"baby got back," I didn't miss you until you were gone

It may sound like Lao Wei complain a lot about the missing comforts of home. It sounds that way because we do.

But do not mistake that, because I think most of us love it in China. Not only that but absence does work up a fine appreciation for some of the things back in the developed world.

To quote the girl, "I never knew a hamburger could make me happy for an entire night."

What I'm getting at is that I recently took a trip to Beijing. Actually it was more like a four day orgy of food, booze and destruction.

Yeah. These are a few of my favorite things:
thai food
cheap whiskey in about any form desired (except Maker's Mark, damnit!)
absinth
dancing to anglophone hip hop and electroclash
no bouncy dancefloors
sourdough bread
cheeseburger (not a breakfast sausage patty in a bun)
cheesecake
cheese (noticing a theme?)
a fair attempt at pizza
decent cd shopping (Grandaddy, Sonic Youth and the Rapture)
guiness
qingdao black
dim sum
duck sandwich with big thick french fries cooked properly
good coffee every day
real diner breakfast