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Beijing I, 2012

a travel blog by prrrrl



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Out numbered

Beijing, China

I have four roommates. I am the lone non-Chinese - very good for practicing my limited language skills. They set the bar very low for Big Noses, everyone marveling at my Mandarin. Very friendly and helpful roommates but... they give me reason to use earplugs at night! I feel like I'm in a college dorm.

permalink written by  prrrrl on February 28, 2012 from Beijing, China
from the travel blog: Beijing I, 2012
tagged Chinese, Mandarin, Noise, Friendly and BigNose
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I feel gritty!

Beijing, China

Everybody sing:

"I feel gritty! Oh so gritty! I feel gritty and pity and fright!"

That's life in a very polluted city with very dry air and very little precipitation. Leaving it all behind tomorrow!!!

Busy day packing, shopping & cleaning up. Tailor needs to be visited now so clothes will be ready when I return from my time in the south.

If you're not in Beijing: enjoy the clean!!



permalink written by  prrrrl on February 28, 2012 from Beijing, China
from the travel blog: Beijing I, 2012
tagged Pollution, Clean, Fright, Grit, Tailor and Pity
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Miscalculation multiplied by Tu

Beijing, China

I packed an old pair of boots on purpose. I thought I could use them for a hike then leave them behind in China giving me more more luggage space for my return trip. WRONG! They are LL Bean boots meaning I can return them at ANY TIME, in any condition for a refund. But I can't return them if I leave them behind in China. That was miscalculation #1.

Miscalculation #2? [Tu?] They are crumbling under foot and I haven't even started the hike. I took them to a local shoe repair man and he did a great job getting the tread under the toe to re-adhere but the right boot is loosing chunks of the sole from the side & under the heal, not the bottom sole, the cushion between the sole and foot part. Not fixable, he said.

There are actually not that many Miles on these boots. I used them to tramp in Australia & New Zealand [down under 'hiking,' if I remember correctly, is thumbing for a ride and 'tramping' is a walk in nature], hike in Chile and not much more. I think my longest hike/tramp was 80 kilometers in 6 days. Sneakers work fine for most of my woods walking.

Any hoo...

Now I need to run out and buy new hikers before I fly to Yunnan tomorrow AND decide if I want to lug the faulty boots back to the US for the money-back guarantee. :-/



permalink written by  prrrrl on February 28, 2012 from Beijing, China
from the travel blog: Beijing I, 2012
tagged Boots, Tread, Hikers, Miscalculation and Tramp
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Feeling smug!

Beijing, China

I am packed for two weeks in a very small back pack & a medium size book bag. That includes toiletries, pharmacuticals, two changes of clothes, a camera with small accessories, sandals, two disassembled hiking sticks, two shawls and LOTS of socks. The two fleeces & rain shell I wear to the airport. But I'm sure I could stuff those into my two bags. too. I am carrying a plastic bag of fruit & snacks. That doesn't count, right?!

permalink written by  prrrrl on February 29, 2012 from Beijing, China
from the travel blog: Beijing I, 2012
tagged BackPack, Socks, PackingLight and Smug
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Hungry AND cold!

Beijing, China

I thought I read 24 hour access for the hostel I'm currently residing in. Either I read wrong or they have an interesting idea of what that means. After my long wait for half a meal I arrived at the hostel door to see the handles cabled, bike lock style, shut. It was 1:30 am and cold. No! I need shelter!! I banged on the door. The workers sleep on the sofas in the lounge area. One woke up and let me in. I felt guilty. So did the only logical thing: I got on line and blogged about my restaurant wait. But with 10 minutes two more groups of lodgers came banging on the locked door. Poor guy had to get up three times to let us late people in. Mind you, this was a Saturday night, not like staying out late is a Surprise. And Beijing has restaurants 24/7 - it's part of their native lifestyle, not us imposing on them.

Anyway, I felt less guilty awful quick. :-D

[Please leave comments on FB or my email. Thanks!]

permalink written by  prrrrl on March 1, 2012 from Beijing, China
from the travel blog: Beijing I, 2012
tagged Guilt, Late, Locked and Wake
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