Happy New Year and Hello Singapore!

As you’ve probably figured, by my 3 blog entries in two years, that I’m pathetic at this online social sharing thing. However, it’s a new year and I’m enthusiastic (at least for the moment) about giving this blogging thing another shot. Especially since I was heavily tsk’d by many during my visit in Australia that I need to stop being MIA (sorry about that!). So it’s a new year, new start and let’s see how we go!

There’s plenty to update on, for a start, F & I are no longer living in Beijing. We’ve moved to Singapore! We’ve just arrived and are in the process of finding a new home and job. Even though it’s the third time I’ve moved countries, the beginning stages can still be stressful! But we’re really excited to be here and more about Singapore to come later. In the meantime some backfilling is due about the highs and lows of our life in Beijing, China.

Some Of My Fave Things In Beijing (not in order)

PEOPLE AND THE DEVELOPMENT

Beijing Supreme Court

Beijing attracts a really diverse group of people – academics, language students, diplomats, entrepreneurs, leaders, artists, economists, collectors, journalists, corporates, writers etc. Over the last two years I’ve been able to meet some really inspirational and interesting people who have opened up my mind dramatically. We loved the variety of discussions that was made even more exciting because of the rapidly changing environment in China. If you’re in Beijing or you’d just like to find out more about the developments in China, I recommend checking out: BeyondBrics, Beijing International Society, Caixin, City Weekend, Timeout Beijing, Beijinger

COMPASSION FOR MIGRANT CHILDREN (CMC)

Photo by Rita Chen (aka rockstar)

CMC is the nonprofit organization that I worked for whilst in Beijing managing their Communications and Fundraising department. They’re an almost 6 years old organization working with the migrant communities in China and more recently in Nepal. I loved my time with them and really believe in the work that they do which is to provide social and educational programs via a community center model.

The issue of migrants is hot topic in China. Referred to as the liu dong ren kou (flowing population) the exact size of the migrant population in China is difficult to pinpoint but local newspapers estimate it at about 300 million. Earning, on average, GBP 160/month, the migrants are the working ants behind all the glamorous developments in the country but unfortunately few are unable to benefit from the country’s advancements. At the heart of the issue, is China’s archaic registration system – the hukou, which ties a person’s ability to access social benefits (e.g. healthcare, education, housing, pension) to a particular locality. When a person moves, they are no longer able to access these benefits and usually it’s the children who have the most to lose. To find out more check out CMC’s website and also this article in The Atlantic.

OUR HUMBLE HOME

Raymond hanging out at the 'Wonderland'

Our flat in Beijing, humbly named “International Wonderland” was simply awesome. It was our little sanctuary after the craziness of the day. It was toasty warm in the negative 10 Winter and conveniently located close to the expat comforts such as Sanlitun Village, April Gourmet, Jenny Lous, Cinema. We were very sad to leave our home.

FABRIC MARKET AND THE TAILOR

Spoilt For Choice!

Nowadays it is almost impossible to find a product that doesn’t contain the “Made in China” label. But it’s actually surprisingly difficult to find quality and tasteful products in China. It seems that all the good stuff is exported.

After over a year of abstaining from shopping, F & I discovered the fabric market Muxuyuan and developed a new hobby. For almost 6 weeks straight, we made weekly trips to the fabric market and to our favourite tailor (Lina Tailor on Sanlitun Bar Street Xi Jie, Chaoyang District, Beijing). Fabrics cost around RMB 20 – RMB 40 per meter. A tailored shirt (if you provide your own material) costs RMB60, a dress around RMB 150 to RMB 250 and a blazer about RMB 240. You need a good dose of patience when having things tailored. The least painful way is to provide a sample item for the tailor to copy.

HUTONGS

Characterful Hutongs

One of our favourite things to do in Beijing is to wander aimlessly through the narrow streets of the hutongs. Sadly, many of the original hutongs are being torn down and replaced by “new modern hutongs” that sell tacky souvenirs like in Qianmen. I recommend Houhai, Nanluoguxiang and Guluo to tour some beautiful hutong architecture.

FOOD

Some Duck Goodness

Beijing food can be very starchy, oily and heavy. So we mostly ate non-Beijing cuisine. Some of our favourite restaurants include:

- Afternoon tea: Aman at Summer Palace
- Taiwanese food: Din Tai Fung, Bellagio
- Dumplings: Baoyuan Jiaozi
- Duck: Private Kitchen, Da Dong
- Yunnan: Dali Courtyard, In & Out
- Pizza: Kros Nest, The Tree
- Burgers: Blue Frog
- Breakfast: Vineyard, Element Fresh, Yonghe King (their youtiao with egg is really good)

- Japanese: Tori Tei, Geba Geba, Sake Manzo
- European: Mosto, Modo, Alameda
- Dim Sum: Hengshan Hui, Lotus Garden
- Beijing: Najia Xiaoguan, Jing Ding Xuan
- Hotpot: Haidilao, Ding Ding Xiang
- Hangzhou: Green Tea Restaurant
- Vietnamese: Susu
- Lebanese: Biteapitta

I read someone that there are over 40,000 registered restaurants in Beijing. So I think we might've missed a few on our list. For a good food blog, check out LumDimSum.

OTHER

The National Center for Performing Arts

Some other things we enjoyed and highly recommend you checking out in Beijing are: cultural activities at The Hutong, talks at the Bookworm, shows at the NCPA, some side-splitting chuckles with the Beijing Improv

As for our Not-So-Fave things in Beijing, that will be in the next posting!