Alexander and George's Adventures!!!

We made it to the Night Market where they sell the strange foods. I was lucky that I met someone today on the Great Wall with my same intentions. We were able to make a dynamic duo that could cheer each other on, and that way we could split the costs and the food as well. There are also a few short movies that demonstrate the Adventures of Alexander and George. I will post them when I return to Canada.

We started by walking through the market. It is full of tourists and will be expensive, but it should fulfil my shopping needs. We found some overpriced slurpees which we had and enjoyed. It was then we settled on a stall to start our Adventures.

The first round included Scorpions(which are alive on the stick until they get deep-fried), and Dog. The Scorpions did not have much flavour, but their armour seems to get stuck in your teeth like popcorn cernals. The Dog was actually quite excellent. The flavour was good and the meat was tender.

Round Two: Sea Horse, Lizard, and Silk Worms. I had the treat of eating the Sea Horse's head and I really could have gone without that honour. But, because I had that honour, it was George who got to eat the Lizards head, so we were even there. Both were crunchy and both had distinct tastes. Sea Horse was definately fishey, and the Lizard, well, I do not know what that was. The Silk Worms were gross straight up. They were too soft to be crunchy and they just sort of crumbled in your mouth. Kind of like eating balls of sawdust. I made the mistake of eating one and looking inside... there was a myriad of gross colours like greens and browns. I tried not to think about it as I finished them off.

Round Three: Star Fish. That's it. Final round, largest piece of... meat. Like everything else, George and I split it. It was tough and it took a great teal of strength to break pieces off to eat. I ate two legs and decided that I had had enough. It was a very distinct flavour, and one I did not like. George however seemed to really enjoy it and he kept going. He ate almost all of it before we tossed the stick and bought some coconuts from another stall. They used a screwdriver to make a hole, stuck a straw in, and then we were able to wash some Starfish taste from our mouths.

Done there we went to the hostel. On the way by we saw the people draining from Tieneneman Square. We had just missed the flag ceremony which was too bad. Maybe I will see it tomorrow.

After checking with the hostel we went in search of Peking Duck. The search was more challenging that one might think, but we made it, and though it was expensive, the Duck was great. It was a wonderful ending to a wonderful day.

Back at the hostel we relaxed in the bar and then went to bed.

On a different note I have welts all over my back from Cupping. I sort of was warned by a friend, but I did not expect. Yesterday was the first time I had been in range of a mirror for a while, and wow. Even three days after the welts are still very vivid. They probably will be for a while.

That should make it very interesting for swimming in the Water Cube on Friday... Oh well...

Time to go. Mao awaits.