I’m in Xinjiang, China

It’s weird that just a few days ago I was enjoying myself on Perhentian Island and driving along the coastal road on the East coast of Peninsula Malaysia. Then I ended up here in Xinjiang province of China, the area that is most remote from any seas or ocean! What next?
Oh, by the way, there’s still no way to get to Facebook or Blogger in China (have tried proxy – but didn’t work!). So, I don’t know if this will get posted. Hope so.

Little Water Town around Shanghai

Consider this post a little ‘filler’ for the emptiness lately.

Nearby Shanghai (about 1 hour away) is a cute little ‘water town’ called Zhujiajiao (I think that’s where I went). Its basically houses build along the river, with lots of boats around and nice little bridges across the river. The pic here is a typical scene in the water towns. More to come later on…

When Asians take over

The artist’s rendition of a new World Trade Tower in New York. Notice something only Asians do when posing for photos? (yeah, I’m trying hard not to do it too often!)

Modern art in Beijing, China?

Being daring with modern art?

How frustrating!

Its so weird. I have no access to Facebook, Twitter, and my blog (Blogger) from China. Its like being cut off from the rest of the world!

I wrote the last post through Windows Live Writer. When I clicked on “publish”, it returned with an error message. So I thought that I couldn’t connect to Blogger. Mana tau, I got comments on that post (hope I got it published). So, it must have went through somehow. How frustrating it is not to be able to see your own blog!! arggh!

Anyway, small updates: Beijing is quite cold, and the strong winds will chill you to your bones! The good thing with the winds is that it blows the pollution away, and you get clear skies for a day. The next day, the smog is back and you barely see the sun. However, it was much better than the last time I came in March 08. Can’t imagine what it was like before!!

Ok – leave you with a pic of a free range chicken farm in Beijing.

Arrival in Beijing

Wah… new airport! Its so massive. A long long walk from the plane to the exit. Although the massive size, it wasn’t planned out so properly. There were definitely some bottle neck at some parts, e.g. when getting down the plane, everyone bottleneck on this narrow escalator (the only way in). But security was quite high, can check people so many times (especially for H1N1 – they were really paranoid).

The first restaurant you see greeting you at the airport – KFC. You expecting something else?

After another bottleneck to use the lift to the taxi stand, there’s a long line for taxis! And it comes in groups. Your batch of taxi comes, you rush to the taxi with all your bags and move on!

Oh, there’s also no connection to Facebook, Twitter or Blogger! (hope this goes through, and if it does, I cant see it to verify anything!)

 

p.s. I also need a t-shirt that says “I’m MALAYSIAN. I’m not Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Nepalese, Thai… etc”

More China Pics

Some randome pics from my Beijing trip... Modern art in China Agricultural University

Popular game in Beijing (my Mom used to play that too!)

Falling down is forbidded in the Forbidden City

Don't go to the Forbidden City on a public holiday!! Absolutely crawling with millions of tourists!

Just yet another spoilt brat at the Forbidden City

Yogurt on a window still

Lake view at night

Chinese people are really patriotic... trained since young.

What are they doing in the Forbidden City?

Curious little one...

Guess where this is?!

Yet another man walking his dog in Beijing city

Beijing bird

Rickshaw along the lake

This last picture to close the Beijing set... taken from the rooftop of a little restaurant near Hou Hai (if I remember the name correctly)

Bangkok Torch Relay

April 19th 2008 - the Olympic Torch relay passes through the streets of Bangkok. Here are some pictures of the event. Many spectators gathered on the side of the street to witness this event.Many people were actually the major sponsors - namely Coca Cola, Samsung and Lenovo.Many of them were patriotic Chinese people.Many police were there (2000 of them) to stand by in case of riots...and to keep order... make sure everyone is behind the lines. There were "Special" police from China. This one was running ahead of the torch, making sure the line was clear. Here comes the Torch!!! Yes, surrounded by photographers and many many Chinese supporters. This was as much as I could see. Yes, even choppers were circulating the area. Of course, there were peaceful gatherings of Pro-Tibet supporters... somewhere in the middle of the route. And they gathered in front of the United Nations building. Pro-China supporters gathered opposite the road to the protestors... chanting things like "We Love Tibet" and "One China, One Family" or "Liar! Liar!"

Police were there to keep everything in check. Especially for the Pro-Tibet demonstrators.But there were still a few pro-China supporters who crossed the line. Then the Torch parade comes... lead by... a Thai clown?!?!? Followed, of course, by all the major sponsors.

Then followed by hoards of Chinese supporters - who followed the torch for all the 10+km. In fact, they crowded over the torch, that I didn't even realise the torch passed by this area! Note the police baracade to prevent them from reaching the protestors.Then it was followed by the bus carrying all the torch bearers - who actually waved and gave the thumbs up to the protestors (though I doubt it was because they were supporting the demonstrations, they were just ignorant of what was happening). Then when everyone dispersed, this man sat down with his "Anty China" speeches... not that I understand any of it, it was in Thai.

Well, anyway, in case any of you are thinking about all the protesting, here's a little background about Tibet and the Dalai Lama. And here's the link for the Bangkok protestors. And for those interested, a link to the KL Pro-Tibet people. Becareful of simply supporting blindly...

The GREAT Wall

What better way to go up the great wall, than to ride the BEST cable car?

Yes, the white stuff you see on the mountain is SNOW! Yes, in April!

Wall graffity.

Preview - Beijing

A little preview of Beijing streets... more coming soon