Finding one’s way around a foreign place can be a rather daunting task and Beijing is no exception. In a country where, try as you might, it seems inexorably hard to pronounce the names of places let-alone read them, multi-lingual maps become a necessity.

Thankfully, the bastion of Western culture that is Starbucks stepped up, providing one of the most vital documents I possessed during my time in China:

P.S. In order to avoid the ensuing confusion, I am in Chicago this week. Merely revisiting old haunts…

As oft seems to happen when I up-sticks and move to a different country, things get neglected for a few weeks and updates to my website end up suffering.

This post is therefore going to be relatively short and — aside from noting that I’m currently in London — won’t even attempt to cast any light on what it is I’ve actually been up to over the last few weeks. I shall leave that for future ramblings.

It is time, however, to focus on the Beijing Olympics. Google’s logo is particularly close to my heart today:

In 2004, I visited China not long after they had been chosen to host the 2008 olympics. Four years later, I was lucky enough to return and see Beijing transformed, watch the finishing touches being put on the various stadia, trees being shipped into the city, and see Olympic fervour set in, championed by five somewhat unlikely cuddly characters.

Sadly, as I am now returned to London, I will be unable to watch the events live. But, I will — as with most of the rest of the World — be watching with great interest, hoping that everything goes smoothly.

I have been expecting my Beijing exploits to come to an end for quite some time now — things seem to have been conspiring against us since the very beginning. Still, it has been quite an experience and, while I may not have been here long enough to develop the attachment that I have for Japan, I find myself strangely fond of Beijing, China, and its quirky ways.

Of course, it’s not possible to spend time in China without visiting the various markets, getting a tailored suit, and just generally being a bit of a tourist:

Over the next few weeks, I hope to find a chance to go through the numerous photos I have taken and offer some up online. Thanks, for the time being, have to go to George for his photographic records.

One of the most important parts of exploring a new country and culture is — for me at least — trying all the new and exciting foods.

China is no different. In fact, China offers more opportunities than many of the places I have experienced to-date. This seems to be the result of a strange historical and cultural combination whereby food is initially eaten through necessity and then continues to be eaten through that dogged Chinese determination that is ‘saving face‘.

It’s quite amazing what you can get ‘on a stick’ here:

I am reliably informed that all of the most expensive foods taste bad. Taste is — apparently — not the point.

In a truly Chinese way, the lifts in my appartement building in Beijing are somewhat ineffectual. This one has given up ‘lifting’ for something a little deeper. I expect it’s only a matter of time before it asks ‘WHY’: