Missing Link
POSTED AT 10:40 AM

I had the honour of visiting the Great Wall of China yesterday, which I consider, as a Chinese, to be one of my greatest achievements on all of my travels, surpassing even the Pyramids of Giza and Luxy (huh what?). It was simply magnificent. The view of the wall, snaking along the ridge lines as far as the eye could see was breathtaking; photos simply cannot do it justice. And the symbolism was not lost on me - once a great barrier of defence that protected against northern marauders; now a symbol of international friendship; always a source of immense pride.

Back in SG, when my Dad told me not to forget to visit the Great Wall, my mom, overhearing the conversation, retorted, "Do you need to tell him that? Will he forget to eat his meals?" I guess that goes to show just how intrinsic the Great Wall is to the Chinese. At the risk of taking things to far, I would say that having visited the Great wall, I feel that I've become a more complete person.

On a separate note, I also shelled out some money today to get myself an umbrella. It rains pretty often here, and after enduring 6 umbrella-less days in HK, I've decided that enough is enough. Plus I don't really want to have to share an umbrella with anyone here.

I went to check out this bar in the neighbourhood which apparently is a highly popular student hangout. I got myself a mug of Hoegaarden for 30 RMB (or SGD6), which you might think is quite a good deal, except that all I kept thinking about while drinking it was the 600ml bottle of Tsingtao that I could get for 3 RMB (or 60 cents) at the Chengdu Eatery place near my residence.

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I haven't been here for long - merely 4 days, but I'm starting to miss a lot of things about home. Maybe it's because of the solitude - when there's no one with you to recreate that little atmosphere like home, the foreign aspect of the whole situation really sinks in. I said before that this would be like a rehearsal for the time when I leave in August, but I think that's true only to a certain extent because I certainly do not think I would feel as isolated in North Carolina.

I miss my workplace. I miss serving my customers, getting slammed by the dinner crowd, and enjoying supper after a hard day's work. I miss my colleagues too, not all of them of course , but those whom I grew closer to.

I miss having my friends around me. It's really different travelling when you're alone. The internet really helps, though. Right now, to access the internet, I have to use the library computers at the cost of either 2RMB/hr or some skillful stealth, bring my laptop to the cafe downstairs with wireless for the cost of a drink (small Tsingtao, 10RMB), or skillfully latch on to the spillover wireless signal in my room, which unfortunately is rather unstable and only exists in a particular corner.

I miss Malay food. In particular the Nasi Lemak near my house.

I miss riding. Though I just came back from Batam on Tuesday, I can't wait to go again. It did occur to me to satisfy my craving here, but I really have no idea where one can go to ride, and the lakes around the city seem all to be parks or historical sites.

I miss Mambo. Especially so when I see my friends' photos (!!!) and it looks like they're having a whale of a time.

That said, it's not really a one-sided affair, because there's loads of things that I love here too.

I love the cheap food and drinks. I can get a big bowl of 麻辣 noodles for 5RMB, a generous serving of rice is .50 RMB. Meals can cost under 10RMB if I go to the right place, bottled drinks are 3RMB, and beer is cheaper than soda.

I love the freedom of living alone. It's nice to be responsible for myself and not have to match anyone's schedule.

I love my neighbourhood. Though my residence is a little far away from school (15 min walk) and a little pricey (160RMB/night, I'm alone in a double room), it's a really nice place to live in. It's pretty big and comfortable, and there's a supermarket and cheap restaurant just round the corner.

I love getting in touch with my Mandarin. I have been a student of languages for quite a long time, and it's really different when the language is your mother tongue.

I love visiting all of these cultural attractions. In other countries or on other trips I might have shunned the sightseeing aspect, but in Beijing it's totally different when the places you get to visit are 天安门, 颐和园, 故宫.

I Have Reached The Promised Land
POSTED AT 01:34 PM

aka internet access in my room.

Welcome to the real world.

You Know You've Been In Beijing Too Long When...
POSTED AT 11:13 PM

You think public transportation which costs 5RMB (SGD1) is too expensive.

You lose all decorum on public transport.

All sentences end with the -er sound.

Shouting at waiters is normal.

Billboard ads around you invariably refer to either 文明生活 or 奥运.

You can tell the difference between Yanjing and Tsingtao, as well as the 普通 and 纯真 varieties.

You don't think that 小龙包 contains soup inside, or 烧卖 is yellow on the outside.

You think that all roads are right angles and align directly with the four cardinal directions.

You don't bat an eyelid when day turns to night for 15 min in the daytime.

You start bargaining at 1/5 or less of the asking price.

You think that the Forbidden City is the centre of the universe.

You no longer know what 冷气, 徳士, 小姐, 纸巾 mean. Instead you refer to them as 空调, 出租车, 服务员.

You think that newspapers are read on noticeboards, not on the knee at home.

You understand that traffic signals are not meant to be taken seriously.

You find it abnormal if the cars do not drive on the sidewalks.

You are an expert at dividing figures by 5.

Home Sweet Home
POSTED AT 01:24 AM

I'm finally back. While I've had a great time in Beijing, I'm really glad to be back in Singapore. I've met many interesting people, and forged a few close friendships, but I think as long as I remain isolated from Singaporeans and Singapore culture, I will never be able to feel totally comfortable.

Getting into the plane and picking up a copy of The Straits Times gave me an indescribable feeling of joy. Sighting Changi Airport through the airplane windows made my heart skip a beat. I love home.