Beijing on Ice

It's been interesting watching Beijing mobilize to deal with the recent "blizzard". As i said before, they don't get much practice. The few storms i've seen before cleaned themselves up in either minutes, hours, or, at most, maybe a day. I suspect the authorities were waiting for the natural snow removal forces to swoop in and clean up the city. However, temperatures have remained very low since the storm, and as a result the city has dispatched China's awesome manual labor force. On the fourth day after the storm.

Everyone from the Midwest or the mountains knows if you don't shovel in the first day or so, you risk having to shovel a rock hard slab of ice later. Apparently, no one told Beijing. Four days had made the city messy. I must have seen six accidents in as many taxi rides during the first few days.

On my way to work on Thursday, i saw dozens of workers with shovels chipping away at the thick ice rink outside. They must have worked pretty fast though, because when i returned with my camera, all i found was the debris.

Oh... and it's supposed to snow again this weekend.

In other news... i got older! Thanks for all the birthday wishes! Therese surprised me when i came home with a becandled pumpkin pie accompanied by a lovely rendition of Happy Birthday (sung in her sultry, bluesy style) before taking me out to a killer dinner at Mosto.

Man, why can't everyday be my birthday?

~Kev

Winter Wonderland

No, that's not Denver after one of its weekly storms. That is Larry and Scarlet's patio on Sunday. Beijing was pummeled for roughly 16 hours, totaling 8 inches of snowfall. That's nothing to a Colorado resident. That is, quite literally, expected every week.

This is all pretty amazing, though. To put it in perspective, check out this China Daily article. Lowest temperatures in half a century, heaviest snowfall in decades, 3,500 schools closed. Beijing did not know what to do. According to wunderground.com, Beijing averages about one inch total, in the months from November through March. Last year we had about a quarter inch all winter.

Today, Monday temperatures dropped to nearly 0°F and winds were steady. Couple that with Beijing taxi drivers' relative inexperience in snowy conditions, and the result is a long, slow, unpleasant commute today. None of that really matters though, because i'm still really happy.

For our part, therese and i had an awesome weekend. We wrapped up a long holiday

weekend, in which we celebrated our one year anniversary amid the New Years Eve celebrations. Dinner was incredible, spent at the Spanish-themed Saffron. Later, to Ellen's party to ring in the new year with friends. That was just Thursday.

The rest of the weekend, three more days, were spent relaxing, shopping, sleeping, hanging out with friends, playing epic games of catan, watching movies, playing with cats and massages.

It was one of the most perfect weekends in recent memory, and a spectacular way to start the year. I think this one is going to be amazing.

~Kev

The Adventures of Flat Peter

A few weeks ago, my sister sent me a request. Her son, Peter, has a project for his 3rd grade class and needs my help. He's supposed to make a flat version of himself and mail it to a friend or relative in a faraway place. Flat Peter then tours the city and checks out all the cool stuff. Flat Peter came to Beijing; Therese and i were his tour guides.

Flat Peter made it to Sanlitun, Ya Show, Nan Lou Gu Xiang, the Pink Party, and sampled many of Bejing's celebrated restaurants. Always cheerful and smiling, Flat Peter is a delight to have around. Also, he fits nicely into my pocket.

Flat Peter enjoying a few of Beijing's unique modes of transportation.

Flat Peter having dumplings on Gong Ti Bei Lu, and sushi at Hatsune on Christmas Eve. Side note: Hatsune is mind-blowingly good.

At the pink party.

Two of the colorful locals he met along the way...

Shopping for clothing at the "Fastest, Best, Bargainest" tailor in Ya Show.

Although Flat Peter must now return to his home, he will not be forgotten, for the lives he touched along his journey are many, his good deeds countless, his flatness two-dimensional. In Beijing, Flat Peter's legend will live on. Godspeed, little buddy.

~Kev