1st Night in Beijing

Hotel sucks... this does feel more like the China I remember. This hotel is meant for the short term mainland business traveller. What am I doing here? Well, essentially, ask the client. Sighs. Room has no carpet flooring, has no wardrobe (i.e. I am living out of my suitcase). Beijing is now a steaming hot 36 degrees... in a certain sense, the change in temperature from a comfortable 23 degrees in Shanghai to this unbearable 36 degrees is reflective of the change in my environment (relatively luxurious hotel in Shanghai to this barely there hotel in Beijing).

The only redeeming quality? I am still somewhat near the city centre (but not anywhere near any convenience stores), and there is still free internet access (albeit at a much slower rate). Oh yeah, and I am really near the central food street.

Most ironical thing? Laundry is way more expensive here as compared to Shanghai... it is gonna cost me SGD 3.00 to wash a t-shirt... and in this sweltering heat, I don't think I have much of a choice. Darn! There goes my per diem.