Chinese Market - Yangshuo, Guilin, China

This is not your typical market as Westerners would see it but is 'normal' in China. Those who disapprove of the consumption of K9 fare are forewarned to steer clear. There was a cafe beside the market serving 'fresh dog meat' but we did not partake. This topic was raised on this blog a while back here... thoughts?. 

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Tags: ..Yangshuo, Guilin, China..

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Watch Town, Guangzhou, China

Guangzhou, China is not exactly on the main tourist trek but anyone in retail will be more than familiar with this industrial city.  Different neighborhoods are home to blocks of shops selling the same thing. The video below is from 'watch town' where you can buy real and fake watches in bulk and all accessories to along with them. There were no shortage of customers when we were there. 

We bumped into a very strange bunch of kids doing an even stranger photo shoot.

As always there is a classic 'Ching-lish' sign to amuse..

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Tags: ..Watch Town, Guangzhou, China..

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'The Place' Shopping Mall, Beijing

More video from my brief travels in China. This one is from Beijing in 2009. This shopping street is good for people watching and a pre-dinner drink (plenty of western style restaurants  too - but why would you want western food - when in the East).  It's actually more modern and happening than most 'Western' commercial centers, yet wander a few blocks and peasant 80+ old folks are risking life and limb, weaving thru smoggy rush hour traffic on bicycles collecting recyclable materials. China continues to be full of surprises.
You can text a message to the gigantic screen to the amusement / dismay of all

Followed by dinner including insects, frog and 'lamb'!

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Tags: ..The Place Shopping Mall, Beijing.

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Hong Kong Rugby Sevens - Party Time!

It's that time of the year again when thousands of people from all over the world descend upon Hong Kong for the party of the year. I was fortunate to take part in this crazy-fest in 2009 and 2010.  Here are some scenes from my inauguration - Enjoy..

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Tags: .Hong Kong Rugby Sevens - Party Time..

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Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Shanghai, China

China does have a lot of people, no doubt. This video is from a trip to Shanghai in 2009 when I lived in Hong Kong. Despite the crowds, it had a very Western commercialism feel about it. Globalization in action..




The photo below is from the glass floor in the Oriental Pearl Tower. Those with vertigo should steer clear...

photo credit here

Perhaps the sign on the ground floor is appropriate?

Tags: ..Nanjing Road Pedestrian Street, Shanghai, China..

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Yangshuo, Guilin, China - Gong Xi Fa Cai! Xian Nian Kuai Le!

We were fortunate to spend Chinese New Year in Yangshuo near Guilin.  Flights to major Chinese destinations are typically much cheaper if you leave from Shenzen in mainland China VS Hong Kong.  To get there we took the Trans-Island Chinalink bus from Hong Kong directly to Shenzen Airport (u$d13) which only took 75 minutes including clearing customs & immigration (estimated time is 2 hours).  We ended up being at the airport 3.5 hours before our flight which is a record for this last minute merchant.  The flight to Guilin is less than 1 hour (u$d106ew)  

It was bloody cold i.e. 2 Celcius when we arrived but thankfully it warmed up 16 Celcius a few days later.  As you can see below the place is 'easy on the eyes'

Guilin, China

Yangshuo, China

 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

The Silver Caves

 

 

  

The best way to see  the countryside is to rent a bike for u$d3 per day. You can also take a 2 hour bamboo raft trip thru some spectacular scenery for u$d20

 Our accomodation cost double the usual rate being it was New Years but still ended up being only u$d20 per night. 


The local specialty food wise is 'beer fish' (fish cooked with herbs n' spices n' beer) - delicious!  

They also eat a lot of frogs, snails and even some dog. 

 

Lucky Dog

 Unlucky Dog!

 

  

  

 

It's a tough job but someone has to report this stuff! - Happy Chinese New Year. Happy Year of the Tiger. 'Gong Xi Fa Cai! Xian Nian Kuai Le!'

Tags: ..Yangshuo, Guilin, Lijiang, China - Gong Xi Fa Cai! Xian Nian Kuai Le!..

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