The Great Wall Music Festival - Beijing

I’m finding it difficult to sort out how and where to begin when trying to describe the epic-ness of this past weekend. A couple of months ago Jill (Matheson from NS), a friend of mine who live and works in Beijing, had mentioned the festival to me and had said that David Guetta would be headlining. Naturally I was super keen but wanted to check around with friends to see if there was any interest. Although everyone agreed it would be a great time due to a variety of reasons I was the only one that was going to be able to go. When I looked at flight I didn’t think that I would be able to go but while sitting with Mariya at the Boathouse one night I looked online just for fun; flights had gone from $600 to $400 to $250ish. I decided this was a sign and I had to book it (Dad would understand this as a sign as well)! Jill was able to buy an early bird ticket for me and just like that I was scheduled to head to Beijing in May!! Fast forward a month and a bit and I was packing a bag in a hurry and heading off to the HK airport – it felt as though I had simply blinked and May 10^th had arrived!

Step 1: Ferry ticket, check!

Step 2: Find my gate, check!

Step 3: Charge my iPhone, check!

Step 4: Board my flight, settle in and nap, check!

Step 5: Party, check!

The flight went very smoothly, luckily! I was asleep before we took off (classic) on account of the long week and after a little rest I had some dinner and a beer (no need to ask how excited I was to learn that the beer was free, I was pretty thrilled), watched a show and poof, I was on the tarmac in Beijing. I survived a monstrous cab line, arrived at the school, met Jill and Carrie (visiting from PEI), dropped my things (in the apartment that I had all to myself across the hall from Jill) and we headed out to a pub (great live music)! I was thrilled to reunite with everyone – Jess O, Chelsey and Katrina (Shenzhen friends), Jill, Carrie, Joe and Chris (Bed friends)! The first night was spent first at a pub with live music that then escalated to dancing the sun up on a rooftop bar by the name of Kokomos (fantastic spot)!!! 

We woke up the next morning, had a delicious breakfast, got our drinks ready for the day (including Gatorade, vodka and plastic bags) and headed to the buses. Leave it to China to have it all very disorganized. We ended up having some drinks and holding back from the ocean of wild animals fighting to get on the buses that were coming and going. By the end we had to throw elbows, were nearly crushed, lost an entire bag filled with bottled water, got a few bruises but made it on the bus (Jess O and I…the others didn’t make it through but were able to get on the next bus). I won’t lie, in the thick of it I may have considered laying down and giving up but then realized…moving enough to lay down was not an option (HA!). Within the first 10 minutes on the bus there was a guy (there’s always one) who didn’t use the bathroom before leaving and was forced to use a water bottle…he filled 1 and ½…apparently it really was an emergency. 

After an hour or so we arrived at The Great Wall of China…what a sight! We bought some beer, went for a wee walk around and met up with the whole group outside of the entrance gates. The atmosphere of the place was insane! From here I’m not exactly sure I can put into words the experience of rocking out to David Guetta’s songs with a zillion other people…on The Great Wall. EPIC. By the end of the festival we were physically exhausted…our bodies didn’t seem as thrilled as our minds and hearts were about dancing and scream singing for hours on concrete. We all slept on the bus home, grabbed some McDonalds and went to bed. Going out was not an option.

I was up surprisingly early on Sunday and when the girls were ready we cabbed to The Pearl Market. Found the underground Lululemon (it was so cheap I simply couldn’t say no) and did some market shopping. Unfortunately my visa stopped working (it must have been a sign of some sort) so the shopping ended with Lulu but I enjoyed looking around. I couldn’t believe it, the people in the stalls actually spoke English (a true rarity here in Shenzhen)!  After some dinner Katrina and I headed to the airport, hopped on the plane and were home before we knew it. I even got a row of 4 seats to myself, a dream come true for my long legs.

 This past weekend is one of those weekends that I will be forever glad that I decided to spend the money and Just Do It.

I may not have any money BUT I have Lots of wonderful Memories!! hahahahahaha