Destination: China

Things You Don't See In China Department: Helmets

Sun, 4 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [449]

On Kids: never.  On bicyclists: never.  On motorcyclists: rarely.  On construction workers: rarely.  On dancers who portray construction workers in routines glorifying labor: always.

Gallery: Jimingyi

Sun, 4 May 2008 | By avant-garde_chauvintist | Photo Gallery

Saturday

Sat, 3 May 2008 | By avant-garde_chauvintist | Views [588]

I spent the day recovering. Even though I didn't get much sleep, I "woke up" slightly hung over from the festivities of Hagen's last night. I put on a movie and slept nearly all day. Around dinner time, the phone calls started coming.... Read more >

Gallery: Great Walk to Beijing Part II

Sat, 3 May 2008 | By williamwong | Photo Gallery

Ritz-Carlton

Fri, 2 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [592]

By switching from a somewhat comprehensive health insurance scheme to a $5,000 deductible plan* I am saving $385/month.  In most parts of China, I can live well on $385/month.  For me, "living well" means being able to spend the day--or the ... Read more >

Down the Manhole

Fri, 2 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [400]

Be aware that if you come to China, some things will not be as they are at home. Everything is not designed to protect you from your own stupidity. Watch where you are going. Hazards may not be blocked off. Personal responsibility, sadly, is on ... Read more >

Kernfucious Say: China...

Fri, 2 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [364]

Kernfucious Say: China is like remembering a song I began to write before I was born.

More On Tibet

Fri, 2 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [521] | Comments [4]

To the sanctimonious Americans (and Europeans) who reprimand China for Her actions in Tibet, here is a reminder of what Tibet was like before China re-established Her presence there in 1959.  Tibet was a feudal serfdom.  It was a monarchy of monks and ... Read more >

The last of China

Fri, 2 May 2008 | By da_misfit | Views [601] | Comments [1]

Today is our last day in China. We catch a sleeper train this afternoon bound for Vietnam. While there has been some really enjoyable parts of China. It has been our least favourite and has many times been a struggle. So we are really excited to be ... Read more >

If She Is a Happy Nymphomaniac...

Fri, 2 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [470]

The parents of a Sioux girl were concerned about their daughter's proclivities.  They sought the advice of the tribal shaman.  He said, "If she is a happy nymphomaniac, why cure her?" I have heard that some whites can't tell the difference ... Read more >

On the Diversity of Chinese People

Fri, 2 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [406]

China is so heterogenous that on more than one occasion, I have been mistaken for being Chinese from elsewhere in the country.  A pedicab driver in Zhongwei couldn't figure out why he couldn't understand me.  It didn't occur to him that I wasn't speaking ... Read more >

The Dogs of Ningxia

Fri, 2 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [392]

I was walking the streets of Yinchuan (Ningxia P.) and the sight of a full-grown Husky dog caught my eye.  The couple who just bought him were trying to get him to join them on their moped, and it was a perfectly normal thing to see 2 people and a Husky ... Read more >

Chinese Girls & Time

Thu, 1 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [554]

A Chinese girl is not late unless she is more than 30 minutes late.  It is universal.  (Well, I only have experience with "nice" girls.)  There is nothing you can do about it but think about how much more than 30 minutes you would happily give ... Read more >

Spot-On Translation

Thu, 1 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [451]

We all know of things that didn't survive the translation from Chinese to English (see Chinglish section, coming soon).  But sometimes the result is decidedly more accurate than anything we have in English.  For example, in Dongcheng: "The Pleasant ... Read more >

Things You Don't See in Beijing

Thu, 1 May 2008 | By bodiekern | Views [507]

You don't see people sleeping under bridges, or on sidewalks.  You don't see beggars, graffiti, litter, the stars, firetrucks, carwashes, running hoses, benches, athletic socks, people running...