This was the picture we took on our pre-kid visit to Beijing in 1999. It was such a trip for us. We went there on business trip. We spent a month in Tian-Jin working ourselves off and only got a chance to go to Beijing one of the weekend. It was a totally different experience between Tian-Jin which is a manufacturing town and Beijing – the capital city of China.
We took a train from Tian-Jin to Beijing. I would never forget the smell.. oh.. the smell at the restroom in the train station. Whatever my body wanted to do, it would have to wait. I came from Thailand so squat toilet wasn’t new to me. But half wall? Why half wall? How can one proceed to do their most private business with people walking by? I just don’t get it and I didn’t wait to find out.
Once we arrived to Beijing, it was better. :) We got to practice our bargaining skill at the silk street. Sometimes I thought to myself.. why did I bother with this 50 cents discount. But I think they enjoyed the process as much as we did. We came back with lot of stuffs. Mr. Rojo still has his jacket we got there. The backpack we got didn’t make it home after the trip.
We enjoyed the comfort food like Starbucks and Popeye’s Chicken. We had the best time partying at Hard Rock Cafe. Our idea of conservative Chinese was thrown out the window in this bustling city. Ah.. I can’t wait to go back. I wonder how much progress it will be after 10 years.
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Cool shot. Beijing is very much on my travel wishlist, but I’ll be avoiding the half-wall toilets (and I thought I was used to most types of unconventional toilet arrangements)!
Bejing, isnt that were they held the olympics not so long ago I bet it is a awsome place to visit
Definitely looks like a cool place to visit.
what an experience. I think it’s just a sensual overload regardless if you’re working full time. just being in this place must be amazing!
I bet it was a beautiful city but I bet it’s even busier from the last 10 years. I have a feeling I would be “holding it” more so than not. Half walls are still too open. :)
haha, I love it when people write about toilets. They are such a huge part of travel. I would love to be able to travel to places like Beijing for work.
I’m Chinese but I haven’t even been to my homeland yet! I must be crazy!!!
I love the graphic character of the first shot. What are the red and orange circles-lamps? and the diagonal of the stair rail adds to the sense of movement in the photo
really a half wall in a public restroom? nope no way!!
I was in Beijing last September (just after the end of the Olympics) and the thing that really struck me was the noise. Every conversation is held at shouting volume! I found it a tiring place to visit, but I’m not really a city girl….