2009 China – Beijing – The Nowell Wisch "It's My Story And I'm Stickin' to it." website

My first impression of Beijing was one of wonder as we watched seven window washers rappelling down the side of a 20 story building cleaning windows. The flight from Shanghai took 2 hours on a fully loaded 747. That is some traffic.

It is a very different experience than Shanghai and has wonderful things to see.The Hilton is a first-rate hotel and when you stay there, say “Hi” to RayRay from Nowell and Perry.You also have to buy a good guide book to get the whole Beijing story. Don’t leave home without it.

“Hi” to RayRay." These doormen greet us at the Hilton. Surfer Bob was the mascot of the Specialty Advertising Association of California. He appears in a lot of photos. While I was taking photos with Surfer Bob he was retired over a copyright dispute.

I end the day on the Club level of the Hilton. This is the only place in China where you can get your emails for free. You get a drink and food, too, so "upgrade" is the word of the day.

Checking into the Hilton takes a lot of guys.

Basketball is big. Yao Ming is bigger in Beijing.

The Plaza at night. Lots of activity and people.

Perry buys some muscle relaxing heat pads.

The famous live scorpion vendor. He cooks to order.

They also sell a lot of fried starfish.

These are bugs on a stick.Perry told a little blond from the US that they were good in bed. She bought scorpions.

KFC isn't doing too well over here because people have accused it of selling genetically modified chickens with 4 wings and legs. Say it ain't so, Joe!

The prices are in RMB which is about 7 to the dollar. You do the math.

Shopping malls are bigger than Texas.

The Beijing Mall next to the hotel had 36 places to eat between the stores. It is the first Mall I've been in that had an entire Nikon store.

The construction worker is the national symbol of China's expansion.

Lunch time finds people taking a well deserved break all over the city.

It seems that every young person has a camera in their cell phone and feels the need to take a picture every block or so.

Perry says, "Where else would you find people lined up waiting for the bookstore to open?" Not in San Diego, I assure you. Of course, San Diego would be just a neighborhood in a 35 million person city.

You gotta love a country that doesn't like the brass section. Viva la violin!

McDonalds gives the cops the shade they need during the day.

Tremendous media work throughout the country.

I asked him if he knew Jeannine or Aaron and he said no.

I told him I was from Chicago and he was impressed until I told him I had never seen a Bulls game.

Alex will be impressed by this Lego Store in the mall.

I'm impressed by the Lego family. Life would have been much cheaper with a Lego wife and children. Besides, If I didn't like what I had, I could just make another one!

Lots of American fast food presence in China.

The hostess at the Beijing Duck restaurant. She has not been around for 147 years like the restaurant has.

Perry orders everything in China. We hope he doesn't give in to a warped sense of humor and buy us Donkey Penis. He did. We took a bite.

They carve your duck at the table.

She looks nice, doesn't she. She isn't. She is pouring us a glass of real "fire water" that Perry says we won't like but have to drink anyway.

This is the Chinese equivalent of ouzo. After 3, you ouzo out of your shoezo's. Say "Gan bei!" (dry the cup in Chinese) and kick it back. Then gasp for breath, pour and do it again until your ears go numb.

A complete Beijing Duck meal.

Lanterns are everywhere and they are a nice touch.

Lots of nice walkways in Beijing. Find a quiet one and stroll home.

Orange is a big color in China. It means something good, like health or luck.

They cell cameras, cards and batteries. Perry checked. Truth in advertising.

Maria calls this the Dirt Market because it was a dirt plot before they paved it for the Olympics.

There are a lot of permanent shops at the dirt market.

I'm bringing a seal with me next time and have it carved into a vest.

We bought a coffee and pizza from this fellow at the dirt market.

I bought this painting from the young man who created it. He met Perry in the intersection when Perry "Ratso Rizzo'd" a taxi in the crosswalk. He had never seen a human best a taxi before and invited us to his shop.

The series is the four seasons. I liked the pink flowers best. Several months after the trip I was doing a product demonstration at a customer's office and he had all three hanging in his meeting room. He also bought them from this guy.

Willy Loman is the patron saint of China. Everybody is selling something. You have to learn to say "mayo mayo" if you don't want to buy.

This fellow tailed us for blocks until he got a jar of mayo from Perry.

OK, I will.

The ridges in the sidewalk make it easy for the visually impaired to navigate the city safely.

Little girls are cute the world over.

The tea girls are trying to figure out how to process my MasterCard. I bought the coolest travel tea bottle from them.

Running over pedestrians is a sport in China. You cannot walk distracted in any city. Keep your eyes open and your wits about you.

The pedicab drivers are very friendly.

Weddings are big business for photographers. This pre-wedding shoot took place outside the Forbidden City

Perry takes advantage of the action.

The groom.

The wedding party.

While this was at The Forbidden City, it is a common sight in Beijing. The tour groups stay together by their identifying hats.

The hats come in many colors.