Street markets back in post Olympics Beijing, Sept 2008

Alors les touristes, locaux ou internationaux, sont partis. Ceux qui habitent à Pékin trouvent la vie quotidienne revient presque normale.

Certain changes are permanent though, like the renovated QianMen DaJie - 前门大街, (during the day or at night ) one of the many sites the government wanted visitors to see. In fact, it reached a frenzy the day of the Olympics Opening Ceremony when tons of street vendors were selling stickers and flags and what not. What the government did not want visitors, or 外国朋友(literally “friends from overseas”) to see was the average, not sanitized (though non-melamine tainted) daily life such as all the street markets.

They, along with the migrant workers without Beijing hukou (户口) are back. I am thankful, for these are essentially the fabric of the city. Many residents must be happy that they don’t have to shop at supermarkets or other indoor markets which were the only allowed outlets prior to and during the games.

Ever wonder if it were possible to travel by cargo ship? Here’s how.

Shipping companies travel nearly everywhere but your pockets better be deep, there is no economy class, but your money will be well spent on considerable bragging rites.

SOURCE: www.thetravelersnotebook.com