Met some prominent artists at galleries 798 (a district full of artists and studios and galleries) including the Gao Brothers amongst others. Not having enough room in the van (an RA and Red Mansion side project) I had the next 2 days off. Walking around my area in search of coffee I suddenly found a place called Contiga. They were playing The Beatles. Anyone who plays The Beatles is okay in my books. Made friends with the manager who's super nice (picture featured roasting beans). There are only one of 20 in Beijing who roast their own beans. She made me feel like home in the coffee shop and in Beijing on the whole. She spoke English which is a godsend to me right now and they have wireless connection. They also sell beer. It's heaven. It's my hang out ever since.
Walked a ways to Tiannemen Square today. The roads are 8 lanes ( and in some parts 12) and massive building loom all over. The vastness is astounding. There are cycle lanes the width of about 6 metres wide. The traffic is terrible come peak time but the general sprawl of motor vehicles and cycles seem to work together in a chaotic yet graceful manner ( guess all the motorist were cyclist once). On the way to Tiannamen, we saw lots of kite and one man who was flying one from the street. He let us have a go. It can be liberating to fly a kite but flying on on a street with 8 lanes is something else.
Far from being the dangerous and hostile environment i thought i may encounter, people have been kind and courteous despite my lack of knowledge about the place and the dialect. Despite a not so nice start to my trip (which i am on radio slient about) and now having been sorta left to my own devices, I am doing well thanks largely to my new friends at the coffee shop (it will be in the next edition of Lonely Planet I shit you not).
- J
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