Accommodation is limited and not cheap in Mongolia so we considered camping. We have been hunting around for an affordable and durable tent in Singapore but choices were very limited and prices were steep. A three season two men tent with aluminium poles costs at least S$275 or more. Five days before departure, I came across Adventure Gear Post selling the type of tent we're looking for. They were selling KingCamp series - S$208.50 and S$223.50 (after 25% discount). We almost wanted to make a trip down to Aljunied when he chanced upon the same tent selling at 798 yuan (S$159) in China. As we didn't have much time to spare in Beijing and there wasn't an outlet near where we were staying, I instantly wrote to KingCamp to check if they could deliver the tent to our Beijing accommodation. I received a response from the company within two hours (around 2am in the morning mind you) and they managed to arrange someone to deliver it right to the doorstep of our hostel! We reached Ming Courtyard at around 8.30pm (half an hour later than expected) and a representative was waiting patiently at the lobby for us. I'm extremely impressed with their speed, efficiency and standard of customer service. Our tent served us well throughout our journey in Mongolia. Thank you KingCamp China!
Last good meal in Raffles City before nomadic days begin...
每次回到天安门广场
一定得在这位置照相
四年之别
想不到我对北京是如此眷恋
地铁 公交 刷卡 打的
煎饼 豆浆 金凤成祥
服务员 超市 方便面
曾在这里生活的点点滴滴
我既然都还记得
看着熟悉的环境 听着城市的喧哗
让我有种莫名的亲切感
似乎像回家的感觉
...
RS often ridicules that no one will believe he has been to Beijing. He not only missed China's national dish, he didn't even visit the Great Wall! My bad. I was such a lousy host back then. So the next thing we did in Beijing was to charge to the Great Wall!
So many sections which to choose? I decided on Jiankou located in Huairou district 73km north of Beijing.
I visited Badaling and Juyongguan several years ago but it was only at collapsing Jiankou I really start to take in the majesty of the Great Wall.
I enjoyed climbing on the ruins but not these creepy-crawlies!
Most of the walk involves crashing through thick vegetation. That's me disappearing into the bushes as crickets buzzed and creaked.
再也没有遗憾的好汉!
He didn't want to continue anymore and since there wasn't enough time to visit the dangerous stairs and main watch towers, we made our way down...(disappointed)
Last glimpse of the steep and jagged mountains~
We stretched our sore limbs while watching the Olympics at Zhao's. I was about to fall asleep (the tv had no sound) when we heard sounds of gun shots. I pulled open the curtains to see what's going on and BANG! a huge firework exploded right in front of my eyes! I thought I was gonna be shot dead man. That was the best and biggest firework display I have ever seen!
So many sections which to choose? I decided on Jiankou located in Huairou district 73km north of Beijing.
I visited Badaling and Juyongguan several years ago but it was only at collapsing Jiankou I really start to take in the majesty of the Great Wall.
I enjoyed climbing on the ruins but not these creepy-crawlies!
Most of the walk involves crashing through thick vegetation. That's me disappearing into the bushes as crickets buzzed and creaked.
再也没有遗憾的好汉!
He didn't want to continue anymore and since there wasn't enough time to visit the dangerous stairs and main watch towers, we made our way down...(disappointed)
Last glimpse of the steep and jagged mountains~
We stretched our sore limbs while watching the Olympics at Zhao's. I was about to fall asleep (the tv had no sound) when we heard sounds of gun shots. I pulled open the curtains to see what's going on and BANG! a huge firework exploded right in front of my eyes! I thought I was gonna be shot dead man. That was the best and biggest firework display I have ever seen!
Admission fee: Unlike other sections of the Great Wall in Beijing, there is no admission fee to Jiankou (hooray!) but there is 20 yuan pp entrance fee to Xizhazi village. It is possible to climb Jiankou without entering the village. We have seen locals entering the site via a hidden "carpark" for their evening exercises.
Transport: It is possible to get to Jiankou by public transport from Beijing. From Huairou to Jiankou, there is a public bus which runs twice daily from Yujiayuan (near Huairou bus terminal) to Xizhazi but the timings were not favourable as we were pressed for time so we took private transport. The market rate was around 200 yuan return. No drivers agreed on 100 yuan for one way trip because they need to spend on petrol to return to Huairou. We bargained hard from 200 to 120 yuan for a one way trip. I promised the driver I will post his contact number here if you need a ride try calling Mr Zhao (not related to Zhao homestay) 13241506000.
Four years ago, two scrooges were wandering in Wangfujing and stopped outside Quanjude, the most famous Peking duck restaurant in China. As they didn't have much money, they could only take a photo of its grand exterior and packet a duck back from the supermarket. He has been nagging about missing out on China's national dish ever since. So the first thing we did in Beijing was none other than feast on roast duck! Since we were staying in Dongzhimen and we were starving, we walked into Huajiayiyuan and ordered a half duck (118 yuan in August 2012). Their roast duck is served with a new twist. Other than the conventional spring onion and cucumber sticks, shredded lettuce and fruit sticks such as pineapple, cantaloupe, hawthorn, etc are included too. Wrap everything together with the special wasabi-mustard sauce and you taste an explosion of flavours. Awesome!
I took a good look around the airport. It still looks the same as I had remembered it. The last time both of us were here was the day he went back to Taipei. As I watched him walked down the long hallway and disappeared from my sight, I left, my face wet with tears...
It feels a little surreal we are back here again together. We cleared customs and searched for the airport express. During my time here, there was no airport express, only airport shuttle bus. At the ticket counter, I handed over a bag of coins, extremely satisfied I had gotten rid of 50 yuan worth of shillings on the first day.
"欢迎您乘搭机场快轨 本次列车开往东直门..."
I'm back.
I'm really back in Beijing after four years.
It feels a little surreal we are back here again together. We cleared customs and searched for the airport express. During my time here, there was no airport express, only airport shuttle bus. At the ticket counter, I handed over a bag of coins, extremely satisfied I had gotten rid of 50 yuan worth of shillings on the first day.
"欢迎您乘搭机场快轨 本次列车开往东直门..."
I'm back.
I'm really back in Beijing after four years.
getty images@daylifeWish I was there. Sigh.
I miss,
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My bed in 911A.jpg)
VCing in front of my desk every night.jpg)
Water dispenser, basin, camera charger by my bed side.jpg)
全副武装-freezing in Yuan Ming Yuan (非常狼狈）
Beautiful Beida in February
Cycling back to Blk 20 after lessons
Feeling angry when my apples turn rotten
Seeing bicycles everywhere
Eating from metal bowls
Climbing 香山 alone
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康师傅干捞面 with 2 sausages whenever I missed/overslept the canteen opening hrs.jpg)
Not forgetting ordering 外卖 around S$4.00 as another alternative
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Beijing West Train Station -back and forth 7 times
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Xiaoyun and me in Tsinghua
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Passing by bak toh yao on the way to take the subway.jpg)
菜饭.jpg)
which I always make a mess out of it.jpg)
The Haidian poster near Wudaokou subway which made me feel a little proud of living in Haidian district for that few seconds
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Beijing Zoo which I passed by at least 5 times but never entered
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Boat peddaling in 玉渊潭
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It was so hard to get here even when I had done my homework beforehand. When I alighted at the bus stop, there was no Ikea.
"请问宜家在哪里?"
"宜家?宜家搬家了!"
GOSH. It took me 2 hrs to get there
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Swedish meatballs at only SGD3.50 (with fries too!)
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Climbing all the way up Heilongtan only to find people rowing rubber boats in a pool of water at the end of the trail
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The best spot at Tiananmen has got to be here
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Qianmen at sunset with swallows in the sky
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RS on Tsinghua's synthetic field with C楼 behind
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六教, where I had my Real Estate Development and Chinese Culture & Society classes
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清华大学的前身是清华学堂, 始建于1911年.jpg)
Urban planning lessons in April is usually sleeping at the back of the class
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Along the corridor with arches made of bricks
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Cycling on my good old loyal bicycle which I bought for RMB70 and had to sell at RMB20
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The most prestigious university in China
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Tour groups come here especially to take photos in front of 二校门
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Rs & me freezing in Wangfujing in April
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Cheap & good Korean/Japanese food
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薄命演出@天安门
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Cycling past 二校门
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清芬挺秀，华夏增辉
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Excursion to some lousy mansion with my property management class
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The supermarket I always frequent at Wudaokou
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金凤成祥(Breadtalk equivalent)-The bakery I like to visit in Wudaokou
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Numerous Olympic merchandise stores found all over Beijing
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Learning how to slot my bicycle into wadever space i can find
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Seeing 冰糖葫芦 everywhere
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The new Beijing Capital Airport T3
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Feeling reluctant to board the plane
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First time on a window seat
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My lovely friends who sent me off to Beijing...
and welcomed me back to Singapore.
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Swedish meatballs at only SGD3.50 (with fries too!)Climbing all the way up Heilongtan only to find people rowing rubber boats in a pool of water at the end of the trail
The best spot at Tiananmen has got to be here
Qianmen at sunset with swallows in the sky
RS on Tsinghua's synthetic field with C楼 behind
六教, where I had my Real Estate Development and Chinese Culture & Society classes
清华大学的前身是清华学堂, 始建于1911年
Urban planning lessons in April is usually sleeping at the back of the classAlong the corridor with arches made of bricks
Cycling on my good old loyal bicycle which I bought for RMB70 and had to sell at RMB20The most prestigious university in China
Tour groups come here especially to take photos in front of 二校门
Rs & me freezing in Wangfujing in April
Cheap & good Korean/Japanese food薄命演出@天安门Cycling past 二校门清芬挺秀，华夏增辉
Excursion to some lousy mansion with my property management class
The supermarket I always frequent at Wudaokou金凤成祥(Breadtalk equivalent)-The bakery I like to visit in WudaokouNumerous Olympic merchandise stores found all over BeijingLearning how to slot my bicycle into wadever space i can findSeeing 冰糖葫芦 everywhereThe new Beijing Capital Airport T3
Feeling reluctant to board the plane First time on a window seatMy lovely friends who sent me off to Beijing...
and welcomed me back to Singapore.
I seriously miss Beijing.
