Zhou Zhou

I've never had to do so much paper work for any visa in my life...this includes the old USSR, back in the cold war days. Four page form, color photograph, invitation letter, their ID cards (front & back), xerox of my passport & marriage book, wifes passport. My son-in-law used a form for the invitation and this was rejected and now they have to hand write the letter. I have had 5 China visas that cost much less money and have made 12 trips. I should be in the data bank by now. I've used Oasis many times and it would take them 11 days to get my visa to me. I asked if this increase in red tape was because of homeland security or terrorism in the world, but got no answer or conversation. Growl!

I have used Continental/United for years and have used most of my accumulated miles on the last trip. So I'm shopping now for a new airline, too.

We arrived early and my wife went in with several hundred others at 0615 for the interview. She was there all morning as I waited at the coffee shop and finally appeared with pink sheet in hand at 1220. It was worth the wait for me.

How about the, "Qiaodan" sports gear, with the guy dribbling a basketball?

It'll still be good sport for politicians to bash'em, ain't it?

The wife was keeping up with this case, since it's from our town. The word is that a 60 year old man disgruntled with the government, threw gasoline in the bus and ignited it. He also perished along with 47 innocent passengers.

Yup, lao po is learnin' good Americun speak like, "Absolutely, positively", "See you soon", "Over my dead body" and "You can't handle the truth"!

I figured at most I'd spend an average of $3 a day on transportation if I lived in Chinervania. Ain't no way I'd put my shiny Pickup on a street over there. I spent a couple weeks in Fushun in '06. I didn't see a bird the whole time and it was my first experience with a taxi driver pulling a "U-turn" across a 6 lane avenue, in the snow.

Most of the trains I've been on are pretty good. Took a hard sleeper to Lasa, thirty four hours I want to forget. In fact I want to forget the whole trip to Tibet.

I saw a program on PBS some time ago discussing and describing about a dozen dialects that are heard in the Boston area. Very interesting. Down here we only speak 100% Americun!

We visited Xi-An' a few years ago and took the 20Y bus from the airport to the city. Then tried to get a taxi to our hotel only half dozen blocks away and was told no by three drivers until one with a soft heart took us. I have always thought if I lived in Chiner I would never have to own a car...taxis and buses are the way go.

Excellent information...gotta print it for my mother to use.

Incredible...beautiful building and sculpture, but for a Consulate? I reckon I'd have to visit it to make a fair judgment.

The house is clean, I took a bath and ate lots of jiaozi...Happy New Year 4711!

Have y'all seen the price of a "P.O.Box" lately?