Day off!

Finally got a day off after 6 days straight with an average 11 hours per day. Really needed it. Used it to the full. Took a cab to Hoi Hai, a lake/river in central Beijing to meet up with a few colleagues. Very popular location with both locals and foreigners. Must have been thousands of people on the lake, skating in different styles. Normal skates, tandem-sleigh, bike and motorised bobsleigh. An amazing sight. It was like going to the park. People selling candy, merchandise and balloons. Pay a rental fee and off u went. I got a bike and Zach got a pair of 1920s porn boot skates. Nice one! Must say he was quiet good. Had a bad fall at the beginning due to the lady design of the skates. They had stubbs at the front. So on the head he fell. Sore knee was the result. Was cold but sunny. Nice day on the lake. Went for brunch at a traditional chinese noodle house. We both got the chance to welcome guests at the door by hitting a gong. The gong-boy gave it to us after a few photos. We got a private diningroom inside. Cold though. Were served a number of exotic dishes. What about cow stomach and fish head. Spicy, but good. Zach had the most delicious part of the head....the eye! A bit chewy though. Did some shopping in the afternoon. Got myself a mobile phone thanks to our colleagues. Shops were crazy...sales everywhere due to Chinese New Years coming up. Had a nap when we came back to the apartment. Finished off our day at the W Sports Bar & Restaurant, owned by the famous Swedish ping-pong player Jan-Ove Waldner. Due to me being Swedish, we got the royal service. The bartender put on a swedish documentary about J-Os life on the big screen. Also got to meet J-Os chinese manager, Chris. So now we are speical friends, exchanged cards and we were also given a loyalty card. We will be back when J-O is in town....