the AuthorChina, Hong Kong, Macau
01.03.2008
The Ayi Terror
Ayi, from Chinese, domestic help, cleaner, housekeeper.Seeming not an important person, but that's not true. more
01.01.2008
Chinese Holidays
Below is the list of the most important or the most popular holidays, both traditional and official, celebrated on the Chinese Mainland (holidays in Hong Kong or Taiwan may be slightly different – in name, for instance). This list of course covers only the major holidays, it does not include regional or local holidays, or ethnic holidays of the Chinese minorities. more
01.01.2008
My World AD 2008
In response to an email I received from a good friend from a long long time ago, who wrote to me yesterday: my world has shrunk to about two kilometres around me... more
01.11.2007
A Question Of Perspective
Summer 2000, in Heilongjiang province, on a bus, on the way to a scenic area located near Harbin.On the left, in a valley located a few kilometres from the highway I can see a grouping of buildings, a rather sizeable settlement. more
01.11.2007
Internet, hao bu hao?
On a Friday afternoon a while ago, the first beautiful, warm, sunny day of the year I went to a local Internet club. I needed to find a few facts for another text I was writing. I couldn't, there were no computers available. more
01.11.2007
Versus
“With the hazy city and an overcast sky behind them, men and women alike push their chests out and bellies in, force smiles onto their faces, and pose for photographs.” more
01.10.2007
That First Cigarette in the Morning 2
Since July I've been living in the centre of Shanghai, in the former French Concession. In a tiny enclave of old pre-war two-story buildings. more
19.09.2007
Typhoon Wipha, live from Shanghai
Typhoon Wipha, live from ShanghaiNow it starts to rain in earnest. It's absolutely pouring with rain, it's been a while since I saw rain like that. I knew it was supposed to rain, my weather forecast website did mention rain.
A colleague I meet on the corridor says a typhoon is coming. more
01.06.2007
MAGLEV
MAGLEV (as in magnetic levitation) is a flying train, it doesn't touch the rails but hovers just above.The text below is an unprofessional and subjective description of this (already) famous train. more
01.04.2007
Not For Vegetarians
Here is a list of meats that are available in Chinese restaurants, and not always can be found on the menu in restaurants in other countries. I tried, I may add, all of them: more
01.07.2006
Chinese TV
Chinese TV, a (very) critical look at,Chinese TV is, well, different. It very well illustrates how different the Chinese culture is from the West. more
01.06.2006
The Big Rain Scare of 2006
It was pouring with rain most of the day on Thursday, May 25th, 2006.For a long time before I was thinking of doing some rain photography (pictures that are soaked in water look great in my opinion, plus they are pretty rare as there is only a handful of cameras that can handle rain - mine included), so right after work I took my camera and headed downtown. more
01.06.2006
Taxi Drivers
This text is another collection of things that happened to me in China, it deals, as the title suggests :) with taxi drivers. more
01.06.2006
LASIK
This text is for people interested in the LASIK surgery, particularly those living in China, and debating whether it is safe to have it done here. more
01.03.2006
Flying in China
I have so far flown 22 times to or from China and also 22 times inside the country. more
01.01.2006
10.09.1999
10th of September 1999 was the day I came to China.This text is written from a perspective of almost two and a half thousand days, in December 2005, so much time passed since then. more
01.01.2006
Shanghai, New Year's Day A.D. 2006...
Shanghai, New Year's Day A.D. 2006...7:02 a.m. I wake up. Not that I wanted, but one of my esteemed neighbours, upstairs somewhere, is banging at the wall with a hammer. more
01.10.2005
Chinese Language
Chinese language, in the wide meaning of this word, is spoken by a billion and a half people every day. more
01.10.2005
Once on the Way Home
It usually takes twenty minutes in a taxi to get from East China Normal University (where I work as an IELTS examiner) to Zhabei Park area (where I live). The two places are only about 8 kms away, most of the way is on an elevated highway (gaojia) with no crossroads.This time... more
01.06.2005
