Greetings from Beijing!

**Phurst** · 02-21-2008, 07:58 AM

Well, I'm here and checked into my hotel. I'm posting with my blackberry from the hotel bar

It's almost 9:00 pm here now, but it's 8:00 to my body. I ended up sleeping about 10 hours on the flight, so if I can get to bed on time, the jetlag shouldn't be too bad.

As soon as I got off the plane, I got an email telling me the project I'm here for has been postponed until April or May... There's some busywork for me to do, but it looks like I'll probably be headed home on Wednesday or Thursday instead of Friday.

The good news is, it looks like I'll have the whole weekend off to sightsee instead of working.

So far, it's not that different than many other cities I've been to, but the smog here is incredible. I've seen bad smog in L.A. And New York, but nothing like this. At 5:00 pm you could barely see the sun!

Anyway, I'll try to keep this thread updated while I'm here. What passes for a burger and a beer just showed up.

Later!

Skurvey Dog · 02-21-2008, 08:12 AM

Heyyyyyyyyyyyyy Phurst!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Waving at ya!)

I hear those long transits can really suck the life out of ya. Nothing like state of the art electronics to keep life moving along.

What a bummer to be wired and geared to go to get a job done and then they siddle off. Anyhoo, looks like it's a plus for you and I hope you get to see something more than that mercurial sunset haze there. Be sure to ask for safe places to eat and stay away from side street vendors! Meow!

Hope you have a blast and a safe trip back to the States.

**CarmieJo** · 02-21-2008, 08:21 AM

Ni hao!

So you can just look at it as an all expenses paid weekend away by the company. Gee the City never does that for me! Hope you can play tourist, enjoy your time there and bring home some wonderful memories.

**Phurst** · 02-21-2008, 08:24 AM

Thanks Skurvey.

I'm hoping to see the Great Wall this weekend and get some shoping done for the family. Anyone need a cheap knockoff Rolex or a Kate Spade bag, LOL. There's a section of the wall about an hour from the hotel, but the place I want to go is about 2 hours away, and is an unrestored section, and far less "touristy". A friend of mine spent 2 weeks here a few years ago and said the restored wall is almost "Disney-fied".

There's currently an all-Chinese jazz band in the bar playing old american standards in "engrish", it's pretty darn funny.

I think I'll try to stick to eating at the hotel (the office is in an adjoining building), or with the locals from work. Should be pretty safe...

**Phurst** · 02-21-2008, 08:25 AM

Thanks Carmie, I hope so too!

veriann · 02-21-2008, 08:33 AM

phursty for a bintang

wow, just think your closer to me already, i can almost feel your love..lol
have fun brother, mix as much business with pleasure i say!

lReef lKeeper · 02-21-2008, 08:46 AM

dont forget to bring us all back something !!

**Phurst** · 02-21-2008, 08:49 AM

hmmm, what can I bring back...

Knowing my luck, bird flu or lead poisoning

Yeah V, I'm right around the corner. Maybe I'll stop in for dinner, LOL.

**CarmieJo** · 02-21-2008, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phurst

Yeah V, I'm right around the corner. Maybe I'll stop in for dinner, LOL.

OK, went to my GeoSafari Talking Globe which is one of my favorite toys. It says Bejing to Queensland (I couldn't remember for sure where V lives) is 4600 miles. Bejing to Richmond is 9800 miles. I think while you are half way there you should definitely stop by for a couple tinnies and a burger on the BBQ!

**Phurst** · 02-21-2008, 06:35 PM

Look what I found in my mini-bar. On the bottom left, WTF is that????

**CarmieJo** · 02-21-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phurst

Look what I found in my mini-bar. On the bottom left, WTF is that????

IDK, but I would avoid it!

NaClFinatic · 02-21-2008, 08:25 PM

Sounds Austrailian! :P

**Phurst** · 02-21-2008, 08:55 PM

Last night was the last night of the Chinese New Year celebration. After nearly 20 hours of travel, I just wanted to go to bed, but I guess the Chines know how to party. This was going on outside of my hotel literally all night

**Phurst** · 02-21-2008, 08:55 PM

Sorry, those are fireworks if you can't tell...

Skurvey Dog · 02-21-2008, 08:59 PM

I'd definately bring that back home and stick it in your bar as a "Conversation Starter!"

And I thought they'd be like Italy and have little mini bottles with the fruit grown inside of them.

veriann · 02-21-2008, 10:09 PM

watsonadrink? i try to say that at least every night..lol

not every thing strange is ozzie

dfisch1 · 02-21-2008, 11:19 PM

Stick with the coke, at least you know what you are getting.