A couple of days ago, I went downtown to meet with my friend Stuart. I took the subway, of course, and emerged into a brilliant sunny day to see not one, but three tanned Australian smiles waiting for me at the top of the subway steps at the Beijing Zhan stop. Stuart ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
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A Canadian in Beijing: A Full Bodhi Massage
A couple of days ago, I went downtown to meet with my friend Stuart. I took the subway, of course, and emerged into a brilliant sunny day to see not one, but three tanned Australian smiles waiting for me at the top of the subway steps at the Beijing Zhan stop. Stuart ...A Canadian in Beijing: Goodbye Schmoozing, Ni Hao Guanxi
On Monday night, I had a fabulous night of guanxi. Guanxi, which literally means "relationship" or "relations" is a central concept in Chinese philosophy and represents one's social standing and, therefore, social potential. I've heard this described also in terms of its ...A Canadian in Beijing: Veggie Restaurant Redemption
I thought it appropriate that I redeem the vegetarian restaurant that was the site of my "bad day" a few weeks ago. First off, my friend Traci (an American and thirteen-year resident of Beijing) read my blog and had the following to say to me: "everyone has bad China ...A Canadian In Beijing: How Do You Train a Head Cold?
You put yourself on an overnight train in China to catch one and then you take another overnight train in China five days later and it learns to never leave your side! I have been nursing a box of Kleenex and sipping ginger tea for just under a week now and still my head ...GADLING'S TAKE FIVE: Week of April 29
Not sure about all of you out there, but I've got summer on my mind - BAD. Every read here seems to translate to summer for me and that is only speaking for me, myself and I. If you are as ready as I am you will easy find how to work these recent blog topics, suggestions and ...A Canadian in Beijing: Sonic Youth in Beijing
I took in a concert this week thanks to a friend who couldn't use his (expensive) tickets. He gave me a great deal on them (thanks Stuart!) and I went with some friends to see the Sonic Youth concert here in Beijing. I have to admit that I don't know Sonic Youth very ...A Canadian in Beijing: Hutongs & Mopeds
Beijing is famous for its hutongs. A hutong is the Mandarin word for "alley" and, at one time, most of the city was made of these narrow streets that housed residences and businesses alike. These days, there are many wide streets that have replaced them, but there is a ...A Canadian In Beijing: Two-Wheeled Matrimony
I've been here for three weeks and I'm pretty sure that yesterday was my first "bad day." Okay, perhaps "bad" is the wrong word for it. I'd have to say that what started as a good day became a low day, a sad day, a frustrating and annoying day. . . a day when I wished I ...A Canadian In Beijing: A Shu-in for Language Training
School is... school. It's hard, but it's helpful. It's work, but it's bringing pleasure. It's a commitment, but it's enabling a freedom that I couldn't have predicted. I am a part-time student at the "Beijing Yuyan Daxue," or Beijing Language and Culture University in ...A Canadian In Beijing: Vegan in China, Part 1
I have had several requests to write about what it's like to be vegan in China. In the first week, I felt as though my writing would be more of a whine and less informed, less patient and certainly less complete on the subject. Why? Because I was starving! After all, ...A Canadian In Beijing: Malled
My little dorm room came with a kettle and a cup and a few towels but not much else besides the furniture and some simple bedding. To get through three months, I knew that I'd need a few simple household items. For instance, I didn't have a bowl or a scrub brush for dishes, ...A Canadian In Beijing: La La Bar Land
If I can suggest anything to a fellow traveller about entertainment and experience in other cultures, I would suggest taking in the gay scene in any major city in the world. Regardless of sexual orientation, I think it's an amazing experience and I regularly seek out the ...A Canadian In Beijing: Live Music in China's Capital
Mao Live House is smoky and cavernous. It's only ten after eight in the evening but there are already a few people lingering along the edges and the door staff were poised and ready to take my thirty kuai cover charge to see these three bands tonight. I was welcomed in ...A Canadian in Beijing: Righteous Bikes
The thing about bicycles in Beijing is that they're fearless, they're everywhere, they're irreverent and they're their own characters. I know that it's people who ride these bikes, but there seems to be a network of bikes themselves, like a secret society of Beijing bikes ...A Canadian In Beijing: Spring in Beijing
Spring has arrived in Beijing. I heard that it was recently snowing in Canada and was even minus 14 degrees Celsius this Easter weekend. I've got to say that this Chinese weather is suiting me just fine! The trees have begun to blossom on campus. I learned the name of this ...A Canadian in Beijing: Walls and Their Greatness
When I get really tired I hit a wall. By that, I mean that I suddenly get a wash of my fatigue throughout my whole body and mind and spirit and I lose the capacity to speak clearly, think clearly, function. At those moments, I could lie down pretty much anywhere with my bag ...A Canadian in Beijing: Nightmare Travel Visa Just a Dream
I had nightmares about getting my travel visa for China. I imagined large halls filled with children and people everywhere, line-ups barely visible in the human density, thick air filled with the sounds of late-winter coughs and sniffles, hours on aching feet, shuffling ...A Canadian In Beijing: Turn Up The Volume
Ember Swift is the newest member of Gadling. Over the next three months, this Canadian woman will be living in and exploring China. During her time there, she'll be posting regularly about her adventures. Check in every Wednesday and Sunday to see what China is like from a ...Word for the Travel Wise (02/11/07)
Should you be in Somalia and in need of a lift call out for one of these... Today's word is a Somali word used in Somalia: tagsi - taxi Since Somali isn't spoken by a large population learning the language online for free will be a difficult task to accomplish. Start with ...Word for the Travel Wise (02/10/07)
This evening while chatting with a pal from Iceland who was looking for some first-time NYC travel advice, sights to see, etc. I kindly asked him to return the favor of providing any info with some vocab out of Iceland. As of right now I haven't really any suggestions, but I ...
