As usual, this blog is only getting updated because I’m travelling again. Unusually (and sadly), Holly’s not with me on this trip, however I have received her blessing to blog anyway (and Holly, since I don’t have the luxury of you reading these before they go live, I’m fully prepared for comments pointing out any problems with my writing). So, here I am in sunny hazy Beijing.
To be fair, it’s not as bad as I feared, but I don’t think I’ve really experienced anything like it before. To be walking around on a reasonably warm day, yet not to be able to see a blue sky is a little odd. I’m staying outside the main part of the city in an area with a lot of development underway – rows and rows of empty shops, and apartment blocks rising up out of nothingness. Combine it with the eerie way the sun looks and there’s a bit of an apocalyptic feel going on.
From what I’ve seen so far, the general vibe is quite similar to how things felt on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh city, complete with food markets during the day, and street food stalls by night. Grilled skewers seem to be the done thing here, and after sampling a few at dinner am surprised to report back that
- tofu can successfully be skewered and then grilled; and
- it was far tastier than the meat alternatives
Also managed not to burn my tongue on anything, so that’s an excellent day one in my books.