This is the sign hanging in the establishment that Shanshan and her parents often frequent.
I’m not sure what function the Braille on the sign, which is behind a desk, serves. One would assume that a blind person working at the establishment would know their location. And, a blind patron would probably not be able to easily find the sign.
And, while we’re on the subject of things that I’m unsure about, here’s a poster of Britney Spears on a fish tank in the same establishment:
A nighttime game of cards. And, for the record, I can neither confirm nor deny that said game involved the possible exchange of monetary instruments.
And, watching a game of Mahjong.
Chong Chong watching a game of Xiangqi.
We took Chong Chong for horse-riding in the Shunyi District of Beijing. (The event was organized by Gymboree, which he attends on almost a weekly basis.)
This was his first time on a horse. Chong Chong was a bit skittish when I transferred him from my shoulders to the saddle, but he settled in quite fast after the horse started walking. I had one hand on his leg and the other on his back as we started out.
After a few minutes, and I asked the guide if it would be okay for Chong Chong to ride without me holding him. The guide said it would be fine as long as Chong Chong had both feet in the stirrups, and his hands on the straps. And, well, that was it… off he went riding by himself.
btw, this was the first time that Chong Chong has successfully ridden a four-legged animal (unsuccesful attempts are limited to our dog and two cats).
Part of my ongoing “say it in bicycles” series.
Earlier this month, Shanshan and I were taking Chong Chong on a nighttime stroll around our community. When we were passing by our favorite traditional Beijing restaurant, he wanted to break away from us. So, we let him, and here’s what happened.
He has a thing for stairs, so he climbed up some of them, and then started playing around. He caught the attention of one of the costumed greeters, who then helped him up to the top.
After she brought him to the top, the greeter went inside, and one of the managers came out to spend time with him, and coax him inside (I just love this shot of greater taking a picture of him).
After he was safely inside, one of the other managers grabbed him, and took him to the front of the restaurant to see the bian lian performance that was in progress.
He was just in time to see the performer as Sun Wukong!
And, took a photo with him after the show.
Yes, folks, this is Chong Chong’s Beijing Life.
