Fly Me to Beijing and Let Me Play Among the Stars

I landed in Beijing 11 hours and 42 minutes ago.

After getting taken for the proverbial "ride" by my taxi driver (who overcharged this fresh of the plane/boat whitey), I arrived safe at my friend Reid's cement block communist-inspired apartment (like most in Beijing). He is so kindly letting me borrow it while he tours grad schools in the States.

I cleaned up, wound down and shipped out to meet my friend Walter for a homestyle Chinese dinner. The logistics were brilliant and the tactic I will surely use again as my Mandarin podcasts have me up to "hello," "longtime no see" and "how are you doing" (none of those were going to get me to my destination with any sort of reliability). The key is to:

1) Flag down taxi
2) Call Walter on a cell phone
3) Have Walter tell the taxi driver where to take me

...works like a charm.

We had a lovely dinner catching up and then went to LAN, one of Beijing's newest and hottest night spots described in local rags as an "opulent and luxurious venue." The decor was perhaps over designed, but fascinating. Each design element was quite striking on its own, but created a bit of visual chaos when the cow skin couches, old Chinese pictures, a rhinoceros head, black glass chandeliers, gold eagle-topped thrown, etc. were all combined. Some of Walter's co-workers joined us later adding even more interest with tales of their diverse backgrounds. LAN truly seemed to be "the new Beijing" -- an international and modern city.

As we mingled and moved past the week's hectic schedule (both theirs in the rigorous world of investment banking and mine clearing out my apartment and fitting in final goodbyes), a smooth and soulful voice spread through the crowd. The manager
had told us earlier that a jazz singer was booked for the evening, but I had no idea that it would be so...well...good. I had to do a double take when I peaked around the corner to the stage where a Chinese woman stood where I was sure they had imported an African-American singer for their "world class" venue. Her sweet honey voice spread through the mellow crowd lulling us with jazz standards and mesmerizing me with each word..."Fly me to the moon and let me play among the stars..."