Beijing holds a Santa-Con every year, where anyone and everyone can dress as Santa and explore the streets and pubs of the city. Now unfortunately we work all day on a Saturday so we missed the day but we managed to meet up with the Santa's in the evening. Decked out in red and green clothes and Santa hats we jumped on the subway and got more stares than usual! We have spent a Christmas in China before and it is different. You miss family and friends, getting Christmas food is hard, making plans even harder and well you don't get a holiday. But you just have to make the most of it and what better way to start the holidays than by getting dressed up and getting merry!
We met our mates in the 4 Corners at Hou Hai, now they had been out since midday and they were in some state but it was hilarious! It's not often you walk into a bar in Beijing and see about twenty drunk Santa's falling about, shouting and having banter, all that was missing was a reindeer. The 4 Corners is a great little bar, with decent beer....Japanese Beer.....sssh!!!! Sometimes China can be very random and very surprising. Whilst sitting in the bar one of the many Santa's looked very familiar, it's not often you see people in Beijing as it is that big and well this just proves how small the world can be. I approached this familiar looking Santa and asked if he ever worked for Teach and Travel China and low and behold he did and he remembered me! Way back in 2010 I first arrived in Beijing and two and a half years later I bump into the guy who helped me get set up with my first teaching job! We had a bit of banter and chatted about the past few years and then went our separate ways.....only in China!! After the 4 Corners we headed to Temple Bar and danced the night away with fifty or so Santa's and lots of white fluff!!!
We met our mates in the 4 Corners at Hou Hai, now they had been out since midday and they were in some state but it was hilarious! It's not often you walk into a bar in Beijing and see about twenty drunk Santa's falling about, shouting and having banter, all that was missing was a reindeer. The 4 Corners is a great little bar, with decent beer....Japanese Beer.....sssh!!!! Sometimes China can be very random and very surprising. Whilst sitting in the bar one of the many Santa's looked very familiar, it's not often you see people in Beijing as it is that big and well this just proves how small the world can be. I approached this familiar looking Santa and asked if he ever worked for Teach and Travel China and low and behold he did and he remembered me! Way back in 2010 I first arrived in Beijing and two and a half years later I bump into the guy who helped me get set up with my first teaching job! We had a bit of banter and chatted about the past few years and then went our separate ways.....only in China!! After the 4 Corners we headed to Temple Bar and danced the night away with fifty or so Santa's and lots of white fluff!!!