Home sweet home in the Hutongs of Beijing
I was woken up way to early by my rather loud and small neighbours prodding the little cats that sleep on my verandah. But i soon perked up at my dim sum breakfast, the girls at The Hulu were flummoxed as to why i was taking pictures of them but they are such a treat to be having for breakfast. I love it! It was a delightful selection of fried dumplings, Seafood Wonton which was delicately flavoured with teeny tiny baby prawns and seaweed, it was delicious. Followed by a Chinese pancake and steamed pork buns. It was a bit piggy but i wanted to try it all before i left and not stick to the boring “western breakfast”
The girls at The Hulu also very kindly posted my 13 postcards for me and helped me put stamps on them, no one licks stamps here they insist on using glue so it took ages and was really fiddly. I’m not sure why, i saw a Chinese girl asking for glue in a newsagent in Germany and now that kind of makes sense. Another one to add to the list for research, i want to know why! In the meantime they all want to know why i still send postcards in this day and age… I’m just old fashioned i guess, i know how much i like to receive personal mail like that in the post so like to think that it makes the recipients of my ramblings smile just a little to get a card or letter from me.
Sadly I’ve not managed to shake the horrible ear infection that i picked up while i have been here. Travelling while poorly is no fun, I will see how it is tomorrow and will maybe enlist the help of a doctor on the island for some antibiotics. It keeps squeaking which actually hurts, i have no idea if other people can hear it or not. That could be embarrassing! 🙂
I’m sad to say good-bye to Beijing its a fabulous city, totally different to what i expected. I imagined it to be packed with high rises overfilled with people. But it’s almost genteel in it’s layout, there are a number of high rises but they are not as overbearing as i thought. The sprawling Hutongs put paid to that, this is where central Beijing life happens. They fan to for miles and are full of houses, shops, restaurants and bars all mixed in together. My favourite names so far are “King Donkey” for a fast food chain (don’t ask!) and “Fast fish” which was actually a clothes shops much to my disappointment. The Hutongs, were a bit daunting at first, but i soon got used to them, they spread out the houses and energy across the city.
From the old folk dancing on street corners, Tai Chi in the public parks to the balloon sellers on infamous Ghost street Beijing has great charm for such a huge city and i am sad to say goodbye to it.
However, i am very excited to say hello to my cute little houseboat in Hong Kong. Set just away from the city so i can have some peace from the madness, it should be my little sanctuary in the sea…
Ciao! I’m off to catch my taxi to the airport onto Hong Kong
An excited Cake lady x x x
