Leaving Beijing

Having spent two amazing weeks in Beijing, our time to leave arrived and we were both left wanting more – always a good sign. So many more alleyways to explore, each hiding more shops, bars, cafés and restaurants to be discovered. We left feeling very much at home there (something I did not expect of China), and agreed that it would be an area of the world we would like to return to in future – so vibrant and fast moving while retaining the feel of 'old' China, one could not help but be seduced by its charm. It truly is an amazing city, and yes, the habits of certain locals and the cleanliness of the public toilets can get too much sometimes, but with each new day we'd find something else to fall in love with, and gradually found ourselves more able to overlook those less tasteful aspects of the city (although public spitting and lip smacking while eating will never cease to grate at me like nails on a chalkboard).

We had a fantastic evening a couple of nights before we left Beijing. Taking advantage of a nearby Spanish bar's happy-hour, we each enjoyed ice cold pints of Beijing Draft Beer (along with a complimentary selection of delicious tapas) for the mouth-watering price of just 10RMB a glass (around 98 pence). The cheap beer and free food certainly worked to their advantage as we ended up staying until midnight, partaking in a homely meal of steak and chips and singing along to Toots and the Maytals and other classic reggae selections (no Spanish music in sight – thankfully) as we sipped glasses of ice cold Pastis (the Spanish link weakens further!). We stayed so long, playing cards and people watching from our perfect corner window seat, that upon leaving, our stomachs called for supper and so in to the hot-dog and burger shack opposite we stumbled. Beside us, as our sausages sizzled away on the grill, Scott and Kirsten from Ohio sat eagerly awaiting the same post-drinking midnight sustenance. We got talking and learnt that Scott had proposed to Kirsten in a bar up the street the night before, and it was agreed that we would head there for a night-cap and to take some snaps for them as a reminder of their special night.

Several beers later and as 2:30am approached, we really did call it and night! You might have seen the pile of goodies purchased in the blur of the following morning on my previous post. I might add that despite mentioning the “B” words (beer and bar) so frequently in my posts, and despite having been away for over one month, this was our first hangover, so rest assured that our livers are perfectly safe and well.

We spent the next evening, our final night in Beijing, swapping stories and travel tips with our new American friends over jugs of Yanjing Beer (as well as learning the REAL art of haggling from them both – more on that later) in one of our favourite bars before leaving at a reasonable(ish) hour to catch up on some much needed sleep. As we passed the tiny shop outside our hotel's courtyard, ever the night-owl and party-goer Rosie, decided that one more beer was in order and so we each raised one final bottle of Beijing's finest and said a sad goodbye to a city that has enthralled us from day one, and a fond farewell and bon voyage to Scott and Kirsten – we hope to see you all again soon!