Imagine: Los Angelas sans traffic lights

Beijing is freaking huge. Beijing is teeming with people. Beijing has an odd lack of traffic lights—of traffic rules for that matter. The warned us that we would have to watch ourselves when we crossed the street, but this is ridiculous—there has to be some kind of system here people! But nope, it’s every car, bike, truck, and man for himself out here in the Chinese capital. Have no fear though, I look both ways as I am crossing the street!

Initial impressions of Beijing:

• wow, it’s big
• geez, there are a lot of people here
• holy crap, I almost got hit by 3 cars and a bus—all at once
• whoa, that’s cheap
• omg, this weather is so much nicer than Hong Kong
• dearest lord, I like fish—if I can meet it first
• you are kidding? that is CHEAP