As soon as we returned to Beijing from the DPRK we decided to circumvent the mobility problem by renting a pair if bicycles. Finally we were able to move efficiently and to go around the city.

Unfortunately, the more we moved the more disappointed we were. First of all, although there is no exhaust smell (all motorbikes have electric motors and batteries, and the resit of the vehicles are fairly new) the air is so polluted with fine dust that we have never able to see the sky, during our stay. Furthermore, except for a few major sights, most of the traditional buildings are gone (some say as a result of Mao’s Great leap forward movement in the ’60s), being replaced with western style office and apartment buildings. Furthermore, food and drinks are very expensive, something we haven’t encountered in Asia before. Average meal costs way more than it would cost in Los Angeles 🙁