Land of the Rising Smog
I am writting this as I am returning from my second two week trip to China for work. I am not uploading this until I return, as the cold war between China and Google prevents me from easily doing so. Aside from the Internet, I have found China less outwardly communist than Vietnam. The people here also seem to have no issues with foreigners, any perceived rudeness or inappropriate behaviour is shared equally with the locals.
I spent my time in the city of Nanchang. There is a lot of manufacturing, and it houses more people than it is sensibly capable of doing. There really isn't much there for travellers, which is why there are none. Dilapidated high density housing is the order of the day. Everything is made big - houses, roads and airports - and then not maintained so everything is either new or falling apart.
After 4 weeks of careful study of the traffic management operation, I have concluded that the traffic rules are as follows:
- You may not enter an intersection if all of the following conditions are met:
a) You are driving a car-sized vehicle or bigger (home made motorised carts do not count).
b) You are not turning in any direction, and are not on a side street.
c) The traffic light is red.
d) You do not have a pressing engagement.
Unless all of these conditions are met there are no limitations on how you may drive.
Although it can get cooler than Melbourne, staying in the city results in similar conditions to suburban Melbourne. The big difference is that due to the protective layer of emissions rain seems unable to properly penetrate the atmosphere and instead of a proper down poor, things just get wet. This is particularly bad as the streets and buildings are in a dire need of a thorough clean and heavy rain /may/ help.
Behaviours are quite different here. The locals are completely baffled by constructs such as queues and allocated seating. It is also quite difficult to get out of a taxi when the next passenger is already getting in on top of you. They do, however, understand labels, as everything must be so adorned. Every vent in the hotel had a fancy gold plate proudly letting me know of the 'mechanical to send air'. There was also the door labelled 'S&M Department' - I didn't ask.
People seem outwardly hostile, but usually try to help you. Some of the workers at the factory were always insistent on offering us some of their lunch. Food here is mostly limited by available ingredients. To compensate for this issue, most dishes have very strong flavours added, in an attempt to mask whatever you may be actually eating.
Reading back on this is Melbourne it is more negative than I intended it to be. So rather than rework it, I will simply add that you should add your own positive spin.
I spent my time in the city of Nanchang. There is a lot of manufacturing, and it houses more people than it is sensibly capable of doing. There really isn't much there for travellers, which is why there are none. Dilapidated high density housing is the order of the day. Everything is made big - houses, roads and airports - and then not maintained so everything is either new or falling apart.
After 4 weeks of careful study of the traffic management operation, I have concluded that the traffic rules are as follows:
- You may not enter an intersection if all of the following conditions are met:
a) You are driving a car-sized vehicle or bigger (home made motorised carts do not count).
b) You are not turning in any direction, and are not on a side street.
c) The traffic light is red.
d) You do not have a pressing engagement.
Unless all of these conditions are met there are no limitations on how you may drive.
Although it can get cooler than Melbourne, staying in the city results in similar conditions to suburban Melbourne. The big difference is that due to the protective layer of emissions rain seems unable to properly penetrate the atmosphere and instead of a proper down poor, things just get wet. This is particularly bad as the streets and buildings are in a dire need of a thorough clean and heavy rain /may/ help.
Behaviours are quite different here. The locals are completely baffled by constructs such as queues and allocated seating. It is also quite difficult to get out of a taxi when the next passenger is already getting in on top of you. They do, however, understand labels, as everything must be so adorned. Every vent in the hotel had a fancy gold plate proudly letting me know of the 'mechanical to send air'. There was also the door labelled 'S&M Department' - I didn't ask.
People seem outwardly hostile, but usually try to help you. Some of the workers at the factory were always insistent on offering us some of their lunch. Food here is mostly limited by available ingredients. To compensate for this issue, most dishes have very strong flavours added, in an attempt to mask whatever you may be actually eating.
Reading back on this is Melbourne it is more negative than I intended it to be. So rather than rework it, I will simply add that you should add your own positive spin.
posted by Bruce at 2:49 am
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