We arrived at an MRT stop at the top end of the city, just on the outskirts of all the action. When we stepped outside it was a neat feeling because we stood in the middle of this huge wide open space that consisted of one really long and wide stone walkway that ran straight down the middle between all of the Olympic buildings.
We strolled down the walkway from on end to the other, taking in the size of the “bird’s nest building” and the “bubble building.”
Picture of Mandy and I in front of the bird’s nest – just to say we were there.
It was kind of odd because all of the buildings were taped off – no one was allowed in. I kept thinking about what they are going to do now with these massive buildings. How are they going to make use of all that space?
We didn’t stay long. The area was kind of uneventful, but definitely neat to see, just to imagine what it would have been like with all of the masses of people during the games.
After that we took the MRT to a place that I had wanted to see the entire trip – the Hutong’s.
By definition, a “Hutong” is a narrow cobblestone street in China. Now, it sounds less cool than it actually is. These Hutong’s run all around the city and were especially neat in this one particular area just north of our hostel. Along each roadside there would be these little alleyways tucked away and if you went over and looked in it was like something out of an antique photo: The cutest little doors, all decked out in colour with big brass locks on them, old brooms lying around and beautiful stone work crumbling from age.
Apparently at night the Hutong’s are a great place to go for food and snacking because residents set up BBQ’s in the alleyways and you can go in a sample some of the most delicious delicacies. Unfortunately we went during the Day on New Year’s Day, so the streets were pretty barren. We got a good feel for it though, strolling along, looking at all the cute shops and restaurants that inhabited these old Hutong areas: little cake cafes, art shops, pie places, and painting galleries.
Mandy and I managed to find one restaurant that was open. They had the biggest, fattest menu I have ever seen РI wish we got a picture of it. The selection of food was incredible and I ended up having these amazing shrimps saut̩ed in some spicy salt rub mixed with sweet potato fries and a tea Рsoo good.
One of the menu items - haha.
After that we walked back to the hostel and met up with the guys.
That evening we walked around one the busier areas in town – a famous pub street that surrounds a big beautiful lake with Christmas lights all around. It was cold out, so we tried to find a place with a nice atmosphere where we could grab a bite and a drink for a decent price.
When we finally picked a place that had promised cold beer and an extensive menu we were happy. But when we sat down and tried to order, the funny old Chinese women kept shutting us down, telling us that they were out of this or that. Finally after trying to order, “chicken curry..no? O.k…ceasar salad…no? O.k….the soup…no? O.k. what DO you have?” The lady admitted that they had nothing and that she was sorry.
I was a bit thrown off because I was hungry and getting cranky, but Cam told me that that sort of thing happens all the time in China. He wasn’t surprised. Needless to say we all downed our beers and went our separate ways for the evening – Mandy and I back to the lovely noodle shop that we found our first night, and Cam and Will out to a reggae bar where they had some drinks and hung out for the evening.
Friday morning it was time to leave Beijing – sadly. I said my goodbyes to Cam and Will (Liam and Kevin had left the day before on a trip around China) and off Mandy I am went in our cab to the airport to start our journey back to Taiwan.
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