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Lost without internet, cell phones

By Gan Tian (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-04-07 12:52

Tuesday

9:13 am

Big sleep. Feel good. Beijing's sun is shining.

10:24 am

Boss allows me to finish my hometown story at my apartment but travel brochure information is from 2006. I use my home landline. Never done this before. I call the travel bureau office for an update.

"They are all on our websites," says the assistant.

"Oh ... I just can't get online these days. Please, can you do me a favor, and help me find this information?"

He says nothing and I hear him typing. He's using the Web!

Nobody uses paper, which was actually invented by my hometown's most famous man, Cai Lun.

2:24 pm

Call my friend Damon at his office. His number is the only one I can remember.

"Who is this?" he says.

"Hey, it's me! Don't you recognize my voice?"

"Oh my God! Where have you been? We thought you were dead!" he screams.

"Listen, I am on a special project. I can't use mobile phones or the Internet. You have to use this landline number. What's up? Anything funny going on?"

"Anything funny? Everything is funny! You know that stupid guy we met last Friday night is now dating Mendy! We have been discussing it on MSN for days."

Damon says there is party at MIX nightclub, one of Beijing's cool hip-hop clubs.

"Call me when you get to the door and I'll take you in," Damon says.

10:24 pm

At MIX club front door but cannot call Damon. No phone.

"My friend has booked a seat there. Let me in," I say to a doorman.

"Call him and ask him to take you in," the big man says.

I tell him the no-mobile phone story.

The bouncer looks me up and down very strangely. "Sorry then," he says.

10:39 pm

Call Damon from nearby shop. He picks up but the music is deafening.

"Come to the door and get me," I shout.

"Who is this?" Damon says.

One hour later, I get in.

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