David's Big Adventure in China

It’s interesting how different the personalities of different cities can be. Kunming, where I lived my first year in China was a “morning” city and Nanning is a “night” city. I think it has a lot to do with the weather. People in Kunming are often up and out early in the morning and Nanning people are more night people. New Years’s eve in Kunmng was a non-event and the streets were empty at midnight but here in Nanning there were tons of people out and about. I have posted pictures of a famous nighttime outdoor food street in Nanning called Zhongshan Lu. Some of the pictures might disturb those of you who are very sensitive to the treatment of animals. Chinese are famous for eating anything and everything. Look closely and you will see all kinds of culinary delights (or frights!). I was there one evening and took some video that I tried to post to facebook without success. While I was there I was pick pocketed. I had my cell phone and an empty glasses case in the pocket of my jacket which was zipped shut. I felt something and quickly checked and found the zipper mostly opened and the glasses case missing (it was on top of the phone). I looked around and determined the likely culprit, went and grabbed him on the shoulder and said to him in Chinese “you took my things!” His friend handed me back the glasses case and they quickly walked away with me cussing at them in English. Petty theft is a big problem here and I know many people who have had things stolen (phones, handbags, shopping bags, bicycles, e-bikes, etc). I just heard today that one of the lady teachers had her earrings jerked off her ears and stolen last night. I went back to Zhongshan Lu a couple weeks later and took the pictures I’ve posted (click on “pictures” link under “my links” on the right side of the blog).

I recently went to see the movie “Avatar” in 3d. A friend helped get a discount ticket for 50rmb which is about $7.50 USD. The normal price was 100rmb……so expensive for China but the theatre was full on a Monday afternoon at 4:45. The dialogue was in English with Chinese subtitles but when the natives were speaking their language the subtitles were also in Chinese. We had tried to go on Friday night but they were sold out except for the scalpers outside selling tickets for 130rmb (almost $20!). Most Chinese watch more western movies than Chinese movies and the government limits how many western movies the theaters can show and of course they censor which ones can be shown. They were also showing Avatar in 2d but I just read that they stopped showing it in the 2d theatres because it was drawing too much attention away from Chinese films and drawing too much attention to the issue of forced evictions which is a big issue here. (Developers and corrupt officials work together to obtain property for redevelopment without regard for current residents.)

And speaking of big brother, there was an article in the Chinese English language newspaper recently that the karaoke bars are now required to connect their systems to a government system via the Internet which monitors the songs being played. The official reason for the system is to protect intellectual property rights and ensure that banned songs (such as vulgar songs) are not played. Interesting that they are closely watching the songs but you can hire “entertainment” ladies in many of these bars.

I try not to buy too many material things so I don’t accumulate too much stuff here, but last week I bought a motorbike helmet and a sleeping bag. The helmet cost me 40rmb ($6). The quality and construction is nothing near what you’d get in the states but it’s much better than the helmets I use when I take a motorbike taxi. I sometimes take a motorbike taxi because they are faster than a bus or a regular taxi (by weaving through traffic) and cheaper than a regular taxi. They always give me a helmet to wear but usually it’s just a really cheap plastic helmet that would do very little good in an accident and is worn by all of their passengers. Having my own helmet gives me more protection and less hygiene worries. I bought the sleeping bag because the instructions I received for my upcoming trip indicates that I will need one for sleeping on a boat on the Nile and perhaps in a tent or cabin on the beach of the Red Sea. On January 30, I’m headed to Egypt for 2 weeks. I’ll join an Intrepid Tours group when I arrive in Cairo. So my next posting will probably be after I return to Nanning in mid February. Chun Jie kuaile! (Happy Spring Festival/Chinese New Year)