#becausechina

Has anyone ever been to an empty movie theater? Or an empty mall? Well let me tell you it can be one of the best things or the creepiest things.

This particular time was when Venom came out in theaters in Beijing. My friend pestered me to go watch it with them. Now don’t get me wrong I LOVE super hero movies and this past couple years have been fantastic for that. However it was a day off and I was tired so I lacked motivation.

That morning specifically was undergoing an interesting weather phenomena known as smog. Not just any kind of smog but the “Holly shit am I in Silent Hill?” level of smog. Videos were being posted all over showing the smog and the dangers. The Government of China sent out a warning that everyone should stay inside if you could help it. Friends were sending me pictures of creepy shadows that were supposed to be people hidden in the fog.

Then I get this message. A message that I thought would say lets cancel the movie plans due to the health hazard known as air, but no. I was wrong. The massage asked if I was ready for the movie as he was waiting downstairs. I looked out the window, back down at the air rating warning that had reached this beautiful shade of deep purple (also known as death), back to the message, and said yeah lets go.

Now if anyone has been to Beijing then you know it is crowded. There are people Everywhere! There is almost no where you can go where there are no people. However this day was different. The streets were virtually empty, no cars or people wondering, just my friend and I. My friend who was bouncing around like a little girl through the silent hill landscape of Beijing.

The mall we went to was no better. The smog rolled in from the open doors causing a weird almost smoke machine effect where it would drift up and cloud over. It wasn’t as bad as outside but you couldn’t see past the second floor as it just cut off into a haze of white. Not only that the mall was empty. I mean empty empty. Elevators and escalators were shut off. No shops open.

I looked over to my friend and asked if they were sure that the theater was open. All I got was a confused look and a “Why wouldn’t they be?” I don’t know maybe the death fog? But I digress. We made it up to the theater through a maze of stair wells. Some cut off and others open. Finally at the top we could just make out a lone guy standing behind the ticket/food stand looking like he hated his life.

My friend bounded over excitedly, bought the tickets, food, drinks, and then bounded down the hall to the room. The entire time I am sending confused and sympathetic looks to the dude behind the counter as he rings us up. I have never seen a more confused and despondent employee.

The theater was empty. Not a soul in sight. The smog had invaded here as well adding a thin layer of haze over the room. It has to be one of my favorite and weirdest movie theater experiences ever. We watched Venom with a natural 3D effect that just added to the movie.

Travel Tip #2: Try the local food, but don’t ask what it is. 

It is important to eat what the locals of the country eat just so that you can have that extra layer of cultural experience. The thing is that the local food just might not sit well with you mentally. So my advice is don’t ask what you are eating. Well at least until you have finished up the meal. 

The food could be something you would not think to eat normally. You might look at the food and think “Wow, that looks and smells good.”, but then you make the mistake of asking about it you don’t want to try it after you know. However if you don’t ask what it is you might realize that in fact not only did it look and smell good, but it also tastes good as well. 

Granted you could be eating it and think it has a strange texture, and spend the time trying to figure out what it is drawing a blank. Only to ask the street food vender and find out that it is Spicy Pig Brain Soup, and now that you know you are unable to finish off your meal as you are eating a brain. On the other hand it is rude not to finish the food, and the guy is now staring at you with a happy expression as you are guilt tripped into struggling through eating the rest with the knowledge you are in fact eating a brain.