The Rough Side of town

Got to see a little Beijing road rage today on my way to return the rental gear. Everyone here drives with one hand on the horn so I didn't pay much attention when the Audi pulled up beside us honking and a guy yelling out his window. The Drive of my cab just smiled.. looked at me and we both chuckled. No language barrier there. Well we where stopped at the next light the Audi pulls up and out pop two guys, one starts smacking my cab driver around the other tries reaching for the keys. The guy doing all the punching was just enraged. Needless to say I was a little surprised and started to get the camera out but realized there wasn't a tape in it because it was being returned. It was all over in a couple of seconds, I didn't even get out of the Cab. Just told the driver to get going. I never did find out why, and the cab drive didn't want to report it. I guess it's just life for the cab driver. Just kind of weird. You never know how fast things can change.

Chinese New Year Item

You might need Quicktime to play this, but it's an MPEG 4 file from the story Ben and I filed on New Years. It is a11meg or so.

The Year of the Ox

I understand China invented fireworks. So at New Years there is a huge display. Apparently every single one of the 1.3 billion people here buy a case and light them off. Day after day after day. I had better sleeps in Afghanistan next to the airfield. They start around 7:30 am and go until 2 or 3 am. Here are a few pictures from outside the window of my apartment.

Went down to the drum and bell tower as well to see what it was like. Kind of a big square with people shooting fireworks at one another. Ah well. It will all be over soon. It only goes on for about nine days. Happy New Year!

Filed?

So Ben and Imight have a story on this weekend. Not bad for being here for only about 10 days, no gear, and borrowed equipment.

Editing

Slowly and painfuly I'm starting to get things together. Still no sign of my equipment, so I have cobbled together some stuff and at least have an edit suite put together. Will be great when I get tape decks, but for now it is a little easier to cut with this set up. Nothing an apple store and a credit card can't fix!

So I'm official, finally have my press card which allows me to work here on my J1 visa. Have applied for my residency permit so it looks like I'm here for a while. All in all not bad. The food has been good, the apartment not bad. I just need to figure out how to work the laundry machine!

The weather is not nearly as bad as you folks back home. But there is a strong wind every day so some decent windchills with highs around the zero mark. Looks like the days could be long when we file, but I won't know until I get my stuff.

Apparently there is a problem at customs. Something about batteries and certificates etc, etc. Since I wasn't the one who handled it I have know idea what was done, and what wasn't. Not sure when it will be allowed in. I've been told from 3 weeks to maybe 6 months.

I have been able to rent a toy camera and Ben and I have been trying to get some interviews shot because once the Chinese New Year festival starts, the city shuts down. Nothing will be done for about a week.

I'm optimistic that the equipment, all 450 pounds of it will show up, it's just my contract might expire before that happens!

Have arranged for a little shopping time over the next couple of days so we hope to have the office looking more like an office soon. Maybe by Tuesday.

Well enjoy the weather Canada!

Final got some work done

So the gear that left on the 30th of December is sitting in customs. Looks like it will be a while before I see it. Could be 3-6 months and about $18,000 to $20,000 in taxes.

Went out on Tuesday morning a did a quick element using a borrowed handy cam. It turned in to a very China like experience. The gentleman in the photo lives in this Hutong, or back street. He collects bottles for recycling and use to make about $2.00 a day. The financial crisis means that he now gets about 65 or 70 cents a day. Anyways a neighbour didn't like us show an unflattering image of China so he harassed us for a little while but finally went away. We wrapped up and headed on down to find a cab. The police swing by and start wanting to know what we are up to. So since I didn't have a press card I keeped walking while Ben and Qi (he is our produce/fixer) deal with the cops. They have a little discussion and final catch up with me. In the mean time I have swapped the tape out just in case they come back. Which of course they did. Seems they wanted my name etc. We finally get a cab and get out of the area.

So that is shoot number one. Welcome to Beijing.

Life in the Penthouse

So here is the new place for the next couple of months. I'd keep it for the next year if I could afford it. Runs about $2200 a month plus utilities. A little out of my price range. I hope I don't get spoiled saying here. It has an OK gym, is close to the office, about a 10 minute walk and a 7 11 across the street. Nice big windows tv up and down stairs. Total space is about 70 square metres.
Notice the upstairs bathroom. No tub but the shower has a sink, kinda strange.

Getting settled

Took a little stroll around the hood. There is a little French Bakery down the corner the serves a latte and a croissant for about 6 bucks. I have a feeling it will be my regular morning stop. Laying low and going to a friends place for dinner tonight. Starting to feel comfortable moving around. I think I'll be sticking close to the area when it comes to apartment hunting. We all have that comfort zone of knowing our neighbour hood. Same applies here. I definitely need to start to learn a little language. I'll go nuts if I don't. Cabs are pretty funny. They don't like it if you don't know where you are going. Seems they don't know the city either. I've been able to survive so far with pointing, I'm sure my luck will run out eventually.

Zaijian!

The office again

A little jet lagged today, woke up at 2:45 am and couldn't get back to sleep. Went for a strange medical test today. Blood, eyes, EKD, and bunch of other useless things that I need to get my permanent paperwork. About a 45 minute taxi ride, cost all of $26.

Trying to track down when my camera and the rest of the gear will show up. I will be arriving in China late Friday night, not sure where or if it will get delivered.

Couple of new photos from the office. The shots of the street as seen from the 14th floor, and Ben and Flora doing a little research in an empty office.

The view

So the hotel/apartment isn't to bad. Kind of a loft thing happening. Here is the view from the dirty window at sun rise. Made it through the day and was able to get a cell phone and applied for my Press Card. I can't work till I jump through a few hoops. The jet lag didn't kick in until about 7 pm. Feeling a little kicked around right now.

Looks like duck/chicken in off the menu for a while. A confirmed case of Avian Flu just down the road.

Finally arrived

Flying over the arctic circle I'm finally getting a feel for the distance. It's a vast land with textures of white, and a weird pink, orange glowing skyline. It is also very empty. The exact opposite of what I'm about to encounter.

I chatted a bit with Ben about what is to come and we both agree that the key is to work smart. What that really means, I'll let you know.

Maggi and I talked about how this feels like just another assignment, just a little longer than most. I'm told that the secret to making this work is make sure she shares in the experience. Through this and Skype, I hope that she and others can.

The flight over was long, but tolerable thanks to my upgrades, finally some pay back for spending the last couple of years on the road so much.