There is sometimes when you should listen to that little voice that tells you what to do... I think some call it consciousness... or instinct... or wisdom...
Beijing..... it all started as a big massive mess and ended up as a mess. Fortunately we had some nice nice time in the middle...
The beginning:
Soon after i came back from Europe the idea of going to China started. Monika had to go to Thailand for a training, but had to stop in either Beijing or Seoul, no direct flight... so we started thinking we should all go together by train/bus to Beijing for a long weekend then she'll be off to sunny Thailand we'll come back to freezing cold Mongolia. We talked about it a lot but did nothing about it! 10 days before the actual long weekend, we decided, yes! let's do it! but then we didn't have in mind the harcel of the procedures. You need a return ticket a reservation in a hotel and a bank account check before you even ask for the Chinese visa... As i put my head on the pillow i realise i also need a Mongolian visa to leave the country (don't ask me why, but that's the way, you need a visa to leave the country when you have a working permit, very logical indeed) stress levels start to rise, I manage paying a bit more of money to get that sorted in one afternoon, and we meet with Antonio and Monika on a very very cold morning outside the Chinese consulate and queue there and freeze.... Finally, they decide they wont give the visa to Monika as her passport only has one page left. What to do? Hmmmm what to do? we decide to still apply for ours, hoping we'll have time to sort Monika's managing the express delivery thing... Not... so that's it, the 3 is reduce to 2... And that's just the beginning, the day we are supposed to pick up the passports (the day before the departure) the system is off so nope no passport, they will open the consulate the next morning... Again early morning queuing outside on a even colder day...I run to work, I have missed 2 half days already with this visa thing. Antonio goes to the train station to get tickets! we think, ok! is done, is good we are off in a few hours.... Well no! cause the train will get to the border the next day, which is a national holiday in Mongolia (26th Nov, independence day) and strangely the border is closed!!! yes! you read right! they close the border... we need to leave the day after so to get to the border the day after the holiday so we can get packed like sardines in a tiny freezing bus and wait hours to be able to actually do so. Get to Erlian, Chinese town, to get a sleeping bus to Beijing. The bus actually has beds, not seats, never seen something like it, amazing! So high tech! and the streets don't have holes!!! We think ok, we are getting there! this WILL be a nice holiday... Get to Beijing in the middle night, in some strange bus station with the usual hassling people offering you taxi, when they are not taxis and over-charging you. However in the same bus was this young lady, Russian i believe, incredibly strange, but she speaks some mandarin and we get in one of the car together. I did think she was from the mafia for a moment, but i was wrong so i do apologize, we find the hostel, and get into the dorm.... Finally! we made it! is about 5 in the morning 2 days later! I could keep on going describing the wood bed and the roommate snoring like a beast.... but i wont!
The middle:
Wake up a few hours later and this is when the nice things start! 2 days of pure joy! Is civilisation! There are buses, tubes, nice food, nice shops, cleanliness! Actually you could be in any other capital of the world, but the Chinese signs. Is strange to go back to a place where you can not communicate at all. Although my Mongolian is very poor, i do manage to make myself understood and understand quite a bit. I'm back to not even knowing how to say thank you, please and very very important ask for the toilet! Got those soon after interrogating some locals.
We had a bit of tourism, the forbidden city, the temple of heaven, Houhai district, simply gorgeous, plus we had the sun to accompany us for those 2 days of pure happiness. We had loads of food! It was simply amazing to have real taste on my mouth again, we had everything we could imagine, Chinese, European food and i sadly have to say even a Mc Donald's, it's sad i know!!! but this is what living in Outer Mongolia does to you!
We had some shopping, technology, some memory for the computer, some clothes, and remember how much i love bargaining!
Just walking down the streets, enjoying the scenery... I tell you 2 days of happiness!
The end:
The mess started again Sunday when we tried to find the bus station, which never happen, and i wont go into detail again, because it will ruin the beautiful description of those 2 days in Beijing. In very short we lost the day and half left trying to find a way to come back to Mongolia before the visa ran out. We managed to do so so there's no point on extending the misfortune.
Outcomes:
Since I've known Antonio he's been teasing me about me being posh, and have luxurious tastes... Well after this trip i do officially declare myself posh, or maybe old! Don't have the energy to go through that whole mess to save a few pennies! So bring it on! next time I'll take the train or if I'm feeling wild enough the plane!
But i have to say today, that all that mess has been forgotten and all i have left is the sweet sweet memory of a gorgeous weekend in civilised, tasty Beijing! I will most definitely be going back soon, with more time to visit the summer palace, the great wall and do all the touristic stuff i didn't have a chance. It's a great excuse to go back!
Mongolian train heater.
The sleeping bus
Beijing at last!
Walking around the city, wondering and enjoying
The temple of Heaven
Can you see me on this one?
People's monument on Tianmen Square
Tianmen Square
I know is very cliche but i like this shoot
With Ella at the most amazing tiny tiny Rastafarian bar in Houhai. The size of my bathroom
The Forbidden city
Mao still very present...
It is hard work to be a tourist!
After a few temples i have found them all very similar, but I have to say the Forbidden city amazed me, the same structure but the size!!
Well sometimes i like to pretend am over the whole touristy thing!
Please note my face, i was nicely posing at the door when this man arrived and started preparing to spit. I was seriously discusted by the sound of it!
When I saw this couple, I thought to myself, couple of the year!
Not many alleys in the city are this calm!
Food!
You need to be serious to eat The traditional roast duck from Beijing, is only for tourist apparently, but i'm more than happy to play that part if it takes me to a gorgeous meal!
This little restaurant was next to the hotel, loved it!
We were somehow obsessed with food... But you have to enjoy it while you have it!
The olympic site,
just before boarding the bus!
I also had to had the shoot!
Check the numbers of the seats!
Loo signs
The bird nest
I spent more time taking photos of people taking photos.
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