Beijing
traffic is notorious. Our 20 min ride to the train station turned
into 60 min which meant we missed the overnight train to Xian.
It was also an extra day, of course, to taste delicacies like
the ancient Palace snack foods in Jiumen. Each stall had its
own specialty delicacies made on site like the freshly rolled
pastry filled with ground lamb and stock. One bite and if pointed
in the wrong direction it pisses all over your dining companion
- real date food!
Along
the lakeside at Houhai were people fishing with the longest
telescopic poles I have ever seen.
The
day finished at a food court with a monstrous bowl of steaming
soup, packed with tofu and fresh fish, and we watched as the
restaurants closed with military precision. One minute the place
is teeming with people, and then they turned the lights off
and everyone files out at exactly 9. For those of you in the
restaurants business this is great for the close - no stragglers
to content with.
Even
restaurant staff was managed in this regimented fashion. They
were lined up outside like a platoon, and would go through the
drills with their manager
We
finally got into the train the next day. Battling the crowds
and noise to buy tickets at West Beijing station is an adventure
in itself, especially if you don't speak the language. An English
speaking counter exists but that would have been too easy. Next
time I will continue the story on the night train, six bunks
to a cabin.
This
whole adventure is one that you should experience. In fact I
have been thinking about gathering a group of those interested
to come with us to discover China - no tour groups. You will
hike the Great Wall at Jinshanling rather than with the rest
of the horde, learn to get your own train tickets like locals,
and we will squeeze into bunks on the night train. Of course,
we will eat at the best places we found, and if you like, have
a bite of scorpion.
