china\beijing

Beijing

I never thought that I would go to China. For some reason it was just not on the top of my list. Before my first visit there were a ton of other places that I wanted to see. For some reason Asia just seemed too inaccessible to me.

In 2002 I had the chance to go to Beijing for work and being one for adventure I didn't think twice about going. I thought to myself, this is my chance to see one of those places that I probably would never go.

My trip started in Sydney, Australia and then I eased my way into Asia through Singapore (another one of those places that wasn't on the top of my list till I went there). From Singapore I made my way to Beijing. The trip was a little over 2 weeks.

I was lucky enough to have a native Chinese speaker as my side kick during my stay. It would have been a completely different experience without him. Form the confusion at the airport, to the cab ride to the hotel to my first meal, I couldn't have done it without him. Well maybe I could of but he sure did make it that much more enjoyable and accessible. He had also been there several time before so he knew all the right places to go. With a seemingly bottomless pit for a stomach and a taste for things just slightly out of the ordinary he was the perfect guide to the sights and some of my all time favorite meals.

Now that I've been to Beijing Asia is not as mysterious as it once was to me. In fact, this year (2004) I have another trip planned to the region with my girlfriend who will be going for the first time. Beijing is a complex city with lots to do and see. It's full of culture, history, interesting people and food and it has great potential ahead of it as it prepares to host the Olympics in 2008 and slowly embraces capitalism. I'm glad that I got a chance to see it as it begins to make this transformation and I hope I get a chance to go back to see how it's changed.

This building is the final resting pace of Mao Tse-Tung in Tian An Men Square. From early in the morning people line up for hours just to catch a quick glimpse of their preserved former leader. I am told that once you are in the building you are quickly whisked by and you only have a chance to take a quick peek. It didn't seem like it was worth the wait to me so I opted for a Mao watch instead.

If you want to do some shopping while in Beijing you won't want to miss the Silk Market (aka Xiushui Dongjie). In this row of outdoor shops you will find everything from Mao and Rolex watches to North Face and Nike gear among other things. Remember all prices are negotiable and their "best price" is never their best price. I won't ruin it by telling you how much I paid for stuff but my recommendation to you is to set your price in your head before you start your negotiation. Your best bet will be to give them your price and walk away. If it is at all within reason they will quickly sell you what you want at your best price. The best deals are often times made at the end of the day. The market closes abruptly at 6pm as the police walk through the market looking to give out citations for those who do not close on time.
One word of warning: watch your bags and your wallet. This is a well known spot for pick pockets because it is very crowded. You should have no problem if you keep your purse or backpack in front of you, close at hand and your wallet in your front pocket

Cabs are a good way to get around and they are very inexpensive. When you first get into a cab it's always a good idea to make sure that your driver starts the meter. If the meter is not used on your trip you may find yourself trying to argue about the fare when you get to your destination which is no fun if you don't speak the language. Most drivers will lock the doors when you first get in the car so don't be alarmed.

One last thing to keep in mind is that most cab drivers don't speak English so it's a good idea to have either a map or the name of your destination written down in Chinese. I found this little slip of paper to be very helpful in minimizing the confusion so I would recommend bringing a few of these with you.

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	This building is the final resting pace of Mao Tse-Tung in Tian An Men Square. From early in the morning people line up for hours just to catch a quick glimpse of their preserved former leader. I am told that once you are in the building you are quickly whisked by and you only have a chance to take a quick peek. It didn't seem like it was worth the wait to me so I opted for a Mao watch instead.
	If you want to do some shopping while in Beijing you won't want to miss the Silk Market (aka Xiushui Dongjie). In this row of outdoor shops you will find everything from Mao and Rolex watches to North Face and Nike gear among other things. Remember all prices are negotiable and their "best price" is never their best price. I won't ruin it by telling you how much I paid for stuff but my recommendation to you is to set your price in your head before you start your negotiation. Your best bet will be to give them your price and walk away. If it is at all within reason they will quickly sell you what you want at your best price. The best deals are often times made at the end of the day. The market closes abruptly at 6pm as the police walk through the market looking to give out citations for those who do not close on time. One word of warning: watch your bags and your wallet. This is a well known spot for pick pockets because it is very crowded. You should have no problem if you keep your purse or backpack in front of you, close at hand and your wallet in your front pocket
	Cabs are a good way to get around and they are very inexpensive. When you first get into a cab it's always a good idea to make sure that your driver starts the meter. If the meter is not used on your trip you may find yourself trying to argue about the fare when you get to your destination which is no fun if you don't speak the language. Most drivers will lock the doors when you first get in the car so don't be alarmed. One last thing to keep in mind is that most cab drivers don't speak English so it's a good idea to have either a map or the name of your destination written down in Chinese. I found this little slip of paper to be very helpful in minimizing the confusion so I would recommend bringing a few of these with you.