Peking by Motorcycle

It is summer 2013 and is my second tour in China. A move I made aiming to create a consulting company that could bridge Colombia and China.

Two years earlier, I met someone who was later to become into what I call a Friend.

I was living on a budget. My salary as an entrepreneur was 7.500 yuan a month (US $1.000), living in a shared apartment with two local roomates and dedicating all my time to the new venture. No fancy restaurants, only 4 yuan beer as any possible drink during the weekends and moving very precise.

We got a small office at Chaowai Soho. We were lucky, it was a beautiful space we got for free thanks to a Chinese businessman and a couple of colombian friends. My way to office was 40 mins in the subway, buying the China Daily at the corner and 10 minutes walk. The last two parts were awesome but the 8 am subway, in Line 1 and Line 10 of Beijing Subway, is quite an experience.

That summer, my friend made an important professional step. It was a week day, he called me in the morning and asked to stop by his office for a coffee after lunch. The memory is crystal clear when walking upstairs and he mentioning he was selling his bike. We had the coffee, talked about my business and how it was going, the projects, the clients and how challenging it was looking. When we finished he walked me out to find the motorcycle by the door and the words were “it is my gift for your entrepreneurial adventure”. Since that day and for two years and a half I rode that motorcycle all around Peking and collected some of the most fascinating memories I have.

My daily life changed that day. No more subway, more time for me, the wind in my face, freedom, an engine and a tool that was taking me to meetings, places, the office, home, everywhere.

Peking by motorcycle is different. It was a safe mess, bikes in the wrong way, too many, but somehow, safe. The blue skies of autumn and the winter noon were my favorites. When pollution was there, a mask was key. The time was mine while riding Peking, a city which pace is inspiring for any person with the most basic idea of adventure.

Peking by motorcycle was a daily trip to creation, friendship, love and a fascinating place.