Monthly Archives: June 2013

Shanghai Skylines – March 2013

Posted on June 29, 2013 by westiedad

It seems appropriate that we’ve left Shanghai for last. This feels like a city more concerned with its future than its past. Western involvement has been substantial since treaties following the First Opium War in the 1840’s resulted in Concessions … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged angry birds, bund, center, china, nunnery, pearl tower, propaganda art centre, pudong, shanghai, travel, yuyuan, zigzag bridge | 6 Comments

The lighter side of China: March 2013

Posted on June 26, 2013 by westiedad

I don’t think I’ve ever actually fallen asleep at work. Certain meetings or training courses have taken me to the brink, but I’m sure that I’ve never drifted off. A friend who taught in Hong Kong told me how the … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged beijing, bike, china, chinglish, peace, security, shanghai, sleep, squat, travel, Yangshuo | 41 Comments

Musical micropause: C

Posted on June 23, 2013 by westiedad

Four more memories….this time from the C artists: John Cale: Venus In Furs (live) In my previous job a few years ago, I told my boss one day that I would be working out of the office. I didn’t tell … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged auckland, brussels, Cale, Fragments Of A Rainy Season, germany, John cale, jools holland, leonard cohen, live, mainz, music, nick cave, night comes on, right now I'm a roaming, velvet underground, venus in furs | 2 Comments

Biting the Bullfrog – Shanghai, March 2013

Posted on June 20, 2013 by westiedad

I know Kermit wasn’t a bullfrog, but I need to get his voice out of my head if I’m going to get through this dinner. I’ve seen some interesting meals listed on menus on this trip. If you’re squeamish, you … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged bullfrog, duck, eating, eel, frog, restaurants, shanghai, sheep, travel | 5 Comments

Cruising on the Li River: China, March 2013

Posted on June 12, 2013 by westiedad

Really? No striding? Striding may not be everybody’s idea of fun, but there is a certain distance – more than a pace, less than a jump, where a stride is necessary. It makes me want to stride right now, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged bamboo, china, cormorant, cruise, karst, Li River, travel, water buffalo, Yangshuo | 17 Comments

Musical micropause: B

Posted on June 8, 2013 by westiedad

Four more of my favourite songs…. Beck: Mexico A cautionary tale of the dangers faced by McDonalds night shift workers everywhere. I think it’s hilarious, but I don’t work at McDonalds. Blue Nile: Happiness When I was driving from … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged beck, Billy Bragg, Blue Nile, Dark Globe, David Gilmour, Happiness, Mexico, Paul Buchanan, Pink Floyd, REM, Saturday Boy, Syd Barrett | Leave a comment

Dragons, Tigers and Kenny G: Ping An Terraces, China 2013

Posted on June 6, 2013 by westiedad

I wasn’t planning on dying today, but the odds of surviving aren’t looking great. Decidedly poor in fact. As a general rule, I don’t think about my own death much. My only wish is that I’ll be very old when … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged bad driving, china, kenny g, longji, mist, moon and seven stars, nine dragons five tigers, Ping An, terraces, travel, zhuang | 6 Comments

Xian: Who’d be a Farmer? (and how to spot a fake) China, March 2013

Posted on June 1, 2013 by westiedad

The gentleman stuck behind the table won’t make eye contact with me. I’m sure he’s heard the introduction given by our guide hundreds if not thousands of times – “the man who discovered the Terracotta Army”. It’s not easy to … Continue reading →

Posted in Travel | Tagged army, china, emperor, Qin, soldiers, terracotta, travel, Wang Puzhi, warriors, Xi'an, Yang Peiyan, Yang Quanyi, Yang Wenhai, Yang Xinman, Yang Yanxin, Yang Zhifa | 15 Comments