understanding China better

[pinkmonkey]

I think the B was talking about Vietnam pinky (hint - coffee growing), whereas you seem to be talking China.

It was I who coined the phrase the "Great Capitalist Dictatorship of the People" (GCDP) to describe modern China.

You comin' Honkers any time soon?



Woof

I'm being the dumb blonde as you can see.......
they must be puttin somthing in the water........

Depending on when they release me (they're not allowing me to leave until everything is done - I've an open return), I may have a few hours to spare in honky konky, yes...... fingers crossed.

 

[Jessiedog]

I may have a few hours to spare in honky konky, yes...... fingers crossed.

*stacks the fridge with beer and sits down to make shopping list - gin, tonic, bitters, wine, rum, strawberries, ....*



Woof

 

[Jessiedog]

Hey JD have you been to Hainan yet?

Ah!

Good point chin. Leaving this Saturday morning 27th, returning Tuesday afternoon 30th.

Perhaps you could entertain pinkmonkey if I'm not around when s/he's in town.

Any other time pinky, I'll be here.



Woof

 

[pinkmonkey]

Ah!

Good point chin. Leaving this Saturday morning 27th, returning Tuesday afternoon 30th.

Perhaps you could entertain pinkmonkey if I'm not around when s/he's in town.

Any other time pinky, I'll be here.



Woof

I'm supposed to be flying out of HK on the 29th,but I wouldn't be surprised if its more like the 3rd or 4th at this rate.......

 

[Jessiedog]

I wouldn't be surprised if its more like the 3rd or 4th at this rate.......

*stacks more beer in the fridge*



Woof

 

[slaar]

Vietnam is about as Communist as China. I.e. not very much.

 

[Johnny Canuck3]

http://www.ezilon.com/information/article_6765.shtml

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

The internet censorship is one of the worst things about China, IMO, along with the appalling pollution.

For instance, I write reviews for the Urban75 film review blog. But I cannot actually look at my own reviews because the site is blocked here just because it contains the word 'blog' in the title!

It's ridiculous!

I don't know when or if this will change, or if it will get even worse

Urban may even end up getting blocked

 

[fela fan]

http://www.ezilon.com/information/article_6765.shtml

So that would be a shock johnny, you've managed to miss the entire point of this thread. Blow me down.

Unless of course you're the author of that piece.

To remind you, this thread is supposed to be an alternative to mainstream media. It is supposed to be an urbanite view of china.

You know, a collection of snippets of life as experienced by those posting on urban.

Thank you.

 

[fela fan]

Urban may even end up getting blocked

There's always thailand mate...!

Direct flights from kunming to chiang mai...!

 

[pinkmonkey]

The internet censorship is one of the worst things about China, IMO, along with the appalling pollution.

For instance, I write reviews for the Urban75 film review blog. But I cannot actually look at my own reviews because the site is blocked here just because it contains the word 'blog' in the title!

It's ridiculous!

I don't know when or if this will change, or if it will get even worse

Urban may even end up getting blocked

Doesn't seem to be blocked in hotels or factories. Probably explains the vast amount of porn sites in the cache of every 'pooter I've ever used in a business centre and the eagerness of male staff in many hotels to work in them.

Anyway, to add to the thoughts so far..........

In most cities I work in there is no power for at least two days a week as there simply isn't enough electricity to go round. The attitude is often - lets build 1000's of factories and worry about the infrastructure afterwards. Then theres worker shortages (about 10% at the last count), that's not going to improve either when these factories are finished.
There was some bloke on the tv this morning interviewed about the power shortages. He said 'don't worry about that! Come and do business with us!' Errrr yes.

But despite all that, there is nowhere else I'd rather work. Most professional, most co-operative, best technology, best quality, everything on your doorstep and a can do attitude. They make it so easy for you. Working in Europe (which I still do) is like banging your head against a brick wall in comparison, especially if you are a woman!

Other thoughts: went to dinner with a man from Sichuan last night, big scare over swine fever there, 38 people have died. We had pork for dinner and he didn't have any - I just assumed he might be Buddhist as some people I work with don't eat meat for that reason. I didn't know about the scare til I read the paper back in the hotel. Theres also a big freshwater fish scare at the moment as samples tested were contaminated with a carcinogenic chemical.

 

[fela fan]

But despite all that, there is nowhere else I'd rather work. Most professional, most co-operative, best technology, best quality, everything on your doorstep and a can do attitude. They make it so easy for you. Working in Europe (which I still do) is like banging your head against a brick wall in comparison, especially if you are a woman!

It's this can do attitude that i sense strongly. That will go a long way.

 

[pinkmonkey]

It's this can do attitude that i sense strongly. That will go a long way.

It's that what makes the difference. Regardless of what you've heard, there are plenty of other places in the world where it costs the same to manufacture, but the reason China gets more is because they make it easier, they invest in new technology and innovation and are quick to solve problems.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

There's always thailand mate...!

Direct flights from kunming to chiang mai...!

I would love to teach over there. I think the quality of life is better there than China (in terms of things like scenery, cleaner air (outside of bangkok), better outdoor lifestyle etc...

It's just getting me missus there now which is the problem

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

It's this can do attitude that i sense strongly. That will go a long way.

More a mixture of can do, can't do, might do, maybe do, get back to you in 2 weeks do, promise honestly to do, tell you one thing do and then do another thing do.

At least in the way schools are run!!

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

In most cities I work in there is no power for at least two days a week as there simply isn't enough electricity to go round.

This seems to afflict Wuhan in the winter in particular (i.e. just when you most want to run your heater!).

Hasn't been too bad this summer so far. But the winter is dreadful.

I remember during one powercut repairing to McDonalds hoping that at least they would have a generator, to no avail...

 

[fela fan]

I would love to teach over there. I think the quality of life is better there than China (in terms of things like scenery, cleaner air (outside of bangkok), better outdoor lifestyle etc...

It's just getting me missus there now which is the problem

Heh, if only i could go to hong kong and earn some mega bucks for myself for a couple of years... same reason...

Of all the countries in the world though mate, thailand i'd think would be the easiest to persuade her to go to. Here in chiang mai for example, plenty of chinese restaurants, communities, never mind the huge amount of second and third generation immigrants.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Heh, if only i could go to hong kong and earn some mega bucks for myself for a couple of years... same reason...

Of all the countries in the world though mate, thailand i'd think would be the easiest to persuade her to go to. Here in chiang mai for example, plenty of chinese restaurants, communities, never mind the huge amount of second and third generation immigrants.

Ah yeah Thailand appeals to her. It's getting a working visa for her which is the problem, as she hasn't got a British passport...

It isn't that easy for Chinese people even to go on holiday abroad, let alone move.

 

[fela fan]

Ah yeah Thailand appeals to her. It's getting a working visa for her which is the problem, as she hasn't got a British passport...

It isn't that easy for Chinese people even to go on holiday abroad, let alone move.

Without wishing to derail too much, a british passport means fuck all over here when it comes to getting work or working visas. In fact she's probably more chance of getting a work permit than many westerners these days.

Teaching chinese??

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

She's more business-minded than anything. She wouldn't be that keen on teaching. She used to run a shop here until the rents got too high, which was a shame.

This thread appears to have ground to a halt. Shame as it is quite a good thread...

 

[fela fan]

This thread appears to have ground to a halt. Shame as it is quite a good thread...

Give it time mate. World politics seems much slower these days. Less posting going on.

 

[pinkmonkey]

Give it time mate. World politics seems much slower these days. Less posting going on.

and I'm trying to not get distracted here as I work.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

and I'm trying to not get distracted here as I work.

What do you think of Zhuhai? A guy on another forum who teaches there posted some pictures, it looked quite nice...

 

[Jessiedog]

What do you think of Zhuhai? A guy on another forum who teaches there posted some pictures, it looked quite nice...

Having slyly obtained a six month multiple entry visa (HA! Let that one slip thru' didn't you China Travel Service? ), it is my intention to visit RB in Zhuhai for the w/e commencing Friday 2nd Sept (apparantly there's a party on Friday).

Pink - If your still in China, then.....maybe? I'll be back in HK from Hainan on the afternoon of the 30th and plan to head to Zhuhai Friday eve 2nd Sep, return to HK on Sunday afternoon 4th.

Ah...Such busy travellers we are.

(Sorry for the constant derails fela.)



Woof

 

[pinkmonkey]

What do you think of Zhuhai? A guy on another forum who teaches there posted some pictures, it looked quite nice...

It is very very clean, very manicured. Very popular holiday resort for mainland Chinese (and for Hong Kong golf fanatics). Also exceptional seafood restaurants - I'm guessing some are quite famous they seem to have lots of framed photos of celebrities with the restaurant proprietor.

There are parks and nice beaches but I've not been to either.

There are many businesses trading in antiques (restoration) and reproductions. In the building that I work in there are floors and floors of antiques being restored. When they are delivered in , they look like something you wouldn't give a second glance to, old dirty bits of woodworm eaten wood. When they leave they are pristine. You see people hand carving giant Buddhas out of big fat tree trunks too.

 

[fela fan]

(Sorry for the constant derails fela.)

Nah, don't see it that way mate! It all gives a flavour of the place, and that's what i was hoping for. Ie not the china presented by western media.

 

[pinkmonkey]

Nah, don't see it that way mate! It all gives a flavour of the place, and that's what i was hoping for. Ie not the china presented by western media.

Indeed it is. If conditions were as bad as they are percieved in the West, I don't think I'd be spending any time here.

I love it here.

 

[upsidedownwalrus]

Nah, don't see it that way mate! It all gives a flavour of the place, and that's what i was hoping for. Ie not the china presented by western media.

Yes, it seems that the media gives two extremes when it comes to China. One is of a place riven with abject poverty etc, the other is of the 'new Japan, blah blah'. It isn't really quite like either...

 

[fela fan]

Yes, it seems that the media gives two extremes when it comes to China. One is of a place riven with abject poverty etc, the other is of the 'new Japan, blah blah'. It isn't really quite like either...

There's a third mate. They're a threat to world peace and it's much better to have an american empire than a chinese one, which they are hell-bent on creating.

 

[fela fan]

Indeed it is. If conditions were as bad as they are percieved in the West, I don't think I'd be spending any time here.

I love it here.

Good stuff!

You should see the difference between the thailand painted in britain compared to thailand itself. Unreal! It's one of the reasons i have so little time for 'experts' and 'serious' journalism.