i love seafood

and always knew that there were certain ones we should avoid and other that were "acceptable" to eat but never took the time to research the info and didn't really know where to look. i stumbled upon this and thought i would share with other seafood lovers :)

http://www.mbayaq.org/cr/cr_seafoodwatch/sfw_alternatives.asp

beijing observations

• a city of opposites: massive new construction next buildings lying in ruin, bicycles toting coops of live chickens riding beside new Audis, such trustworthy people as those who would chase after you down the escalator when you've dropped a souvenir but also those capable of methodical thievery, the excessively rich and equally poor
  
• BYOP: bring your own (toilet or tissue) paper
• no such thing as "clear skies" even after the rain... always smoggy
• the best damn dumplings, ever.
• the acrobatics show is TOTALLY worth it. seriously amazing feats.
  
• chinese people think i am chinese.
• labor is "nothing", only goods are "gold."
• horn honking is abundant. so much so that it stops really meaning much except for maybe "get the hell out of the way" and "f-you." cars rules. pedestrians and bicyclists beware -- you risk you own life on the road.
  
• all cars seem to be manual transmission. VW and Audis dominate the road.
  
• INSIST on taxi drivers using the meter. Even when they say "no, no it's traffic time. cheaper without meter." If they say no, get out of the cab and go to the next guy. there is no shortage of taxis and you will get ripped 3, 4, 5+ times over if you don't insist on them using the meter.
• make sure to get your hotel "namecard" as they often call it, or business card of the establishment where you are staying. it's your only saving grace when trying to instruct the taxi cab where to go!
  
• even if you aren't staying at a 5 star hotel, try stopping it at one or someplace with a concierge and get your hands on an english/chinese map of the city. I don't know about you, but I like getting to know my way around and with the language barrier, a bilingual map really helps.
• for me, miss straight up, bargaining is hard to learn to love. i have been taught the rules of the game, know some so-called strategies, even how to have a little fun with it, but i have yet to embrace it.
• ah yes, and a very handy, Comet brand audio translator is amazingly helpful at no only translating english to chinese (and 3 other languages in the same gadget), but also provides conversation phrases, conversions, etc AND plays the audio for whatever word or phrase you choose (in addition to the written chinese and pinyin). For example, in the phrases / shopping / bargaining section, they offer the chinese phrases for: "how much does it cost?", "this is good, but it's a little expensive" and the kicker "can i get it for a little cheaper?"
  
• i have no idea how in the hell they are going to be ready for the 2008 olympics
• i want to go again!!
• (to be continued... more later)