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I woke at 4:00 a.m. and couldn't get back to sleep, so I watched an Italian game show on TV - pretty sad.
China 2001 - Part Two: Beidaihe
Dougburnett2003-11-23 19:49:32
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getting off and the attendant came through for one last sweep up. Outside the station I was mobbed by taxi drivers all shouting at once. I showed them the name of my hotel and then asked the price. They started at 30 Yuan, but quickly dropped to 20 ($2.50). I remained suspicious and walked away - there was no shortage of drivers. After doing this several times I started to think the price probably was 20, but for some reason I stubbornly kept trying to get a lower price.
By then there were only two drivers following me - one was a woman. My experience is that women are always safer drivers, so I followed her to her car. I kept trying for 15 Yuan and she kept insisting on 20. When we got to her taxi she pointed at the meter, meaning she would turn it on. I thought that was fair and got in the front seat.
We drove on a new road for most of the 10km to Beidaihe. As we neared the coast there were pine trees and low scrubby bushes. The last few kilometers were over rolling hills. The windows were open and I could smell the sea before I actually saw it.
We drove slowly through the small town to my hotel. It had the rather grand name of Guest House for Diplomatic Missions and at one time apparently was just that - a place for members of diplomatic missions to stay. The taximeter showed 22 Yuan, but the driver only wanted 20. I insisted on giving her what the meter said - that was the deal. She smiled and waved goodbye.
I checked in and got a room with a fabulous view of the sea. Then after having a late lunch at the hotel restaurant- it was now 2:00 - I took a walk to the beach, which was only five minutes away.
The day was bright and hot and the beach was full of Chinese lying in the sun or playing in the water. On the road behind the beach there were restaurants and tourist shops. I walked further and found a fishing pier. There were 30 or 40 small boats
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See photographs from:
China Gallery
