SBCC China/Vietnam Trip 2006

View from hotel

2006-11-21T22:30:00.000-08:00

Hanoi!

2006-11-13T01:15:00.000-08:00

I didn't have any expectations of Vietnam. The french/third world architecture is really cool. The people are so laid back and friendly. The traffic is absolutely insane. I am really starting to Love Hanoi, what with the Bia Hoi corners in the old quarter with their 12.5 cent per cup of beer, and getting rides on a Xe Om, motorbike taxi, admitedly pretty stupid but fun. I haven't done much, but its a nice relax.

Two things I love about China

2006-11-04T22:42:00.000-08:00

...Chairman Mao and hard sleeper trains (I hope this isnt disrespectful)

Beijing

2006-11-04T21:27:00.000-08:00

Beijing was for the most part a short jaunt to see the forbidden city and great wall. The forbidden city was under construction (of course) which I though was fitting since everything else in China is. There was also a starbucks... I wonder what chairman Mao would think...
The great wall was incredible... to quote Clinton it was "very grand and beautiful, more beautiful and grander than I had expected"

Shanghai

2006-11-04T20:47:00.000-08:00

Was Shanghai China? It certainly didn't feel like it. I have never been in such a large, modernized city. It was definatley a conglomeration of surreal experiences... Eating pricey Morrocan food, crossing under the river in a "psychadelic tunnel" (Don't ask)... finding a Hooters... going to the 87th floor of the grand Hyatt and seeing rich white people engorge themselves...
It was fun and short. Probably better that it was short, as my money supplies were dwindling fast.

Jinan

2006-11-04T20:22:00.000-08:00

I guess this finally works, so its time to update. Starting with... Jinan!
Ahhh, Jinan. Ill miss your polluted skies and clogged streets. Ill miss class being interupted by explosions. Ill miss the lack of hot water and general state of decay of the room. But seriously, I enjoyed Jinan. I still can't believe all the incredible experiences I had and interesting people I met. Besides, I never could have formulated a picture of what China is like by staying in Weihai. Ill never forget climbing Tai Shan, getting street food, sadly attemptding to preform Taiji by the statue of Confucious, meeting my students on the grass...

Life in Weihai

2006-09-27T02:31:00.000-07:00

This dude make me some sweet pizza's. My students tried to get me into a Tai Chi class but the teacher was gone. This guy showed us his whole routine and then taught me a short sequence

Yes, in China you can pee on goldfish and feed live Chickens to Tigers!

2006-09-24T03:26:00.000-07:00

Weihai

2006-09-18T05:37:00.000-07:00

Some images of Weihai. Weihai was voted the most livable city in China, so its not the "real" China so to speak. Jinan will be much different. For the moment I am having alot of fun, getting to know my students and exploring the campus and city. The beach view is from my hotel room.

Ferry

2006-09-12T01:58:00.000-07:00

Some images from the ferry from Incheon Weihai. It was 14 hours and had the obligatory drunk chinese guy with a radio dancing and asking us to drink. We got up early and saw the sunrise on the Yellow sea.

Images of Seoul

2006-09-12T01:51:00.000-07:00

Here are some more images of Seoul. I took tons of random photos from the bus and I think this one of the flowers and woman is the best. I also like the contrast of this 600 year old gate with large impersonal glass highrises behind it. Since everyone is taking pictures, its easy to get shots of people taking pictures of stuff.

DMZ

2006-09-12T01:42:00.000-07:00

Last thursday we went to the DMZ. It was really strange and surreal because it was at the same time a tourist attraction but also had armed guards and a very strict military atmosphere. There was even an amusement park for children. We were told that the red bridge had holes in it for guns in case the north came down the river. We also went into a tunnel that the north had dug, but cameras were not allowed. We were showed a propoganda film before entering that seemed to say that all was fine and the situation was completely peaceful and great. We got 107 feet from actually being on the other side of the DMZ before we hit a cement wall with landmines on the other side.

Seoul

2006-09-07T03:43:00.000-07:00

Had the day to explore Seoul today. I found a very beautiful temple right near the hotel, then took the metro downtown and walked around the asian spectacle of consumption, and then got lunch. Luckily we had Rie (Japanese girl) who has been here many times before and knew how to navigate. Then we went to a palace that I forget the name of and saw the changing of the guards. Next we went up away from the city into the hills to a very peaceful buddhist temple.

Seoul2

2006-09-07T03:10:00.000-07:00

Leaving...

2006-09-01T23:01:00.000-07:00

I am leaving on monday with some other people in the program. We are going to drive up to SF and probably share a hotel room and then meet the others at the airport on Tuesday, when we will depart for Seoul. I'm not happy about packing and all of the little things I need to do and a general feeling like I'm forgetting something, but I'm following the rule that If I need anything I'll just buy it there.