Monday, Aug. 11, 2008

By ED ODEVEN

BEIJING — One of the most enjoyable aspects of traveling is spotting unusual signs, learning about local customs and tasting the local cuisine. I'll focus on the latter two items more and more during the next two-plus weeks.

On the 11-minute shuttle bus ride from my hotel to the Main Press Center on Sunday morning, I noticed a few business signs that stood out among the hundreds along the way.

There's a place known as the Beijing Nice Effect Hairdressing Linkage.

It doesn't quite have the same simplicity as, say, Ray's Barber Shop, does it?

Nearby is something called Charm Bar Beauty & Fitness Salon.

And then there's the Pangu 7 Star Hotel Beijing.

It sounds luxurious, eh?

It opened in late July.

Inside this 234-guest room, 140-suite hotel, "the Happiness Lounge provides views of the Olympic Park and beyond," Chinahospitalitynews.com reported recently.

But wait, there's more. The Auspicious Garden restaurant and Karma Lounge provide fine opportunities to have dinner or share a few drinks with friends and loved ones.

This scribe's lodging locale, a Super 8 hotel, isn't super. But hey, there's free bottled water in a small refrigerator near the elevator.

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