Beijing: Shopping, Craft Beer & Dancing Queens!

With a full weekend on the cards I wanted to grab it with both hands and enjoy it as much as possible! Beijing life has been so intense, with not much down time I wanted to turn up and then some. Shopping, eating and getting up to something nasty good happened for sure! That Sanlitun Weekender served up all of the above! Yes BJ, Friday started with that Famous Grouse!

Beijing's Chaoyang District had me for the whole Saturday during my months crazy teacher training! Beginning that free Saturday, I reported to Tai Koo Li to do some serious shopping at H&M, it had to be done! Yes, I had been neglecting my wardrobe since I had arrived in Beijing! Over eight months previous to that scorching July moment, it was like one hot mess after another fronted me! A few tipples the night before had left me feeling fragile but I knew I needed some new garments to wear during the nighttime, that's when things get real! A shiny glass development in the centre of Beijing's party district, I had been to Tai Koo Li before but the previous occasion was not that fun! H&M had what I needed, I got some Summertime essentials and some statement black tops for my nights out! I love to dress in dark and mysterious tones at a certain Destination! Burning up my 微信支付! It was a shock, in that moment I realised that my hard earned cash isn't just for buying flights! I needed to consider myself first that Saturday!

Taking my time round H&M at Tai Koo Li, it was evident the sunshine weather had brought a series of delicious sights! Was I going crazy? No, I wasn't! Beijing was full of beautiful looking men! The rest I'll leave to the imagination. Imagination? No, what sights I saw definitely solidified the reason why I am still in China after almost three years! Sanlitun's glass structures glistened in the sunlight, the thirty something temperatures were hard to deal without air conditioning but the city of Beijing gave me life after a crazy and exhausting training course. The late afternoon summer vibe continued as I left with my purchases from H&M to my next port of call. Of course, H&M's patrons served Beijing chic and devilish good looks, I needed a drink after all of that thirsty behaviour! I really need to get out more of my work bubble! Shunyi life gets me forgetting things other than work. KFC took me out of the glaring sun, I wanted to save my pennies for drinks that night! Would ninety pounds go that far at home? Absolutely, not! No! 不!

I am usually the first person to shun craft beer or any kind of Hipster-like place, but has Beijing got me feeling some kind of way? Yes, she has! Choosing 京A was definitely a winner! Feeling like I needed a serious livener, I enjoyed a pint of Chinese craft beer known as 'Dong Bei'. The beer had a flowery kind of flavour, it was just what I needed to get back into the drinking mode. For my tea, I chose the BBQ braised burger with homemade fries, being one of those new-wave places it was served on a steel tray. If truth be told, I was more interested in my food and beer to even give that even a second thought. I had seen 京A posted all over Time Out Beijing and other local social media sources! Being in the Sanlitun/Dongzhimen area it seemed like the done thing to get some hearty scran before getting inebriated within Sanlitun's lively scene. No rice or noodles were on the menu that day! Being 6.5% I toyed with the idea of a second beer? I didn't need another one! The food was lovely, I know that I've already said that. 京A的美餐真的很好吃!

That Beijing beer house had a modern stainless steel feel to it, I chose to sit in the dining area amongst an exclusively Chinese crowd who posed as trendy millennial types. Some of the patrons looked trendy, sure I didn't see any other foreigners apart from myself! No? Maybe some were sitting at the bar? I was in food and craft beer heaven! I know that I'll be back after a future Tai Koo Li shopping trip again in the near future! 京A is only a short walkaway from the bustling Beijing streets that lead me to my favourite Workers Stadium Road. Could I see myself propping myself up the bar there? No, but sitting at the bar with a few flowery pints sounds like a sure thing! Getting my food and drink finished I jumped on a MoBike! Riding along with my H&M purchases was a challenge but I am used to riding on the streets in China because there's a certain knack to it! Yes! Making my way back to Shunyi, I had some getting ready to do! H&M had sorted me with my threads, yes the male talent was sensational, 京A served me up the fuel!

Dressed to impress, my DiDi taxi left the sleepy suburban district of Shunyi for the bright lights of Workers Stadium Road in the heart of Beijing's Chaoyang party scene. Maybe my location was wrong because my usual drop off point wasn't what it should have been? Scanning another rental bike I swerved between the traffic and the rain whilst dressed in my fresh black vest and jeans combination! Clocking the road signs and noticing a familiar feel I locked that rental bike to walk the rest of the way. A friend had shown me Kai, another underground club that was filled to the brim with delectable gentlemen folk. There was no admission fee unlike Destination and cheaper drinks. Sure, I was willing to give this basement club a chance to serve its delights to me. Women? The clientele was 100% male with the pickings rich. The month of July had me chained to a grueling routine, those early mornings and long commutes melted away as I sipped my drinks, sipped? You're sure? I don't know how to sip! Kai had me living for the first time in ages! 

My inner 'Miss KIA' had been awoken, something that the faint hearted should not be exposed to! That side of me doesn't care and that suited the night fine because Kai wasn't going to judge me! If other people wanted to, then they'd have to deal with 'Miss KIA!' Dancing and drinking, the beverages and the tunes kept going till the early hours! Saturday rolled into the early hours of Sunday and with that time change I saw some negative energy fly away. Clearly, I am not about that life. I needed a break from Destination because those queens get me on a different level. I found the patrons in Kai thought I was #TeamTooMuch but I am totally fine with that because the week is for working, so when the weekend comes around I don't care! Throwing my last shape, finishing my last sip, it was time to find a taxi to take me back home before the sun made an appearance. Taxi ride completed and paid for, it fared to be another eventual full night in the city of 北京. With funds spent, I will be causing a commotion after I get paid! Life is good! 

Beijing... My Hometown Glory?

Desperately Seeking Adventure