I'm going, going, back, back, to China, China!

Ok, maybe a Biggy Smalls verse wasn't in order here but that's all I could think of and I'm so damn excited I feel like I could rap about it. So I booked my tickets today for a trip back to the motherland...ok fine, it aint my motherland but I can't help it if I'm an ethnically confused caucasian (just kidding).

But in any case, I loved my first trip to China...best summer of my life...so I'm hoping this one, although shorter, will be just as fun.

I can't wait to get my hands on some naihuangbao:



Or some Beijing-style Huoguo (Hotpot - lit. "Fire pot"):



You have no idea how good this stuff is until you've actually eaten it in China!

So here's my tentative itinerary:

June 19th - Depart for PEK out of Newark
June 20th - Arrive (jet lagged) in Beijing
June 21st - Winston's Wedding!!!
June 22nd - 26th - Chilling, eating, drinking and partying in Beijing (maybe a little work too).
June 26th (evening) - Depart for Shanghai (train of course!)
June 27th - July 1st - Chilling, eating drinking and partying in Shanghai (maybe a little work too).
July 1st (evening) - Head back to Beijing
July 2nd - July 3rd - Eat and buy as many bootlegged DVD's as I possibly can!
July 3rd - Homeward bound!

And since Beijing is 12 hours ahead of New York, I'll leave at Noon on the 3rd (China time) and arrive at 1:30 PM on the 3rd (Eastern time)! Just in the time for the 4th of July the following day - who's better than me?

I hope my Chinese is still up to par - haven't had much opportunity to practice here in the States. It's a damn shame too, I studied it hardcore for 2 years and spent 3 months in China studying it every single day. So if anybody reading this wants to help me get my game back, please drop me a line in the comments.

California Here I Come!

I can't wait to get out of this New York weather for a little bit. Don't get me wrong, I love my city but I could really do without 30 degree days and 20 degree nights for a little while. I know it's not 80 degrees and sunny in the Bay Area right now either, but I'm just in the mood for a change in atmosphere.

The sun's a little brighter, the streets are a little calmer and the smell of the Pacific just puts me in the right frame of mind.

Last year was my first trip to San Fran for the holidays and I'm thinking of making it a tradition. I feel like my year just starts off on the right note.

Who knows, maybe one day I'll make the move out there. My Dad was born and raised in San Mateo - he moved out here when he met my mother. Now I've met a woman whose family is from - believe it or not - San Mateo! So I guess I'd just be coming full circle if a ditched the East Coast and moved (back) out West.

I'm also pretty psyched because I get to meet some friends who I've only had the opportunity to communicate with over the phone.

So I'm leaving Sunday - farewell New York City (take care of her while I'm gone people!).