After the tour, I took a stroll down the street where there were a lot of people gathered along the snack street. I was hungry too as it was approaching dinner time. What a coincidence, food is available right in front. I crossed the road straight away approaching where there are most people. Most of the visitors there are almost 99% tourist comprises of Malaysian, Singaporean, Chinese from other province and westerners. There are mostly barbecue sticks and fried meat in stick form. An I get closer, I was amaze as they not only offer the normal food such as mutton, chicken, beef, shrimp and eels. They also have a lot of exotic food such as scorpions, centipede, beetles and so much more.
The stalls selling those food are offering almost the same items and stretch almost to about 500 meters afar. I was surprised to see most of the tourist carrying and walking along eating those food, and I wonder what they are eating as they seems to enjoy them.
Since I was so hungry, I started buying the drinks to satisfy my stomach needs. Later I walk down to the very end of the row, and walk back to where I started. I couldn't make my decision which to eat. I do agree that there is the fear factor in me in trying out those exotic food.After considering and reconsidering, and watching those people enjoying themselves with their own food, I make up my mind in buying one of the sticks. I spent 10 yuan for a stick of eel meat.
The eel meat doesn't taste bad, except that the 'thing' in my mouth doesn't make me feel good. I find it hard to swallow them into my stomach. As such I decided to keep them in a better place, right happened to be in front of me, the dustbin.
Then later I start to move around walking from one end again and return doing my job, clicking here and there with my camera.
I made a second attempt without much hesitation on my next stop since I was still hungry. This time I bought a stick of fried scrimp. I am sure this must be easy for me as they are common food. After a bite of it, I straight away head to the dustbin. This time, it's the taste. It really taste like plastic and tasteless. I think they must have kept the food for along time and re-fried them over and over again. It's tough like leather. That cost me 20 yuan !
There are even star fish. I purposely post lots of photos in today's posting as I want to let the photos tell it's own stories with it's own words.
Temptation to try eating them are there especially if you come a long way like me, and they do looks delicious and fresh.
Try to see closer at each photos, there are worm cocoons, water beetles, Centipede, snake meat, sheep penis, star fish, octopus, longhorn beetles and some of them I don't even know what they are called or what they are.
After walking to the very end of the snack street, I reach the junction of Wang Fujing Street. Take a turn on the right is the pedestrian/walking street. This is another famous street among visiting tourist. This evening the weather is cooling almost 26 degree Centigrade. So, it is comfortable for a street walk.
I walk to the first stall along the street to have a tuna sandwich and a bottle of China's Tsingtao beer. A bottle of small size of Tsingtao beer cost 10 yuan. It is very common for the people there to drink direct from the bottle. No glass is provided.
I walked around Wang Fujing street until night falls. It's a lovely street with lots of foreigners and I enjoy going through the street window shopping and watching the crowded people shopping around. They have a lot of things to see, most of them different from where I come from. Probably the reason I was enjoying myself with my camera along is the cold weather and cool wind blowing.
Wang Fujing located in Dongcheng district in Beijing is the most famous Walking Street in Beijing among domestic and foreign tourist. If you are visiting Beijing, this is a must visit place during the evening or as a free and easy tour. And there is a subway station over at this street if you intent to come over or are staying further or outside of Dongcheng district. Just take the Metro subway train. And the next subway station after Wang Fujing is Tian'anmen.
Wang Fujing is as interesting during day time and after sunset. When dusk come, the buildings starts to brighten up with colourful neon's. And the street gets even crowded during night time. And I think that's because most of the tourist are already back from their daily tour, and are on shopping spree and looking for souvenirs.
At night time, I can feel that spring is still around in Beijing. There are people still putting on sweater and long sleeve shirts.
In China, every walking street is a typical China Town. They have lots of lanterns with big Chinese signboard and architecture everywhere. They looks the same in Hangzhou, Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou and Tianjin. I think they look the same or quite similar too in other countries as well. That struck my mind posting the question why there are China Town all over the world ? We have a few in Malaysia. The most well know one is the 'Petaling Street'.
I sat and walk along the street relaxing until almost 9 pm, then I decided to walk my way back to my hotel which is not far away.
