Alien Nation
Jinyu Hutong, Beijing Photo © Bob Jones
Seeking refuge in a Novotel in the centre of Beijing.
It’s only an hour away by metro from Shijingshan where I live, but I see it as an occasional treat just as a reminder of the West and ‘my normality.’
The bar is a good people watching place. The hotel is on a rat-run from Wangfujing shopping street through to some residential communities, with a large hutong behind. The whole of humanity seems to walk by, oblivious to you watching, eating complimentary peanuts and drinking beer.
Sometimes you can tell what’s going on. Make up a little story in your head. At other times you are left guessing. What on earth is going on?
From my room, a case in point. Looking down on the pavement outside an even posher hotel across the street. Two young men, all dressed in white, with little white caps. Ghostly bell hops from the hotel maybe? Play fighting like two little foxes caught in street lights.
Oblivious to being watched from above. Behaving when someone passes on the pavement, then returning to mock-fighting once they had passed.
Who knows!
RJ
