Monday, August 21, 2006
8.8.06
we had an adventure today. It started with Jason, on impulse, saying that he wanted to go to silk street. I, still a little sore from not having got the chance to go back there after forbidden city the other day, immediately suggested that we go today. It was totally irrational and ill thought out. In my mind, it was just a matter of jumping on the bus that the kids usually take from the bank to xidan, take what I estimated would be no longer than a 20 minute ride, and then get the train from xidan to yong an li. So it was highly do-able.It wasn’t. after we were on the bus for half an hour, the driver kindly informed us that it would take another hour and a half to get to xidan. So we decided there and then to just get off and take the train from wherever we were then nearest. It so happened to be the very train station that we were close to from Jimen Hotel in the first days of being in BJ. So, it was like we’d come full circle.
It was strange wandering into that station, and remembering how, not so long ago, I’d been one of a huge group of Beijing newbies, following the whole crowd blindly and knowing that I had no idea where we were going because I was too busy getting my bearings within the group of new people. Today, I was the one leading the way. its interesting what your brain can choose to remember and apply so clearly, when you really want to do something and get somewhere! Not a very flattering reflection of my life priorities, I’m afraid.
We ended up having to change train 3 times from there. I hate the BJ underground—its not extensive at all, and a big pain in the neck. When we finally got there, I just went on a crazy round picking up all the things I needed, knowing that I probably won’t get the chance to come back round again
We met back outside the DVD shop lleading to the train station. Nelson’s conquests were incredible. He bought a Giorgio Armani suit for 400+rmb, 10 ties, track shoes, and basically spent a fortune. He and Jason ended up talking to some shop people and found out they were Christians—missionaries shopping in the place had shared Christ with them. Amazing! Lillian and Lorna didn’t have that much stuff, but then again they’ve been here 3 times already! You can never get enough of this place. Its unhealthily addictive.
I think we all found it a pretty successful and interesting trip, though. Jason was especially proud of his new-found bargaining skills. He even ended up making friends with one of the storeholders and buying her an ice cream!
But the most exciting part of our adventure was the trip back. Between the changing of trains, which required getting out of one station and walking to another., we got caught in massive rain and had to run thought a crazy, dirty torrent together with hundreds of other Chinese commuters. When we finally got to our stop, Shang Di, looking drenched as water rats, there was no cab willing to take all 5 of us for a low price, so we turned to some buggy drivers who were soliciting for business outside the train station. One of them, who looked like he was just playing some joke, suggested that all 5 of us get in his buggy—a tiny, pathetic looking structure consisting of a metal box thing with an opening, attached to the back of a motorcycle. It looked so small and beat up, you wouldn’t have put a cat in it. The rest of the cab and buggy drivers around, obviously thinking he was joking, laughed and egged him on. By then, we were all pretty game for it, and so Lillian and lorna got on. Then nelson and Jason squeezed in, and I just stood outside staring at them cos the guys could hardly fit in and the buggy looked like it was about to break. Then the driver stood there giving me the “so, what are you waiting for” look, and I knew that he was serious. So I got in the thing and sat on lillian’s lap, and before we had time to think about the ridiculousness of what we were doing, the guy revved up the engine and off we were, speeding into the wet, glittering Beijing streets. There was no door to the thing—Lillian was my seatbelt. The buggy lurched and swerved and bumped, and when it went over puddles, the water just sprayed up at us. We were like crazy kids, shrieking and singing and Jason was sticking his head out of the thing and snapping photos all the way. it was like, everything that your parents told you never to do—travel at night, get in dodgy vehicles, not wear a seatbelt, go on the road when its raining, behave llike a tourist… But it was definitely one of my highlight moments—one of the most memorable here so far. I can’t believe we actually did that. It was so much fun.
What a frivolous evening. Is is wrong to get pleasure out of this sort of thing? I guess on a mission trip, so much more is expected, but it was just a fun evening out, and one that I will remember for the fun and the company, for a long time to come
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