I was in Beijing 2 weeks ago and Beijing is a wonderful place. The best thing is Richard - my best friend is working in Beijing. Here is the adventure being arrange chronologically.
24 Nov (Sat)
1. Arrived BJ @ 7.20am
2. Richard picking up though he is not feeling well
3. Check-in to Richard’s mansion
4. Richard went to hospital again for further check-up
5. Daniel hungry till almost fainted (11am++)
6. 12pm, meeting up with Grace. Then went for lunch @ SOHO, 建外.
7. After lunch, went to 西单(XiDan) famous for shopping among young & trendy locals
8. Took subway to 天安门 (TianAnMen). Mario was captured (photo attached) in there
9. Walked to Wong Fook Jin, 王府井 (WangFuJing, famous tourist spot)
10. Had 小龙包 (Mini Bun), then to 百货大楼 (Beijing 1st Emporium) for window shopping
11. Walked to 东华门夜市 (DongHuaMen Night Market) for dinner. Ate 爆肚儿(fresh ox stomach soup) – the 老北京(Old Beijing snack)
12. Took a cab and went to 后海 (HouHai), this place is famous for pub and bar. There is an ancient bridge, 银镞桥
13. Lastly, sent Grace home & met Tiger, Grace’s puppy
25 Nov (Sun)
1. Woke up late, Richard went to hospital again to stay alive
2. 1pm, finally R is back. Set for lunch
3. R shivering again, went to toilet for a long time – tummy problem
4. Went to Temple of Heaven, 天坛. Walk around the garden in darkness & feeling the Siberian + Mongolian wind
5. Went to 红桥 (HongQiao market) to buy some souvenir
6. Grace’s bargaining skills truly amazing; from RMB 180/shirt to RMB 50 for 2. Super Bargain Queen
7. Went to 东直门(DongZhiMen) for Sichuan cuisine; specialty is super spicy steam boat
8. Walked around Ginza Mall; bought myself a snow cap for protection against the Siberian / Mongolian cold winter wind
9. Went back to Richard’s place and ate more food
10. And finally, sent Grace back home
26 Nov (Mon)
1. Woke up @ 6.30am, hired a driver and leave for MuTianYu Great Wall
2. Slept in the car
3. Arrived around 9.15am, not many people. Nice weather, bought cable car ticket to the peak for RMB 50
4. Amazing day, took a lot of photos; it’s always great to bring along a tripod. Walked till the end of safe zone. Richard and I had great morning walk @ Great Wall
5. Around 12.30pm, we retuned back to the entrance. Richard negotiated banana pancake for RMB5 each & coffee for RMB10. Weirdly, we were asked to pay additional RMB10 once the pancake was done; we felt being cheated
6. Bought more souvenir @ Great Wall before leaving MuTianYu
7. Went to 中关村 for lunch before checking out the malls for Lowpro camera bag. After searching 2 malls and almost giving up, we tried the last mall for the last time. We gave up and hunt for a toilet; somehow surprisingly I saw a shop next to the restroom hanging a Lowpro sign at a Nikon outlet. Wow! It’s a great day and got my camera bag for RMB480 (Singapore is selling SGD199). Very happy
8. Then took bus & went to 大宅门
9. …..I think I will stop till here. Too many to tell; but believe me, Beijing is indeed a wonderful place and I don’t mind staying there for a while…3-5 years probably.
