First time I've seen this on a menu.  Being of the Anthony Bourdain school of thought regarding food (i.e. willing to try anything that other people eat once), I asked for it.  They were out of this particular item currently.  Dog meat is not consumed by most Chinese, but still fairly common in the extreme Northeast of the country. Since I've been in China, I have tried donkey and fried scorpion.  Donkey was delicious, scorpion was OK (Hate to sound cliche, but it does indeed taste like fried chicken).

I had been planning to go to Harbin this winter to see their amazing Ice and Snow Festival, but now I'm thinking about traveling to warmer climes this year.  Maybe Changsha, capital of Hunan province.  I love Hunan cuisine. I met a couple of guys yesterday who live in Changsha, were in Beijing on business (one of them owns a travel agency).  I'll give him a call if I go there.  He was interesting. I was asking him about his travels. Was particularly interested that he had been to Pyongyang, DPRK (North Korea) and loved it.  I would be very interested to go, but it's very different for an American to go versus a Chinese.  Chinese don't even need a visa to go.  Americans face special restrictions (must have a guide/watcher with you at all times, etc) and also very expensive.  But I think I may check into Koryo Tours some years down the line....would have to be an interesting trip!

I like the chairs at Masala Indian Restaurant (in the Mao Er Hutongs east of Houhai).

Hypocrisy of Western Anti-China Propaganda Re: Africa

http://www1.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2011-10/26/content_13977288.htm

China is Socialist, and Socialism Can Work!

China's Socialist Market Economy described by capitalist (AP) press:

"Beijing's communist authorities 'have lots of levers they can pull, unlike U.S. authorities.'"
"The government owns most of the biggest companies and banks. It controls the currency.
"Chinese policymakers can also order state-owned banks to lend if the economy slows much. They can command local governments to keep workers busy building roads and bridges."

Yes, China IS socialist, even if at an early stage of socialism. Do capitalist multinationals operate in China? Of course they do! But this does not in and of itself make China a capitalist country.  The Soviet Union in the 1920s under Lenin's leadership also made necessary arrangements with global capitalist enterprises during the New Economic Period, in the interest of economic development, while maintaining control of the "commanding heights of the economy". The same appears true of China.  China is a developing country.  A developing socialist country.  And YES, socialism can work!

Fake 100RMB note

Can you guess which one is the fake 100RMB note? The sad thing I must report is that I received this fake bill from a Bank of Communications ATM.  Now I know the procedure for future reference....Check the bills in front of the ATM, and if you get a fake, hold it to the camera, note the date and time, and report it to the police.  (100RMB is about $15USD, fyi)   

My Fake Nokia

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You've gotta watch out for fakes in China!  I thought I was buying a Nokia...but if you look carefully, I actually bought a Nokla!   ergh....fortunately, it works OK.  And it's good for a laugh ;-)

Hey! Coming

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Chinese sometimes come up with some pretty funny English names for their establishments. It's "Hey! Coming" in Wudaokou!

We're Trying to Sleep Here!

Chinese people are very friendly...to a point LOL. This is in a part of Beijing with a higher than normal distribution of obnoxious, intoxicated foreigners, so to the Chinese apartment dwellers trying to get some sleep....I say, more power to you
;-)

My First Blog Post

This is my first go at blogging...so we shall see what sorts of quirks I'll need to work out.  Any advice is welcome.  I've been living and working in Beijing, China since June 25, 2011 (4 months at the time of this writing); and figured all of my friends who incessantly tell me I should start a blog, and I should write more, are right.