Category: Blog
Cheers In: Shanghai’s Beer Lovers Paradise
Píjiǔ, píjiǔ! When you think China and you think beer quite frankly the first thing that comes to mind is the watered down Snow, Harbin and Tsingtao that they have the cheek to call beer. Now I’ll fully admit I’m not a beer drinker (I can hear all of my home country Australia sighing in disgust!) that being said I can appreciate a good bottle of brew! And if you’re a Shanghai resident or just passing through the beer fairy has a grand treat for you, delicious, quality international beers thanks to four clever French guys and their new store …
Hannah Montana Teaches English in China
It’s school holidays here in China and you know what that means, mornings and afternoon full of Disney channel goodness. Oh yes, ICS (International Chanel Shanghai) has been indulging me in my love of all things Disney and children’s shows. Yep you heard me right I’ve been sitting in my air-conditioned apartment watching the Tarzan series, Dinotopia and Hannah Montana.
But apparently they are not screening these shows for my pleasure, oh no these are “educational shows” and they’re being screened to improve the English of the thousands of kids who’s parents actually paid for cable TV. Yes alas all …
Jackie Chan Sings Sweet Propaganda
Painting Shanghai Red, CPC Style
For weeks leading up to July 1, the day marking the 90th anniversary of the Communist Party of China I had been noticing that Shanghai was undergoing a distinctly red makeover, Shanghai was being painted communist red. Signs promoting the great celebration were now nearly as common as kids peeing on the footpath (and let me tell you that is really common!). Neighbourhoods, commercial shopping districts and areas well known for being expat territory all underwent the makeover, no where was forgotten.
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The 90th celebration festivities spread to local neighborhoods with billboards around the city adorning these let’s be …
Happy Birthday! China’s ‘Red’ Celebrations
China is throwing a party, a big party and this party has a theme. That theme is red, red and RED ( I hope you have a red outfit to wear!) This year on the 1st of July marks the 90th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and there’s going to be lots of fun ‘Red’ celebrations and regulations implemented so that all of us in China can throw a celebration the Communists Party deserves, right!?
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Invitation
You are cordially invited to attend China’s red theme celebration for the 90th birthday of the Communist
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Shanghai’s Bipolar Weather Temperament!
Shanghai has been experiencing its driest year since 1873 according to the Shanghai Municipal Meteorological Bureau. In fact it’s been so dry this year that I actually forgot that Shanghai has a nickname related to its weather temperament. Shanghai is affectionately (or not so affectionately) known as ‘Rainy Shanghai’ and if my first experience of summer in Shanghai in 2010 was anything to go by it certainly lived up to its name! But this year Shanghai seems to have been happy, holding back it’s unpredictable spring and summer tears that typically plague the city from April through to at …
The Chinese Haircut Plunge
It was a task I had been dreading, the moment I had to walk into a Chinese hair salon and leave the fate of my hairstyle in the fingertips of a hairdresser who didn’t understand a word I spoke. I had been putting it off for as long as possible but I knew eventually I had to take the plunge, eventually I had to walk through that door.
My hair was rapidly plummeting towards floor length and unless I wanted to be jumping rope with my ponytail there was only one thing to do, take the Chinese haircut plundge, …
A VPN Promotion Not To Be Missed!!!
So you’ve hit a wall? The Great Firewall! Well don’t fret VPN’s are here to save the day!
I’ve just been given a heads up on an awesome promotion brought to you by Best VPN Service and Wimdu.com. Why am I telling you this?…well for one I love Best VPN Service for all the advice they’ve given me over the past few months on VPNs in China but also because I love to travel and I know you probably do to so you’re going to love this promotion!
Here’s why you’ll love it! If you purchase any Crazy Summer …
Shanghai Midi Festival: Tang Stage
The Tang Stage at Shanghai’s Midi Festival 2011 encompassed all that Midi is about, Rock Music. For 3 days the Tang Stage rocked out with many talented Chinese rock, hardcore, alternative and punk bands including Crystal Butterfly, Free the Birds, Angry Jerks and more. Aside from the local Chinese bands there were also many great international acts including Your Favourite Enemies (Canada), Kartsy (Finland), Mongol800 (Japan), Good 4 Nothing (Japan), Hybria (Brazil) and more all of which put on awesome shows that I’m sure gained them a multitude of new Chinese fans!
But it wasn’t just the bands that were …
Opposing View To Communism = Terrorism?
Apparently I am a terrorist, to be precise a terrorist spreading anti-communist propaganda. Yes apparently according to one reader who left a rather lengthy comment, I am going around spreading capitalist views of lying western countries through this blog. I guess if that’s code for telling it like I see it after having being brought up in Australia, lived in China for nearly two years and extensively travelled around both Europe and Asia then yes, I guess that’s exactly what I am, a propaganda spreading capitalist.
I knew that writing about Jackie Chan’s seemingly pro-communist views and posting the video …
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