Thursday, April 16, 2009
Beijing - Day 2
I had hoped to be able to chronical my adventures in China in some level of detail, but I suspect the amount I'm going to have to devote to work is going to preclude a lot of that. That said, here's some of my impressions of the Middle Kingdom:
1) You have to be mad to drive here. Imagine the most insane traffic imaginable and multiply it by a billion. Its worse than that. Traffic lights, traffic signs and lanes are mere suggestions. I am not exagerating.
2) The food's not bad. You can go to some pretty exotic restaurants and eat just about anything, but your standard restaurant has good, but fairly innocent food. We had prawns Wednesday night served with the heads still on -but ya just cut'em off and then eat. No big whoop.
3) Olympic Village is staggering. I haven't had a chance to walk around the complex yet, but most of its visible from the hotel. Wow. Makes me wish I'd paid more attention to the Olympics.
4) Its a city. If you ignore the Chinese signs (most of which have English on them), it could be a major US city. Just with more personality.
5) Labor is cheap. They have people that wave traffic on, clear the fountains, monitor the public restrooms. Everyone has a job, but I wouldn't want most of them.
6) Weirdest moment: coming back to the hotel from the office the cab slows at an intersection and a guy shoves his hand through the partially open window and tosses in a couple of business cards for a message parlor. (yes, that kind of message parlor).
1) You have to be mad to drive here. Imagine the most insane traffic imaginable and multiply it by a billion. Its worse than that. Traffic lights, traffic signs and lanes are mere suggestions. I am not exagerating.
2) The food's not bad. You can go to some pretty exotic restaurants and eat just about anything, but your standard restaurant has good, but fairly innocent food. We had prawns Wednesday night served with the heads still on -but ya just cut'em off and then eat. No big whoop.
3) Olympic Village is staggering. I haven't had a chance to walk around the complex yet, but most of its visible from the hotel. Wow. Makes me wish I'd paid more attention to the Olympics.
4) Its a city. If you ignore the Chinese signs (most of which have English on them), it could be a major US city. Just with more personality.
5) Labor is cheap. They have people that wave traffic on, clear the fountains, monitor the public restrooms. Everyone has a job, but I wouldn't want most of them.
6) Weirdest moment: coming back to the hotel from the office the cab slows at an intersection and a guy shoves his hand through the partially open window and tosses in a couple of business cards for a message parlor. (yes, that kind of message parlor).
-Eric (Dad)
Labels: china beijing travel crowne plaza traffic
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