Fun with Masks

Had lunch at Peter Pan - the cheese pizza is to die for - and then made our way over to the Wu in one of the few RMB1.20 taxis that has not been taken off the streets yet. Lots of my friends complained about the RMB1.20 having banged their knees numerous times on the cages but personally I've always preferred them to the RMB1.60, simply because they're a damn sight cheaper and not that much more uncomfortable. The new Hyundais are comfy but the most of the cabbies seemed to have been plucked from the countryside, spiffed up a bit and stuck in the fleet of brand new taxis. Plus they never turn on the A/C anyway so really the new RMB1.60 taxi experience, to me, is probably not the improvement the authorities had hoped for.

While on our way across the city, we came across another example of how the Chinese love to torture their cars - and other commuters - by transforming a perfectly normal vehicle into a garish piece of misguided individual expression which should be impounded and melted down immediately.

Pink Buick on the North 2nd Ring Road.

Pollution was really bad yesterday so we had to get the masks out for our walk from Wudaokou to Zhongguancun. Jia and I thought it couldn't hurt to have a little fun and staged a reenactment of The Slaying of the Friendly Cyclops:

Jia the Friendly Cyclops and Her Tormentor

Matt, Max and I walked down from Wudaokou to Zhongguancun along the North 4th Ring Road. If they felt they did not attract enough attention their masks certainly made sure they did.

Two dangerously good-looking lotharios at large in Beijing.

They are armed to the teeth with a universally alluring charisma. Be warned! Many have had their socks charmed off by these two Passion Predators.

Not much else happened over the weekend but for every person staying home and convalescing from a nasty illness you bet there are 10 more who have been tearing this town up. Here's a pair of ill-fated shoes that didn't make it. I found them discarded just inside the BLCU south gate.

Yep, the students are back and this particular one must be thinking "shoe-d've worn the practical ones to Propoganda"