I have to admit that although I’m not a fan of big cities, I was not heartbroken about having to come back to Beijing to renew our visas. 

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows the night lights of Beijing’s skyscrapers under a hazy full moon.)

                                                     

Sure, it was a bit of a pain having to break up the hike, but I realized I’ve really come to like Beijing.  In fact, I dare say I love it.  And besides, the Other Wallnuts, Emma and Brendan, would still be in town for a few days before they headed back to Zhongwei to restart their trek.

The first thing the four Wallnuts did was go and get a top-notch foot massage at Oriental Taipan, a place Emma and Brendan frequent when in the city.  The massage commenced in a private room, where our feet were soaked in hot rose water while our shoulders were worked on for about a half hour.  Then we stretched out on the loungers, where our feet and legs were massaged for an hour.  Although Emma’s masseuse couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away from her face–this even made me uncomfortable–it was still a great experience. 

The photo below shows the Wallnut’s relaxed legs and feet (from right to left; Ig, myself, Emma and Brendan), which the staff quickly covered up after screeching in horror.  Okay, alright, covering the feet was part of the program.

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows four pairs of legs stretched out with all our feet covered by towels.)

                                              

Then Emma and Brendan introduced us to Xiao Wang’s Home Restaraunt, where we had roast duck for the first time since being in China.  Although I don’t have photos from that night, The Ig and I had to go back for more later.

When you walk up to the restaraunt, you can see the duck oven through windows on the right. 

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows the entrance of the restaraunt and a long, softly lit alley behind it, and 2nd photo shows about ten ducks roasting in the brick oven.)

                                   

I didn’t realize this was the menu until we opened it up.

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows Ig holding what looks to be a wooden board in front of him.  2nd photo shows the accordian-like menu sprawled across the entire table.)

                                       

Both the duck and the “pork ball” soup were delicious.  The preferred way to eat duck is to grab a thin pancake, put on some spring onions, cucumbers and sauce.  Then ya just roll it up and eat yer duck burrito.

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows the sliced duck with all the fixin’s around, and 2nd photo shows the bowl of soup with the pork meatballs.)

                                  

The next night the Wallnuts ate at a little restaraunt with no name.  Some of the schtuff on the menu looked fun, so we thought we’d give it a go. 

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows the menu displaying, “a kind of grass with fishy smell” as one of its items.)

                                             

We tried to order the “a kind of grass with fishy smell”, but the waitress scrunched her face and said it was no good.  The “Beef and white” turned out to be just beef and celery, the spring rolls were spring rolls, but the “Bamboo worms” turned out to be, well, grubby lookin’ worms.

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows the spring rolls, beef and white, a bowl of sauce, and the worms.  2nd photo is a close-up of the worms…gack!)

                                  

And no, those are not crinkly fries on the end of my choppies; we all tried ‘em, and although Emma and I didn’t quite care for the taste (or the idea, really), the boys ate ‘em right up.  They were deep fried until crunchy and had an earthy, nutty flavor…not something I think I’ll find myself craving in the near future.

                                 

After the other Wallnuts headed west, Ig and I took a day and shot over to Houhai to walk around the lake and the Hutong, Beijing’s famed ancient alleyways.

It used to be the Sanlitun area that was hip, but these days it’s Houhai.

(Rob and Marsh; first photo shows the lake, 2nd shows the tidy walkway with the nice buildings alongside, and third shows a cozy open-air eating area.)

                             

The Chairman is still popular enough to monopolize nearly all the space at this vendor’s.

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows a small kiosk with plenty-o-photos and posters of Chairman Mao on display.)

                                                 

We were bummed to learn the bar that started it all in Houhai, the No Name, sold out and moved.  We’d only been there a few nights earlier with Emma and Brendan, but it was already closed and under construction.

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows a little orange building across the way, the now closed No Name bar.  Damnit!) 

                                            

The hutong are fun to wander around, but it’s so touristed you have to occassionally fight off the hawkers. 

                                     

                                  

                                              

Remember awhile ago how The Ig was complaining about peas in his dessert?  Well, here’s the pies they serve at McDonalds. 

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows McD’s pies bursting not with cherries or apple slices, but with PEAS!!!!)

                                              

And last but not least, we arrived in town to find the Hair Bank upgraded and got a jazzy new sign! 

(Rob and Marsh; photo shows one of my all time favorite signs, the “Hair Bank”.  :~) )

                                             

Tags: Beijing, China, Food, Hebei, Hebei Province, photos, Travel, Tag Index

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