Left the office and started walking home. Passed a man selling berries. Contemplated buying other unidentified fruit to the left of strawberries but thought it best to play it safe and stick to what I know. Was tempted to buy a novel of the back of a kart but got distracted by the jewellery laid out on the sidewalk. Kept walking till I hit the intersection and said my prayers as I attempted to cross. Dodged 4 bikes, a bus a came within an inch of getting wiped out by a taxi. I will never trust another little green man. Made it across the road. Heard my favourite song from when I was 8 blaring out of nowhere and onto the street - was like a sidewalk disco. Got approached by a man with a business card who wanted to ‘make friends’. Tried to politely decline. Walked past Maccas and was tempted to go in. Decided that if I felt like it later I could just phone and order. Fell in love with a box of puppies and tried to work out just how annoyed my flat mate would be if I returned home with one. Was shocked out of puppy love by man trying to hand me a green snake. No thanks. Decided I should get some dinner so bought my favourite noodles of the street for 6 kuai. Magic. Passed a street stall selling clothes and picked up a cute, cheap t-shirt. Returned home very happy with my purchase. Suddenly realised it only takes me 5 minutes to walk from work to home and it is coloured with enough events fill a day. Welcome to China.

- Rhia Scrimgeour

Last Saturday saw CSA students and staff take a trip to the amazing Summer Palace, one of Beijing’s major tourist attractions. It doesn’t take long after entering the palace to realise why so many people flock to see it. It is incredible. The enormous grounds house a stunning collection of traditional Chinese buildings and architecture scattered throughout the lush gardens. It didn’t take me long to loose the little CSA flag, but finding my way back to the group was all part of the fun. I didn’t know what I would find next. Another walking path? A little cave? More buildings? The palace has it all.

It is hard to believe that this beautiful space is situated in one of the world’s biggest city. Call me soppy, but the word I can best used to describe it is ‘romantic’. I would even be willing to compromise my ‘independent-woman-of-the-world’ status to wander the grounds with a sweetheart… I guess the charming Esteban was a good substitute for the day (I only write that because I know he reads these…hi mate!) Summer Palace gets two big thumbs up from me. I will definitely be returning to experience it all again, an afternoon just wasn’t enough.   

Sunday I packed my bags and flew above the smog (it was nice to be reassured the sun is still there) and headed of to see Shanghai. I would love to be able to say I enjoyed the sights from the Bund and experienced a different take on Chinese cuisine, but I didn’t and I’m not even going to lie. I spent a majority of the first day in a German pub drinking steins before stumbling along to watch a live football game, and the second day I only left the couch to venture to the Italian restaurant next door. I didn’t try Shanghais famous dumplings, but I did have the best spaghetti bolognaise of my life. I guess this demonstrates just how increasingly cosmopolitan Shanghai is becoming. Although I was a really lazy tourist, what did manage to see of it, I really enjoyed. It is a really pretty city with its modern architecture and clearer skies. I felt it possessed a certain sense of ‘sophistication’ not present in the gritty, traditional spirit of Beijing. I guess this is why some people prefer one city to the other. Shanghai, you impressed, but I didn’t give you a fair go. I hope to return soon! 

Till next time!

- Rhia Scrimgeour

My lovely peeps here in Beijing organised a brilliant 24th birthday bash for me which started with a shopping spree and ended with a cake fight. Not a bad day at all.
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I was let loose in the sensational Silk Markets (a.k.a shopping heaven on earth) to go on a birthday buying binge. It was incredible, anything you could ever want for a ridiculously low price. Sure it may not be the real deal, but who is going to know if you don’t tell them? Plus, that shouldn’t spoil the excitement of believing that you are getting an insane bargain on your favourite brands - especially on your birthday. Two pairs of Ray Bans for twenty Aussie dollars anyone? Yes please. It’s my birthday and if I say that they’re real, then they are.
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Needing somewhere to flaunt our new purchases, we headed out for dinner and drinks. I was taken to an amazing Korean restaurant where we ate and ate….and ate. This is the great thing about Beijing，there are so many different cuisine options to choose from and no matter what you choose, you can almost be guaranteed it’s going to be done well. Furthermore, prices are quite reasonable so it always means that you end up ordering big!  After leaving the restaurant feeling merry and full, I was taken out to experience my first taste of Beijing nightlife. I give it a big thumbs up. The club was slick, the music was banging and they serve fruit platters at your table - quite a nice touch.
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I was absolutely chuffed when my mates presented me with a birthday cake at the club. As far as I’m concerned, a birthday is not a birthday without a cake. I now know however, that a birthday is not a birthday without cake in your face. As soon as I had blown out the candles, my dear friend saw a golden opportunity and smashed it in my face. Needless to say, a full blown cake fight ensued. The most distressing thing about it all was not that I had to wash my hair in the bathroom basin; but that I didn’t get to eat the cake…It looked really good. So sorry Mum, I know you have slaved away over the years decorating birthday cakes for me, but I think this may be the cake I will always remember.
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All in all it was a brilliant birthday in Beijing. Shopping, clubs and cake fights - what more could a girl ask for?  I’ve always said that a good birthday means a good year, so what other delights is Beijing going to bring me in my 24th year I wonder? Stay tuned….

- Rhia Scrimgeour

P.S.

It just occured to me here in Beijing….

No matter where you are in the world, you can always rely on a few things in life always being consistent…
1. A happy meal is always going to be satisfying.
2. A soccer hooligan will always find a habitat to display their natural behaviour. (Man U v’s Arsenal. 2.30 am. Insulting chants blasting my ears. I could have stayed in bed…or London).
3. There is always an oppertunity to murder a drunken version of ‘Living on A Prayer’. In Australia you’ll find it at the pub. In Beijing you’ll find it at K-TV.

I tagged along on my first ever CSA activity to check out the Military Museum where we were promised we would see guns, guns and more guns. Yes, I definitely saw enough guns. Also on offer was a range of tanks, missiles and even some planes. I’ll admit, this kind of stuff doesn’t really interest me, but I was impressed! If you have the time and are prepared to do a lot of reading, the museum is a good place to get a fairly detailed account on the history of China.
We swapped guns for kites as headed over the Yu Yuan Tan Park to enjoy the sun and admire the skills of people who could fly a kite on the longest piece of string I’ve ever seen. A kite is a kite, but a kite flying as high as these were, is something to write home about. Yu Yuan Tan Park is fairly large and quite beautiful. It also is home to wide range of markets offering both food and trinkets. It seems no matter where you go in China, there is always an opportunity to shop, and with an opportunity to shop comes the urge to buy. I seem to be buying alot.
A little weary from all the walking, I headed back to our meeting place to find a few of the CSA boys students body smashing against each other mid-air (some kind of masculine display I assume)…it was amusing! Not only was it a great day out in the sun, but I got to see  alot of guns (?!) and most importantly, got to meet a fair few of the CSA students…What a lovely bunch!Â
Looking forward to the next activity day at Summer Palace!

- Rhia Scrimgeour