Day 6 and I am still alive!

No, I am not dead. I finally got my internet connection after harassing my landlord for the past 5 days...haha.. A quick recap of my journey so far...

Day 1: Wife and friends send me off at Changi Airport. After a 9 hour flight, I finally arrived at Beijing Airport. No delays in Thailand despite the declaration of state of emergency. I am soon whisked off to my apartment by my contacts in Beijing. After dropping off my lugguage, we drive to a nearby supermarket where I bought a few things which I did not bring from Singapore (like pillow and blanket etc...). Dinner was at a beijing restaurant where we had spicy food. I did not feel my tongue or lips for the next 2 days...


Day 2: Took some pictures of my apartment before I left the house. Met up with a classmate who had also just arrived from Singapore. Bought an Ezlink card (one MRT ride only cost 2 RMB. A bus ride cost 1RMB. Siaoz bo!) Set up my bank account with the Bank of China. I also needed to register at a police station. For the next 2 days, I would visit 3 different police stations and get differing instructions on what must be done in order for a foreigner to be registered. Anyhoo, when i arrived at the first police station, it was lunch time and I was shooed away by the angry/hungry-looking admin girl. When I returned after lunch, I was told that I could not do it there and must do it at a police station near my place of residence. After some advice from my contact, I went in search of the police station near my apartment. The 2nd station was very obscure and I had to take a "black taxi" (illegal ones that even the locals dare not take) as the legal ones did not know how to get there. What irony - taking a illegal taxi to a police station. My registration was rejected again because they needed my landlord to be there with her passport and deed. BAH!

Day 3 - After consulting my contact, I decided to register at the police station near her estate instead. She would register as my landlord and all would be well. Simple right? Right... all that stood between me and the 3rd police station was 22 MRT stops, 4 station changes, a (legal) taxi ride and 1 hour plus of commuting. They live in a condo penthouse and the place looks great. We register sucessfully at the 3rd police station. Yay~ Oh... I just found out that I am an Alien... cool!
Day 4 - I miss home, wife, friends and brandy already...I am more or less settled so I went sightseeing. I took a bus to Peking University. No entry for the public due to the ongoing paralympics. Walked around this place called Wang2 Fu2 Jin3 for the most part of the afternoon. Check out the pictures, Bata and Breadtalk in Beijing... and I even saw a pirated BATA called "TATA" and a pirated crocodile/ lacoste brand named "clio coddle" though looked more like an iguana to me. Ended the day at Walmart where I bought trashbags and hangers. Took a picture of the "Black Taxis" waiting for customers at night... Scary...

Day 5 - Didn't feel like walking around so I went to an internet cafe at Wu3 Dao4 Kou3, did my homework and window shopped a little. My landlord called me and told me she helped me to apply for internet at my apartment. For this month, internet charges are by the minute, $0.05RMB per min to be exact. Went home at around 5pm to test it out. I can finally skype, msn and blog! Did my homework till 1am and have been blogging since. I have yet to complete my work which is due tomorrow. I like living dangerously. hehe!
Another day, another adventure... ALIEN POWER!