The train finally came into Beijing late in the afternoon, and golly there was a dramatic temperature difference from that of Vietnam. It was frigid cold here and I really had no option but to throw layers and layers of my tropical clothes on top of one another, plus an abaya- that was meant to be when I got to the Middle East. Totally unprepared for this cold! However it wasnt a wet, damp cold, more of the dry type. It was winter, or slightly coming out of it and Beijing is a very interesting type of city. Quite clean, organized and I stayed in west Beijing, for 21 days, and did not see ONE european/western person the whole time I was there. Needless to say i looked slightly alien-ish to the Chinese as well. And since I am covered with half sleeve arm tattoos, I didnt really do myself any favours- the Chinese regard anyone with tattoos to be associated with gangs!! I cant imagine how confused they must have been when they saw me then…. tattoos & female, abaya (wrong location!), long black hair, white skin and blue eyes. No wonder they all gawked at me!
Met some great new friends- Hey May, Helen & Carl, and Faezah!!
May took me to an awesome very local Chinese restaurant where she and a friend ordered all types of beautifully weird dishes, mostly vegetarian (I sighed relief when I didnt see cat or dog on the table) and gave me a background about the food, the hard times between China & Russia and just general chat. A great night. Then she cooked me fresh dumplings for a late lunch the next day which were delicious!! She is a great cook. It is custom then after you finish the dumplings to drink the dumpling water- Which I did! I am all down for exotic food mannerisms!!
China in a nut: It is not for the faint of heart. Hard country, hard rule, hard politics.
No facebook, no outside social exchange. The most alien I have felt anywhere in my life! China is indeed a world of its own.
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