Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Spic 'n Span
...call it his *porcelain rice bowl*!!!
Please Be Seated
At least the Airport has modern toilets!
(More on this whole issue later.)
Beijing Bye-bye...
That's right, flying out now, and I'll lose my transmission capabilities soon as well, so gotta hustle!
Massive Airport - BJE!!!
See U @ ORD!!!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Family Li
Simple rules here: Get to the table quickly or starve!
Morning Anthem
Peering out my bedroom window which looks out over towards the field (and the BUCT Nursery), I saw a track and field competition beginning its opening ceremonies; coincidentally, on the same day as the opening of China's *National Games* in Shandong.
I always get a little confused at the beginning of the PRC's National Anthem, as its opening strains remind me a little of the start of "Peter and the Wolf".
Cherry Picking
Pippen especially liked this particular contestant; singling her out for special recognition.
She could move;
she had skilz...
Life After Hoops
Sweet gig!
Star Search
"Suppertime"
8-o'clock sharp to this...
"...Supper, supper-supper-supper; Supper, supper-supper-supper; Supper, supper-supper-supper-time!!!
The Last Mile
Now I must step off and wend my way home, as I've reached my destination stop at Huixinxijienankou -- which, I am reminded by the train's intercom in both Mandarin and English (were I to choose to continue on and choose another route) -- *is* a "transfer station".
It's a Clean Machine
Save for the LCD screens situated adjacent to the car doors, the passenger compartments are conspicuously devoid of the sort of cacophony of visual stimuli which blare their pedestrian messages on U.S. Mass transit systems.
Preferring neutral, clean and bright interior and exterior surfaces, the Beijing Subway looks and feels right.
Multiple Impressions
The People's Daily?
Keep on Smiling
In the distance, over my shoulder, the Chinese characters could very well be recommending that visitors *chill* and enjoy the view; but my own former "Young Pioneer" informs me that, more correctly, they request loyalty to Chairman Mao and his principles.
Well, I guess it beats a sign pimping "One World, One Dream" Olympic souvenier memories.
Sensible Shoes
A Nation's Bright Future
Paying It Forward
Despite her genuine protests, I slipped her a 50 Yuan Note as we departed her vehicle.
Sole Survivor
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Goes Well With Everything!
Rock the Palate!
Time for Vittels!
We were remarking on the ride back how with restaurant upon restaurant -- one after the other in Beijing -- it never fails to amaze how they can *all* be packed, regardless of the time of day, week or year; this place being no exception.
Beijing Hillbillies
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Epilogue
So I had it in mind that, when and if I saw the Rack Capo at his post again, I would coral a Hotel staffer in order to intervene, or worst case, make me eat crow; something that wasn't about to happen after having already forked out 23 Yuan to take a dip.
So upon departing the Hotel Lobby, I saw the Rack Guard, already hovering over my Mother-in-law's butter yellow colored Bicycle.
Before he could lock onto me with his Eastwood-like gaze, I quickly spun on my heels, making a direct path to the Hotel's Front Desk, There, I first had to requisition an English-speaking staffer, in this case, Monica, pictured here.
Explaining the situation to her, it took some time for her to digest the facts, as her English wasn't all that good; and my Mandarin, despite the admonitions of the in-laws, continues to be miserable.
Once she'd fully chewed the details to bits, she approached Clint -- who still stood a mere four feet away from her and I.
Some discussion ensued, afterwhich, Monica indicated that it had not been the intention of Anzhen's "Man with No Name" to open his own parking lot for foreigners.
MonIca must be a diplomat in training, for I never did get any sort of explanation from her; her interpretation being that I was probably overthinking the whole matter.
I couldn't help noticing however, that after their exchange, that Mr, Wheels and Spokes looked just a little smaller in stature, having just been read the riot-act to him, albeit discreetly, by a female many years his junior.
Nonetheless, I still seemed to catch a Dirty Harryesqe glare from Rackman as I once again turned to pedal towards home.
I guess that, just in case, along with my swim trunks and goggles, I'll have to pack a six-pack of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the next time I visit the Hotel.
Habla con la Mano
So these last couple of times, this one Dude has approached me upon my return to the Hotel's Bike Rack; during my first encounter, he was clutching a small slip of paper and seemed to giving me the universal non-verbals for soliciting a payment from me.
WTF!?!? I ain't paying no stinking fee just to lock my Bike at a community rack!!!!! But this peasant persisted, with his paw out and his pout on full; what to do? Just as I pondered this dilemna, he surged towards me, in a seeming effort to snatch the backpack draped over my shoulder. Caught totally unaware by this power move, I stumbled back, almost tripping over the densely packed bicycles and electric two-wheeled watchamacallits which increasingly crowd-out the pure human-powered members of the species.
But I regained my equilibrium, and in a reciprocating movement reversed my momentum, lunging at this trespasser upon my personal space. I thrust out with my right hand -- fingers slightly bent and tight against eachother as I struck and grabbed his trachea with the outspread thumb and index fingers of a Tiger Mouth strike; the other fingers aiding in distributing and consolidating the lethal force which I had unleashed on this unwitting prole...
...no, who am I kidding? I feigned ignorance, as if I should have known this shnorer would be bringing his shtick my way in the first place!!!
(He didn't really try to grab my pack after all; but if he did, I had a full can of whoop-ass ready to be poured...). LOL!!!
No, I turned away, unlocked my Girl's model ride (the Mom-in-law's), since the Pop-in-law's manly steed was in use by him for a soup-stock and vegetable run; and, smiling, wished Mr. Bike Rack Guard adieu; vowing to myself to get clarification on the whole issue from my Wife and in-laws; as well as Hotel staff the next time I came for a dip in the Anzhen Plaza Pool.
I'm still not sure whether he saw me as an easy mark because I was a foreigner, or because of my Girl's Bicycle...
Swimming at Anzhen Plaza
I've been making pretty notorious use of the facility this stay, as well as my visit during last year's Summer Games. Fortunately, this time around, my visit coincided with the October National Holiday, so use of the Pool has been sparse; whereas last year, the combination of August's mugwamp temps, combined with a slew of Olympic visitors saw fairly heavy use of the Hotel's "Club". But as indicated, I've pretty much had the Pool to myself these days.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
PRC National Day Celebrations -- On-Demand Video
http://www.cctv.com/english/special/60live/review/index.shtml
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Channel Surfing
Coin sets.
Oh, and don't forget Ping-Pong!
64 Channels and Nothing On
Friday, October 9, 2009
Change in the Weather
Jammin'
I hope the Cabbie has taken his Xanax.
Railway Mecca
Runaway Train
...oh I'm rolling down the tracks, on the Hellbound Train!!!
I Could Use A Drink!
...well it's only Green Tea, but it'll do. Besides, its early, and Xiaoping has been forcing me to binge drink for 2 days straight!!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Danyang Hellcab
All the Cabbies here drive with their Horn, first and foremost...
...this Wanker's lucky he's got the protective shield around him; otherwise I might reach over and put a rear-naked-choke on him!!!
BASTARD!!!