There are 24 million people in Beijing - and I've seen them all...

I've just reached the end of my first full day of living in Beijing. Well, it seems this is really going to be an experience!

I managed to use some of my limited Mandarin to get my ugly butt to my hostel easily enough yesterday afternoon. Its right in the middle of a Hutong (a traditional sort of residential area in the middle of the city) and despite that, is actually pretty fancy. I could find somewhere cheaper but my own private room en suite seems to be a pretty good when I'm going to be here a month. And my room even has 70 TV channels (only one with any english though!).

I headed out straight off the bat to see Tiannemen Square. While wandering around I was approached by some "students who wanted to improve their English". I'd been warned that they will try to lead you to some art gallery and get you to buy some fake artifacts. And true's Bob thats what thet did - but along the way I got them to point out all the sights.



Tiannemen square towards the Forbidden City



The mauseleum of Chairman you-know-who, a bloody ugly building right in the middle of the square



The Great Hall of the People



Don't mess with he who can't be named! (seriously, or my blog doesn't get through the Great Firewall of China!)


After ditching them I was approached again by Ruben, another guy wanting to practice english, but he seemed a lot more genuine. We chatted as best we could in his English and my Chinese and he in the end offered to help me buy a bicycle. I figured one must have one when in Beijing! So now there are 1 million and one bicycles in Beijing.



Ruben with my new trusty steed...

Today I went grocery shopping, and discovered how bad my Mandarin really is. But it did serve to give me motivation for my lessons, the first of which I had this afternoon. The school seems very good and I've booked 46 hours of one-on-one classes which will take a month. They even gave me a very cool book so I can teach myself to read and write too.


I think I'll enjoy my time here. The place is truly like none I could imagine. Though not always pleasing on the eye or ear. The Chinese certainly aren't about to adopt the Kyoto protocol and everyone has the anoying habit of hawking and spitting all the time... But there is just so much history and the food is kick-ass! Not to mention the R2 quart of beer I'm currently sipping on...