DH to Global Gal: “Hey, you know what’s strange? Every time I fly over Linyi, I see balloons. Random balloons, just hovering around 500 feet off the ground.”

Global Gal: “Oh, I’m blogging that.”

Ever wonder what happens to those balloons that float away from children’s hands or escape from Chinese wedding cars? Well, now you know! They serve as entertainment to passing pilots.

Photo by Bitpicture 

I’m really enjoying these two blogs, written by a couple spending six months in Shanghai. They both feature beautiful photos. Sometimes it’s refreshing to see this country through new eyes! And these two have great eyes:

Jamie Sinz, particularly this post and Nik Daum, this post, among others.

I came to these blogs by way of Prêt à Voyager, which is a very lovely, very inspiring blog where I found these Journey Journals by Cracked Designs, which I now own and can’t wait to use! Gah, I love the Internet!!

Reading this week:

• Tibet as ‘Hell on Earth’ by Elliot Sperling in the Far Eastern Economic Review

Was Tibet “hell on earth” before the Chinese “emancipated the serfs” in 1959?Is it “hell on earth” today, as the Dalai Lama believes? Sperling, the director of the Tibetan Studies program at Indiana University’s department of Central Eurasia Studies, addresses these questions in a succinct and fair article. The article is not available online in China, but I am not sure if that is because the entire Far Eastern Economic Review site is blocked, or just this article. 

• Slumming the Golden Arches by Rolf Potts on Yahoo News. 

This article, written and posted in June of 2006, appeals to me because as an expat and a traveler, I have to agree with his argument. I am not a huge fan of McDonald’s, but I’m no hipster, either. Potts says that eating at a McDonald’s in a foreign country is not done because you miss the food or the thought of America, but because the traveler/expat seeks an anonymous space that is familiar. I visit McDonald’s in Linyi as an escape when the chaos outside becomes too much. I don’t particularly like the food, but I know what everything is, I know what to expect, and they’ve got the cheapest coffee in town! (And normally, a clean, western style toilet.) Even when the restaurant is packed to the gills with rambunctious school children, I can still relax. Which probably explains why I was able to spend four hours there one afternoon chatting with fellow expats. And don’t think that McDonald’s is really all that American anymore, few are the places that don’t have a Golden Arches, and the regional choices are a fun look at regional differences.

Looking at:

• Inside Red China - Photo galleries of life in “Red China” 1957-1978

Rejoicing at:

• The first Khmer Rouge trial in Cambodia – Wracked by corruption or not, it’s long overdue. First up is Kaing Guek Eav, known as Duch.

I read a book about Duch, the commandant of Tuol Sleng prison – a real house of horrors in downtown Phnom Penh. The Lost Executioner documents photographer and author Nic Dunlop’s quest to find Duch and chronicle the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge regime.

Reading today:

• Rethinking the American Dream by David Kamp in the April Vanity Fair

“…that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for every man, with opportunity for each according to his ability or achievement.” Looking at it that way, the American Dream still exists, as it always will. But I think over time we have inflated the meaning tremendously, with almost unattainable expectations – the crux of the article.

I rethought the American Dream a long time ago and in my estimation, I’m living it! I’m educated, I’m healthy, I’m debt free! I’m darn happy out here seeing the world. My life is better, richer and fuller than it has ever been. The current economic crisis is affecting everyone, however, and international aviation is no exception. Our dreams are a little fragile these days. Still, I wouldn’t trade this life…

• Meet Menhaden by Alice Friedemann on the Ethicurean Blog

Ever heard of menhaden fish? Neither had I, until I read this. Now I have something entirely new to worry about!

Not exactly light & happy reading. That’s what diversions like this and this and this are for.

I will freely admit that I was a dirty kid. I am not embarrassed. My mom is probably cringing as she reads this, but it’s true. I did not like washing my hands and I hated baths. Turns out that might be why I am so healthy!

First, a couple of links to things I found interesting to read:

• Corruption Taints Every Facet of Life in China - From the LA Times. This article confirms/exposes things I have suspected/believed for a very long time. Corruption is a serious problem here and I have seen it affect friends personally. Can the central government effectively deal with it? Hmmm…
• How would you like to be known as the Tourists of Evil Omen? It seems this unlucky British couple, Jason and Jenny Cairns-Lawrence , have been in New York City, London and Mumbai during terrorist attacks.

And in other randomness:

• I am about to go postal on “DouFu” woman, the character who comes around the apartment complex every few hours peddling her block of tofu. She lets you know she’s around by screaming “DouFu” loudly and frequently. She is not to be outdone by recycle man, who usually passes through around 0730 every morning shouting for you to bring down cardboard to sell to him. He doesn’t have a tag line, just an annoying animal call. While I was in the States this summer, I heard that our roommates got fed up and launched a couple of empty pizza boxes out the window, which I am sure were greeted with much happiness, since they are made of cardboard and were free.
• Another Chinglish moment in my editing work this morning: A flight maneuver called “S-Turns Across a Toad” instead of road brought me great joy.
• I know they mean well, but when they find out I have a cold, why does everyone immediately tell me to drink hot water and wear more clothes? I’m 32 years old and a registered nurse! I know what to do! Besides, the coffee helps my cough and I get overheated if I wear too many layers in a hot office! Everyone says the same thing, too. Hot water and additional clothing must be the “chicken soup” of cold cures here. 

I made this on Wordle on my lunch break. It’s easy, fun and a satisfying time waster!

Passports with Purpose is a fundraiser for the charity Heifer International organized by three active travel bloggers. It has been set up as a raffle with lots of travel related prizes. You can participate by visiting the Passports with Purpose host page, choosing a prize and paying $10 for a chance to win that prize. The raffle is open until December 29th. You can support charity and possibly win a prize valued around $100. See the host page for a list of prizes!

So I took a silly quiz on Blogthings to find out what country I am. I have some great friends from there!

You Are Denmark

Well known for your happiness, you live a high quality life. You are compassionate, articulate, and polite.You tend to be quite reserved. You prefer to be around those you know best. You value equality. Modest and humble, you are not concerned with personal success.

I can’t tell you how much I love this story – a Colombian man and his traveling library – The Biblioburro. The power of knowledge and books is an amazing thing. I worry we might be forgetting that in America. I cringe a little at the idea of Joe Six Pack, to be honest. Since when is being educated a bad thing? We should all strive to be educated. What’s great about Joe Six Pack? He sits on his couch guzzling beers, watching TV. What kind of work ethic is that? What kind of family values does he have? Just look at these Colombian kids. They have a real desire for education. Without it, they will have very few choices in their future. They might as well be Chinese, Vietnamese, Nicaraguan, Nigerian, etc. because it is the same story worldwide – education!

Stepping off the soap-box, I also love this story because it combines two of my favorite things – libraries and donkeys.