“What? You’ve lost your passport?” I shout, mouth gaping in disbelief. The year was off to a highly inauspicious start. It wasn’t even noon on January 1st 2012 and we’d already witnessed a serious accident involving a semi and a now very compact car plus a minor crash between a car and a motorbike. [vsw [...]
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Unchanged China
I had plenty of ideas about China before actually visiting. These days, it’s hard not to pick up a newspaper or tune into a podcast without being treated to some pundit’s views on China’s rising power, influence and prosperity. Like most of you, I’d read of coastal boomtowns full of factories fuelled by small armies [...]
Falling in (and out!) of love with China
Just like in relationships, it’s also possible start off on the wrong foot when getting acquainted with a country. Perhaps one party doesn’t put forward its best face, and you end up not much liking each other. So it was with China. We met her at one of her least attractive moments. Our first glimpse [...]
Unexpected moments and a vow to give up griping
Admittedly, my initial impression of China was less than enthusiastic. It’s a great country to gripe about. I could go on and on about all the petty annoyances and irritations. About the often insalubrious conditions. The maniacal driving. The lack of common courtesy. The sheer madness of modern day China. A Vow But I won’t. [...]
Mayhem on the Mainland
Getting from Hong Kong- a tiny territory crammed full of 7 million people- to Shenzhen- a sprawling mega-city populated by 14 million individuals—was going to be a challenge. Just 50 kilometers, mind you, but the memory of our ride from the Hong Kong airport to the city center was still fresh in my memory. Too [...]
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