Smoking law - up in smoke?

It was recently announced that from May 1 smoking will be completely banned in medical facilities, nurseries, kindergartens, educational institutions, cinemas, concert venues, museums, libraries, children’s play areas, buses, taxis, trains, train stations, tourist attractions, sports venues and, according to the official press release, all public areas across the city.















So, now there is a big discussion about what is "public areas". The law do not give any definition so it is up to the smokers to decide if it is a "public area" or not?Same thing with smoking in parks and Internet cates that will be "partly banned" - what parts?
Restaurateurs and bar owners, meanwhile, are allowed to implement the ban at their own discretion. However, it's unlikely that many venues will choose to do so.
Originally, the government had wanted Beijing restaurants and bars to dedicate over 70 percent of floor space to non-smokers.This never came to pass due to complaints that the law would lead to a decline in custom. It's well known that many Chinese enjoy a cigarette at mealtimes – little surprise considering China is home to around 25% percent of the world's estimated 1.3 billion smokers - smoking more than 30% of all cigarettes in the world.

YES - It's raining

Last night it started to rain - a rain we have been waiting for quite a time. Now we will get rid of the fluff and it will be more easy to breathe again. So today all the shopping centers was full with people since nobody wanted to stay out in the rain.

We took the chance to go to the hairdresser - it is getting quite hot in Beijing now so a shorter hair is to recommend.

Bao Bao is getting a haircut

A Fluffy season

The spring is almost over now in Bejing and we are heading for summer. The cherry trees blossom and it is lovely to walk in the parks and watch all these lovely red and pink.














Another not at all so nice thing is that the season of fluff is upon us again. Beijing's numerous poplar and willow trees have begun releasing great tracts of fluffy pollen into the air. The pollen is a minor distraction to most of us, but can clog up the air conditioning systems of cars and buses and cause breathing difficulties for those with allergies. The pollen seems to be especially dense along the Eastern 4th and 5th Ring Roads and also by the Airport Expressway.

In an attempt to reduce the amount of springtime fluff (only the female trees release pollen), the city last year started a huge "sex-change city's 300.000 poplars trees. But, it seems that there's just as much pollen floating around this year as there was last year.
We can expect the fluff to continue getting caught in your hair and flying into your mouth until the end of the month. Only a heavy rain can make the life a little easier for people with allergies.



















Fluff gets into your eyes

Still standing...

The worlds tallest (?) building, 101, is still standing. It is three years since I was here last time but now I am back in Taipei, Taiwan again.

Is here for a short business trip having some training in Sony Ericsson office here. Back to Beijing again on Wednesday but I hope I have time for a "pineapple shrimp" with my friend Magnus and "en lille en" with Steen before I go back.

A new favorite

There is a lot of good restaurants in Beijing and we have 10-15 that we normal circulate. From time to time you get borred going to the same restaurant to often and we try to find new ones.
After going regular to Wasabi we found a new and better japanese restaurant, Matsuko, we visit quite often.

Another of our new favorites is "Uomo Teppanyaki Show Bar" in Lucky Street. Here You have good teppanyaki and other japanese food for a low price. You have t teheppanyaki buffet for just 158 RMB, incl free drinking.
Teppanyaki is a good way of eating since it takes a little time, it is a little show over the cooking and You really have time relax and to enjoy the food. Just one problem, You eat too much....