22 July 2009

We headed down to another market to collect some toys for the kids stopping at a Pizza joint on the way, western style pizza joint in Beijing equals expensive not particularly tasty food, perhaps there is an opportunity there. We managed to get some cool things for the kids including a couple of kites with flashing LEDs to hang from the strings similar to the ones we had seen being flown at the Olympic park.  We also picked up a rip stick style of thing except this one doesn’t have a joining pole in the middle, the kind of thing people hurt themselves with after getting drunk.

Awesome fun after a few drinks, just make sure there is a hospital nearby

Big Kids

We then trouped over to Song’s Mums place to say goodbye, as we were flying out early in the morning and wouldn’t get another chance. When we arrived song’s Mum presented us with a stack of stuff, she had been keeping track of us via Song and anything we looked remotely interested in she had raced out and purchased, this was really nice although I am not sure how we were going to fit it all in the luggage, I am still not sure how we managed to fit it in.

In the evening we headed over to one of the public baths, this was an interesting experience. For those who have never been the concept is that males and females are separated into two different areas that are equipped with pools, showers, saunas and spas, oh yea and everybody is naked. Tiff and I went with Song and Peichen to our respective areas to get changed into a thin nightgown type of garment, and then we all met up in a large common eating area for a buffet style dinner.

After dinner we made our way back to our respective areas got into our birthday suit, showered off and started sampling the various pools and steam rooms. Having attended various Gyms for most of my life getting naked with a bunch of strangers wasn’t a huge issue. Tiff on the other hand had been attempting to avoid going to the public bath since we arrived in Beijing and considering this was our last night she had almost got away with it. Add to that the fascination of the locals and Tiff’s anxiety was almost justified as she had quite a crowed of onlookers when she was getting undressed. A couple of stern words from Song quickly dispersed the crowed, and once Tiff had her gear off she started to feel a little more at ease.

I asked Peichen where were the girls to come and wash my back and he said we would have to go to a different public bath for that service.

When everything was finally said and done I was of the opinion that the public bath was an interesting experience and I could quite happily live with the memory, Tiff on the other hand had come full circle and couldn’t wait to go back again.

The last night was spent attempting to fit far too much stuff into bags that were far too small. And kicking it with Song and Peichen at their place, I think everyone was totally smashed after all the activity over the last few days.