First Week In Beijing

wet market

Went to a nice massage and foot reflexology place. This is the third time we went and Xiao Yan suggested cupping as Des has constant shoulder ache

Trying out the pressure cooker, my first time using the pressure cooker to cook.



28th Sept 08 (Sunday)

Arrived in Beijing at 11.20pm. Met Des at the gates at 12.30pm. Thought gave him a big hug when i see him but while i walked through the gate, seems to me that there is another friend with him, so I held back, shy mah..

Was like 15 degree for the weather.

Finally, get to see the apartment I'm going to stay in. Nice apartment but it will be better if there is a gym :P. My first thought was I'm going to make this home feel more like a home. No hangers, no carpets at the bathroom, no proper comforter or blanket, etc..

29the Sept 08 (Monday)

Went to 'The Place' with Des's colleague family. Their two daughters were so adorable.

Shop around and didn't buy anything, felt that the things are expensive. Ate lunch at a Macau restaurant.

I'm seem to be the only person wearing Birkenstock sandal... All are wearing covered shoes or boots...

Went Ikea in the late afternoon.

30th Sept 08 (Tuesday)

Thanks to the Lee Family and together we went to Hutong. Was the first time for all of us except that the 2 Lee's princess was their second time as their school had organised a trip before.

I been to Beijing 2-3 times but have not been to Hutong. Went to see the drum and bell tower but its a pity that it was close to visitors due to the murder of a tourist during the Olympics. Took a trishaw and went to a small ' si he yan'.

Lunch was at a 'Sambal' restaurant, Des's colleague thought that its the popular Malaysian restaurant, then realise that it was not, but with similar name. It was more of an Indian Thai food. Drinks was like 25 yuan, S$ 4 for a coke? No way! Lee's wife suggested we go out and buy drinks back, and we came back with 4 bottles of drinks at Y$19.

The food was bad except their chicken satay. The children and I was having fun trying to find or spot the prawn meat, seafood or pineapple in the so called 'seafood' fried rice and pineapple rice.

1st Oct 08 (Wednesday)

Went to Xidan but did not really went to all the malls. Trying to search for a pair of covered shoes as i have been wearing the sandals for past few days but to no avail, thinking i should be able to find a cheaper pair.

Most malls r having sale for a week due to the National Day. Clothes that are nice are out of my budget... Des finds it expensive too. Trench or winter coats he saw are like S$600 plus onwards and those that catch our eyes can cost S$1000 plus. Who says winter coat is cheaper here than Singapore??

Finally get a top which is on the 50% discoun rack and again Des seems to buy more things than me. I always tease him tat he claims to bring me to go shopping or I'm the one who want to go shopping but why is it every time he ends up with more shopping bags than me??

2nd Oct 08 (Thursday)

Went to the Solana shopping mall near our apartment. Was really big but still some shops are still not open yet as heard that its only open for a few months. Finally got a pair of knee length boots from Bata at 50% discount. Bata only okay.. and do not know why i still find it expensive.

For the past few evenings, we went to Carrefour and bought LOTS of stuff. As i said, my objective was to make this place feels more like a home. New bedsheets, pillows, comforter, pressure cooker, sauces for cooking, hairy crabs and blablabla.

Cooked curry chicken and hairy crabs. Happiest and satisfied diner - Des.

3rd Oct 08 (Friday)

With my efficient search, I suggested to Desmond to go Yashow Market and told him that this place states it has more affordable clothes and stuff.

Ha, and yeah, this the place for me, and Des did most of the bargaining and i just can't bargain as well as him. Again, Des bought many more things than me.

I keep persuading Des to eat where the locals eat, like i think the eatery shop beside a wet market seems not bad. Somehow, Des and also the Lee family prefer not to eat at those places. Guess i just have to go myself.

4th Oct 08 (Saturday)

Went to the wet market with the Lee couple. Lee's wife show me the usual stalls that she bought from. Was really happy to get to see all these fresh and wide variety of food.

5th Oct 08 (Sunday)

Cooked lunch and just hang around at home. Went to carrefour in the late afternoon and upon reaching, we blamed ourselves for forgetting to bring the recycled or carriers, as most places charge 10 cents for plastic bags.