live from guangzhou…

That’s right, I’m on the road, in Guangzhou (Canton), capital of Guangdong province. What’s up for today? The Martyrs’ Memorial, the Chen family compound, a temple or two, and then colonial architecture at the lovely Shamian Island. This is mostly a test post to see if my new notebook computer works on the road. Ta,…

observations from an olympic soccer newbie

The Brazilian footballers had the worst haircuts of any professional sports athletes, alive or dead. Boys: I know you’re athletes, but the youth of the world, billions of young people, are watching.

a big wind a’blowin

China’s State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters said on Tuesday night it has launched a level-three disaster control emergency response to cope with tropical storm Kammuri.

on the water

The guests are gone from the pavilion high,
In the small garden flowers are whirling around.
Along the winding path the petals lie;
To greet the setting sun, they drift up from the ground.

hong kong splash of color

A delightful red building in the midst of drab surroundings, near Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR.

104 weeks later

On July 31, 2006 a slightly bitter expat English teacher married a gentle Chinese lass. In the registry office he couldn’t read the form or make the appropriate pledge.

school is out and i’m off like a prom dress

Hong Kong will see me visiting historic military sites and cemeteries. I’ll hit the former Portuguese colony of Macau and stay far away from the new Vegas-style casinos. Xi’an, home of countless tombs and the terracotta warriors (see another cool map, below) will be another excursion.

shadows and reflections

Clothes shopping, actually all shopping in China, is cheap. Instead of buying used clothing (as I did in Canada) I can now afford the ugliest of un-preowned shirts.