Don't Get Crabs*

*Parting words from my mom on my first phone call to the rents from Beijing. Wise words from a wise lady, indeed. I can definitely say with all honesty I will do my best not to get crabs. But things happen, ya know?

We made it to Beijing unscathed. I thought for sure there would be some sort of hitch in our travel but it went very smoothly. I popped my pills and slept blissfully through the flight, finally waking up to the rich aroma of a Cup o' Noodle with chopsticks shoved in it. Apparently this is what passes for a hot meal on Air Canada, but I can't complain. Who doesn't love Cup o' Noodle? If it's beige, I'm into it. As far as meals go, I haven't had the best luck. The first night I had butter cookies and jerky (Thank you lord for hbf bringing the jerky!). Yesterday, meals consisted of sweet rolls, rice, minestrone soup (spicy tomato water?) and bread. I am still alive and I still have energy so I am calling that a success.

Beijing is a hot mess of buildings, people, cars and bikes. We decided we wanted to flirt with death so we rented bicycles and rode all around the city yesterday. I think my mouth was gaping open 95% of the time. It is just so different from anything I have ever seen before. There is old world, chinese architecture side by side high rise buildings. There are motorcycles in the bike lanes, along with scooters, rickshaws, and people walking. Luckily all the bikes come with an annoying bell so you can incessantly alert people to your approach. Not that they move out of the way or even look back, but if they get in your way, you don't have to feel bad because you rang your bell.

We toured the Forbidden City yesterday, which was truly amazing. It's HUGE! I kind of want my house to look like the Hall of Supreme Harmony. There were rich greens and vivid blues, along with gold dragons painted everywhere. If it's good enough for some emperors, it's good enough for the princess. We walked all over the Forbidden City, and hbf didn't need to drag me around once. It's early though.

So, just a side note. Both facebook and my blog site are blocked by China. No facebook you say?! I don't want to live!! What will I do without Mafia Wars?! But then I remembered that I'm traveling around SE Asia for the next 6 months and I came down off the ledge. I am emailing my blog entries to a certain Venezuelan yogini and she will be posting them for me. Thanks a bunch, my dear! I hope to be back on facebook and posting my own blog entries when we get to Vietnam, but that isn't for awhile.