A few Beijing things...

I am still making moves toward a happy existence here in Beijing.  And I have found a sign and a funny little man to help me in this quest.

This kind, red gentleman gave me a smile on just the right occasion.  Thanks, pal.

What a nice sign, to help me along my way, as well.  One thing about China is that there are always funny translations and funny signs about for a laugh.  I read something shocking almost daily and I will surely be keeping a record of said shocking translations.

For now, I will give you this one:  "Remodel for your prettiness".  I saw it printed on a construction site fence.  The construction: a pink and purple castle in front of a mall.  The use: who knows what will live in that castle but it is sure nice that they are making it for our prettiness.

I work a full week now so my adventures in travel land have slowed somewhat.  Still, the streets of Beijing provide newness and adventure.  The street food carts and stands are one of my favorite things as they hold strange edibles for cheap. The food is fresh (i think) and smells interesting (sometimes good, sometimes gross) and the people working in these stands find me quite amusing when I order lunch here. Its tough to be laughed at daily but I am glad to help give laughter to the world even if it is AT me.

The language barrier is crippling but I can still point and... chew! I have found street "crepes" aka Chinese pizza. Its made on a hot, flat, circular iron griddle.  Batter is spread thin, an egg is cracked on the cooking batter and spread with a spatula round and round coating the pastry. The flat food is then flipped, cooking the egg through, letting it fully cook into the batter.  Then chilies and dark, sweet hoisin sauce are spread on top; green onions and parsley is sprinkled lovingly and the pastry is quickly liberated from its hot temporary home on the hot griddle, folded up twice and put in a little bag.  A now triangular snack folded up just right for a hot snack of Chinese deliciousness.  The whole process takes a minute and a half and cost about 50 cents; the entire minute and a half I am quite mesmerized by the method thus, no picture yet.

The city has numerous things to be entertained with and by.  The endless streams of people in the subways stations (ah), the dressed up dogs (ugh), the busy nature of everything and everyone, the size and breadth of the streets and buses and malls (AH!).  And, McDonald's delivers (whoa/ew).  Its wild.  So wild,  I can't wait to come home.

Pretty lights on a cool sculpture

A food stall on the street corner,
veggies simmer in delicious spicy broth