In The Mood For Adventure
Posted: August 7th, 2011 | Author: LumDimSum | Filed under: A Day In My Life, Personal | Tags: Gung Ho! Gourmet Pizza Factory, Jade Gray, Lush, New Zealand, Pyro Pizza, Shunyi Olympic Rowing Park, University of Otago | 3 Comments »
After staying in Friday night to recover from Hatsune’s 10 Year Anniversary the night before, I was in the mood for adventure Saturday morning. I was up for anything as long as nature and physical activity were both part of the equation.
There are a few good people in Beijing I can consistently count on to be both spontaneous and outdoorsy and this time, I was lucky enough to tag along for a day of fun with none other than Pizza and Burger King Jade Gray (co-owner of Gung Ho! Gourmet Pizza Factory, and the man behind both Lush and Pyro Pizza in Wudaokou). One of my favorite people in Beijing, Jade is freakin hilarious and is always on-the-go whether he’s traveling, exploring or on a mission to just get out of Beijing for a day.
Thanks to Jade, I got my fix of the great outdoors as we zoom zoomed out of Beijing on his motorbike.
But first, we made a quick pitstop at Shunyi’s Olympic Rowing Park to see the University Rowing Race where crews from 10 universities around the world including Oxford, Qinghua, Harvard, Yale, and Cambridge,battle in a two-race competition. Gung Ho! Pizza was the proud sponsor of New Zealand’s University of Otago rowing team.
We mistakenly thought it would be a good idea to rent this bike to ride alongside the boats as they raced, but then we realized that this cart is one of the slowest vehicles ever created. A shame because it had so much potential.
Gung Ho! Pizza sponsored the University of Otago’s Rowing Team.
Check out the size of that oar. (that’s what she said!)
After checking out the first of the two races that day, we were on our way to visit a spectacular spot by Miyun where you can swim in clean, natural pools of water surrounded by mountains.
Aside from a small group of Korean students and tourists around, there was really no one else around. This place is incredibly beautiful with mini rock falls and tall mountains with sightings of the Great Wall perched just above. There is even a bit of sandy beach and shaded little benches to lounge about.
Run by a Korean couple, the area is well-kept and the restaurant served absolutely delicious Korean dishes with veggies picked from their own garden and high-quality meats to grill.
What an adventure!
LumDimSum Snapshots:
That Miyun spot looks amazing Ms Lum, give us the details!
@Sarah K: Sorry, but Jade won’t tell! He doesn’t want the “Beijing masses” finding out about his secret hide away, but here’s a clue – it’s up a valley west of the Miyun reservoir. He says “the more intrepid will be able to find it for sure.”
Oh dear…you both made a wonderful adventure. I’m astonished to see the bike. I never saw this kind of bike before. Pictures are also made me impressed. Seriously or not seriously I appreciate your adventure. Have you more picture for share?