22 Days in Beijing, Part 2

Day 2. Still tired from yesterday's trip, we all decided to call it a rest day and just do some grocery shopping. On our way to the nearby supermarket, Twink took us to a tour of the area below our apartment. We were surprised to see more than enough open space between the more than 60 or so residential towers of Fuli Cheung or Fuli City. There were perfectly manicured gardens, trees, a zen pond, fountains, playgrounds, an outdoor gym for elderly residents, beds upon beds of flowers. We were impressed and took lots of pictures which was so Pinoy really.

The grounds of Fuli City C

Picture by the pond

Indie and the flower beds

Century Supermart was a bi-level structure similar to Shopwise. I bought breakfast food, fruits, chips and Coke Lights. Their Hormel bacon was quite expensive, roughly Php200.00 when converted versus Purefoods at less than a hundred pesos, say at Rustan's Fresh. Grapes, China-grown green, were downright cheap at Php40.00 a kilo. We also bought an oversize pomelo which turned out to be pale on the inside and lacking in sweetness unlike our suhas from Davao. Twink said these were imported from Thailand. We lingered in the chips section, delighted to find Lays and Oishi in flavors practically unknown in our side of the world—Cool Cucumber, Texas Ranch, Braised Beef, Curry Beef, Hot and Spicy and more. We loaded the cart with several large bags, enough to last us a week. We rode women-driven pedicabs going back for 10 kwai or around Php60.00.

After dinner, Warren drove us to a nearby mall. It was our first taste of the horrible Beijing traffic, no different from Manila; I just couldn't tell yet which was worse. It took us almost an hour to get there and Indie had no recourse but to fall asleep in the car. The Place was much like Power Plant or Shang in terms of merchandise and feel. Its attraction, however, were not its mid- to high-end shops but its LED-screen ceiling more than a hundred feet in length showing Chinese animation among others. Looking up, it was painfully clear we were in a country far more progressive than ours.

Our sleeping baby would have loved this

Day 3. By this time, our domestic roles were falling into place. I, the cooking ignoramus, was in charge of breakfast; and Nubs, the dishwashing. For lunch, Twink would play chef while I cooked rice and chopped whatever needed cutting. Either Nubs or me would do the washing afterwards. Same duties apply to dinner. The senior citizen and the child were spared, naturally.

Indie with Dora and her new cat, Tati's welcome gift

Indie and Lolo on their way out

Early afternoon, Twink the tour guide brought us to the flower market, not for the flowers but for the overrun glassware on the second floor. Everything was very nice. And at unbelievably low prices! Our finds included a set of amber stemmed glasses with an unusual cracked design, cool aqua tumblers, unique wine carafes and antique Chinese knobs. Nubs scored 2 worthy additions to his growing lamp collection. Even the old boy was in a shopping frenzy.

Watching Nick Jr. cartoons before her aftenoon nap

We went home to rest and let Indie get some sleep. After some snacks (the Asian-flavored chips were so yummy, by the way), we were ready to go out again. The Judge begged off. We took a short cab ride to an Ikea-esque store by the name of Illinoi, yes, without an s. Some of their pieces were more artsy, but pricier. We encountered some stuff already sold in Manila malls. We knew then where stores like Dimensione got their inspiration.

We crossed the 3rd Ring Road for the Soho cluster of condominiums made visit-worthy by chic shops proliferating the lower levels. There was Mexx and a host of other brands. There was also a good number of independent Chinese fashion shops which I found more interesting. But I held back, trying to be the wise shopper, scanning price tags, knowing that I could always come back if I didn't find any better deals in the next few days.

The neat buildings of Soho

The whole day, Indie proved to be a real trooper. She effortlessly matched the energy of her adult companions. I couldn't help but feel proud.


Day 4. It was overrun clothes day and we were off to Tommy and Jimmy in Winterless Hotel by 1pm. On display was an array of name brands that put everybody in shopaholic mode right away. One quick look though told me there was nothing that suited my style so I concentrated on shopping for Indie instead. There was a big, big box of kiddie clothes on sale and I rummaged through them with a perseverance known only to suckers for bargains like myself. I spotted a pair of Next cargos with camo detailing, an M&S mini skirt in berry, and M&S linen capris. All at RMB30 each or Php200.00 more or less. Our best find, 2 pairs of super cute hi-cut Chucks sized 7 and 8. Even Indie looked happy trying them on.

View from our window on misty mornings

After our afternoon snacks

We moved to an arcade of shoe stores, grabbed something to eat then walked to the subway station. The little girl was in her element the whole time, her enthusiasm dampened only when adoring Chinese women, not used to big eyes like hers, got too close during the train ride. Good thing she recovered as soon as we were out of the train.

Going down the subway

Waiting for the train

Indie cowed during the ride

Pre-olympic fever as early as 2007

We entered a rather old building similar to Shoppesville in character. One stall sold branded shoes like Betsey Johnson, Steve Madden, BCBG and Jessica Simpson among others. I tried several pairs but it was hard to find my size in a sea of irregular-sized overruns, arrgh!

Then we traversed an underpass on our way to Silk Market, a building-full of fake designer bags and apparel which was of no interest to us. But somehow, somewhere in the chaotic mix of counterfeit goods and mad tourists, we found a treasure trove of Chinese souvenirs to bring home to family and friends.

Coming out of the underpass we could see Warren's office
in the building next to the tall one behind Nubs

A hard-to-find quiet spot at the Silk Market

Indie was tired by then and demanded that she be carried by her Papa. I couldn't help Nubs with the baby bag since I was burdened with cumbersome shopping bags myself. Poor Nubs had to carry her all the way to Warren's office which was still a block away. The baby was also starving so we stopped at a Pizza Hut and ordered pasta for her. It was so bad I didn't know how Indie got the stomach for it. While she was eating, Twink and I went to a nearby money changer. One bane to Beijing visitors was the inaccessibility of money changers, unlike in Hong Kong or perhaps anywhere else. Dollar flow was under heavy control by the Chinese government I heard. We walked to Warren's car which was quite far, passing by the Philippine Embassy and some Western Restaurants like Friday's along the way. Indie was in her father's arms the whole time. No wonder, Nubs' bad shoulder began to bother him as soon as we got home. But we came prepared with packs of pain relieving patches, knowing full well that something like this was going to happen.

Taking time to pose at the Philippine Embassy

Day 5. I wonder why we didn't take pictures that day. Hongquiao Market was a nondescript building just a 10 kwai cab ride from Fuli Cheung. Twink said the Temple of Heaven was just across so we could go visit if we wanted. But the afternoon sun was too hot so we skipped it. Inside, the number of Chinese goods was staggering, in colors so loud my eyes hurt. The ground floor was mostly dry goods where we bought pretty Chinese silk pajamas for Indie and her cousins. More of the same at the next floor. At the third floor were more souvenirs for pasalubongs, another lamp for Nubs and, our favorite purchase, an antique Chinese chess set sold at Tiendesitas for Php5000 or so which the seller sold to us for much, much less. Nubs and I were so happy with our finds. The haggling was tiresome though. While Beijing sellers were generally more congenial than their relatives in Hong Kong, they were far more persistent so it took me forever to haggle each time.


Day 6. Twink's Fridays were devoted to Couples for Christ (CFC) so we were left to our own devices. The Judge opted to stay home. While Nubs, Indie and I went back to Ikea, guided by a very handy Beijing taxi book for non-Chinese speaking tourists I borrowed from Twink. Ikea was farther than we realized and for a while there we thought the driver just did not get it. The store was not congested at all so the afternoon was spent in some serious shopping.

On our way to Ikea

It was not a problem getting a cab back. The question was how to make the drivers understand "Fuli Cheung" with our Filipino-English accent. At last, one driver did and soon we were on familiar roads. It was our first time to go home without Twink and Nubs gave out several wrong directions. The driver was visibly pissed, narrowing his already squinted eyes I was afraid he was going to throw us out. Safe inside the C2 compound, I couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud as I stepped out of the cab. The fare though was no laughing matter at more than Php500.00 when converted!


Day 7. Twink was out again for the morning on a CFC reach-out effort. Always the good host, she did not leave home without cooking our lunch first. When she got back, she brought us to the famous Panjiayuan Weekend Market which was more than just a shopping haven. Panjiayuan was a cultural experience as well. The place was an instant attack on the senses, teeming with old and beautiful objects waiting to be discovered. The range of products was excellent — from beads to art, from jade to antiques, from Chairman Mao memorabilia to teapots. We were overwhelmed. My first find was a small but heavy wooden elephant. A closer look on its red body revealed fine carvings and I just couldn't let it go even if I knew I did not get a good price for it. It was the best so far in my elephant collection. There was an abundance of cocktail rings which I also collected but they were either too big or too small for both my middle and fore fingers. Indie's purchase was an orange ethnic bag and a Chinese wall art. We paid for another one for my mother and yet another one for ourselves. Then there was this gold mine of one-of-a-kind neckpieces and I haggled hard to own some. Necklaces like these were priced in Manila at Php1000.00 to Php1500.00. I was at an all-time high.

Reading while waiting

Indie trying to entertain herself

Milk first before flea market

Inside Panjiayuan

A wealth of Chinese art

Eastern and Western antiques

Coke break

China's famous bicycles outside

Celebrating our Panjiayuan experince
(The glasses were similar to our Flower Market find)

Days 8 to 15 on my next post.