CHINA

Country Overview:

"A land of contrasts, where ancient traditions meet rapid modernization, and delectable cuisine coexists with complex political realities."

My seven-year journey in China, from May 2013 to August 2020, was a whirlwind of experiences. I taught English, pursued my Master's in Politics & Foreign Policy at the prestigious Tsinghua University, and immersed myself in the media landscape at China Today and Xinhua News Agency. Beijing was my home base, but my travels painted a vibrant tapestry of China's diverse landscapes and cultures: the bustling metropolis of Shanghai, the historic city of Xi'an, the tropical paradise of Sanya, the unique blend of East and West in Macau and Hong Kong, and countless other destinations in between. From savoring the exquisite flavors of regional cuisines to navigating the intricacies of daily life under a distinct political system, China left an indelible mark on me.

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Rain today

Spent 3 hours round trip to a hospital for a physical exam that took 10 minutes. The size of Beijing can definitely be a disadvantage at times.

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Nothing like an afternoon nap on a motorbike

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Although the smog is not ideal, it does make for some cool sunsets.

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Ordered a Caprese salad for takeout and it came with a real plate. China for the win

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Who translated this?

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Goodnight Shuangjing

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National Museum of China

Rode my bike to Tiananmen today to go see Mao. After going through the security checkpoint, I get flagged down and asked to open my bag. Low and behold, I had forgotten about my brass knuckles and was politely asked to exit the premises. Don’t you hate when that happens?

The white pillar building is the National Museum of China. On the way home, I thought I’d stop in Wangfujing for some lunch. Although the squid was delicious, the sauce was horrible, like a badly fermented soy sauce. Whatever, I still ate it. It took me 15 minutes to bike from Shuangjing to Tiananmen, largely due to the big bike lanes. For someone who rides a fixed gear in one of the most populated cities in the world, spacious bike lanes are appreciated.

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Beijing is no longer cold

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It’s been 11 months but I’ve finally found the equivalent of the Peruvian dish ‘Lomo Saltado’.

Notable difference, it came with white rice instead of fried rice. Meat and fried potatoes in the same tasty brown sauce with some onions and tomatoes. Upon taking my first bite, memories of Peru flooded into my mind as I reminisced about many late evenings inside of Peruvian 'Chifas’. And yes, I’m going back for more tonight.

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Stayed the night in Erlian and quickly remembered why I vowed to never return

I shouldn’t hate on this place too much though, what can you expect from any sort of border town really?

So what does one do in Erlian? Played 3 games of pool by myself, all of which I won. Ate some sort of street meat with warm beer, tried to find souvenirs but was only shown sex toys (maybe my pronunciation was off..) and watched movies in my hotel room while listening to a Mongolian couple argue. All in all, it still beats taking the sleeper bus.