On 17 January, thanks to Charles Dukes of “Beijing This Month” we were invited to their event at the Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall. We were happy to have skipped other invitations for the same evening as once again BTM did a great job in organizing a flashy evening.
The evening was presided by Ms. Wang Hui, well known through her role as spokeswoman during the Beijing 2008 Olympics.
If you want to see some beautiful Chinese models – boys and girls, the latest Chinese fashion creations from Zeng Fengfei (designer and general manager of Xiamen Fengfei Costume Design Company), as well as the well-known fashion house Botao, sit back, relax and watch the picture gallery or click [Show picture list]. There are some impressive, elegant and tempting models. Makes us forget the pollution.
Also pictured are the ballroom dancers Liu Lei and Zhao Jing (I think they received the second prize in the national competition). Also the singer Ke Sen from the Bahamas and a group of international enthusiastic dancers.
Not to forget the obvious Chinese Opera group…

The evening ended with some dancing, Sun was invited by one of the dancers for a waltz and more; we could not resist to dance our Brazilian favorite swinging. Thanks Charles for the pics.

(No no, there are no Playboy Bunnies in Beijing (yet) though the girls were euh… no comments, look for yourself. Blame it all on The Year of The Rabbit!)
On 12 January we had the real pleasure to be part of the audience at the new BTV tower for the recording of the Spring Festival Global Gala. It will be broadcast worldwide during the period of the upcoming Chinese New Year. I was at the BTV construction site for a TV interview many years ago. It is actually the highest steel construction in Beijing.
The show was great, unlike other rather boring events. Most of the performers were foreigners but they made me feel pretty humble as nearly all spoke Chinese fluently.

See here part of the list of people involved:
– One of the hosts was David Wu (USA overseas Chinese), who was a MTV host for a long time.
– Miss Sierra Leone 2009 Mariatu Kargbo (stunning beauty really) – fluent in Chinese
– Connie Talbot – 10 years old, from UK
– Samatha Pryce (Welsh, living in Beijing)
– Lilian Okoye – from USA, won a competition in Chinese proficiency
– Jin Meier (South Korea)
– Flameco dancing by the group of Cristina Hoyos Panadero
– Waka Waka performed by Mariatu Kargbo
– Robert Wells with his Swedish rock band and The Vocalettes
– Ana Rucner, cello – from Zagreb (Croatia)
– The Chooky Dancers, Australian traditional group, they gave a great and hilarious performance
– Lara Fabian, from Belgium (and pretty famous in Canada and USA), sung a duet with Shang Wenjie
– LaGaylia Frazier
and many others…
So people, watch out for the program next month and enjoy!

As reported, 9 December marked my frightening long stay here in Beijing.
To make me feel better, the Beijing Foreign Affairs Office organized a superb Ice Show “”Aurora Fairyland” in the Center Island Theatre of Longtan Park. Several other foreign Experts, some being my friends, were present. I was asked to meet the great acrobats for a group picture. I was also interviewed by some TV station (no idea who they were, as usual).

Afterwards I went straight to one of my discreet karaoke bars where I was entertained by … euh, well, lovely Chinese girls who fully supported my poor singing by pouring copious amounts of Bourbon into my glass. Some close European friends were there too to show their sympathy. For obvious reasons, no pictures are here provided.
After returning home rather early (2am) I had a stiff Pure Malt with Sun to close the special day.
So, as a result I am a bit fuzzy about the above details. But that was the idea actually.