Ross and i went to the very edge of beijing today hoping to see this group of temples with intact ming dynasty murals which for the work's safety's sake can only be seen with a provided flashlight. unfortunately like most of the city it was under construction and restoration and we weren't allowed to enter. the city is actually the spot in the world with the most construction going up by far and you can tell. it's sometimes uncomfortable when it affects things like subways or pedestrian traffic, but interesting none the less to see a city completely re-invent and revamp itself. imagine all the construction going on in brickell in the last 4 or 5 years spread out for 50 miles in every direction. it's something like that, and some of these buildings going up are quite modern and beautiful. the chinese sometimes go about things the wrong way, recently destroying the oldest opera house in beijing (around 800 years old) to put up a bank or some shit. the rule seems to be that if it makes money it can stay, otherwise it's out and something that'll stimulate the economy will go up in it's place.
a few days ago marked the one moth anniversary of my being here, it already feels like a small lifetime though. i'm learning a few words of chinese at a time, i can count (awkwardly but i can still do it), and am really beginning to know how to get around the city. one month after i first arrived, china is still very much a mystery wrapped in an enigma (thanks oscar wilde). no pics this time, but more to come. love you all :)
by the way, the chinese ADORE kfc, there's one every single block, no lie. and they have slight differences like NO BISCUITS :( but on an up note mcdonalds has a huge variety of dipping sauces for chicken macnuggets like malay satay, french honey mustard, chinese sweet and sour, and some super delicious tamarind one. there are absolutely no wendy's though. my biggest complaint by far of the chinese fast food status quo.