Boys in Beijing

We flew from Shanghai to Beijing on Friday. If Shanghai is the younger sister sporting Minolo Blahniks and an MBA, Beijing is the older sister who studied the classics and wears scuffed, low-heeled shoes.

Despite massive pollution reduction efforts underway for the Olympics, the city was immersed in smog for our first half day here. (Guess older sister is also a heavy smoker.) We walked along a major shopping route, dodging cars, bikes, buses -- red and green lights seem to be taken more as suggestions than imperatives here. At one point, James, Ryan and I split off from my brother David (who came along as our manny/sherpa) to check out a massive toy store (Toys R Us has better prices). Afterward David reported meeting a young woman eager to study English, so much so that she wanted him to take her out for a drink so they could "practice."

Later that evening, James had a massage in the hotel spa. When I asked him how it went, he got a funny look and said she'd tried to "upsell" the massage. Turns out upselling meant that she offered to provide a "Hong Kong" massage in his room, promising it would be more comfortable. She then made a hand gesture clarifying what a Hong Kong massage entails.

David and James say that Beijing is nice. You will like it.