Elyse Sewell ([info]elysesewell) wrote,
2007-07-16 02:04:00
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beijingus humongous

Somehow, I booked a job in Beijing this weekend! I just rolled back in to Hong Kong totally tired and itchy and dirty, having terrified babies in the passport control queue with the askew false eyelashes from this morning's shoot still sticking out of my face, but with a camera so bursting with stuffs that I have to post a little something before I lurch off to the shower and the sack.

Oh by the way, did you know that access to Livejournal.com is completely blocked within China (Edit: as of March 2007)? LJs such as this one, with their state-smashing photos of yesterday's lunch, are a threat to the Communist Party.

I hadn't eaten all night and all the next morning so I could feast as much as possible when I got to Beijing. After an hour's wait in immigration/customs at the airport, an hour's drive to the hotel, and a fricking hour's walk before I found any suitable grindage, I was beyond hungry and feeling faint when I approached this street stall. It was in the parking lot of a KFC, and I must admit that in my hunger-addled state I seriously considered the KFC option. How easy to go in and point at the picture menu and obtain a disgustipating chicken sandwich; what a pain in the ass to stand there and observe all the customers in line ahead of me, figure out what to do at the street stall, then endure the mutual awkwardness of actually transacting with the streetmeatsketeer.

It was worth it to get the street meat. I got a plastic basket and selected skewers of raw stuff, then handed it to the guy, who boiled it all up in a chili-pod-studded broth, slathered it with peanut sauce and packed it into a box.





I picked quail eggs, two kinds of tofu (the thing that looks like high school boyfriend skin is tofu), Chinese cabbage, spinach, and mushrooms. You can see black peppercorns, spring onions, and chili pods from the broth. The whole box was RMB5=$0.66 and 100% delect.


PS When I was a kid, my entire family succumbed to a reading frenzy of a book called That Quail, Robert, which anthropomorphized this one quail, Robert, and effectively destroyed my future appetite for quail eggs. It's only recently that I've realized that Robert's unborn children (*sob!*) are actually superior to chicken eggs because both of the eggy taste sensations, yolk and white, are contained in one bite.

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[info]cinema

July 15 2007, 18:10:19 UTC 4 years ago

Most sites from the US are blocked out of the great firewall of China :/

Anonymous

August 20 2007, 15:32:39 UTC 4 years ago

Kai Wong

great line... about China's pride and joy. lol

THE GREAT FIREWALL... is alive and well. it's forced me to retire from HKJC online betting and Poker at the tender age of 28... totally forces me to go outside on weekends into the pollution.

[info]aucuneraison

July 15 2007, 18:12:26 UTC 4 years ago

re: lj blocked in China

When did this happen? I was there last summer and totally had access to LJ.

[info]elysesewell

July 15 2007, 18:22:14 UTC 4 years ago

Re: lj blocked in China

Recently, like within the past six months.

[info]elysesewell

4 years ago

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[info]fordmadoxfraud

4 years ago

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[info]jacquet

July 15 2007, 18:19:14 UTC 4 years ago

I am a rather picky eater and I love living vicariously through your explorations in local cuisine.

[info]squata_hey

July 15 2007, 18:19:43 UTC 4 years ago

I want to get a cotton puff and dab some astringent on that tofu.

[info]elysesewell

July 15 2007, 18:42:55 UTC 4 years ago

You can't. You just have to screw up your courage and make out with him anyway.

[info]meighan2

July 15 2007, 18:20:00 UTC 4 years ago

mmmmmm that food looks so good!!!

[info]thepouncer

July 15 2007, 18:21:43 UTC 4 years ago

I'd heard about the Chinese blockage; one of the status journals had it thusly: "China defriends Livejournal". I've also heard that there are Nefarious Things that can be done with proxy servers to get around the ban. I'd actually wondered, when I'd heard, if the ban affected Hong Kong as well and what that would mean for you.

Can't wait to see more pictures of Beijing - what a fabulous destination for a job!

[info]elysesewell

July 15 2007, 18:37:09 UTC 4 years ago

The first thing that happened was comments saying stuff like, "Oh, I'm in China, it sucks because we can't see your pictures because now Photobucket is blocked." And now Livejournal is blocked. I hope Chinese people who were reading this LJ before have figured out a way to see it on a proxy server!

This really demonstrates the power of the blog as a political and social instrument (that is, when one does not choose to fill it with pictures of lunch and models. Not that there's anything wrong with that.)

[info]thepouncer

4 years ago

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[info]bostonista

4 years ago

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[info]gonadsandstrife

July 15 2007, 18:26:34 UTC 4 years ago

Great Fireweall of China--searches to see what sits are CCP-disowned.

[info]joaneebonee

July 15 2007, 18:36:06 UTC 4 years ago

That looks really freaking good. Did you read that article about how this one restaurant in Beijing was making their steamed bao out of cardboard? I think KFC in China taste better than in the US. Well at least the ones I have tried in Shanghai.

[info]elysesewell

July 15 2007, 18:40:20 UTC 4 years ago

In HK the KFC tastes like dog shit, and it sucks when clients thing they're being nice by ordering Western-style food for models and they pick KFC, I dunno, I really hate KFC.

[info]stevejosephson

4 years ago

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Anonymous

4 years ago

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[info]jimyojimbo

4 years ago

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[info]the_ma

4 years ago

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[info]zetai

4 years ago

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[info]_____faith

July 15 2007, 18:37:43 UTC 4 years ago

Depends on what part of China you're in, really -- I can access it from Shen Zhen just fine!

[info]elysesewell

July 15 2007, 18:44:04 UTC 4 years ago

SZ = special economic zone. That must be why.

[info]_____faith

4 years ago

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[info]gerani1248

July 15 2007, 18:47:37 UTC 4 years ago

Dood! I saw you in an ad in a mall in Chennai, India! of all places. Didn't know your face was so ubiquitous. lol

btw, the KFC in Chennai sucks as well.

Anonymous

July 15 2007, 19:01:12 UTC 4 years ago

Elyse Ad

I am curious. What product was being advertised in the ad?

[info]elysesewell

4 years ago

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[info]mr_asteroid

July 15 2007, 18:53:02 UTC 4 years ago

well, i mean, if i were the chinese government i wouldn't want you to be posting pictures of that delicious lunch. i mean, if too many of us see this then there will be an overflow of tourism into the country and, well, there would simply be anarchy.

[info]periwinkle

July 15 2007, 18:57:44 UTC 4 years ago

I really wish the government would reconsider your enemy of the state status. After all, your blog truly serves as an educational primer in the wonders of Chinese culture. When they held that big Live Earth benefit concert last week, I scanned the list of artists playing the Shanghai event and didn't recognize any of the names...until I got to Eason Chan. So there's at least one Hong Kong pop idol I'm familiar with purely because of your overpowering crush on him. Even if they wish to block the rest of LiveJournal, an exception should be made for your skinny ass. I beseech you, Communist Party, tear down this firewall!

[info]elysesewell

July 15 2007, 19:01:31 UTC 4 years ago

Seriously! I even have enough black contacts left to pass as an actual Chinese person for five and a half days. If that's not enough to qualify for Cutural Ambassador status, I don't know what is.

[info]robbhand

July 15 2007, 18:58:00 UTC 4 years ago

Madness.

China has seemingly gone quite crazy in 2007 so far. So much unreal shite going on over there.

Anonymous

July 15 2007, 19:09:07 UTC 4 years ago

Olympics in Beijing and China

I wonder what China will do with censorship during the Olympics in China.

Not sure if this is as bad or any better in the US with the deaf, dumb and blind mainstream media (MSM). Guess everyone in the US is more interested in Anna Nicole Smith, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Angelina Jolie than any relevant or real news that affect their lives. Like maybe health care and the staggering debt borrowing of this administration.

Anyway, Elyse's blog is a great diversion. And you learn something about modeling in a humorous and enjoyable way.

[info]elysesewell

July 15 2007, 19:18:11 UTC 4 years ago

Re: Olympics in Beijing and China

I read an interesting thing about a guy who wrote an encyclopedia of the Olympics and tried to get it published in China. He refused to let the government censor it, and they denied him permission to publish it there, all because the Chinese people to this day don't know that some Chinese Olympian got busted for doping like, 20 years ago..

Anonymous

4 years ago

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Anonymous

4 years ago

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[info]zetai

July 15 2007, 19:11:30 UTC 4 years ago

Elyse likes big ones

Itchy, dirty, and false eyelashes askew? Sounds like a tough assignation, all right.

You really must have been meat-deprived if you refer to it by a term made popular by one Pauly Shore, noted intellectual ("Duuuuuude!"). Good choice not to feed those munchies at the KFS [not a typo], though. Greasiest, most salt-laden "chicken" around, not to mention some of the most expensive. I knew you were just kidding with that meat aversion a few entries back.

So the meatsketeer packed the meat into your box? Must resist saying the obvious.

Congratulations on making tofu sound--and look--even less appealing than it already was. "High school boyfriend skin" gave me a good laugh, but it also reminded me of this afflicted waif, engaging in some more pro-yection.

In other news, that new camera is still loafing along on its lowest-resolution mode. M1 would be a better choice, equaling your lost camera's output.

Anonymous

July 15 2007, 19:47:08 UTC 4 years ago

Re: Elyse likes big ones

Thanks for explaining some American slang and referencing Urban Dictionary. Asian fans of Elyse probably have a difficult time reading her LJ and getting some of the hidden meanings.

I use Google translation to read Chinese forums and xangas with Elyse as a discussion topic and can't figure what Chinese words are being translated as "drainage".

Google link (which can translate web pages (at least most of the time)):

http://translate.google.com/translate_t

An example of a Chinese Forum link :

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=zh-CN&u=http://www.friends6.com/forum/viewthread.php%3Ftid%3D51018%26extra%3D%26page%3D10&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=8&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3D%2522elyse%2Bbook%2Bsigning%2522%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3D32h

[info]kate_thistle

4 years ago

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[info]waynefromlorain

July 15 2007, 19:21:44 UTC 4 years ago

PIZZA ANYONE?

Are there any pizza options over in Hong Kong Elyse? When I look at these pictures I have a strong craving for American pizza.

[info]elysesewell

July 15 2007, 19:38:09 UTC 4 years ago

Re: PIZZA ANYONE?

Oh yeah, there's Pizza Hut, etc,...but when you order you must specify whether you want tomato sauce or Thousand Island dressing. Blech! Last Thursday at my shoot the photog ordered us a scallop, krab, corn and onion pizza with Thousand Island. Something will never be right about pipin'-hot mayonnaise-based condiments.

[info]midnight_d

4 years ago

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[info]flub

4 years ago

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[info]elysesewell

4 years ago

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Anonymous

4 years ago

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[info]flub

4 years ago

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[info]elysesewell

4 years ago

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[info]theordinaryorg

4 years ago

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...and 3 more comments... from [info]waynefromlorain, Anonymous, [info]atherva Expand

[info]cherriekong

4 years ago

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Anonymous

4 years ago

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[info]lostintherye

July 15 2007, 19:21:54 UTC 4 years ago

that meal looks outrageously delicious!!!!!!! wish there were street vendors here in the US. i love your description of the tofu. though now whenever i look at boiled tofu i will forever think of your description.

Anonymous

July 16 2007, 06:39:29 UTC 4 years ago

There are street vendors in the US. You're just looking in the wrong places. (Try midtown Manhattan.)

[info]lostintherye

4 years ago

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Anonymous

July 15 2007, 19:28:58 UTC 4 years ago

Horror Movie

Your Cardioconiosis entry and concept would make a great horror movie. The concept and filming of "Menstrual blood is spraying from between slender thighs like so many firehoses" would be really gory.

Anonymous

July 15 2007, 22:09:42 UTC 4 years ago

Re: Horror Movie

Sicko.

Anonymous

4 years ago

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[info]zack_cohen

July 15 2007, 19:38:20 UTC 4 years ago

I do fancy your foreign photos...

[info]midnight_d

July 15 2007, 19:48:27 UTC 4 years ago

I love the look of your "street meat" but I think I'd be too affraid to try it out if I ever made it over there. I'd need an experienced street meat eater to show me how to do it, I think.

Anonymous

August 20 2007, 15:39:06 UTC 4 years ago

Kai Wong

street meat is the best... as long as your stomach can handle it. i eat BBQ on sticks and get a horrible stomach ache about 1 out of every 5 times. still addicted to it though.

[info]ohmywendy

July 15 2007, 20:57:16 UTC 4 years ago

Those are AMAZING. I couldn't go back this summer, sadly, and my tastebuds miss the mystery skewers of my hometown. I tried a squid one once...all in all not a bad taste, though it was a bit chewy.

[info]toeps

July 15 2007, 21:14:41 UTC 4 years ago

That food looks delicious!

It reminds me of those "wok" restaurants, the new thing here in Holland (sinds it's all-you-can-eat, and the Dutch are greedy ;) ). You can pick all your ingredients (meat, fish, tofu, different veggies), the cook throws them in boiling water, scoops it out again with a net, throws it in a wok, and stir-fries it with the sauce of your choice. On the side, you can get rice, noodles, lychees, peach, baked banana and cassave chips.

I really like the food, but unfortunately the wok restaurants have become big stuff-yourself-as-fast-as-possible halls, with big groups of drunk co-workers on their night out.

[info]noromdiam

July 15 2007, 21:31:04 UTC 4 years ago

Food on a stick is awesome, any way you cook it.

[info]duskyclovers

July 15 2007, 21:46:19 UTC 4 years ago

yeah... i was in china for all of june and was very unhappy to find out that i was unable to access my dear lj and wikipedia. it was all fine last year so i died inside just a little bit when i finally got near a computer and couldn't update the millions of pictures i had.

Anonymous

July 15 2007, 22:00:21 UTC 4 years ago

YumYum

I just love the food pics you post...they are magnificent in their close-up slimy goodness :)
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