Few days in Peking with the familia Mertama

So there I was. Sitting on the plane, excited and scared and happy. I was not able to sleep at all but maybe that is to be expected? I ordered two bottles of red wine, just in case. But how can you, with sunsets like this.

28.10.2011

When I arrived in Peking, Markus came to pick me up from the airport. We went to drop off my bags and continued to see a performance of their 6-year of son Pyry in the international elementary school. It was so cute,seeing a few hundred little ones singing and dancing.

Following that we went to eat "Hot Pot" for lunch, which is sort of like a chinese fondue and then lots of different markets. The is noticiable is the lack of foreigners. For most of the markets we went to we're the only westerners around. And hardly anyone speaks english. Of course the more central you go to, you tend to have English menu's. At least you can point out what you want.

The trip to the supermarket is interesting. For the interest of the Finns, 56% booze costs you mere 5 Euro's for a few litres. The food is....well, interesting.

Everyone seems to be selling something. But people leave you alone if you say no thank you. And there is a lot of smiling. And I don't feel threatened at all.

Also what is noticeable is the bad air for breathing. There is so much pollution that you actually feel like wearing a mask. There are quite a few people wearing a mask, but that is not to protect themselves from the bad air, but to protect the others, if one has a cold.


29.10.2011

In the morning we went to park of the sun, which is one of the 4 big parks of Peking. (The sun, the moon, the north and the south park). We had some jasmine tea and enjoyed some locals singing and playing some strange instrument. Have to find out what they were.

After some lovely lunch we went shopping and I bought a new camera with a great zoom. In the evening we went out for a few drinks.

30.10.2011

After a long and good night sleep we went for some lovely Tapayaki lunch with the Mertama family. Nam! Sushi, different grilled meats and fish; shallops, prawn,cod, bacon & mushrooms, banana with ice cream....

After that it was time to go & move my stuff to the Harmony Hotel, where the Gap Adventures Tibet Adventure trip would commence. Quite exciting. I hope that the people will be nice!