say it with pie

Forget tombs, palaces and monuments: on our last day in Beijing, Pete and I decided to go to the Natural History Museum, a little-known facility from the soviet era which contains a macabre hall of human remains. I was taken there in 1994 by a Chinese babysitter who apparently didn't realize how much a room of dissected cadavers would disturb a 12-year-old. It was pretty gruesome (see Flickr for details, NSFW).

Unfortunately, the hall of people in formaldehyde tanks was closed on our visit. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if the entire museum was shut down before the Olympics next year. They haven't done any renovations in years and all the displays look like they're holding on for dear life. So, yeah, the Natural History Museum is a pretty screwed up place to spend an afternoon and take pictures. Prepare to be followed by schoolchildren who are more impressed by your Caucasianity than the dinosaur exhibits: it's part of the experience.

More photos behind the cut...

This poor beaver lost his head.

"Pete, what are you doing?"
"Why, I'm driving a bug, thanks for asking."

"Ahhhhh!!"

Yup.