Qingdao

My best friend flew to Beijing and together we traveled south to Qingdao, the city famous for China's well known Tsingtao Beer. We managed to eat more than we drank. We also met up with one of my fellow MFA alums, which was really awesome. 

Our first meal was hotpot. Spice galore. We had to drink a lot of beer. 

Our first meal was hotpot. Spice galore. We had to drink a lot of beer. 

Final meal was the best!

Final meal was the best!

We barely went to the ocean...hmm

We barely went to the ocean...hmm

Wearing my Qingdao pearls

Wearing my Qingdao pearls

Cowboy boots in China

Cowboy boots in China

Everything is wrong here. This is the shower and also the toilet, that you can see into. WHY!

Everything is wrong here. This is the shower and also the toilet, that you can see into. WHY!

The Great Wall

This man-made structure is a perfect example of what humans can do with vision, determination, and teamwork. Climbing those stairs, knowing someone built them and someone else manned them, was very humbling. I felt like anyone who had contributed, even a cook who served a meal to a stone mason, had accomplished more than I had in their lifetime. It was inspiring, majestic, and a real feat of human ingenuity. 

This is what you see from the parking lot. See those two fortresses? Two of twelve to the top. 

This is what you see from the parking lot. See those two fortresses? Two of twelve to the top. 

For your edification. 

For your edification. 

I'm still smiling here. Not for much longer. 

I'm still smiling here. Not for much longer. 

Up. 

Up. 

Inside one of the fortresses

Inside one of the fortresses

Absolute perfection. 

Absolute perfection. 

Canons to use against the Mongols

Canons to use against the Mongols

Small but steep stairway to the top of the 12th fortress. We had lunch up there. 

Small but steep stairway to the top of the 12th fortress. We had lunch up there. 

The steepness cannot be understated. I'd stand at the top and scream, "Jesus, please." 

The steepness cannot be understated. I'd stand at the top and scream, "Jesus, please." 

Almost at the bottom. 

Almost at the bottom. 

Looking back up. (Or taking a break because everything hurt. Everything.) 

Looking back up. (Or taking a break because everything hurt. Everything.) 

Finally. 

Finally. 

Whew. 

Whew. 

Beidaihe

I felt hemmed in by Beijing. Too many people, no space to think. I was craving the peace I always feel at the ocean. Asked around and found the nearest beach was two hours away by train. Away I went. 

This beach is called Tiger Stone Park because of the huge boulders at the shoreline.

This beach is called Tiger Stone Park because of the huge boulders at the shoreline.

It was chilly but clear. I could see cargo ships on the horizon. 

It was chilly but clear. I could see cargo ships on the horizon. 

I loved these boats. 

I loved these boats. 

I hung out with them  for a while actually lounging on a boulder in this picture. 

I hung out with them  for a while actually lounging on a boulder in this picture. 

This guy wanted a selfie with the laowai (foreigner). I obliged and took one as well. 

This guy wanted a selfie with the laowai (foreigner). I obliged and took one as well. 

Perfect

Perfect

Ate most of this all by my lonesome.

Ate most of this all by my lonesome.

Just what I needed. 

Just what I needed. 

798

A couple miles from where I live is 798, the art district, located in the bigger Chaoyang district. Outdoor art, free galleries with open doors. Art from all over the world, but also featuring local talent, this is a place to visit. Bookstores and coffee shops. Street vendors. A man selling cheap, but beautiful ceramics from the back of a wagon. Once you're through the main gates, it's walkable and interesting and feels a lot like Soho. I knew immediately that when the weather gets warmer I'll be there all the time, to walk and be inspired. I went with someone who'd been before, which was great, because we avoided most of the tourist traps. There are a great many restaurants and bars, so you'll never go hungry or sober. 

Glory

Glory

Abstract triptych that I loved. I'd buy this if I could afford it/had space for it. 

Abstract triptych that I loved. I'd buy this if I could afford it/had space for it. 

I don't fit the lady mold. That's about right. 

Loved these two, especially the one on the right. 

I was talked into this photo and worried about my posture. Therefore, overcorrected. 

I was talked into this photo and worried about my posture. Therefore, overcorrected. 

Constant mood. 

Constant mood. 

I got really close to this one. There's so much space between each stroke, I was fascinated. 

I got really close to this one. There's so much space between each stroke, I was fascinated. 

I am barely holding myself up against this wall. 

I am barely holding myself up against this wall. 

A lovely red wall. 

A lovely red wall. 

A man was selling ceramics from the back of a wagon, two for ten yuan. That's a steal!

A man was selling ceramics from the back of a wagon, two for ten yuan. That's a steal!

No bargaining in the stores, but at 65 yuan, I was so pleased with this necklace I got it in gold as well. 

No bargaining in the stores, but at 65 yuan, I was so pleased with this necklace I got it in gold as well. 

He's silly. 

He's silly. 

If only I could put a desk on the other side of this glass.

If only I could put a desk on the other side of this glass.

This ring was haggled down from 30 yuan to 15...yessssss

This ring was haggled down from 30 yuan to 15...yessssss

So often western food is just... not right. This Muffuletta though.. a blessing. 

So often western food is just... not right. This Muffuletta though.. a blessing. 

Pulled a lady off the street for this one. She was awesome. 

Pulled a lady off the street for this one. She was awesome. 

A good note to end on. 

A good note to end on. 

My New Home

I moved to the wangjing part of Beijing or the northeast corner in the Chaoyang district. It is unofficially the Koreatown of the city. This is evident in the numerous Korean markets and restaurants. My apartment complex is a cluster of eight or nine 25-story buildings enclosed by a fence that requires a key fob. The entrance to my building also requires a key fob, so it's super safe. I'm on the third floor, which is basically the first, so I wake up to people doing Tai Chi in the courtyard and kids doing dance routines. Otherwise, it's a quiet, beautiful place to live. 

View from my bedroom

View from my bedroom

Kitchen, which has a door and leads to the laundry room.

Kitchen, which has a door and leads to the laundry room.

Stove which I have yet to brave

Stove which I have yet to brave

Very nice laundry room. There's also a drying rack that we all share. 

Very nice laundry room. There's also a drying rack that we all share. 

Bathroom with shower head I have not figured out. 

Bathroom with shower head I have not figured out. 

Beautiful sitting area in my room

Beautiful sitting area in my room

I'll take better pictures when I clean. 

I'll take better pictures when I clean. 

Hodge Podge

I have two phones: my iPhone and a cheap Chinese smartphone I bought so my school could keep in touch with me. The problem is sometimes I leave one phone, like this day when I only had the Chinese phone, so I had to do some serious technology wrangling to get these photos to my computer. Hence, the reason they're all over the place -- day and night, food and places and all that jazz. 

The power went out on campus, so an expat teacher took us on a tour. 

The power went out on campus, so an expat teacher took us on a tour. 

It was sunny, but bitterly cold. I didn't mind. 

It was sunny, but bitterly cold. I didn't mind. 

Art shot. 

Art shot. 

Didn't know there were mountains until this day when the clouds and smog cleared right before sunset. 

Didn't know there were mountains until this day when the clouds and smog cleared right before sunset. 

Finally tried authentic Korean soju. It's great. 

Finally tried authentic Korean soju. It's great. 

Homesick meal. The tomato sauce is too sweet, the dough is too doughy, but it's pizza. 

Homesick meal. The tomato sauce is too sweet, the dough is too doughy, but it's pizza. 

My hallway. I love the plants. The Chinese keep nature close, even in the city. 

My hallway. I love the plants. The Chinese keep nature close, even in the city. 

A lot of buildings look very official and I don't know that they are. 

A lot of buildings look very official and I don't know that they are. 

The laundry situation. No dryers. 

The laundry situation. No dryers. 

This was a really great lunch. I made it into leftovers by adding more kale to the broth. 

This was a really great lunch. I made it into leftovers by adding more kale to the broth. 

First Solo Exploration: Youyi Shopping City

I decided to be brave and get outside my comfort zone on my last free day before training starts tomorrow. My guide mentioned there was a mall close by, so I went to find it. It was huge and overwhelming and I'm pretty confident that even after several hours of walking I still didn't see half of it. Once I got up the courage to buy things, I couldn't stop. I bought a pressed juice, a new journal and a calendar and pens, sushi in a restaurant, toothpaste and shower shoes, instant coffee and detergent and water and an orange. In total, I spent about 350 yuan or $50 usd. Pictures inside the mall weren't allowed, so take my word for it -- huge!

Despite the chaos of traffic, there's an order to everything here

Despite the chaos of traffic, there's an order to everything here

Canal under a bridge on the way to Youyi Shopping City

Canal under a bridge on the way to Youyi Shopping City

Enormous. It's hard to comprehend.

Enormous. It's hard to comprehend.

Pressed pineapple and pear juice -- $3 usd

Pressed pineapple and pear juice -- $3 usd

Right before I got demoted to a fork and knife

Right before I got demoted to a fork and knife

Love this presentation. Did not love unexpected filling

Love this presentation. Did not love unexpected filling

Perfection

Perfection