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Beijing stories

by | Mar 2, 2007 | travel, Uncategorized

I’m in Beijing with Laurence – a friend from work in the UK.

I spent the morning in the local Novell office – great views; mainly of construction:

Construction in Beijing

We were taken out to lunch by the project team from Novell – to a local tofu restuarant. Tofu served in ways I’d never seen it before. Even as a dessert.

This evening we took a taxi to Tiananmen Square – and walked around. It truly is immense. We were accosted by dozens of people selling kites, Mao watches, books of Mao Quotations – and people just wanting to talk and speak English.

Worker's statue at Mao's Mausoleum Worker's statue at Mao's Mausoleum Red Star

We then went wandering, found a restuarant, and using a combination of pointing and my month old mandarin skills – we ordered Peking Duck, rice and beer. I even managed to ask for a receipt and get the taxi driver back to our hotel.

Travelling to Beijing

by | Mar 1, 2007 | evilzenscientist, travel, Uncategorized

I’ve just arrived in Beijing after a day of travelling. I left home before dawn for a 6am flight to San Francisco, then flew to Beijing.

The flight was uneventful; immigration stressfree.

Rainbow over San Francisco International Airport  Arctic Ice Flying a great circle 

First impressions of Beijing? It’s raining, foggy and construction is everywhere.

Tomorrow I will be in the local Novell office, more updates then.

Off to China

by | Feb 27, 2007 | Evangelism, Technology, travel, Uncategorized

Tomorrow morning I’m heading off early for a week in Beijing, China. It’s the first time for me; and to be honest the first time I’ve travelled anywhere where I really don’t have any ability to speak some basic local language and read my way around.

I downloaded a Rapid Mandarin course by Earworms from Audible – and I at least know some phrases. (Well – it’s another language I can order beer and coffee in ..)

Hopefully internet won’t be too shoddy during the week – I’ll be there with Laurence so I’ll make sure we post some pics.