knloregon

I love Xi'an, particularly inside the old city wall.... Lucky Guy...

Looks like they used drain pipes for the foundation.. about 8 feet into the soft loam... then, up they went! Bad news is that all who invested in the Humpty Dumpty building are going to lose everything. Good news is that rather spectacularly buys are soon going to be available in the two buildings behind it!

~ two and a half years is a good track record... What city are you in?

~ It's not so much the happenings in China are "misinterpreted," in the Western press, but that they deliberately misrepresented for the sake of the audience that has come to expect it. ~ Extremely lucid observation. There most certainly are NYT's reporters with extensive experience in China, with their heads on straight---and more than capable of getting the story right (sometimes I read them, and am surprised by the balance ---so I have to recheck the source---still, its the exception) ---but these reporters also must submit though the labyrinth of editors (thought-police)---who in order to placate, and entertain its oh-so liberal readership, are dishing it up-----and I'm sure, many are tearing their hair out in Beijing, reading the edited version of their own words in the Sunday NYT's.. Our local liberal rag ---(actually, not so local, largest circulation north of SF) --- The Oregonian ---is much worse than the NYT's, since it doesn't have the benefit of a pool of international reporters (only one that I know of), calling in to remind editors of the real world out there. Their coverage in the past on China hasn't just been slanted---its been fiction. On Page One.

Sorry I was camping on the coast----missed all the fun... Can we stop splitting hairs on this? I think we have common ground. China doesn't have effective Rule of Law. There are few impartial courts where people can take grievances to be resolved in any semblance of fairness or impartiality. so they take to the streets---most of the incidents cited here are exactly those kinds of issues that the courts resolve in the US---personal in nature---crimes of local corruption, and injustice against individuals. The liberal western press (NYTimes is particularly wishful in this respect) usually misinterprets these riots as a sign of broader dissatisfaction with the Chinese gov. and political system on a broader scale----its not. And as Jin suggests---its also cultural. As a paraphrase from central China---- (sorry I cant quote it correctly)From the Song dynasty I think (but stand to be corrected) "Of course we are totally loyal to the Emperor, but there many mountains between him and us."

Wow. Some riot. Total crowd of maybe 400?? (including police) A guy with a bull horn, and a few local military police.... notice how slowly everyone moves (even with the excited prompting of bull-horn-guy).... and all the 'lookie-loos!" standing around with cell-phone cameras... and strolling ClOSER to the action---not moving away! ---Notice how they quickly back fill the riot police (in the area that is supposed to be cleared)---in order to get the best camera angles of the police phalanx (shields on top of their heads)... WOW! THE FEAR!! Wish I had a Hagen Dass push cart---would have made a killing! GREAT Reporting Asia Time Inc.!!! Keep up the good work! Actually, Fei will be in YueYang, within the week (less than 50 miles from Shishou) ---- and since her father is a high Party member, will be interesting to get his perspective....

Ah.... how did this thread arrive at Hooters?

Ver£¤ innovative ~ !

Expat resources and meeting places might be a good addition to the Candle. Obviously, AsianExPat (the web site) is a start, but doubt its much help in the inland cities. I imagine Nanjing has changes so much in the dozen years since I was there that I wouldn't recognize it. King Beer (a restaurant, not a brewer, as we supposed----but served alot of King Beer) was trying very hard to attract English speakers while we were there, but we never saw any---except us----and they loved having us there, to the point that they didn't want us to leave...

My wife is the same way about cheese.. After some encouragement, she finally likes real American mild cheddar cheese, particularly in grilled cheese sandwiches. But when first coming to America from China, a combination of bumpy air, and nervousness on the final approach to Portland, she used the air-bag. After that, any time I tried to introduce her to sharper cheeses, she always says---"smells like on the airplane'.

now (I think) we're getting somewhere... Personally, my opinion is that banking is a lousy example, mostly, since service is so bad at all Chinese banks. Imagine Bank of China lasting even one year in America--- "take a number and sit down!" (the security guard). Then try to cash a traveler's check---BOC the only place that will dependably take TC's---expect an emotional, and time consuming experience---clerk holding it up to the light, calling over managers, also holding up to the light---coming back to ask for even more ID... all about covering their asses really.. But Bill makes a point, and it is about China, and foreigners --- when I was first there in 1997---to meet my first daughter, one of the women on the street who surrounded us---as they always did in the early 'novel' days of international adoption---stated something that I thought was telling---- " ...very good! Adopt a Chinese daughter and improve your family line!" Sure, I know I should be offended by that, but I think some here would admit---maybe there is something to it-----it wasn't on a whim that we all went to China to find wives... Does that excuse poor behavior by Chinese towards westerners? It doesn't. And as they gain more international experience in customer service, it will improve---as Bill suggests---vote with your dollars to those businesses which treat you better----one thing you can be sure of in China, over America---they want your business---they just haven't figured out exactly how to get it.

So what isasuff going for these days? 4 boxes for a dollar here in Portland. I hate it---to much work... ....by the time you add all the ingredients, including the oil and fresh milk, its no deal, plus, the fake cheese stiks to the spon..... no fun at all! ....jus keep struin' and sturni'..... nothin happens... and nobody wants to lic the spon!

...all good points... I'd have to live there, though, to get to your point, Bill.. ...the other thing is to compare that to the trials of Chinese in the US-----or those who want to be... No racism there? I've been through the visa process three times now, and I'm plenty jaded about Chinese prospects in America, or trying to come here.... I can go to China any time.

...My opinion is that GZBill offers a cynical, but legitimate perspective as an ex-pat in China. I think he has been there for a considerable amount of time, and is fluent in Cantonese, at least. An asset to The Candle.

I've spent plenty of time on hard bed trains by myself, and my MO is to lay low for the first 2-3 hours or so. During that period there seem to be alot of people checking everyone else out, and since its fairly typical to be either the only white on board, or one of very few, you get attention.. But it goes away after the initial novelty, and after that, you can converse on a more relaxed basis with those who are more sincere. Some of my most memorable experiences in China was sharing the scenery going by with strangers trying to sharpen their English skills, and trading stories about how Oregon is similar---and different.

Carl is right about Beijing, since the populace has had so much exposure to others from around the world, its much more cosmopolitan that other parts of China. Another example were China is 30-50 years behind the US in racial understanding..... And given China's massively homogeneous (Han) population, its unlikely, that as a nation, there will be pressure to assimilate----at least in our lifetimes...

Interesting posts ~ and Carl's is amusing .... some of what we experience in China is just the blunt nature of Chinese communication, and the language's in ability to offer alternatives, or shade meaning, I think. Although, yes, many attempts will be made to cheat you. A couple of years ago, I arrived in Zhongdian (SW Yunnan, on the eastern edge of the Tibetan plateau) after a long bus ride from Kunming. I was tired and it was late, and there was only one restaurant open---Han not Tibetan, and there was one girl who could speak broken English, but the rest of the kitchen help didn't, but they saw me as an easy mark at the end of the evening. I ordered black chicken (Silkie) and rice, from the limited offering left, and I noted that they were charging me twice the price. The girl kept coming out offering me other things at inflated prices, and even tried to charge me for the tea, while the kitchen help kept egging her on... ....It was a very rare moment when I was too tired to dispute a price in China, but when I finished, I threw the money down on the table, and told the girl ---- "I hope you come to America, so we can treat you just like you treated me!" ---I guess she wasn't so stupid, since she burst into tears when I got up and left....

Call me Kim, everyone does...

Oh, this is a classic Chinese infra-structure project, all right---(great pictures SQN) ---Nanjing was the first Chinese (not HK) city that I set foot in---1997... And as SQN knows, NJ has a substantial military presence. After we touched down, the end of the runway had several old military aircraft from the Soviet era, including some stripped MIG's and a pile of what we (hoped) were practice bombs. We arrived at the old airport, and were met with open hostility by the Customs officers checking our passports, and subjected to inquiries by one officer in broken English---we answered, but in reality, I don't think he understood what we said. But since none of the other officers understood any English, he looked like he was doing his job. ...and he had plenty of opportunity to deal with us---since we were the only flight into Nanjing during the whole experience we had at the airport. Particularly of interest was the baggage carrousel--- while we are used to sections which go round and round, and each segment is stainless steel----at the old NJ airport---they were made of thick leather. I found that fascinating, since it was obviously easier on the luggage.. But driving into the city was such a transformation.... that first experience with REAL China.. Everywhere along the route, the old buildings on either side---brick two stories were being torn down by hand labor, and loaded onto those old hand carts---probably 500 lbs. of brick on each, pushed by one guy. And children were everywhere, playing in the ruins even as the workers tore them down, dust everywhere----and this very weird experience as we drove by block after block----kids partly hidden by the dust of demolition, having a sword fight (with sticks) on the roof top of one building---even as its wall were falling... And one kid---seemingly the leader of the winning combatants, wearing this tall, tapered Dunce cap, in bright colors... I turned to my travel companions---our reaction was the same----Fellini----that Nanjing China in 1997 was undergoing a remarkably similar physical (and psychological) transformation as was Italy at the end of WW2.

Any unsealed food stuff is subject to confiscation. Several years ago, Fei brought back a lot of her favorite Hunan 'snacks' (a carry-on bag full) Customs was not amused... Her point: 'Sorry I thought these were just snacks, not food...' Still not amused. All of her unsealed food was confiscated, with a warning not to do it again, although all the sealed food was permitted. ...and do think her info. was logged into the Customs computer...

HK is a great. Also if you book you departure out of HK, you might save some on the airfare. Vry modern, high speed train from GZ (East rail station) directly into HK, and much less hassle leaving China and entering HK than by bus (bus is the cheapest, but the longest, and most hassle) Train is less expensive than flying, of course. Pre-book your place of stay, and I suggest Kowloon, rather than HK island, since it is closer to the HK train station, and you will need to take a cab. Yes, the next day, you should take the star ferry across to HK---one of Asia's best bargains--- last time I rode, (two years ago) it was still about a dime. And Ride the double decker trollies, also cheap. But for my tastes, and probably your SO's the best deals are still on Kowloon. My recommendations: Temple street night market. Ladies Market (big hit with SO, and you get to look like a 'big spender' without much outlay---(Tung Choi St.) ----and further up Tung Choi St. a local favorite: "Fish market" ----but its not a fish market as we know it----its LIVE fish from all over the world---pets! Beautiful gold fish, Koi, tropical fish, and Marine fishes----store after store, both sides of the street! to my taste, just very spectacular---

Yeah, that it alright. Vry sophisticated burial rights considering the time. Vessels carefully arranged with the body. Plus, as I remember, buried within the housing compound, kept close to the extended family.

BTW SQN, Great bus picture! Did you take it? Lots of personality there! Love the kid & mother....

Sounds like a western equivalent in reporting this tragic accident. Thats good. Sort of what I would expect from Chengdu, a very cosmopolitan city. I spent less than a week there two years ago, but I was very impressed...

So Bill are you in Chengdu now? If so, was this story reported objectively, and in a timely manner?