Weblog

Monday, 09 June 2008

Saturday, 08 July 2006

  • I leave you with a few photos. They are what I had left in camera. All my neat shots were erased when my HD failed. The first one is of the farm behind Andy's factory in Dong Guan, southern China. Natural growth is fast disappearing in that area due to development, so this is a precious sight of a real farm in China. The second is of Shenzhen. This is pretty much what all Chinese cities looks like. The third is of a HK shopping mall. And no, I did not photoshop it. It is just crazy how materialism thrives there. The fourth is some pics of me. I look pretty young these days. Most people think I am twenty. The last two are of my apt. I live comfortably with Ikea furniture!

     

     

     

     

     

Tuesday, 25 April 2006

  • Alright...lots of things to update about China.  Now that I have been here for a while, 3 weeks, I can give a fairly accurate assessment.  Yada yada yada.  Enough boring talk...pictures time.  It's in three sections, KOREA, FACTORY, SHENZHEN.

    KOREA!

    Korea rocked by the way.  This is near the Seoul Tower.  And no, that tower right there aint the Seoul Tower.

    This is the view I saw right out of the youth hostel.  I prefer prinstine quietness over the bustle of downtown anytime.

    Ahhh...Ewha University where the women can relax and read without fear of men.

     

    This is me and the Columbian dude I befriended.  He's a fencer in an international competition in Korea.  Really cool guy.  Julian is his name.

    Here is Annie and her friend who drove me all around.  Really nice guy.  Paid for my lunch too.  Well, thank you, Annie, for having me as a friend.

    Yum Yum food Korean style.  There is a big pizza thingy and a big soup thingy.

    Korean traffic.  Check out how modernized everything is.  I would say, it beats LA.  And would be comparable to New York.

     

    FACTORY!

    Yes, I live in a factory in Dong Guan, Shenzhen in China with my friend Andy.  This is what I see everyday out my window everyday.  The bars keep me safe, but I can't help but feel like I am in a prison.  I really dont go out, and if I do, not alone, for fear of getting robbed.

    I think they are burning something in the fields again...this along with all the factories nearby makes for horrible air conditions.

     

    Here is what the title of the factory is.  It means the most top.  And yes, the factory is pink.  They make audio speakers.  And really...there is nothing here but factories.  That patch of vegetable patties is the only green you will see for miles.

     

    Life is actually pretty good here.  Thanks, Andy.  We have a house keeper, and from most people's view, I live a life of luxury.  Dont got to work, have all my meals, laundry and what not taken care of.  The worst thing aside from lack of freedom is is the mosquitos.  Check out my very swollen hand in the afternoon.  Six bites I had in one hand and it all kind of merged.

     

    This is what it looks like at night.  I would say the swelling got worse and I cant even clench my fist now.  I needed a break from the factory.  So I finally took a thirty minute taxi, then a train, then a bus, total two hours and finally made it to downtown Shenzhen.

    Shenzhen!

    This is the famous tourist attraction of Shenzhen.  Called Window to the World, it has all the major attractions, miniaturized, in the world.  I didnt go in btw.

    So, here is all the people shopping.  Yes, the girl in the ad has "bigger" eyes because she wears contacts that enlarges her pupils.  Black contacts...freaky.

    Here are Tony and Nathalie.  No, I didnt just sneak in to their apartment and insist that they give me food and housing.  Thank You both for being such great hosts.  You gave me a place to stay, introduced me to cool people who gave me free food, and you made me feel welcome.  Thank You

     

    Here are my lovely hosts bargaining to get "wedding pictures" done.  Don't sign it Tony!  Bargain some more!

    Here is me in my new haircut.  I told them I wanted a modern cut, and they gave me Asian punk rock style.

    Here is Nathalie cheering it up with Yogurt.  We ate at a place with from from a nomadic people called Wheegers.  They looked Iranian.  And they are Muslim.  Great lamb and caramelized bananas.

    I had the great opportunity to teach a little at Tony's class.  They were watching Dora the Explorer.

    The fifth graders filling out a worksheet.  They were a bit rowdy but I liked their curiosity.

    Awwww...devlopment in China.

Wednesday, 04 January 2006

  • Okay, first entry in a while.  Yes, I just got back from China.  For those of you who think that I just got up and left without saying goodbye, well, that's because I only went for 15 days, and now I am back, for a couple months.  Will do my going away party in due time.

    I will have pictures of China.  Still need to upload most of them.  But for now, feast your eyes on these first.  And yes, Shanghai is pretty cool.  The city feels like Taipei, but Shanghai isnt as modernized as one may think.  May be cause I am spoiled by New York and LA, but it's cool cause that just means Shanghai still got some flavor.  Beijing...well, it's cold, dark, and booming. Suzhou is nice and chilled back.  Hanzhou freakin rocks with a georgous view, expensive cars, high rises, and an awesome lake.  As for Hong Kong...have you ever smelled the back of 99 market?  Well, it's cause there are Cantonese people there, and they're probably from Hong Kong.  I hate that city.  Had a happy X-Mas with Andy there though.  More on everything later.

    This is in the summer palace in Beijing.  The whole lake was frozen over.  Some people just aint afraid of death.  I would never walk on there.

    Great wall.  Climbed all the way to the top right there, only to realize there are thousands of miles more.

    This is in the lingering gardens in Suzhou.  Really picturesque.  Got a more homely, pretty garden feel than the grand emperor structures of Beijing.

    This is in a water town in Suzhou.  We went on a raft where a village woman rowed us through the canals.  Only place in China with free roaming dogs.  The rest of the place just ate them.  And I am not kidding.

    This is in Hanzhou.  Further down in a different building rests the tallest or second tallest Buddha I have ever seen.  Just incredible.  On the back of the six story buddha are dark figures, some looked demonic.  I felt like I was looking at hell or the afterlife.  You can't take pictures inside, so I am just telling you.

    Shanghai at the famous Nanjing road that's reknowned for shopping.  Frankly, Time's Square in NY was so much better.  But it did the trick for a tourist spot.  That's McDonald's by the way.  Nastiness.

    Same area.  Shanghai was very commercialized.  But it was good that I spent a week there and got to know more than just the surface.

Top Tags - Weblog

[no tags]

Mechvin

  • Visit Mechvin's Xanga Site
    • Name: Vincent
    • Birthday: 4/24/1982
    • Gender: Male
    • Member Since: 1/13/2004

Weblog Archives

Don't worry - your calendar is here… to see it in action just click "Save" above and refresh the page.

About Me

  • I always believed in making it on my own, through my own hard work. I am no longer naïve enough to believe that I can achieve success by being alone -- Only through the help of others and the will to help others can I influence the issues and the people I care about, and that is why I am a journalist.

Pulse

Mechvin has no pulse!...

Photostrip

[no photos]

Recommended

[no recommendations]