Beijing XI : Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Amongst all the different varied races on earth, I think no one appreciates food as much as the Chinese do. Reason enough that the Chinese have proverbs based purely on food such as breaking the rice bowl and even the way you cut your meat reflects the way you live. And of course the ever famous greeting of 你吃饱了吗 - which actually means have you eaten?

With such a boundless appreciation for food - and millions within the city environs, you can expect endless queues when it comes to dining in Beijing. Of course the restaurants here are used to such milling crowds, they even provide seats with kuaci and tea while you wait. The outdoor waiting area's practically like a park with diners busy chattering away while keeping their eye out for the next number to be called.

But what I didn't expect were the bouncers. Seriously. A couple of burly brawlers the size of mountains standing guard at the gates of the restaurant, much like the door gods of yore.

Not sure what they're expected to do. Perhaps toss the non-paying customers out the balcony as they do in kungfu movies? Slam the dieting diners into the dim sum if they don't finish them?


Time to start selling the family heirlooms?
And then after breakfast it was off to my favourite spot in Beijing. The antique market known as Panjiayuan of course. Supposedly a courtyard where persecuted households gathered to pawn whatever valuable stuff they had smuggled in their attics. Well at least that's what they used to do. These days of course travelling con artists hock their wares at extortionate prices at the exact same spot.

Just bargain at 10% of the price offered and that should be close to the actual amount.

So what's the damage? Lacquered Tibetan stool ( to match the one I got last year ) and cabinet, blocks of camphor wood, traditional paper cut-outs and dozens of embroidered slippers. Even intricate dough sculptures based on the legendary Madam White Snake and Zhu Maichen.

Had my eye on a pair of wooden lions. Wonder whether Charming Calvin would cart it back.