My trip to Beijing was short, sweet and different.
This is my third time visiting the Capital of China, though short, only 3 days.
The official language here is Mandarin which I am just "okay".
Asking the Beijing driver on my way to the airport, the driver said, "Guanzhou people don't speak Mandarin well."
Interestingly, when I asked some Guanzhou residents, I got the same answer with the subject changed to Beijing folks.
Not all Chinese speak the same Mandarin.
To me, they both speak good Mandarin, well... can I really tell?
Traffic is terrible in Beijing.
In Hong Kong, only the padestrians jaywalk. In Beijing, bicycles, lorries, and etc seem have the very "right of way", even when the walking lights are on.
I was stunted. I was nearly run over a few times.
Gosh, I am glad, to be able to warn you about this.
Want proof?
Pats on the shoulder
I had 2 when walking on the "WangFuChengRoad". I wondered what those meant. It happened a well-made-up lady in her 30s' attempting to whisper in my ear, the moment I turned my head. Figuring what's going on, my instinct told me something was not right.
Within seconds, she shamed away into the crowd before a blown-up feather could even reach the floor.
The shoulder patting street ...
I hope I was wrong, and hope that she thought that I was her friend or was trying to ask for directions. Who knows... I maybe too sensitive.
Chinese should not be that open, well, at least not at 12:30pm in the middle of hundreds of people.
Smoking and reading with a unique skill
I am not skilled when comes to squatting. My right kneel screams every time. This alone disqualifies me to be a "permanent" resident living in the Mainland. Anyone considering to pay China a visit should learn this trick before coming or you may have a difficult time with Chinese squatting toilets.
Sneezing and Coughing
People here in Beijing sneeze very loudly with their mouth wide open and it sounds like coughing their lung out. It's different.
Boy... I miss Hong Kong now.
