Add Oil!

Back in China!

Background: the major universities in Beijing are all located in a district called Haidian in the northwest corner of the city. A light-rail connects this part of the city with the downtown proper. On GoogleMaps, look for Wudaokou to see where I am. I live in a complex off of Chengfu Lu (Road). It's pretty built up out here, despite being relatively far from the center.

Our hotel brochure proudly advertises that the hotel "serves warmly is thorough," and also "the delicacy dining safe is reliable." Um...your guess is as good as mine.

China is smoggier than ever...gotta love a country where a building a block away is obscured by thick smog 24 hours a day and acid rain falls with alarming regularity. The food is also substantially less delicious than I remember...hmm. Pulled noodles in a filthy bowl from a hole-in-the-wall in an alleyway aren't actually good-tasting? You had me fooled the first time around. But we've been drinking plenty of Tsingtao beer to make up for it.