Smog, Dogs and....Dinosaurs?

The inexperienced China visitor will at first conclude that either (a) it's common practice for doctors to wander out onto the street in Beijing mid-op or (b) there's an inpending tear gas riot about to kick off. The sad truth and reason for the absurd amount of dust masks worn by the general populace is that the level of air pollution in this city is staggering. After a day in the downtown area my nose hairs have started growing nose hairs. I smell like I've been working at a gas station all month. It's a bit unnerving. Beau's been combatting the smog and keeping his strength up by eating a lot of dog...I think maybe he's starting to like it a bit too much, he bit a stray when we were just walking around earlier.
We spent most of today just walking around the city and rubbing shoulders with the locals. In the market we both got dragged around by our arms to different shops where cartoon keychains were pushed on us rather forcefully. We tried our best to explain that cartoon keychains are lame and gay in our culture and that we'd be beat up when upon returning home should we purchase them. They either didn't understand or care...probably both. I got Strawberry Shortcake on a leash.
We did go to an awesome music shop (I couldn't figure out how to turn the picture upright) with Chinese guitars and banjos. I jammed for a bit with the employees who were obviously impressed by my skills. Then an artist walked with us for awhile and brought us to his "office" (store) where he drew out our names and told us there meanings. Beau it seems means "powerful" while Ezra means "a handsome gentleman who will live a peaceful life and be loved by everyone." I liked that guy. Too bad he got angry when we didn't buy anything.
Later on we went to the Temple of Heaven but had to leave because the place was swarming with triceritops.

Tomorrow we head to Zhengzhou where the Hungry Monk is meeting us to bring us to the Shaolin Temple. We'll see how funny I think I am by tomorrow night.