Irreverently irrelevant.
Sysadmin, developer, web dude in a science research organisation. WordPress, Japan, planes, trains, Arduino, Raspberry Pi/Pico, puns, dad jokes, etc
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The effects of globalisation on the Chinese culinary experience
We have been naughty. Very, very naughty. In our defence I can state that we were only following the instructions given to us by my colleague P2. But really, there is no excuse for our behaviour in a province with such reputation for its cuisine. For today we ate at McDonalds. We made a mistake…
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Panda Slam!
In one corner is Panda 1, The Bamboo Muncher. In the other is Panda 2, Backwards Walker. The battle begins with Walker waddling backwards into Muncher. They tussle in the bamboo, Walker on top, no Muncher, no Walker, Muncher. They chase around the enclosure. One climbs a tree, the other pulls him down. Back on…
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In the presence of a giant
As I write this a tradesman is in our bathroom attempting to get a decent water flow in the shower. I was expecting this in China, but the Minshan Hotel is rated four stars according to CITS. I’m not really complaining, for we have had a fantastic day, up there with our walk along the…
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Ancient smurfs, terracotta warriors
We felt like really little package tourists today, from eating a hot buffet breakfast to following a flag toting guide. Up early to eat bacon and eggs and to meet our guide for the day, a young lady in pink with the English name of Ruby. Our minibus stopped at two other hotels, further from…
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Sacrifices and cadavers
I feel like we had a little bit of a China Day today. We made it to Xi’an, but this hote, the Xi’an is not, as Ms Joe described it, at a great location. It’s outside the walls and away from the bright lights and I’ve only had pot noodles and junk food for dinner……
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Forbidden City and the onwards journey
We now know what we are doing for the rest of our time in China. I returned to the CITS headquarters before 9am and met Ms Joe to book our onwards itinerary. Over two hours later we had thrashed out a plan. By this time B had come looking for me. Joe had to contact…
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The Great Wall
The Great Wall of China is truly one of the world’s great engineering wonders. I have read much about it recently and seen many photos. But they cannot prepare you for standing upon Chang Cheng with your own feet and seeing the wall snake across the tops of the mountains with your own eyes. We…
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Marble boats and fried scorpions
We’ve done it! Tonight we ate scorpion and silkworm on a stick. The former was just a crispy shell and the silkworm so disgusting that it did not go down the throat but straight out into a rubbish bin. Crispy on the outside, squishy inside. Awful! In fact all of the street food that we…
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From Hong Kong to Beijing
I am writing this on the train to Beijing. We are near Zhengzhou in Henan Province. The brown stained concrete apartment blocks are back, bare deciduous trees between the gaps, untouched yet by Spring. The sky is grey, with morning myst or coal smog I am not sure. I’m certain that, for the first time…
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Hong Kong Island
The first mission was to find breakfast. We walked south from our hotel and past the Tin Hau Temple. Inside, spiral incense burned from the ceiling. Outside, the daylight, more grey than yesterday, revealed intricately carved roof decorations atop the temple. Further along were street stalls selling fresh produce. We ate some egg tarts, a…