Variety - the spice of life

Market tours. And day to day shopping.

Food glorious food . . .that’s what we live for.

Yah! I know, that is so incorrect and unfashionable, but here in China it is so acceptable. Beijing cuisine can be summed up as the distillation of, the creations of, generations of Imperial chefs over almost a millennium. . . .

By 1271 with the arrival of Kublai Khan Beijing was made the center of the Empire, importing elements and influences from a variety of sources; amongst them was the Mongolian influence – lamb roasting and the Hot Pot. Each province throughout China provided the Capital with ingredients. Shandong (as the birthplace of Confucius generally being regarded as the oldest) was one of the most important agricultural producers, with numerous fisheries and farms which supplied Beijing with most of its food. Tianjin its capital is a treaty port, resulting in the added influences from the Russian & Japanese.

Now you tell me how all that could not result in a cuisine that is varied and delicious. It's also one that encourages the attitude of, if you don’t like that dish, there are a 1,000 more to try!!!

Ready to cook our lunch

Pulling noodles with chicken and vegetables, at The Hutong cooking school

The ancient Chinese kept pigs and grew millet, wheat, barley, rice and fermented their grain to make alcoholic beverages. Around 1100BC they added Soya bean which was soon followed by soy sauce and bean curd (tofu). . . . .

Element fresh, Sanlitun smoothie - kiwi fruit, orange and blueberry. Ice-cream bomb.

Now 2011, there has been the introduction of fast food and dairy outlets: potato chips, smoothies, hamburgers, ice cream, pizza and various variations on numerous Western/European themes. (Not to mention, diabetes and cardiovascular disease)

- Liulichang street tea house. Buddhas tears tea and clear vegetable & noodle soup.

So yes it has taken a few years, but you have to agree that the influences to date have produced some extremely delicious and varied meals of which we have sampled, Peking duck, Mu Shu Pork, lamb and scallion, Mongolian Hot Pot, Sweet and sour fish, drunken empress chicken, Sichuan pepper with green beans, steamed dumplings, noodle soup, chips with ketchup, pizza, mango smoothies, cold stone ice-cream - with numerous add ins, and hot candied apple & strawberries ... to mention but a few. Oh! And deep fried scorpions.

Chinese chicken Hot Pot - and it was very HOT!

So in this cosmopolitan city we have discovered that there is never a shortage of variety.

It is never boring.

2011 Drawing in Beijing

While Bri is away I am finding things to do . . . .
I decided to take myself off for Life Drawing classes, something I have not done for YEARS.
I emailed The Hutong and booked a session for myself and Brianna when she returns. My first class will start at 7.30pm.
I walked out of my apartment building not knowing which way I was going.
I stood on the side of the road with a copy of the address and hailed a taxi. At this point, the idea that a detailed map of Beijing would be a good idea, crossed my mind.
I was lucky to have a young man take sympathy and without a shared langue manage to explain to the driver where I wanted to go, and to have a driver who was honest, friendly and able to drop me close to the train station. Exiting the train, I found myself standing on the side of a major cross road, not knowing which way to go, until a nice young man took pity on me and without any verbal communication directed me to the hutong entry.

It is so very easy to get lost in the warrens that are the Hutongs

Being early I stopped at a cafe, Grandmas Kitchen, for apple pie and coffee. Yah!, not your usual Chinese fair, but something left over from the French, which I certainly appreciated .

Finally I arrive at the door for The Hutong cooking and art center. A place founded by creative Australians who live in Beijing. There were a dozen individuals all from varied backgrounds. There were easels, a generous supply of great paper, charcoal and a male model from Finland. (He looked awfully familiar, but as he was naked I was not about to ask if we had met before.)

After 90 minutes we had a break. Red wine and lots of talking.

Then I had to ask.

(He  had modeled at BIA in Brisbane? Was travelling the world.) 

We did several 3 minute warm up drawings, a few 5 minute ones and then some that were 15 minute poses. Half time through the second half we had a break and I managed to talk to people from South Africa, Sweden, Mongolia and said Hi, to the other people attending.


The time went all too quickly. 9.30pm arrived and I was just feeling like I was finding my stride.
Now I was filled with trepidation . . . it was dark and I had to find my way out of the maze.

Looking hesitant, yet again! a young girl took pity on me and offered to walk me back to the main street. (I am so very thankful to all the generous souls I have encountered during my stay. I would have been so lost without them)
Standing on the side of the main crossroad I was not sure which way I was meant to go . . . so my beautiful young companion hailed me a cab, told the driver my address and waved me goodbye. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!

Arriving at my apartment complex, I did my nighttime shopping for water, fruit and bread, had an evening meal of pumpkin deep fried in egg white (like sweet chips with a crisp tempura coating), a mango smoothie . . . then made my way to my apartment.
It was a great introduction that confirmed my passion to draw. 

Once I reached my apartment I sat down and emailed to make further bookings. Will do some cooking classes and visit some markets and gardens.

Hutongs, Smog and People

Café on first floor of our apartment complex - very modern

Mango and Berry smoothies are the best. As are the tempura sweet potato chips.

While Brianna is in North Korea I decided I would take myself off to explore some of the areas close to our apartment, (thus avoiding the long taxi drives in bad traffic, with the possibility of a driver that wants to make a wee bit more money, taking me on a very long, long, long drive)

Love the doors. Attention to detail.
 Even with these limitations I have found some gorgeous parks, great shopping and stepping off the main roads, a maze of Hutongs.

Shopping . . . .all the Big Brand Names

Beautiful parks and community areas

At first glance Beijing appears like a very modern city, however you can still find the city’s alleyways (Hutongs) weaving across most of central Beijing. These were formally the houses of the well to do, officials or prostitutes.

The modernization & increasing population within Beijing has destroyed many traditional Sibeyuan (courtyard houses within the hutongs). With few opportunities for work in the countryside, tens of millions are moving to the cities in search of a better life.
As space became an issue additional buildings have filled in the area traditionally open as a leafy quiet courtyard in the middle of most structures.. Several families may now live within an area once designed for only one family.

Traditional Inner courtyard

Living in poor conditions, dissatisfaction is widespread and increasing with regards to corruption, pollution, environmental degradation, and the expensive rise in the cost of living.

However, if you don’t dwell on the social inadequacies and want an interesting afternoon, wandering around the hutongs looking into the Sibeyuan, is a fascinating way to spend some time.

I was amazed at how often I felt like I was back in Italy . . . .the flecks of layered paint, decorative wood paneling and detail to architecture. . . .

As population growth drives a consumer boom, China’s energy needs are fast outstripping its capacity and a major expansion of its network of coal-fired generating stations is planned. When China is already the planet’s biggest polluter – resulting in an atmosphere that is almost furry enough to stroke, you wonder what the end result will be?

Coal blocks used for heating and cooking - continuously polluting the air

I cleaned the air conditioner when we first arrived in our apartment, and only weeks into our stay, I am amazed at the thick layer of sooty debris that is coating the vents.

Yuckkkkkkkkkkkk!

 It's no wonder that the city has many gorgeous parks that are widely used for social gathering, exercising & gambling.

Open green areas are artificially created and well maintained

Beijing - a contradiction at every turn

Arriving early you can still avoid the tourists (ha! - No! We are not tourists. We are travelers.)

Temple of Heaven

Olympic stadium

Gardens along every road are well maintained, beautiful and used by the Bearinger's

The older buildings are rapidly being replaced by high rise modern buildings

Dancing in the streets Beijing style. Very nice way to spend an evening with the gals

Turn a corner and another intriguing vista . . . though Brianna is quick to point out that we are in an area of some affluence . . .which is different to the ones with more effluence!!!!

On this outing I stumbled across Beijing’s most spectacular temple complex, The Lama Temple. This has 5 main halls flanked by numerous smaller very ornate buildings that were constructed during the 17th Century and converted into a Tibetan Lamasery in 1744. The highlight is the 55ft statue of Mailtreya, the future Buddha. The idea that impressed me is  that this 17m high structure (with another 6m underground) was carved from one single sandalwood tree. The tree was a gift from the Tibetan people to the Emperor and took 3 years for numerous Imperial carvers to sculpt the single gold covered statue. 

I can’t help but wonder if trees of such magnificent height and girth even exist today.

Bri is back and we intend on doing some more girl things . . . .guess!!!!!

Beijing, the capital of the People’s Republic of China is one of the world’s largest cities with a population of over 14 million. It is a microcosm of modern China and all its contradictions. A bustling city of affluent shoppers, trendy youth, and beggars that rub along with a myriad of outlets with diverse cuisine, 6 million bicycles and 20 thousand new cars ( that win their place on the clogged roads through a national lottery with over 100,000 entries each month)

Expanding in concentric rings from the Forbidden City at its core, the grid-like layout of modern Beijing still echoes its Ming dynasty blueprint. Old Beijing survives in its temples, palaces and old alleyways ( hutongs) that crisscross the city outside the second ring road, which itself charts the loop of the demolished City Wall. Within this ancient outline are towering skyscrapers, shopping malls, huge avenues, vaulting flyovers, ancient structures of cultural significance and the vast expanse of Tiananmen Square.

While Bri was away I took a taxi to Di Tan Park, an ideal place to relax amidst the trees where the city does not appear to intrude. This was the venue for Imperial sacrifices, with an Alter dating from the Ming Dynasty. Wandering around watching people play cards in the ancient renovated structures, walk their babies in modern strollers, play musical instruments or dance is a great way to spend a hot Beijing day. I was still there at dusk to see the modern young couples stroll hand in hand or sit smooching. . . I could not help but wonder if the Ming imperial worshippers ever imagined such a use of their Fangze Tan (temple of earth alter)

Di Tan Park - playing cards

I know I have been around for awhile now, but I had never in all my years considered using a chair in this fashion. Silly me !! I thought the legs went vertical to the seat ?

I spent a few days wandering around the Hutongs of Dongcheng. Many of the shops were under construction but I found enough to spend time rummaging. When I encounter these chaotic collections I feel avidity or greed or liberated excitement. 

It's hard to explain what it's like to have something so alien or old in your hands for the first time. To pick up a snuff bottle, a lacquered box, an exquisite cup, or a netsuke - in a material that you have never encountered. To shift it around, to find its weight and balance. 

There are objects that can only be described as 'play things', small carvings of animals that roll in your hand. Very rich, very simple, very tactile. . .  Seductive Things

Rubbing a finger along the raised decoration of a stork in flight through clouds, mmmm!

We are organizing trips to Chandixia, Longqing, Pingyao, and Chengdi

Time and the ability to communicate

China, July 2011
I always feel a certainly indulgence for this country, its people and their culture.
I love the exotic layering, the intricacies of their carving, the variety of plants, and the plethora of edible delicacies. However, until this recent visit I was unable to understand their language or communicate . . . .this lack of understanding meant there was a constant film of suspicion and hesitation, that we could never penetrate with sign language (Something we managed with positive and amusing results in Italy . . . but failed at, here in China)

For the past 6 months Brianna has been studying Chinese here at the University of Fudan, just outside Shanghai.
I have been full of admiration and highly amused when she has entered into exuberant arguments with the occasional dishonest taxi driver, who thinks he can hoodwink the tourists (us), or caught people discussing us not knowing Brianna understands their conversation ... until she answers their inquiry, or asks them a question in mandarin.


The result of these exchanges is mostly enjoyable. We have discovered the people’s delightful quick humor, interests and some of their opinions. . . qualities not obvious or accessible, on previous visits.
On numerous occasions we have approached, or been approached by what appears to be stern faced individuals who appear to be obstinate, troublesome and rude. However, with the introduction of Brianna’s use of Mandarin, their expressions are instantly replaced by radiant warm smiles.
Consequently we have spent many pleasant occasions exchanging ideas, opinions and information with people we meet . . . . I also think knowing we have months, allows us the freedom of leisure and time to spend on being friendly.
.. . . . Also if I am honest, I must admit, it helps when we want to haggle.
Once Brianna starts a fluent and friendly conversation . . . Items that were originally quoted as being of an asking price of say Y500 will be reduced to Y100, with a smile and no uncomfortable haggling or serious reluctance . . . . come on!, who could not appreciate such miraculous results? . . . .. . . especially when the object of our desire is a new brush . . . . . . ceramics, jewellery, books, carvings, paints, paper cut outs . . . . . Brianna has a blog where she posts her thoughts - a good read www.poiseonarrows.blogspot.com

She has managed . . . relentlessly studied/ labored over . . . 5 subjects, to develop a proficiency in Mandarin. . .(to the extent whereby, if I am not looking, I think she is another Chinese person . . . . a wee bit disconcerting considering our name is LEE )

mmmmmm! Yes, we will need a huge reduction in price to acquire the many, many, many 'things' we covet.

Sharing of PLACE

We have always been aware of the need to make as little impact as possible on this piece of land we have claimed as OUr OWn. We have endeavoured to maintain the uncleared vegetation, while starting a re-planting program, so that we may maintain a diverse environment, that will sustain us all.

Some times it feels like a terrible swim against a current of - ' not my problem'

So when I was recently approached to submit some work for an online gallery, concerned with the study of Human-animal relations - A shared environment, I was more than thrilled to do so.


What an incredible diverse wildlife we are lucky to share this land with.

Animals, People - A share environment

10 - 13 July 2011, Griffith University, Brisbane


Some of the most challenging and exciting new work in Australian studies has emerged from the Fine Arts. In Honour of these human-animal artists, and their subjects, the Australian Animal Studies group has developed and online gallery. The gallery aims to promote the artists and the animal issues they care deeply about.

http://www.aasg.org.au/gallery

The Australian Animal Studies group and Environmental Futures Centre proudly present the 4th Biennial Australian Animal Studies Group Conference 2011 on; Animals, People - a Shared environment.


This conference will bring together animal theorists and scientists from a broad range of academic disciplines with representatives from non government and government officials from several nations and representatives from industry, to examine the interrelationship between human and nonhuman animals from cultural, historical, geographical, environmental, representational, moral, legal and political perspectives.

A very worth while study . . . .