Yangbian Great Wall

There is alot to see and do in Beijing and in China. You can spend hours exploring the Forbidden City, a week seeing the Summer Palace, or just walk the back street “Hutongs”. There are also many pictures everywhere you look.

But a lot of these places are busy. Filled with other tourists and locals enjoying the same things. When it comes to the Great Wall though you can join the masses and walk alone the ancient relic in newly rebuilt sections, or you can get a little more rustic with your adventure.

I think the best way to see it up close is to go with a small group and hike it.
Dandelion Adventures is great company to try.

We met at the East end of Beijing at 7:30 am and collected our little group. Piled in to an old “Jin Bei” (a Chinese brand of what you would call a your standard mini van,) and off we headed.

Once out of the city and off the highway you get into the hills and switchbacks. Passing people who are on their three wheel bike/truck combos or donkey pulled carts with vegetables and fruit piled on top. We stopped in a small village in a valley. The sun just over the mountains and smoke from wood and coal fires rising up out the crisp morning air.

A little further on we get out of the van and head for the hills. It’s a bit of scramble up the side of hill and the wall just kind of grows out of it. There is still a bit of crusty snow that is wind blow like a piece of plaster pulled of the wall and tossed on the ground.

As you look out across the valley towards the Guanting Lake you can just make out the wind generators. There is a haze that you can see as the clear blue-sky changes to a brown black haze. Not sure if it’s pollution from the cities or from the local coal fires. But it’s cleaner than Beijing. There’s a tough wind when you top the hill and expose yourself, but soon are tucked back in along the trail. We cut down a switch back trail to a summer farming village. The place is normally home to 3 or 4 families, but now it’s abandon for the winter. Tiered field are visible with the remnants of sunflowers and corn, the leftovers from a fall harvest.

We break for a snack and try and get out of the wind. Once refueled its up to the top of one of the hills. It’s not that tough of a climb, but as you look back you can see how high you are and one slip will make for a quick, but long way down. We cut across the top of the ridge and can see parts of the wall for miles. It’s scattered and broken at times, but there is a definite line across the mountains.

We get back up on the wall, a major section that is ten feet wide across in section. It’s old and un-restored. Parts of it are falling off, but still seems like it will survive the next 1000 years without much help.

We get to low sections where an old dirt trail snakes down to a road. It’s another hour or so down to meet with driver who takes us for well earned lunch of pork, steamed buns and other things I couldn’t identify by wolf down like I haven’t eaten for days. It warms me up and as the wine flows my bad Chinese and some broken English translate to a toast to new friends, good food and great times.

It’s time to get warm so we pile into Fan’s car and head for the Hotsprings. It’s a great way to take the chill off and put an end to the knifing wind from the hike. Hope you enjoy the pictures.

Harper Pictures

First shot is Qi and Tina from CBC, next is Francois CTV, then Glen from CBC and last but not least the man who comes to China to give you an update on Canada's Economy. Mr. Harper himself. Sorry about the blur.

Obama & Hu

Not much new here so here are pictures from Obama's recent visit.

Internet Boot Camp Death

Here is the tale of a gentleman who sent his son off to a camp because he felt he was spending to much time on the internet. Unfortunately he was beaten to death within about 10 hours. Seems the Chinese will be cracking down on these camps in the near future.

Other than that there isn't much else going on. Waiting for Obama, and Harper to arrive.

It did snow here and we had to crank out a package on it. Seems that the Chinese are taking the credit for it by launching rockets filled with silver iodide. It made for a very pretty Sunday.

Enjoy the internet story and thank goodness for regulation that prevent this stuff from happening at home.

Back at it

As I sit sipping coffee in the Air Canada Lounge I’m wishing I was/were back in my father-in law’s living room. I had been fully relaxed in the 6 days I spent out East. Not sure what it is about the East Coast of Canada, or Don’s living room but it is akin to fishing for me. There are no horns honking, no “chores” to be done, no well to dig, just pleasant conversation about world events and Canadian politics. For me it’s a time to catch up on reading and looking back at the larger picture of life. A place for reflection I guess. So as I’m wrap up my holidays and head back across the Atlantic, I should bring you all up to date on the last month. I’m not much of a writer, let alone a speller, so for give me for not updating this for over a month.

Qi, Ben and I took a little quick trip to south China. Nanning and Guilin to be exact. The first story is about Smile China. Google it, it’s a great charity. It’s about a team of Doctors from all over the world who help train Chinese doctors in new techniques in cleft palate surgery. They perform countless surgeries for those that can’t afford it and encourage the younger Chinese surgeons to look at volunteering and helping others. Something that the Chinese aren’t known for.

After a full day of full access to the surgeries and patients, (access I’ve never seen in Canada due to privacy laws,) we went out for a tour of the night market and had a great local meal with street food.

Next morning it was a seven-hour drive over the mountains and into the tropic of Cancer to Guilin to meet story number two. A gentleman whom felt his son was becoming “soft” due to his excessive Internet use (6-hours on the weekends) signed his 15 year old up for an Internet boot camp.

The young lad was introduced to the $1000 a week camp with a task of running laps. He collapsed after 70 laps in the 40 some odd degree heat. He was able to get up after being beaten with a chair for a while and ran 15 more laps before collapsing again. He was dragged into the shower and beaten some more.

He was taken to the hospital later that night when he could not be woken up, but he died from internal injuries. The doctors say they might have been able to save him had he been take to the hospital earlier.

We also spoke with a 10 year old whom survived 4 week at the same camp. She was beaten on the hands, as she couldn’t stand at attention in the blistering heat.

Several councilors have been arrested but not much has come of the court process. We usually don’t hear about trials and sentencing until after it has all happened. The Chinese justice system likes to keep the media guessing. I’ll post that video when we get that item finished but not the most pleasant story.

What else, what else. Hmm. Oh yes the Philippines.

About a week before my vacation home we went to see the second round of typhoon Parma that was threatening Manila.

After a minor hiccup of almost missing the flight due to someone (not me) miss reading the tickets and sending us to the wrong terminal we had the Tibetan gods smiling on us and made the packed flight. The Tibetan reference is strictly to see if the Chinese are reading this.

Hold the egg rolls batman, I almost skipped over the 60th anniversary of China.

October 1st China turned 60. What better way to celebrate then have a parade. Would you love to see the military might of the Chinese followed by the Peoples parade? I know I would. Trouble is I wasn’t invited. Actually no one was invited other than a select few special loyal Chinese.

Believe it or not but people where not allowed on the street. Seems the Chinese authorities want this showcase to go off without a hitch. So they banned spectators. Unless you where participating in the parade (which meant that you were most likely wearing a diaper as once lined up, people couldn’t fall out of line until it was over many many hours later). The government, or the party, would not allow anyone on any balconies or allow any rooms to be rent that faced the street or the square where the festivities would take place. Apparently an NHK Hong Kong based news crew was beaten and had there tapes taken while try to shoot one of the rehearsals in the week leading up to the big day.

Well the big day arrived and I didn’t get a phone call at midnight inviting me down to the square like my friends at other media outlets, so I watched on TV like most from the office.

As a bunch of us where winding the day down with some dinner and beers several of us where informed of the Manila trip. So ended my October 1st celebrations as I was on a plane the next day for the Philippines.

Now where was I? Right Manila. Upon arrival we where greeted by Edgar. Edgar seems to have done it all. National Police, VIP security driver, and now he and his brother run a little company that can be best be described as “Anything for a buck”.

Edgar was armed with a pistol most of the time, and a machine gun stashed in the truck. I never felt threatened anywhere we went, but I’m told that there can be some violence in Manila.

Now Ben and I where able to file Friday, Saturday and Sunday thanks to the Internet. Long days, from 7 am to 3 am but that’s the way it goes. Most of the storm passed North of us but we where able to find lots of destruction and meet people as they where trying to put there lives back together. A gentleman we met on Sunday as he left church with his family summed it up best; “I use to like the rain, now I’m not so sure. Perhaps I will again but it will take time.”

Well I’m awaiting the courts to decide who owns what and whether or not I have a job at the end of it, I will sign off and see if I can come up with something else to write about. Cheers!

Here is the Smile China story. It's a large file so you might have to wait for it to load.

Is it interesting? Some days.

I guess I do have an interesting job. I've taken it for granted over the years. Travelled a lot to some interesting places, see some interesting people up close (briefly). So every once in a while I surprise myself and look back as my brain says "that was weird you should remember that." Take this week for example.

Sunday flew to Taiwan to chases the Dalai Lama around Southern Taiwan. Never been to Taiwan before. Beautiful place, hot and humid but beautiful. Drove out to a village that was wiped off the map and watched as a man for peaceful change prayed for the the survivors and the dead of typhoons and landslides. Met and talked to a survivor who seemed to just take it as it comes. He was just hoping to find the bodies of his family so he could bury them properly. Tuesday went on a 3 hour drive over the mountains to a place where a hotel collapsed into a river. Nothing left but an empty space between two other buildings (barely standing themselves). The owner was very willing to talk about what happened. How he and his wife have no insurance but hope to rebuild. The hotel had been in his wife's family for over 20 years. It was there life's work and employed about 20 people.

Flew home Wednesday.

Friday evening had a chance to shoot a sit down 10 minute interview with everyone's favourite former Prime Minister the man who gave us the GST, Brian Mulroney. By the way he is still the same smooth talker and plays to the crowd. RBC banking has him on a speaking/meeting tour through out Asia. I hadn't seen him since the Karl Shreiber stuff, and hadn't had shot an interview with him since march of 2003, when we profiled him for a current affairs show and had a sit down interview with him in Izzy Asper's summer home in West Palm Beach FLA. That was also a weird week Mulroney one day and Conrad Black the next (got in Conrad's house, giggled a little when he jail. Not much but a little.)


So that was my week in TV.

Here is the hotel story if you missed it.

OK so here is my take on Tibet. It has nothing to do with the Dalai Lama and religion. Sure the Chinese want him out of the picture or at least to zip it. My opinion, (personal opinion,) it's about water and natural resources. India and Tibet have four glaciers that feed four major river system. The Chinese, who are currently take all they can out of Africa at an alarming rate, won't let anything happen to the few natural resources they possess.

Personally I like the Dalai Lama. Covered him in Ottawa and thought he was hilarious. Always cracking jokes and smiling. I bit like Nelson Mandela. How can you not like the guy? Besides he's a bit like a panda, cute but you might not want to hug him.

So on to the circus. The DL is a bit like covering Bono. Lots of security, tons of adoring fans all in all a traveling road show worth of any Hollywood star or musician. The Taiwanese fresh from hold the World Games, mustered up 8 tour buses and media handlers. With a very fluid Dalai schedule, we headed out from Kaoshing to a town, actual WAS a town as the place was wiped off the map but the typhoon and accompanying mudslide, Shiaolin village. Since the roads where heavily damaged we walk the last kilometre or so.

Dalai shows up and holds a prayer service for the dead and survivors. Given the heat and humidity my hats off to the 70 sum year old guy.

Next it was back up hill and back to the other side of Kaoshing. Two hours later we the media where just late enough to have him drive by and wave.

If you want to see the story here you go. Other wise enjoy the pictures!

Taiwan

I couldn't agree more with a line Willie Nelson made famous; "I just can't wait to be on the road again". After a very long dry spell which I personally believe hinged on economics and not on news judgment, Ben and I are in Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Taiwan was hit by Typhoon Morakot, August 10th while we where both on holidays. Not that I expected the desk to send us. I could have easily met Ben in Hong Kong within 18-24 hours. Enough of what we didn't do. Seems one Dalai Lama is visiting what I'm told is one of the largest Buddhist community outside of Tibet. Will have to do a little google search to fact check that statement. One would think India which is where the DL hangs his robes since fleeing over the Himalayas in 1959 would hold that title.

The visit is at the request of the current Taiwanese opposition party to bring comfort to local population. Seems the visit to Taiwan, which is part of China but autonomous, (I had to clear customs, picture having to clear customs to go to PEI,) has angered China. What doesn't these days? But the current President Ma, is in a bit of a tight spot due to being a little slow out of the gate with the response, and with turning down World aid in the first few days after the storm he is looking to save a little face. So he's agreed to let the DL in but won't be meeting him during the visit. He needs to answer a few questions with Beijing on this one.

Not really sure why Canadians care about all this. But a road trip is a road trip so I'll take it. Personally I think 30,000 refuges crossing the boarder from Myanmar in to China is a more interesting story but I'm not the desk I'm just the picture guy.

Here are a few picts of the night market, and from the DL's tour. Lots of sea food (still alive) and other fair. Very tasty indeed. Oh and it hotter than an August wedding back home. 30's plus 80% humidity. Was a busy day knocking back over 3 litres of water just to say hydrated.

Next up I hope to file a few pictures of the Dalai Lama's road show and circus.

Back

High all. I'm back from a wonderful but short vacation, 2 weeks is not that long. Was able to get reacquainted with my wife and my dog. Saw lots of family and friends, ate home made donuts from my Aunt, (I won't put her age up because even though so doesn't have a computer someone out there will tell her that I put her age up). Had dinner with my cousin Ron and his wife Nancy. Call people I didn't have a chance to see and had beers with former colleagues, all in all a wonderful time.

What did I miss the most besides the obvious, wife, dog, and family? Well I can honestly say fishing. I didn't realize until I got out on the water with Colin and others how much. It isn't so much the fishing as getting out and enjoying what we have in Canada. There are is the usually contrasts I could make: the air, the blue sky, uncrowded cities etc. But you've heard it all before from people who travel.

Perhaps it is the noise, or lack of it. Maybe the simple act of sitting on your front deck with a warm coffee reading a paper. The dog at your feet. Your spouse beside you, (or filling your coffee). Watching a deer emerge from the woods, or a humming bird checking out every hosta flower. Or perhaps the anticipation of what lays ahead as you unhitch a boat and head out on the water with old friends.

Life is all about the simple things. Friends, family, a house and enough money to heat it. Not much has changed, but from a far it is more clear to me what is important.

So here is the fruits of the fishing labour.

Colin caught this 51 inch Musky on the Ottawa river near Wendover.

Mine, (Colin can't figure out how to work a blackberry camera that's why he is holding my fish,) is a meager 38 inches.

Well as I return to a smoggy humid 40 degree over crowded city called Beijing I must now deal with my new Chinese friends at Chinese Customs. Once again they have denied entry to my equipment. Even with the right international paper work. Life is an adventure over here. Just wish they would pick set of rules to play by instead of changing them on the fly.

Will update you all with the story when it is complete. For now enjoy the fish.

Been a long time I know...

So it's been quite a while since I've updated my blog. I would love to regale you with tales of adventure, but I work in the TV news business and with that comes the fact that owners want to make money, news people want to cover the news. Guess who wins most of the time?

Hunter S Thompson in Generation
of Swine described the media this way; "The TV business is uglier than most things. It is normally perceived as some kind of cruel and shallow money trench through the heart of the journalism industry, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free and good men die like dogs, for no good reason." I agree.

China has had some interesting stories going on. Floods in early July displaced half a million people and killed over 60. We didn't cover it. There has also been much unrest in Urumqi in the North West of China. It is an area of unrest that contains considerable oil and gas reserves. Seem that the exploration has brought the ethnic Uighur population out of balance. The in flux of the Han Chinese seems to have meant no benefits for the Uighur's in the area. A fight at a factory last month was the trigger for this violence. The Chinese feel that there are outside influences, but I'm not sure that would be a huge influence as outside sources would be at a minimum due to the control the government exercise over media and internet.

We unfortunately (or fortunately depending on if you're a member of my family,) weren't given the green light to cover what is arguable the largest protest in China in 20 years.

So what have been doing? Well here is a little happy story on the children of prisoners in Chinese jails.

New use for an umbrella

Been a while since I updated so in answer to my brothers question, yes, I'm still alive. We could ask the same of him.

Since the last post which was all about the quarantined students from Quebec it has been a busy time. I was lucky enough to have my lovely wife visit for a couple weeks and was able to see some of what Beijing has to offer for tourist.

Most interesting was the Beijing gardens. It's huge. We spent 3 hours exploring and all we really saw was the Rose Garden. We also did the Forbidden City which is spectactular, but very repetitive. Courtyard after courtyard. Very beautiful but after a while you're not sure which is which anymore. After the Forbidden City we hit Tiananmen Square and had fun identifying all the under cover police. Took Maggi to the Great Wall on the Sunday before she left. All in all a great visit for her first and hopefully not last visit to China.

Had some interesting times in the lead up to Tiananmen 20th Anniversary. Ben and I heading out the week before to do some oncamera stand ups. We went the sme day as Nancy Pelosi was in town so as to have an excuse to be there. Security was getting tighter and tighter in the days leading up to the 4th of June.

Qi, our producer and I headed to a spot to get some shots of the area where one of the Tiananmen mothers had lost her son. It is almost directly across from the Great Hall of the People. As I was shooting, the police approached Qi and I and asked to see our ID and asked what we where up to. Used the line about Nancy P and I continued to shoot. By the time they where done, several more police appeared, I was done.

Next stop was the Square itself. Ben had gone in on his own and was wired with the mic as we knew we would have much time to set up.

I headed through security and told Qi to get lost as he doesn't need to be there and complicate his life by being involved in Tiananmen Square stuff. Just simplier that way. I was tailed by two undercover police who did a very poor job of blending in. They started tailing me from when I left the corner with Qi.

After several minutes of them looking at my Press Card and Passport and copied several things from them I was allowed in and told pictures only no interviews.

Ben who was wondering where I was meet me on the stairs and I just told him to keep walking and find me later. I then set up and started shooting the guards and the flag. It took less then 30 seconds for at least 6 police and military to drop by and say hi. They to checked my ID and allowed me to continue. I moved on to a different spot, and met more police and military who wanted to see my ID. At this point Ben dropped by and was treated to the same checks.

Having enough visuals we moved to the back of the Square to do the on cameras. Our new friends followed to see what we where up to. Ben had put together a stand up about Nancy Pelosi so we where left alone. After several takes, our friends had relaxed due to the content.

So Ben decides to go for the big one and unfortunately didn't get a great take on it. So he tried a second and by this point our friends had heard the words tanks and Tiananmen and even if they couldn't speak English figured it. So they start trying to rattle Ben and were hang so close to me that I should of been able to tell what they had for lunch. They also started walking in between Ben and the lens. So we have these lovely umbrellas in between takes.

We did final get a couple of clean takes, but they never made it into the story. All in all just another day working in Beijing.

Swine Flu

So after working to 4:30 am on Tuesday morning on the Quebec students being held for quarantine we head off to the airport at 9 am for a flight to Changchun. It's in Jilin province. North of North Korea and West of Russia.

We land and Qi our producer, fresh out of Carlton with a Masters , turns out this is his home town. After much pressure from Qi and I think his mom, we are picked up by some folks from Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Off we head to a university where the students are being held. We had lined up a phone interview with one of the students, and were getting close to that time. After a brief drive around the new campus we wind up in front of the Hotel that the students are at. We're greeted by a Health Official in full garb. After a few pleasantries we can see two students sitting on the step. One of the heath officials inside says we can call them over. After a bit of shouting Bonjour! they wonder over to within about 10 feet of us.

They are all well. No signs of flu and just want to get on with there studying. Seems this is all really for show. Everyone seems to know, but it isn't going to end until the 7 days are up and no one is going to say "sorry". A couple more interviews with officals then back to our hotel for the writting and cutting.

We got a nice little package out and the folks who pay the bills seem happy. 36 hours in 2 days. Seems like this week will be a long one.

Thailand

Had never been to Thailand until this week. Seems its a country that loves it coups. I believe 10 or so since 1971. We had been watching it simmer for a couple of weeks and were wondering if the lid would blow off. Well it didn't quite blow off but boiled over enough for us to convince the desk to drop the Stockwell Day visit for a quick trip to Bangkok.

We were having lovely evening feast at Mark McKinnon's house. Lamb shank. The best meal since I got here. Just as dessert was appearing the buzzing of blackberries interrupted us and people started to shuffle off to do their jobs. Ben left at 10 and I hung on til 11 then off to the office. I was about 4 am when I finally got home and we were do for Photo op at 8 am. We did catch up with Stockwell at 9:30 am and where back in the office around 11. We then pitched the idea of going and the desk said yes about 1pm and by 3 we where heading to the airport.

We arrived in Bangkok around 11 pm and were met by a friend of a colleague, Melissa. She works for the UN in Bangkok. Now I think she wants to be full time fixer/producer. Off to the hotel to drop the bags then off to the demonstrations which where mostly drunken hooligans. Quick stand up then back to file with AP (wire service) pictures. Another 4 am night. By the way it was 30C
at night.

Tuesday morning we headed off to find the "red shirts" and eventually found them burning buses and in a bit of a standoff between police. I was warned by a friend, Jim, to watch out for the sling shots. Lots of rocks had been thrown, but fortunately I missed the bulk of the violence.

By late afternoon things seemed to had calmed down and the country was back on a normal even keel. Well as even as Thailand can get.

Was pleasantly rewarded for putting about 45 hours in 3 days with Wednesday off in Thailand. Ben flew back Wed as there was only one seat available.

So it simmers while I take a week off and head home to see Maggi and my dog and have a few meals with my family. Above are a few snaps from Melissa. She was kind enough to give them to me as was a victim of a pick pocket and had my cell phone and digital camera pinched. But that's another story....

The Great Wall

"Location Scouting" is the term I will use for our little hike today. Steve and Sean were my leaders on this death march. We went to section that is not very touristy or "improved" like the regular areas. So we get out at this recently upgraded village. Nice buildings and a decent road. We pay our 25 RMB or about $4.50 and off we go. Now I'm not in the best shape I could be. Granted I do work out a bit and have OK cardio. Yeah, well I thought so. We head up a trail followed by a little dog that seemed to like us. It's a steep scramble but once I catch my breath, we are rewarded with this view.

It's a pretty rocky trail along the top of a ridge, it eventually leads to the top of the wall. We are on and off, up and down the wall several times for the next hour and a half. We eventually hit a more regular and less overgrown area of the wall. The dog keeps coming back to check on my as I'm trailing Steve and Sean most of the time.








We run in to only other people that we see that day, other then a couple of people who are doing a little repair on a section. Well and Laura are from England and taking some time before they start there full time careers as Lawyers back in England. They were actually feeling lost and where happy to see 2 asian guys and very excited when I stubbled along and said "how's it going?" in english. Seems they followed the path through the village and where able to shave 1.5 hours of the difficult part of the hike.

So the five of us kept going on the top of the wall until we hit the military section that is off limits.



Down through the valley, up and down over the hills and far away. We weaved in and out of some cultivated land. As we started back up my legs start cramping up like you wouldn't believe and not much option other than to limp through it. Here is a little shot of hut that was on the way down.













It seems to just go on and on. Can't believe the history that I was walking over. The number of people and years to build it, let alone the armies that sat on it watching and waiting or had to cross it.








We did eventually get close to one of the more tourist oriented areas where Steve's drive was waiting for us. Then off to a truckstop for some home cooking. I past on eating the intestine. The rest of it was good though.

to ipod or not to ipod

As you move around the city here there are the distinctive white headphones sticking out of most peoples ears that are under 40. (That includes me for one more month.) It's a coping mechanism I guess. When you don't speak the language and the only English words I hear when walking to the subway or home from work are "DVD," "socks, " or "lady bar," it is a way to tune most of it out, including the incessant use of the car horn. It also helps give you the sense of isolation when you crammed on the subway

Now I have walked the 40 minutes to or from work and been pleasantly surprised by couple of people who actually just want to practice their English. It is often a scam to get you to go to an overpriced tea house or art show. So I usually give most of them enough rope to hang themselves then bail as soon as the mention tea or art, I'm still Canadian so somewhat polite.

What I've noticed is I seem to be more engaged by the city without them. When you walk around some of the back hutongs, (backstreets,) you get a lot of looks as a white guy but seem to be greeted with a smile or an acknowledgment of some kind. When you're "tuned out" you don't get so much as a smile. Perhaps it is just spring and people are in a more positive mood with the brighter days and warmer temperatures.

The only draw back is that, and I don't know who said it first, not me, but music is the sound track of life. Think of a song that brings a smile to your face or takes you back to that "one time" event. Carl Dougles Kung Fu Fighting is memory of a shortwave radio in crackling it our in Africa for me. Now it also included about 20 people poolside and numerous beers.

So that's the dilemma to ipod or not to ipod. Not sure, I guess I will just play it by ear.....

Hohai

The weather is turning better and we've had some mild days here. Very pleasant actually. The cherry blossems or starting. Was out to the Great Hall of the People for the National Peoples Congress last week. It's the yearly meeting of the government and is an "open forum". Ah ya, sure it is. We returned later in week for Kim Yong-Il, not to be confused with Kim Jong-Il. Jong is the Supreme Leader of North Korea (think Stephen Harper), Yong is the Premier of North Korea (think Danny Williams).

Enought about that. What I want to say was that it's nice to get out and see some of Beijing. Hohai is an old area that has not been plowed into the ground for the sake of building a shopping mall. It has lots of old hutongs (back streets) with little shops, bars and tea houses. It is on both sides of a lake and other than a bit of a breeze today was a great little walk. I think it will be a great spot for taking visitors to enjoy a little coffee or a beer and sit and people watch.

Here are a few photos off the old camera phone. Enjoy

Working through the weekend. Not my idea of a great time, but since we haven’t been as productive as Ben feels we should be, I won’t argue the point.

So we headed out East of Beijing to Hebei province. Hebei surrounds Beijing. After about and hour and a half we get to San He City. It’s a fairly large city, but still considered a rural area. The premises for the story we are working on is; due to the economic slowdown the Government is handing out vouchers to people in rural areas to stimulate grows. The basic idea is that if washers, fridges, tv’s aren’t being exported like they where, then the millions of rural residence can help pick up the slack.

We arrived at a small appliance store and meet a woman who was looking for a fridge for her mother. It is her mother’s first fridge. Never had one before and thanks to the 13% savings the voucher gives her it makes it the right time to buy. So after the transaction, off we go to deliver it.

Picture if you will your enjoying a nice spring morning and up pulls a very large foreign man with a camera, a translator, 3 government officials and a delivery truck.
I’m sure she would have rather had aliens land then see us lumber in disturbed her day. She was very cordial about the whole process and we where able to pry an answer about what she thought of the whole idea. She thought that it was good for the government to help local people in theses tight economic times.

Once Ben got a not so quick standup done it was back to the store to talk to the owner and get that side. It was interesting to do the whole story with 3 government officials hanging around. Not sure how candid people are in a situation like that.

Finished up around 12:30 then off to lunch. Donkey meat. Yes I said donkey meat. It wasn’t that bad actually. I wouldn’t order it, but I’ve eaten worse. There was kidney, fish, and several kinds of unidentified meats. It wasn’t all bad, dumplings everywhere and beer.

Oh well at least I got over my restlessness.

restless

Well I’m in the new apartment over a week now and starting to get settled in. I’m also getting restless. We have a travel ban in place due to economic problems that seem to be plaguing the parent company. My colleagues at the CBC and CTV are not immune to it either.

I took the job as I saw an opportunity to witness and experience a completely new culture and continent. So far I have been able to find a level of comfort with my new city. I’m able to get around using subway, taxi and good old fashion foot. Buy groceries, get my dry cleaning done, do laundry, all those mundane tasks that we all probably find eat up a day and we sometimes take for granted I can now accomplish in a perhaps butchered fashion, but get them done I do.

So now I’m restless to get out from the smog and haze of Beijing and venture forth and discover the rest of Asia.

Where would I like to go? Well let me see. Cambodia would be good. There’s little trial about to take place that might shed a little light on the death of say 800,000 people. Khmer Rouge ring a bell to anyone. Either of the Korea’s, North or South pick one. Actually looking at the North from the DMZ would be kind of interesting.

Taiwan, technically part of China, but then again so is Tibet. Nepal, Bhutan, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Macau. Those are just off the top of my head.

Well I guess we will wait and see. Two and half years to go in the contract, that time will fly by before I know it.

So I will leave you with the above photos of my new apartment and try and deal with my restlessness.