My first day in Korea

Just in time for a birthday party!

Back in Action!

Of course, I am hanging out of my hotel window trying to catch a wifi signal, but I bought a power adapter for my laptop.
I have tons of photos, but this hanging out of the window thing isn't wotking out so well. I'll have to figure something else out.

Crazy Days!

I'm in Korea, went to a birthday party last night, I'll post pics later. The hotel I am at is terrible! No internet in room. They must have new management, because they used to have Internet. So now I am hanging out of my window, trying to catch a signal, on a low battery because this hotel doesn't have a converter for American plugs. I'll post more when I get the situation resolved.

A Slow Day

Today I just walked around, had some Peking (or Beijing) duck. Last night I hit 'Bar Street'. Pretty disappointing. Although I did find a nice quiet place with a guy performing on guitar. He'd do one song, and his female side-kick would do one karaoke. I had lots of offers from people offering to show me 'Lady Bar' or 'Massage' but was a little hesitant to be lead away from some stranger off the street. I had my laundry done by the hotel. I will sure miss cheap China! 10 bucks equal 100 RMB. Even the mini-bar in the hotel fridge is cheap. In Singapore I save about a 50 cents, in Korea, the dollar is just about the same! Thanks Bush! Tonight I was thinking of hitting another 'Bar Street' but this one sounds more exciting than the other. It is by a lake and nestled in Beijing's quaint alleyways, or 'hutongs'.

I Bid Catherine "Bai Bai"

Nothing exciting today, just some shopping and some lunch. 'Hot Pot, as you can see in this stock photo (I didn't bring my camera today). I swear this is 100% true. The sales-people were amazed by my haggling skills. One even said that I was the best foreign haggler they ever saw. You know me, I'm a ham. I used all kinds of ways of making a fool out of myself to get the price down. Sometimes the sales-person and I couldn't help but laugh. It was exhausting, but fun. Although, I think they got the last laugh. I bought four shirts, all 18 1/2 neck size (lately I've been really working out my deltoids, or was it my altoids?) but only one of the shirts actually fit! Geez, 10 bucks down the drain!

I just hired Catherine for four days. I'll miss her. It was nice to be around a woman again, Diego Garcia doesn't exactly have a swinging singles scene, and she did make small things like taxis and food some much easier. Thursday is a free day, I leave China on Friday. In Singapore for a night, and then off to Korea for some soju and kimchi!

Maybe tomorrow I'll visit Mao's tomb if the queue isn't too long. I've been meaning to visit the night market, and hit some bars. Although, I brought one of my computer games with me, my elf has a +10 vorpal sword! Decisions, decisions!

Acrobats!

I know the photos are terrible, but it was dark, the acrobats were moving, and so was my jittery hand. It's inhuman the things these acrobats could do. You get a sensory overload, because each feat is more unbelievable than the one you just saw. If I wasn't there, I wouldn't believe that this stuff was possible.

Rickshaw Ride

The rickshaw ride through old alley ways was nice, although a little bumpy, hence so few pictures. It's strange to pass 'new' buildings that are older than the United States.

The Summer Palace

The Emperess Cixi's little getaway. Nothing like the Forbidden Palace, but it was a nice walk to stretch my sore legs after yesterdays great climb.

Tomorrow, Rickshaw Ride Through The Alleyways!

Weather permitting. It rained last night, and again this afternoon. Getting down from the wall is almost as fun as being on top! I couldn't take any pictures of the ride, because I was too busy steering!

I just couldn't get enough of the view

Me and My Guide, Catherine