You Never Know Just How You Look

Today was Labour Day in China. In previous years people have had three official days off, but this year the government changed it to one. Various workplaces exercised their own discretion, so some people got up to six days off. I get one.

So, I spent my day off hanging out with Yoyo (it was going to be Yoyo and Ariel, but Ariel cancelled at the last minute). In the evening we met up with Ariel at a youth hostel, had a few beers and several interesting conversations, and then left for the 1+1 club. If you only want to dance - and we had already had our drinks - you can get in free, so we did. Then we went home.

And, as it happened, I'd lost my money somewhere along the way. I have no idea what happened to it - the pants I'm wearing have both velcro and a zipper over the pockets, so I think it unlikely that I was pickpocketed. At any rate, I had a very understanding taxi driver who understood the mad gesticulations that were my attempt to explain that I would go to my apartment, fetch money, and come back. He was still there when I got back, so he must have believed me too.

Earlier in the day, I made lunch for Yoyo and me. Then, I very cleverly broke the glass lampshade above the table, showering the virgin food with shards of glass. I threw everything out, and we went to Pizza Hut instead. I've been very curious as to what Pizza Hut in China is like ever since I discovered the lack of cheese here. So, here it is:

Some things change, and some things stay the same. The pizzas themselves are the same. You can't tell them apart. The garlic bread is not - instead of a delicious greasy loaf still dripping with butter and garlic, you get a few modest slices that have been baked, not fried, and have no trace of grease remaining. This might be an improvement if I didn't happen to like the greasy, tin-foil-wrapped garlic bread better. I've got no idea if the sides are the same - I'm not familiar enough with Pizza Hut back home to be able to tell.

The biggest difference, though, is that Pizza Hut here is a fully-fledged restaurant, not a fast-food joint. I know Pizza Hut has been following this trend in the West, too, but it really shows here in the prices. At McDonalds, for example, you can get a meal for 20RMB. At Pizza Hut I spent 150RMB for two people - just one pizza, garlic bread, and drinks.

Last, but not least: I was very curious as to where they got there cheese from. As I said, even in cheese-free China, the pizzas were the same. Yoyo asked one of the waiters, and he said it comes from Australia.