Xinjiang: the troublesome province
Xinjiang Province, Western China. Described by my one of my Chinese teachers as “a place that causes us a lot of trouble.”
Journal
A very Chinese lunch
Strong home-brewed rice wine, odd compliments, and Peking duck. Read on for my very cultural lunch with a Chinese policeman.
A whistle-stop tour of Vietnam
My trip to Vietnam was relatively short. Here are some of the highlights: The War Remnants Museum, the Independence Palace, the floating markets of Can Tho, learning to cross the street, the Post Office and the Mekong Delta.
The People’s Court – not for some people
The inside of a courtroom is probably not a place most travelers want to see, but as a law-junkie, I really wanted to visit a Beijing court.
Good Morning Vietnam – The Củ Chi Tunnels
50 years ago, the Củ Chi Tunnels harboured forces that were killing US and Australian troops. Fast-forward to today and Vietnam and these tunnels are tourist hotspot.
Beijing 2022: my Olympic debut
Earlier this year, Beijing successfully bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics. The famed 2008 Olympic swimming venue, ‘The Water Cube’ will become ‘The Ice Cube’ and the Bird’s Nest will be filled with snow. So as the city prepares itself for the games, it was time for me to learn to ski.
Medical Exam: China Edition
A condition of obtaining my Chinese residence permit was reporting for a medical exam in Beijing. My first thought: would the staff speak English, or would I be reduced to playing a sophisticated medical edition of charades?
The Korean Joint Security Area: anything but secure
The tensions were high, we were about to enter the Joint Security Area of the Korean De-militarised Zone.
“If anyone has weapons, knives or confetti poppers, please tell me now” boomed the US Army soldier during the safety briefing. Confetti poppers? You just know that with a specific warning like that, someone must have set off a few across the border.
The Korean Demilitarised Zone: the world’s weirdest frontline
The week before my trip to South Korea, a US Senator called North Korea’s Supreme Leader a “crazy fat kid.” The North Korean response: the comment was “a little short of a declaration of war.” There was no better time to visit the frontline of this nuclear-armed school-yard conflict.
20 step guide to sending a letter in China (for stupid foreigners)
Need to send very important documents from mainland China to Hong Kong? Learn from my experience and read my easy to follow 20 step guide, complete with pictures!
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