Silk Market, Houhai, Hot Pot

It has been a few days since my last post but honestly it feels like it has been two weeks.  Time seems to go by very quickly but the days are beginning to blend into one another.   Between working the events and making time to go out and experience Beijing it is essentially a 21 or 22 hour day.   I have finally adjusted to the time change, gotten over my jet lag and am feeling right at home.   To me, Beijing feels like any other modern urban city. At least it had until we visited the Hutongs last night.  Max has been living in Beijing and working for Jet Set for a year and has essentially become our tour guide.  He took us to Houhai, a bar district.   While we were there we met two very inebriated Chinese men....they went by the names Fred and John.  We sat with them for a while and shared a few beers and also shared stories.  After that we went to the Tattoo Bar, which was run by a rastafari chinese guy who looked to be about 20 years old with dreads.  We shared music and drank beers 2 cups for 10 rmb.  We also had Hot Pot, a mongolian cusine which has a pot that contains boiling water. 
 You order raw meats and vegetables and then drop the meat into the boiling water, let it cook for a few minutes and then pull out with your chopsticks .   It was very delicious and inexpensive.  We tried raw lamb, and mushrooms, cabbage, potatoes, and a few other items.  

The night before Max took us to a college bar area, and where we purchased Tsing Tao on the street and saw a few fun bars....one of the street vendors was selling goat testicles....i will not try those.  After the street bars, we ended up at a Cantina where the bouncer decided that he wanted to challenge us all to an arm wrestling match.  He beat everyone except for Matt.  He was very humbled when Matt beat him.  

We also made it to the SIlk Street Market.  It is much like the markets in Mexico where you can bargain with anyone for clothing, shoes, watches, you name it.  I bought some knock off designer jeans, they are convincing and a pair of shoes for 200 RMB.....Matt however did not fare so well, he was a little overwhelmed and purchased so many things that he had to buy a suitcase to lug it home. 

I have to say, I am very excited that Matt is on this trip.  He is also from St. Louis and was also recommended by Dean.  Matt is literally like my brother.   We both played college baseball (he was a pitcher and i was a catcher), we listen to similar music, dress similarly and generally have the same tastes.  We are also both 27.   

I will try and keep you all updated more frequently.  It has started to get hectic with work.  As the games draw near we are putting in 12 and 13 hour days at least.  Currently I am working in transportation for a few corporate clients.  I cannot be anymore specific than that as I am not allowed to.   I could tell you but then I would have to kill you!!!!