BEIJING: tea at summer palace

First chinese menu. Then english menu for translstion. Tea cost 15rmb in chinese 20rmb in english. I pay 15. :-)

G & T Star studio

Me and Shang visit the owner Yang Ji of artist and movie star makeup studio. We bring traditional tea set from Wuyishan. Shang gives instruction how to do the art of tea. Also photo with Yang Ji, me and thriathalon Xu Yang.

Small snack

Salted egg. Onion bread . Steamed bun. Tea. 18yuen.

Beijing

Had an interesting weekend. Champagne etc. But for now the glitz is over (had enough of fashion stores - don't know how people can be so facinated by labels!).

In any case. Here are some signs that for west is funny. You may wonder why a toilet would have a sign not to stand in it. But if you see and get used to squatting toilets you'll know.

The landslide warning is in a staircase to MacDonalds! No. I didn't eat there.

Beijing is cold but nice when subshine. Today mostly just grey. But the air is dry and so are my lips.

These are not the droids you're looking for...

To quote star wars.

Ok. So these shoes.

Now what? :-D

How to watch movie hong kong style!

First you eat! Then maybe see movie. Then you eat again!

Btw. These stir fry niidle in mizo salted egg yolk is "hau zhi" (delicious).

My favorites in hong kong

Yesterday I met with my favorite dog. He brought a surprise: twister (left)! So happy to see all again!

Its funny because lately hong kong has become a hub for meeting many of my friends I have from San Francisco and my travels to vietnam 2 years ago. Also, another guy I worked with in US moved back here too.  Hope to meet up.

For late breakfast had my other favorite - hong kong milk tea and egg tart (yes I had an omelette sandwhich too). The eggtarts are very popular here and good. I think its Portuguese influence from Macau.

Chinese traditional funeral

My friend was going to a traditional funeral in HK. So we're folding goldbars for burning. In one pic is a set of mobile phones made of paper for burning. It all takes time. Taking break to write this.

Eating breakfast...

Delicious beef noodle soup. With "rawish" egg yellow. Here I'm slurping it in. Thanks Dung for meeting up for breakfast!

When writing this I've just arrived in Hong Kong and am on the train. I've charged up my data on my old sim card. 78hkd for 1 month edge. But, hmm, maybe should have gotten 3G :-)

Breakdancing guys in childrens park

Pretty facinating movements. I'll upload some vids to youtube later.

Here is also a polic of long nails that many guys have. Its an old Chinese tradition to show that you're not really working physically. I think.

I live in the "Tourist Alley"

Ok. Its my own madeup name. Its funny how many tourists congregate. I don't feel like that. I walk sonewhere where there are only locals. Today I decided for mostly veggie food. It was good. The deep fried whole egg. The potatoe soup. The tofu. So good.

I went to visit the temple in th Ho Hoan Kiem lake. Its beautiful lighted in the lake during the night. Daytime its ok. Had a big "stuffed" turtle.

I walked to the river. Felt more like countryside village.

Then had hotpot for dinner with Tu and a friend of his.

All in a nights work

Tourguide "To".

This package in my hand is shampoo. The first day I didn't know. It looks like maybe mouthwash? No writing indicate in English that it is shampoo. I used only soap that day.

Yesterday I was invited to my friend's home. Had good food met his father and sister. Good. First time I see a vietnames home. The buildings are narrow and have often 5 floors. They live near the university. We passed by a classroom randomly located on the block. It was packed. This was in the eve.

Later I went back to Hoan Kiem lake and talked to this guy. He is studying and soon finishes as tourguide. But to find job may be difficult. Meanwhile he approaches tourists and try to sell books. I explained I don't need anything. At least he tried. Instead he stayed and we talked. His spoken English was quite good. At some point he bought some tea for us. The night was a bit chilly. But no rain. On course of the night various people pass by. Some "offers" are funny. Others are sad.

At 1 we went for a drink in a night club. It was pretty hightech in light installation and had high blinkelichtfactor. Mitch would have liked that part!

Then we went to a dust cafe and ate cirn cobbs grilled there till late. Drinking tea.

Hanoi is the place for strong tea on the street. Didn't really find it in Saigon. Coffe is better choice there.

But in conclusion. Sleep is good.

A good day...

Starts in a cafe with some vn coffe w condensed milk. It's strong. Like espresso. The essense of coffe. I had a sandwhich too. Bahn (sounds like "bun" probably not coincidence languages are connected).

The greenish picture shows my teapot drinking vn style tea = super strong!

I filled my cup. The girl who sat at my table with here designerfriend corrected me and poured a half cup for me. For some reason she now has my email and phone and vice versa. Hmmm. Haha. She works as reporter for finance group.

Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi

Having "german" food with my friend from work (US) who moved back to Vietnam.

Picure of temple in the night in the lake. I think this is very special for Hanoi. Nice walking about the lake.