My weekend: Freddy Auhing from Ecuador

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-23 11:42

Freddy Auhing, 22, from Ecuador is enrolled in an undergraduate program at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). Riding his motorcycle is his biggest passion and, with his girlfriend in tow, he explores Beijing.

Saturday

After breakfast, I take my motorcycle and get ready to ride cross the city to a primary school in Gongzhufen area to teach kids English.

After that, depending on the weather, I pick up my girlfriend and take a ride around Beijing. Crossing the whole city from south to north, visiting different places and going to different restaurants once a week is a great experience.

The restaurants I have visited include a small place opposite UIBE.

In China you can find food from all over the world without leaving the country. Usually we go to Chaoyang district where we can have a variety of food.

One of our favorites is Latin, a grill house located in the Solana shopping mall, near Chaoyang Park. It serves nice Hispanic food.

Heading back we usually meet friends who also ride bikes, like Paul Feijo, my best pal. They would join us riding around.

We take the 3rd Ring Road and stop in front of Yonghegong Lama Temple for a couple of drinks in a hutong nearby. To keep my girlfriend warm, we stop at her favorite coffee shop "Costa coffee" in Sanyuanqiao area.

Finally, we stop in Sanlitun bar street to get dinner in the Village. Tired of eating Chinese food every day, we would get something new, for example, Vietnamese food at Muse restaurant.

Our faces are getting dark because of the dirt, but we enjoy seeing the contrast of this city, from a high-rise building to a small hutong, from the latest Ferrari model to old bikes.

On our way back home, we see taxies crossing the red light and people crossing the green light. This city is growing so fast that no one wants to stop.

For nightlife, we go to a new Latino club called Juice Spot next in Lucky Street near Kempinski Hotel. We enjoy the cosmopolitan environment and exotic drinks while dancing to "la gasolina".

Sunday

After a rough Saturday night at Juice Spot, I order an American pizza from Cats Eyes for brunch.

Then my girlfriend and I take the bike to Zhongguancun electronic market to buy some electronic stuff for people back in my home country. After that, we go to the movie theater in the mall next to Carrefour.

When the night arrives, we go to Nanluoguxiang for dinner in a Korean restaurant.

After escorting my girlfriend to her place, I go back home to read My Rich Dad, My Poor Dad, a book I just started.