Hello from Beijing!

  Beijing, China
Thursday, January 10, 2008

Hello,

I'm still in Beijing since 2 weeks ago. Pretty city with few millions people, some says 15 some 20, in fact there is people everywhere! but the city is so big and the buildings so tall that it doesn't seems that crowded.
It's a bit cold but nothing comparing to Russia, or north China. I'm looking at the moment for a job, which i found as a English teacher, but now i try to get the working visa, it was easy 6 months ago, but with the Olympic games coming soon, the gouvernement have done many changes. I will possibly get a buisness visa for 6 months.
Everything is fine here, the city is very nice and you need at least 2 months with intensive tourist activities if you want to see everything!
For those who plan to come I advice you to visit "the Lama Temple", amazing Budhiste temple! The biggest statue is 18 meters high!
http://images.google.cn/images?svnum=10&um=1&complete=1&hl=zh-CN&newwindow=1&q=lama+temple+&aq=f

The forbidden city is also beautifull with about 900 buildings in total. I was expecting like this but it's very nice to see.
http://image.soso.com/image.cgi?sc=img&ch=s.p.res.i&pid=p.res.i&w=forbidden+city&ity=0

They seem ready for the Olympics: new subway lines with tv's in the trains to explain you all different Olympic's competition with the rules, new stadiums, taxi drivers trying so hard to speak English but stilling looking at you with big eyes, people helping you in the street as soon as you look at your map....for sure they are waiting for the millions of people who will come to fill up all the new Huge buildings and hotels under constructions!

Beijing is first of all the city of food, everywhere you go you have somebody selling food, you have different smells every 5 meters, mixed with the smells of  tea, and the caramelized loly pop fruits!
They have 8 differents types of food in China, and you can find them all here it's simply amazing, i wasn't that slim when i left, and i can start feelling the chinese double effect! I don't understand how they can be so slim in this place they eat so much! 
http://image.soso.com/image.cgi?w=chinese%20food%20photos&sc=img&ch=s.p.nores.i&pid=p.nores.i&gid=&cin=
The life here in general is very cheap, you can eat for 10 euros in a very nice restaurant, i manage to eat for less than 2 euros per days with the street food and it's is really good.
I still didn't see dogs on a stick, they are very surprise to hear this queston: "Is it true that Chinese eat dogs?" this sentece that all foreiners have ask at least once.
Accomodation is cheap too ( i mean for western slaries) about 400 euros/month for a 150 sq meters in the center.
Chinese earn in average 300 euros a month, some 150, and for the low pay job 100,  there is a lot of poor people! for them it's not cheap at all.

It's useless to tell you that my Chinese is very bad, and I still pronounce "boobs" instead of "thank you" which in Chinese is very similar. 

I'm living with 2 Chinese people in a flat close to the center, Lifan who I've met buy couchsurfing, I saw him 2 hours one morning when i arrived from Harbin and he told me " ok I go to Taiwan to see my family for 3 weeks, here are the keys, here is my room, have a good time!"
What to say? Thanks man!

I don't know why I choose to stay here, i was so close to the long white sand beaches and the sun of  south of Asia, probably because of......I have no idea!
I will let you know soon!

Happy new year! ( I heard once that we have until June to say it you should believe it!)

Take care!
nico

www.grenius.com