Chi

A few days ago, on Thursday, I had a scheduled meeting with Anna Sophie Loewenberg of Sexy Beijing- an internet TV program that I have been watching from the beginning of this year. I got in contact with them about a month ago volunteering services or just to meet. As they were late in replying, I didn’t actually think I would get to meet them. But I got here and made contact and that was that. We might even shoot something together which would be so cool.

I can out of my hotel and my bicycle wasn’t there. I had locked it on the railing, which is more than most do. It was the shortest lived romance with a bike I ever had.

I went to eat at my regular brunch joint and then to Contigo to get my coffee. Then I got a text from Sophie apologizing as something had come up and we would need to reschedule.

It’s the National holidays for an entire week starting tomorrow so I had scheduled to visit some tourist spots this week, which never happened. Lots of domestic tourism in Beijing happens that week. Beijing will be busier than normal. So I thought I would go get a new bike- the cheapest one I could, and then cycle to the Forbidden City.

Went back to the same shop and got the blue bike I saw before for 200rmb (£15). After I left the shop, during my 2km cycle the chain came off several times. After fixing it several times, I realized it was loose. I walk most of the way back to the shop and asked them to fix it. By then it was a little late to go to the Forbidden City. Instead I called a new friend and we went to the Silk Market. Went for some dumplings and got myself some tee shirts and a funky helmet. I had fun bargaining with the girls at the stalls.

Another new friend I was to meet wasn’t to happen the next day. My friend at Contigo got me tickets to enter the Olympic area which was great. So I called my now becoming friend Tara and we went for a walk at around the Birds Nest. Seeing it on TV in the UK and the whole Olympic event was great. Seeing it finally in reality was pretty grand. It was half the size I thought it would be! But I was really happy to see it. In the evening I met with a new person. After some food we took a walk where I saw some people doing Tai Chi. I asked my friend if she could ask the elderly lady if I could follow her. After she introduced me to the teacher who I have my number to and he would call to let me know where I could go for lessons with him. My young new friend far from sharing my long standing interest thought Tai Chi was for the elderly and was boring. I was disappointed and amazed that she knew so little about it and was not in awe of what is in fact, a fascinating martial art form bordering mystical.

We proceeded to go clubbing despite she did not dance or drink alcohol. The small and very crowded place was heaving with bad music. Stopped off for noodles and got home at 3am.

Had an appointment for an interview for the doc the day after. Due to translation which my friend at Contigo did, the interview lasted about 3 hrs. It was pretty interesting. More about it perhaps on my other work blog about the doc.

In the evening I met another new friend, Caroline at Bookworm. Bookwork is a place every city should have. A bookstore with a bar, a restaurant- and you can smoke. Some good décor and even the building from the exterior looks good. It was in the Sanlitun area so we went for some street food and headed to a bar where we played pool. This new friend was pretty, shall we say, verbally crazy. She drew diagrams on napkins and talked to strangers standing next to us. A nice person and the most extroverted Chinese person I have ever met. We proceeded to a club upstairs and then to another outside the Workers Stadium called MIX. The club opposite was called VICS. A large club with three dance areas. Pretty damn plush and frequented by the young Beijingers dressed to the nines- well, the women anyway. Music wasn’t that great but the décor and size was pretty nice. Got home at 3am.

This morning I met with Ada. Super nice girl who I went bungeee jumping with. Then met with Tara to go to Tai Chi class- which- I would never have found- the place without her. I was doing Tai Chi, in Beijing, with the sun going down in front of me. I am going to learn when I get back to the UK. That was a dream realized.

So far, even though I haven’t seen much in terms of sights, I have met loads of people and done some things that I wanted to experience here- things I never thought I would get to do:

Bungee Jumping

Cycling

Eating fried Scorpions

Visiting the Olympic Stadium

Clubbing in a plush club

Meeting lots of people who live here- conversations

Tai Chi in the park

Getting some interviews for the documentary

Tomorrow I should be going down to Sexy Beijing’s office in Sanlitun. That’s another thing I didn’t think was that possible. A book signing on Tuesday. A set of three photographic books by a man who travelled around China for a year and a half photographing it. That’s a dream he realized.

There is more I want to write but it’s all still digesting within me. It’s been a fairly busy trip so far, a fulfilling and great learning experience.

I will post some photos in my next entry.

- J