Weather: lovely autumn day
Temp: 4-17
Exchange rate: RMB1 = R1,64
Made for walking: Comfortable shoes will save your life in China. Walking in heals may cost you a toe, and will leave you with at least a blister or two.

Do you remember Richard Clayderman? He's blond, floppy fringe, plays piano? Was really popular in SA during the early '80s? Ballade for Adeline? Ring any bells? He was not a one hit wonder, oh no, he's alive and well and touring China and it seems the rest of the world. Ballade for Adeline was one of the first songs I learnt to play on the piano, so I have a bit of a soft spot for the guy, but I'm not sure I'm going start queueing for concert tickets just yet. Kanye West will be here soon, but I'm not convinced either.

Now that I live in China, I cannot tell you how many international site spit out Chinese writing at me. Youtube, Blogger, Google... which I guess is good, but it's a little scary that they know exactly where in the world you are.

I thought today that it's quite funny how quickly you get used to stuff. I'm now, more or less, used to people spitting in the street. I am now, more or less, used the pushing to get onto/off the subway, which only happens during peak times. I am now, more or less, used to the pace people walk. When I first got here I thought people walked really slowly, now I just slow myself down and it just makes things easier than always trying to overtake people on the sidewalk. Beijing driving freaked me out when I got here. It looked like there was no order to things, although the traffic always seem to move. Now, I'm completely used to it, I understand the flow and that it's really non-aggressive. What I'm not used to: people emptying their noses on the sidewalk, one nostril at a time.