like the picture - just no great love story to tease the imagination.
No trip can be complete without a trip to an Indian restaurant - after 10 days of Chinese vegetables - even the bad Indian food tasted good !
No trip to China is complete without a trip to the theatre. Our tour guide got us tickets to a spectacular show - combination of acrobatics and gymnastics. I have never seen anything like it !!!!!!!! INcredible stuff that defies the imagination.
And in 2007 no trip to China is complete without viewing the spectacular Bird's Nest - the steel structure in which the opening ceremony will be held next year - or the Cube of Water which will host the swimming events.
China in 2007 is a vibrant, exciting place. I met a colleague on assignment from the US who told me that a Fauchon had just opened up in her neighborhood. No the Rolex she was wearing was real, and yes there were plenty of people in China who did that and rode in Mercs and Beemers! You are no longer in Kansas.. nor Poughkeepsie!
The first time we went there were about 14 of my colleagues from India aboard the same Singapore Airlines plane. For all of us this was our very first trip to China.
There were thunderstorms over Beijing - obviously they hadn't quite perfected the chemicals they were to shoot in the air to prevent showers ; or perhaps our arrival was not deemed to be as important as the opening of the Olympic games - our flight was diverted to a little airport, whose name I shall never know, for 4 hours. It was a mere 30 mins away from Beijing and had no storms. It was a very large airport, but we could not disembark as it did not have an immigration and customs facility there. So 4 hours later we finally landed in Beijing.
As an American citizen, I was very nervous about coming to a communist state. I kept my hands in full view at all times, and tried to follow whatever rules I could. We arrived at the immigration counter - same chaotic mess as in Delhi. More flights than counters, lines snaking around the arrival hall - and stern looking immigration officials...
With a slight twist - they had little boxes on their counters which lit up and allowed you to let the Chinese goverrnment know what you thought of the immigration officer .... not quite ready to believe that they had actually decided to put the customer first - I went with the politically correct 5 out of 5. I was rewarded with a stamped passport and a blank stare.
The cabs were nice big Hyundai Sonatas. Hyundai ? China ? Whatever... The streets were well-maintained, wide - just like the American highways, planted with lots of trees. Traffic moved in an orderly pattern. Beijing is getting ready to put up a fine show for the Olympics. Sigh! How would I ever live in Delhi after this ?
Eventually we arrived at our very nice Starwood Hotel which looked just like any other hotel anywhere in the world - Are we in China yet ?
A couple of vegetarians decided they would take no risks eating the local food - they ventured out on foot looking for a grocery store at which to buy fruits and vegetables that they could peel, cut and eat - and be certain that it was not contaminated by any living creature. On their way back they were accosted by some rather aggressive ladies of the night. They returned to the hotel with their honor and fruits and vegetables intact. But no one protested, nor trotted out the fruits, when I volunteered to find them vegetarian food at the local restaurant. As the only woman in the group, I found my company sought after - not for my legendary charm, but because I would discourage their aggressors from approaching me !!!!!
Work was relatively easy since we had the office address printed in Chinese and the doorman made sure the cab driver knew where to bring us and most people in the office speak English. The folks at work knew where to bring us to lunch and what to order - so we had some of the finest chinese feasts - mostly vegetarian. I did try the famous Peking duck (Beijing duck just isn't the same) - definitely a highly cultivated culture experience if you ask me.
Across from the office was a shopping center.. jam packed with shops selling apparel, sports shoes, toys, traditional chinese gift items, porcelain, tea sets, prayer beads, pearls, silk fabric, electronics and my favorite - Grade 1 and 3 Rolex watches. We had been warned, prices quoted will be about 4x what you should pay. We spent many hours and many more Yuan there.
We bargained with gusto - releasing a spate of emotion from the young sales women. My colleague thought it was peculiar that there were only women working in the stores - after much speculation - we asked a chinese colleague - who came up with my favorite theory (untested for authenticity or feminism) - Women are far more outgoing and friendly - they are better at sales than the men, who tend to do the heavy lifting and carrying from the markets. That is why you don't see any men in the front of the house.
My boss - who is rumored to have a colourful life after hours - insisted on treating me to a foot massage. I was a little suspicious until he promised that this is where his wife went. It was the best foot massage I've ever had... and I'm an expert - having had massages in Singapore, Australia, Thailand, several places in India, California, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Las Vegas. PHENOMENAL!
On Saturday we took a conducted tour that included a visit to Tianmien Square - I stood in awed silence looking upon a square that could stand half a million people and people's republic dining hall that could serve a sit down banquet to over 10,000. From there we traipsed through the Forbidden City - grand despite the feverish activity to renovate it prior to the Games and then onto the Great Wall.
Never have I anticipated something so much, only to be totally let down. I am not big on historical monuments, but living in India, I've started to develop a healthy interest - the Great Wall was just that - a great big wall in the middle of spectacular scenery - an ugly reminder of the battles fought and the pains to which people must go to protect their way of life. Yes it is a wonder of engineering and carto-something-ing. But I am in no hurry to climb it or get to the other side. Like the Taj Mahal, it looks exactly like the picture - just no great love story to tease the imagination.
No trip can be complete without a trip to an Indian restaurant - after 10 days of Chinese vegetables - even the bad Indian food tasted good !
No trip to China is complete without a trip to the theatre. Our tour guide got us tickets to a spectacular show - combination of acrobatics and gymnastics. I have never seen anything like it !!!!!!!! INcredible stuff that defies the imagination.
And in 2007 no trip to China is complete without viewing the spectacular Bird's Nest - the steel structure in which the opening ceremony will be held next year - or the Cube of Water which will host the swimming events.
China in 2007 is a vibrant, exciting place. I met a colleague on assignment from the US who told me that a Fauchon had just opened up in her neighborhood. No the Rolex she was wearing was real, and yes there were plenty of people in China who did that and rode in Mercs and Beemers! You are no longer in Kansas.. nor Poughkeepsie!
The Great Wall was the neatest recreational experience I've ever had -- as good and better than the best ski trips. It was a crisp, October morning.
ReplyDeleteI ate spicy tofu and spinach the whole time I was there...and for breakfast, yogurt from New Zealand. I'm so glad, food taste aside, that I had the experience.
Funny that I didn't worry about my citizenship at all. Rather, when I was in Hamburg, felt anxious about being Jewish, and that's much less rational these days.