30 Days in China0Day 1 – Myths and Gifts25-MAR-2008 18:07:00Today I arrived in Beijing brought here by Lufthansa on an airplane full of "Lao Wai" outsiders from the Chinese point of view, a sign that the Olympics are coming (this being the last major holiday before it starts). With all the talk of pollution by the media I expected to step out of the airport into a smog of industrial based fumes, however there was a clear blue sky and no visible or olfactory signs of excess pollution just a nice spring day in the city. To my surprise there was little traffic on the roads and most of it well behaved, somewhat different than I remember from last year. As I remembered the taxi’s still have no interest in safety, mine actually had seat belts (most cars have them removed!) but the clasps were covered by the ubiquitous seat covers.
On arrival in Tong Zhou I was greeted with the customary warm welcome from people I had met before and sideways glances from those I had not. This brought back memories from last year, people surprised to see a western man in a suburb of the city, especially of one man who upon seeing me ride a bicycle down the street shouted “I knew westerners could drive cars well, but ride bicycles!” In China most people welcome visitors with food most of the time with oranges individually wrapped in plastic as tokens of hospitality and meals with far more food than I can eat.0Day 2 – Textiles and Takeaway26-MAR-2008 18:21:00The plan for today was to go into the city to pickup some clothes as I travelled here with only half a carry on case of luggage. Buying clothes in China requires bartering and knowledge of the true price of clothes. When you ask the price the sellers reply with a price that is similar to high street shops in the UK, however their bottom price is usually 10%-15% of the start price and they rely on most of the customers not knowing the how much to pay and therefore paying three times more than I would. Its quite and interesting and repetitive game, they ask you to look at their goods you point out a few they give them to you so in order push you from just looking to buying. Then they tell you the price but not before giving you the compliment of a discount because you’re special, either handsome or shopping with a local person or it’s a slow day, so the price is 10% less ok? No, only another 75% to go if you avoid the usual tricks, separating you up, hurt expressions, and finally the walk away price drop. Done.
I also planned to go to Dave’s tailors the most famous tailor outside of Hong Kong but bartering is a slow business and the day slipped away. At least I got to eat lunch at Yoshinoya, a Japanese fast food place where the typical meal is meat on a rice bed, simple, tasty and unlike most fast food, healthy and filling. Oh and only £1 per meal.0Day 4 – Tailors and Rain28-MAR-2008 18:48:00So today I went to the tailors to negotiate for a handmade suit, which went surprisingly smoothly aside from the difficult task of choosing what cloth to have the suit made from as there were about a hundred choices. So after being measured about a thousand different ways and deciding on single or double vents, double or single breast, 2 or 3 button, lapels, and other fine details the first part was done now to wait a few days for a test fitting.
The weather today was miserable rainy, cold, and overcast so pretty much like Manchester when I left. This was the first time I had seen this type of weather here, I don’t remember seeing it rain, which explains the fact that everything is dusty. This city would be far nicer if it rained more often, there is far too much dust and almost no greenery and the sewers could do with a flush out. The frequent whiffs remind me of Italy in the summer. The forecast for tomorrow is sunny, hopefully.0Guomao, China30-MAR-2008 13:27:460Chengdu, China12-APR-2008 07:22:450Lu Gu Lake, China16-APR-2008 13:27:540Lijiang City, China18-APR-2008 14:14:22000000000000000000000000000000000000