Kind time and light space

I'm proud to say that not only did I live out two complete Saturdays this weekend—one in Beijing and a Boeing 747, one in Oakland—but I also made it through two weeks of blogging without touching on the two essential stereotypes about traveling in Japan and China.

You can blame it on jet lag or whatever, but it's time to break that healthy trend. Ahem.

1. JAPANGLISH IS REALLY FUNNY.
Yes. Yes, it is. May it please the court:

It proposes the more comfortable environment.
From you, it sends to the world.

—Window ad, Midori electronics store

Pleasant Dining Bar
Kind Time and Light Space

—On the door of a restaurant

SELFISH and Snob Envamp
—Appropriate names for two pricey boutiques

Petfeeling Mink
—I really hope this place was a pet store

"LADY,S"
—This way to the women's restroom

And let's not forget the car names:

Suzuki Every
Honda That's
Daihatsu Move
Nissan Cube

But the funnier part is that all four cars are shaped like little toasters (for full-size toasters sold in the U.S., see Element and Scion).

2. CHINA IS REALLY CHEAP.
Like, crazy cheap. Let's do a side-by-side comparison, shall we?

One-way subway ride
Beijing: $0.35 (all distances)
SF/Oakland: $1.40–6.15 (depends on distance)

Cab ride to airport (approx. 45 minutes, with tolls)
Beijing: $11
SF/Oakland: $65

Bottle of spring water
Beijing: $0.25
SF/Oakland: $1 and up

Sapphire & tonic at a hipster bar
Beijing: $4
SF/Oakland: $7

Cute li'l handbag (new, not thrift store or vintage)
Beijing: $8
SF/Oakland: $25 and up

60-minute deep-tissue massage
Beijing: $7 (no, that's not a typo)
SF/Oakland: $60 and up

Dinner for two (with wine and dessert)
Beijing: $20
SF/Oakland: $50, if you're savvy or lucky

Tipping
Beijing: You don't.
SF/Oakland: 15–20%, more if you used to wait tables or you're trying to impress your date

Monthly rent for a 2BR apartment in a midrange neighborhood
Beijing: $300–500
SF/Oakland: $1,500–2,500

But I'd be remiss not to include one final stat for perspective:

Average monthly per-capita income in 2006
Beijing: $227
SF/Oakland: $4,106

There you have it.

Next up: Photos! Will start posting just as soon as I get my scanning hand back in shape after an excellent long vacation.