Departure and Arrival

My flight to Beijing left at the merciful time of noon today, which (thankfully) made it possible for goodbyes to go on until three-ish in the morning, and then continue five or so hours later when I woke up.

Good news: upgraded into business class without really asking! Bad news: my bag was seven kilos too heavy, resulting in a pretty ridiculous fine. I think the numerous “Heavy” tags that they put on my duffel were bad for its self esteem.

I pretty much passed out on the plane, alternating between lying down and lying down while listening to the Books and the Velvet Underground. (Thank you P.T.)

My bags actually arrived with me in Beijing this time, which means no enormous Visa-insurance pay-out and as a result no exorbitantly expensive skinny pants. Alas. I think that Simon and I will head out to Xinjiekou sooner or later, for the skate shops where everything is $20. I also buy cheap bows to play bass with there.

Simon is playing a solo show tomorrow, for Sugar Jar’s Sunday Listening series. I would have liked to have joined in the fun, but I think at least this time, I’ll be relegated to gear-bitch status. I may be playing a solo set at D-22 on the 15th of May though. I forget who it’s with. Potentially 10, a Japanese/Korean experimental duo who use toys and dress exclusively in red. A nice couple.

Just returned from Yuxiang Renjia, which is pretty much the family favourite for Sichuan food. Despite the fancy renovations, the food’s still mouth-numbingly spicy and a pig-out dinner for four, with beer, is around $25.

Carsick Cars and Joyside are playing tonight at 2kolegas, a little bar not far from here, in a drive-in theater complex. I’m not dying to see Joyside but it’s hard to refuse CSC. Also, it should be good to say hi to Shouwang (their phenomenal guitarist who plays with Simon in Speak Chinese or Die, and who I improvise with when in town). I continue to wear my airplane clothes – they’ll be drenched in cigarette smoke in no time.