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More Ramblings
January 21, 2001:
Tacoma, WA, USA: After a few weeks of "settling" back into
life State-side I am already packing my bags again. Although
this time it's only for a short few week excursion. Next Wednesday,
depending on whether or not my passport comes back from my rush-visa
application in San Fran, I'll be boarding a plane for China.
Timing not being the best -- I'll be missing Chinese New Year
by hours -- I'll be heading to the large western city of Shanghai
for a good look-around... Why only look around for a little under
two-weeks? Come April therewewere is transplanting to
China. Unlike the past year I will be living in one continuous
place for a year, setting off for trips from the base camp of
Shanghai -- and once in China flights anywhere within the country
are only 50$, which includes all the security and comfort offered
by the China airlines, and as far as I've heard those flights
usually land just fine. Not bad.
January 29, 2001:
Shanghai, China: I keep on thinking
It's all Chinese to me and laughing. The idea of actually
being in China has yet to sink in. We, my friend Bruce and I,
arrived a few days ago just past the Chinese New Year. Since
we've been here the celebrations have yet to cease -- fire crackers
fill the streets and loud pops fill the air day and night. At
7:30 this morning, with the kick-off to America's most loved
game, the Super Bowl, fire works were still lighting... Or at
least I thought they were. China has a great affinity for their
fire crackers (as they should have, they invented them after
all) and many of their public works scattered throughout the
city take on the shape of them -- looking out our window before
the sun had risen these structures lit up as if fire works were
shooting noiselessly out of the corners of buildings and parks
24 hours a day.
So far the city itself looks great; I can imagine myself living
here. Thousands of people walk the streets -- nobody can afford
to own a car and bicycles don't seem as popular as you would
think. Large Costco-type stores provide anything you might desperately
miss from the West. And, at less than 8$ for two full Chinese
dinners and a few beers how can you complain? (Even if the meat
was a bit on the chewy side.)
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