I’ve lived in New York for four years now, and this much I know is true: the reason people stay here is because they know fall is coming…Seriously: who would put up with winter or summer if they didn’t know fall was on the way?
(Italics = Mother Nature whispering about the weather.)
In LA, the only sign of the seasons was the changing color of Starbucks cups. And girls who are really into fashion start to wear gloves in January.
WOWEE!!!
If you were an alien visiting Earth and somehow dropped into a Ron Paul rally, you’d think that America’s a scary dictatorship on the brink of apocalypse. People talk enthusiastically about buying guns, stocking up on gold, and moving overseas. They break into spontanous chants of “END THE FED!” When Ron Paul says something like “No one wants to be tyrannized! No one wants to be regulated!”—which he does quite often—the crowd cheers wildly. And when he calls for an end to the IRS, people lose their minds.
I’m back in New York and discovering a new side of myself, the side that is apparently obsessed with Chinese food. I didn’t know I had it in me. I’ve always enjoyed the occasional spring rolls or Dim Sum Go Go, but never scoured nymag.com for their best Chinese picks, hoping to make it my way of life. Basically all I want to do now is eat gluten, prepared Sichuan-style.
For this, I blame the Chinese people and Anthony Bourdain.
One of my favorite people got married in Berkeley this weekend. It was a great wedding, and an added bonus was getting to be in Berkeley. I hadn’t been there in over a decade, and wasn’t sure what to expect. When I think of Cal, I think of smart people, hippies, and pot. (Of course I do! So does everyone else.) But my impressions were formed in 1999, when I’d only lived in the suburbs. I wasn’t sure if Me Today would trust Me Of 1999, a girl who earnestly read the Wall Street Journal Op-Eds, dated a young Republican, and was terrified of New York City.
I’m pleased to say that some places still retain their magic and their reputation, no matter what happens to yours.
Admittedly, I’m not much of a connoisseur of men’s bathrooms.
However, I know magic when I see it.
I was in Berkeley, California, for the wedding of one of my favorite people on the planet. I kept hearing about an interesting urinal at the Hotel Durant, where many guests were staying. Finally I snuck into the men’s bathroom to see for myself.
TOTALLY WORTH IT!
As a Stanford alum, I could be offended, but I’m pleased our rivals are so clever.
“If China were to go into therapy tomorrow, it’s quite possible the shrink would quit after the first session. “How can I understand you,” the overwhelmed therapist might say, “when you’re talking 10 times faster than other countries?” (—Lonely Planet China)
… And that pretty much sums up my shallow first impressions of China based on a quick four days in Beijing.
1. It looks just like I dreamed it would—even prettier and grander.
I could see clear to Beijing, which is two hours away!
As I’ve written ad nauseum, Starbucks is all over Beijing and Hong Kong. So are Subway, KFC, and 7-11. All this had me almost convinced that—at least on a shallow, touristy level—globalization has wiped out all cultural differences except the language barrier. At least in the big cities.
But I was wrong!
And the good news is: There are still plenty of opportunities for old fashioned culture shock in big cities. Such as cicadas-as-snacks:
They are supposedly low in fat and high in protein.
If only I’d tried them! (I didn’t see any Chinese people eating them, either, by the way.) BUT THEY WERE FOR SALE IN THE HUTONG! Right next to Scorpions, which I thought I’d have to seek out in the food market.
I’ve decided that Hong Kong is the easiest city in the world in which to be a tourist. Public transportation is a breeze, there’s great signage in English (and Cantonese, but duh), and almost everyone speaks some English.
It’s Chinese London!
Like all obnoxious New Yorkers, no matter where I am in the world, I compare it to New York.
Even 9,000 miles away.
Naively, I believed that New York was the City That Never Sleeps …. until I came to Hong Kong.
You’re welcome, world!
And this was Hong Kong’s first vision of me when I got off the plane.
Just like Kate Middleton.
You’re welcome, world!
Oh Bloggy, I’ve missed you. I’m going to China today because a good friend is getting married in Beijing. Or “The Jing,” as I like to call it. So curious to see how decades of visiting American Chinatowns have prepared me for the World’s Biggest.
Whenever I hear “The People’s Republic of China,” I think of trendy jeans that would be sold only at Fred Segal. How sad for me.
It is my dream to get a picture with a scorpion at a Beijing farmer’s market. Oh, and to see the Great Wall.
I hope to be in touch soon, and I hope you all have a great holiday weekend and barbecue the heck of out summer. I will leave you with some things I’ve really enjoyed recently.
This is a postcard from RockSprings. I LOVE IT, OBVIOUSLY.
