Weekend wrap-up: On Friday I went to see Alvin Ailey, the modern dance company from New York. The ticket cost more than I usually spend in a week, but it was so worth it. I first saw AAADT with Maura and Laura last year in D.C., and wasn't about to pass up another opportunity to see them perform.
Saturday was mostly for sleeping, but in the evening Brian and I went to a nearby Pizza Hut for dinner. Now, Pizza Hut in China is not like Pizza Hut in the U.S. It's upscale dining, like the scene in Demolition Man where city officials invite Sylvester Stallone to a fancy dinner at Taco Bell. Picture this: You're sitting at your table, waiting for your 93-yuan Meat Supreme pizza, surrounded by middle-class diners seated below vegetable murals and next to ceramic Italian chefs slightly altered to look more Chinese. This is also the only place in town with Halloween decorations, including anime-style witches and pumpkin costumes for the staff. The theme from Ghost and this song drift in the air on a repeating (and very short) playlist in order to set the mood. It's surreal.
What had been a damp and foggy weekend abruptly changed course on Sunday, producing an amazingly bright and clear day (for Beijing), so Niall and I went to Badachu to visit temples and see the autumn leaves (photos
here). It's a steep hike up the Western Hills, where eight temples ascend the mountain, but the views are rewarding.
China Fun Fact: A Chinese couple is awaiting approval to name their child @, arguing that the English pronunciation "at" sounds like the Mandarin "ai ta," which means "love him." Also, there are now almost 3,500 people in China named Ao Yun ("Olympics").
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