Week in Review

Well, I have been in Beijing over a week now so am going to give the low-down on what I've been up.

On Friday, I felt a bit blue when I got that Friday feeling and realised I had no-one to hang out with! So I dragged myself across the street from my apartment to the China World Mall, where the Vogue Fashion's Night Out was being held. I had seen the website and was hankering after the Jason Wu canvas bag, and so was buoyed by my success when I stumbled across the stand selling them! Unfortunately, my carrot-topped self caused quite a stir with the photographers and I cursed the fact I had not applied any make-up before leaving the flat. Ouchie! Here's hoping those negatives get destroyed...

On Sunday I ramped up the friend-o-meter by brunching with some of my good friend Lauren's friends. It was nice to socialise! Big Gay Dave arrived on Sunday too, so all in all it was a good day - topped off by the opening party of Capital M, where Dave, David and I enjoyed cocktails, oysters and canapes with "views over Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City."* Courtesy of David, we had somehow managed to weasel our way onto the guest list, and so found ourselves surrounded by the Beijing elite, and felt instantly at home. Ha! Since I was last in town (February 2008), the whole of the Qianmen area has been revamped and developed into a pretty pricey and stylish reinvention of "traditional China", providing ample photo opportunities for the hoards of tourists. A fabulously picturesque backdrop for a drinks reception, but at what cost? The local hutongs and their inhabitants have disappeared, and the increasing disparity between the lifestyles of Beijingers is unnerving.

On a lighter note, today I had a chicken ceasar wrap from Starbucks (of all places!) - my first Western lunch since I arrived. I was quite excited, until it arrived toasted and full of limp lettuce and processed chicken slices! Lesson learnt.

*NB: this is very much a marketing ploy - although the views were good, especially with all the buildings around Tiananmen Square lit up, you had to crane your neck and stand on tip toes to catch a glimpse of the Square or the City!