men carry purses

...and women don't. A fascinating phenomenon observed here in Beijing. What's the point of purses and handbags then? If not to accessorize, then it need not match the woman to whom it belongs. It is very amusing the way these males hold tote bags so close to their bodies like it is their beloved, carrying their precious lip gloss or something.

A lesson learned: here, no matter how hydrated you think you are, you will never escape the wrath of thirst.

We saw so much stuff today I'm afraid I won't remember. Forbidden City, Hou Hai, Beilan Park, another park on top of a hill with a pretty Buddha, the emperor's trusted worker's house and park, some old quadrangle homes... anyway we managed to use 6 modes of transportation. Car, taxi, shuttle, speedy motor boat, crazy slow motor boat, and modern day rickshaw.

Another lesson learned: you will never feel hungry here. Aside from all the refreshing juices and popsicles and random snacks around the streets, each meal is destined to be too much and too good. Excess at its best.



Yunnan Cuisine. From left: Rice cooked inside a bamboo shoot, encapsulating the fragrance from the plant. Kind of a sweet, earthy flavor, really good ; Fungus with bell peppers. Yunnan is famous for their vast selection of fungi and this is no exception. They looked like shriveled little caps, and tasted great! ; Fruit salad with pineapple, dragonfruit(!), tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots. It looks gorgeous and was very fresh tasting. Yumyum.

And here's me eating a skewer of fruit covered in sugary glaze. Mmmm. Haha the fruit has kind of a potato-y, soft texture. And it has seeds. But it's good!

Here's an elderly man writing beautiful words on the ground. The pen tip is basically a sponge that sucks water out from a dispenser. So the words disappear soon after they are brought into the world. But they exist long enough to be admired by passersby. Apparently, many old people do this as a form of exercise, perhaps to maintain dexterity? Anyway notice this guy is using his left hand. Wow.

What looks like a playground is actually a gym.


And just for kicks...