Yesterday was a free day for me. So, I decided to take a small stroll, roughly 45 minutes or so, around the block where my hotel is located. Well, 12 hours of straight walking and a 20 minute taxi ride later, I was back at my hotel ready for bed. I was uncertain as to whether I would be able to get up this morning, but I managed to wake up at 4am. I think I need to reset my inner alarm.
On my walk I ended up in the back allyways, called hutongs, where people live the simple life of earlier days. One would see children runing around in minimal, if any clothing, the little stores selling all the necessities like ice-cream and water, people hard at work, and people sitting on couches outside their small homes. It was a pretty peaceful place, though it looked like it could be a hard life as well. I prefered it to the busseling parts of the city I almost wanted to stop and take up residence there.
Then I found myself back in the real city: the crouded markets, the cars, the innummeral bikes. I am getting used to it, but I really don't like it. Though later in the evening many people get together and dance in the parking lot of a huge department store that had closed for the evening. The feeling of community seems to still remain in this city of 13 million.
As I tried to make my way back to the hotel, I found that I kept going in a huge circle. It was like the roads wouldn't let me get away from them. These roads were determined to keep me outside of the area I needed to be it was as if they were the only ones in existence, and no matter what I did, I always managed to end up on these roads. I felt the frustration Truman must have felt in the Truman Show, only he was trying to get out, and I was trying to get in. That is why I ended up having to take a cab, thereby spending more money than I wanted to.
Of course I also have to pay for this final nights hotel bill. The company booked it for me, thinking they were being helpful, but it would have saved me money if I would have slept in a hostel. Of course that would have meant I would have to find one and how to get there, and not have gotten lost in Beijing, so maybe it worked out for the best.
I spent 1740RMB on medication the first travel day in Beijing, so my available funds had greatly diminished. We went to a Tibetan hospital, they checked me out, and decided that there is something wrong with my stomach. The doctor perscribed 3 months worth of 2 medications. Both of them look like Butterfinger BB's, though a little bigger one is almost black while one is dark brown. I have no idea what is in them, but the doctor feels they will help.
It is interesting that this happend to me at this time. Before coming to Beijing, I had just finished reading a book, "Theo's Odysey" . It is an interesting book about a boy who becomes really sick. His grandmother takes him on a tour around the world so he can learn about the world's various religions. There is a part where he consults a Tibetan doctor and takes his medicine. The book is almost as good as Sophie's World. Just a couple suggestions for those looking for a book to read.
Today I am off to Korea to visit friends and former students. I will be there for 10 days. During this time I am to attempt to get my visa. Any bets as to if this takes place or not? Either way it is alright I am always up for an adventure these days. I thik that is why things never really work out "right" for me I am too interested in the adventures that it takes to do it differently!
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