New Year's Eve

Today began with a bus ride down to Gongbei's Walking Street, meeting John and Matt for a few beers, and then Orpheus. After what seemed like could be considered driving impairment, we stumbled over to the race track to see the effects of drinking and driving. Mine, surprisingly, were increases in stamina and focus.

This was perhaps the coolest thing I could've done this New Year's Eve; these little cars get up to 50km/h, Tokyo Drift around corners, and are the cause of some jarring collisions. In fact, this was Orpheus' first time driving. Ever. So, since he was driving like a Chinese person/grandma, I decided to give him a little tap from behind. I had never made contact with another vehicle, so coming up behind Orpheus I miscalculated my actual speed and rammed into him much more than I supposed I would.
They say in an accident your life flashes before your eyes. In this case, the whole situation just seemed to slow down. I realised I had been jolted in my seat; Orpheus' helmet went flying, and his car careened straight into the tires; the tires jumped four feet up and away. We were both alright, Orpheus being a little shaken up, and later we found he had sustained two little cuts on his nose that he first thanked me as souveneirs, and then milked for what his girlfriend would think.

We took a taxi afterward a few minutes away to the "Beijing Restaurant". It offered different styles of duck, among other types of northern 'Dongbei' food. The fried duck reminded me of KFC, but good. There was the finest dessert I've ever tasted: deep fried apples in a hot sugary sauce that must be dippd in cold water to solidify. The taste: heavenly. Creamy appleish sweet, and the texture wasn't half bad either.
Now, when I say the Chinese culture is different in some ways, maybe there are differing aspects to our culture, nowhere has this been more emphasized by what happened next.

Halfway through our meal, we hear a loud BANG, look up, and realise a car has just hit the front of the building. (The driver was parking, but rather speedily). Now, the difference in culture is becoming apparent. Our group had the only faces that so much as turned to see what was going on. Nobody else in the restaurant even batted an eyelash to see the cause of the commotion.
Busing home, John and Orpheus parted ways, while the rest of us headed to Laura's for the pre-drink party. Mingling, beer pong, and even a possible offer of a threesome were all part of the evening's fun here, before 11:00 rolled around and everyone made their way to the bar to celebrate the countdown.

I made my way to the island for a quick walk; I was hoping to catch some fireworks. There were none unfortunately, however, the brightly lit apartments served as an immense backdrop of color and spectacle amid slight light pollution.

This archway guards the entrance of the pathway to the island. It's noble, and long.

After a winding path through mysterium and intrigue...

one finds themself in a magical, Chinese New year-themed garden, on the center of the island.

Making my way back just prior to 12:00, I passed the fruit stands that enhance the alleys of China. I say enhance, because it's very lucky if you do not smell sh*t, human or otherwise, as you walk anywhere. Fruit stands are always filled with fresh and sparkling fruit that permeates the surrounding air to create a safe haven of smell good breaths.

I also caught someone in the middle of something. What was he doing? You must ask him, but again, this is not out of the ordinary.

I made it back to my apartment with enough time to have gotten my favourite chow me-in from the Chow Me-in guy down the road.

Made it back in time for a date, and then was called back out for a bit of BBQ. (approx. time: 1:00)

This is BBQ street. Really, they are sporadically placed everywhere you look, but there are a great majority of BBQ joints here, as well as the one I frequent, owned by a man named Samuel.

I met up with Gary and I-ping for some Jesus chicken (chicken breast on a cross), and we by this time we had all grown fairly tired. This is not the usual spot I eat BBQ, in fact the lady owner seemed difficult to deal with for some reason, and for that, she sucks.


I have some time off starting now, and already I've begun to learn some Donnie Darko piano songs, and study math for later this year when I plan to go back to school for Environmental Engineering. Maybe one last trip before I go home?

Well, this has been a fun New Year's. From the future, I bid you a good night, and happy new year!