Back to China Days 1-3

In 2008, when I boarded that plane that would have taken me to China I was afraid of what to expect. I was afraid of disliking people and mentality, places... This time 2 years and a bit later my fears were that Beijing had changed and so the people and the mentality.
One thing I know for sure I didn't like was the flight. Air China planes are the most uncomfortable planes I have come across in a long time. It was 11 hours of hell! Food was lousy and so the smile-less stewardess... Was it an omen? It wasn't. The airport, T3, beautiful and sparkling as ever, people as sweet as they have always been. My China, my Old China was still there. Taxi driver easy to communicate with, with whatever is left of my Chinese, the city nice and clean as usual with some beautiful green gardens with all the flowers they planted in 2008 still taken care of, despite all commentators saying that China was putting up a show and once the olympics had gone people would be living in the usual misery and dirt. Well, dear Big Noses, think twice... This city still offers the best of itself to visitors and more and more nice pieces of architecture are coming up on the Beijing skyline.


The hotel I am staying is in the same building I lived in... Some people think I am the most unromantic person on earth, well, I think I am getting old as I start digging, full hands, into memories and try to bring them back to live in a sort of exorcism, recalling all the spirits of the past and invite them to banquet on my feelings, on my emotions to bring me back some more pleasant memories and some sensations I thought I had lost with time, especially going through the 2009, the annus horribilis, of my existence.


The weather was fantastic and the temperature high... My daughter is accompanying me, or I should say I am accompanying her... Well, we are keeping each other company in this trip back to the place we loved most. We started with some great food and with cinema but, believe me, I fell sleep after 5 minutes it had started and woke up at the end titles. I will not add this movie in my 2010 movies review...


The second day the weather was different and the first disappointment was finding out that our favourite restaurant near Hong Qiao Market has shut down, and so a few more in our building. Hong Chao has become more and more touristy and prices are higher. Nevertheless, this didn't stop me from buying 4 Hugo Boss shirts and 5 Ralph Lauren polo for about 20 pounds each... A lot isn't it? Prices have gone up alright and I lost my bargaining skills... I will try to improve next week.


The second biggest disappointment was finding out that the gym in our hotel was closed for refurbishing so we ended up enrolling for a short membership in the local gym. 80 pounds for two weeks for both of us.


We had a great Sichuan meal... And then... gym!


I found very odd that nobody was taking a notice at me at the gym. The only Big Nose around, a gym packed with people and nobody was really looking at me (us, including my daughter). What was it all about? Are Chinese getting used to Big Noses? Yes, they are... Beijing is packed with Big Noses, more now that during the Olympics in 2008... Disappointing!


On the evening of the second day we discovered that a few more places have closed in the neighbourhood and even our favourite Macanese restaurant is not there anymore. The bar and the bakery as well have shut down. The only thing left, of what was my favourite all-in-one place, is the massage parlour... The quality seems still the same with one small exception: Chinese are starting asking for tips! If you read my diaries of 2008, especially the first week when the waitresses used to run after me to give me the money back, you will realise that this is long gone and now they have big boxes with a big script in English saying TIPS!


Even in my favourite Japanese restaurant now they do expect tips and the credit card receipt carries the line for tipping... Oh, Me Ol' China... becoming more and more westerner.


A coconut was 10 yuan, now they cheat you with a 30 yuan bill... Internet WiFi at shops are now password protected...


China is changing under some point of views but, people still keep their smiles and they still seem curious about us and greet us with big smiles...


On day 3 I was out with some former colleagues and it was a great occasion to enjoy some Sichuan food. It was lovely seeing them and crack some jokes. It was a very relaxed and heavy meal but, I realised that I cannot eat as much as I used to. Great sign!
My colleagues didn't change a bit and they said that I looked even better than when I was in Beijing! I love these people, I dare not thinking what they really think!


Anyway, day three has closed and for day four I got planned some more shopping (oh yes, day 3 was a big day in walking in the Wang Fu Xing shopping mall, my favourite) and I must visit the barber... seems like my hair is far too long these days and I might have problems in case of wind: they can be an impediment in seeing through if they fall in front of my eyes.


So another two full days here in Beijing before flying to Chengdu, in Sichuan, for some new experience and a few more pictures. The weather promise nothing great for the days we will be there, so, I guess, we will be spending some time indoor and quite a lot of time under the rain.


Talk later.... Me Ol' Chinas!