Notes on a Crazy week

Sunday, June 10, 2007
Recovered from the weekend, stayed home all day.

Saturday, June 9, 2007
First haircut in China. Amazing experience- shampoo/scalp massage and cut for 25RMB. Then took bus then subway to meet up w/ friend CiCi at TsingHua University, which is on the opposite side of Beijing's ring roads. On the way, the train paused for several minutes at a few stations. A few times it even stopped between stations. Once it even stopped in the dark tunnel and the lights flickered off for a moment, scaring some (but not me of course).

Then met up w/ bunch of entertainment types that are friends of Beaver K (one I've met before in L.A., a friend of a friend Jimmy L) at cool place in the middle of an alley called Bed, best Mojitos I've ever had, and sitting on mats, located in cool section of town called JiuGuLou on ZhangWang HuTong, just north of HouHai bar district.

Then off with these people to China Doll, then fish and chips place around the corner, then to Vics until 530am. Thus, the recovery Sunday.

June 8 Friday
Slept an hour from previous night's all-nighter, got back to office for 830a meeting. Worked till 10pm, stopped by new friend Christian L's office at Van Palace next to Kerry Center, where he hosts periodic Poker Games. Lost my money and went to meet co-workers Beldon (w/ G-f Judy) and Kevin at Suzie Wong until 3am.

June 7 Thursday
Worked until 500am Friday morning.

June 6 Wednesday
Can't remember.

June 5 Tuesday
Can't remember.

June 4 Monday
Can't remeber.

These weeks and days go by so quickly. I may have to summarize weekly from now on....

Fast life and fast food in Beijing

June 3 Sunday
Met with Joyce, Vicki and Howard Hong in the AM. I jumped on two random buses (I think it was 403 then some other bus like 988 or 686) which miraculously took me where I needed to be. Could've taken a taxi, but it wouldn't have been as much fun.

By the way, usually when I ride the bus or train, I don't hold onto any bars or handles. First of all, because they're always dirty from other hands. Secondly, because it's fun to "surf" on the bus or train, which means I stand in the aisle and try not to move my feet by balancing the entire ride across town. It doesn't look strange bec. everyone else is crowded around you a few inches away. You should try it sometime.

Had lunch @ Bellagio with friend visiting from L.A. Vicki Chang and her cousin Vivian who works at Xin Kong (Guang) Tian Di Shopping Center on the southeast side. Then went shopping w/ them at the Silk Road (Xiu Shui) Market, which is the bazaar/market scene on speed. Confirmation that capitalism is alive and well in China. I bought three "European" dress shirts and one "Ferragamo" "leather" belt. I fully expect them to tear within a couple of months (one of the shirts already has this huge blemish on the front of it that I noticed after unwrapping it at home - lesson for next time - unwrap the crap in the shop!).

June 2 Saturday
Had afternoon coffee w/ new friend (via Beaver Kang) Nathan Chow, his wife Jian Wen and their daughter Meghan at Tasty Taste near Gong Ti Worker's Stadium. Met up w/ Joyce, Mona and Vicki Chang who'd just arrived from Hong Kong (and before that L.A. after leaving from Texas).

June 1 Friday
Crazy day (as usual) of meetings with colleagues and negotiations with BMW. Then visited the Beijing trendy "in" spot Vic's for the first time. What a scene. Mostly Chinese this time, but not without a good showing of people of European and African descent hitting on all the hot, wanna-be Chinese models and cute girls. Techno/trance/drum & bass/100% European music in one room, 100% American hip-hop in the other, which is where I stayed most of the night until after 4AM doing market research. Oh yeah, clubs don't close until after 6AM here, though the crowd was cleary thinning after 3AM.

May 29, 30, 31 - Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Tuesday & Wed. were mad rush of meetings w/ BMW.
Thursday was meeting w/ a German brand Bogner, which is famous for premium/luxury ski-wear and the 80's film Fire & Ice.