5 days til New York!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
China & Hong Kong - Photo Update
So we're in Guilin now and China is redeeming itself with stunning scenery and better behaved people. Must be the warmer climate. Here's some pics from the last 3 weeks.
5 days til New York!
5 days til New York!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Big Trouble In Little Hong Kong
I'm in Hong Kong right now, we were due to fly to Guilin a couple of days ago but we had a bit of an "adventure".
There I was, walking through the Zoological park, looking at Lemurs here, Flamingoes there, minding my own business when my leg started feeling itchy. It continued to feel itchy, then my other leg started to itch, then my feet and when I checked to see what it was, my leg had all these red blotches on it.
By 10pm that night, after having antihistamines which didn't work, I was sitting in the emergency department in the hospital, big red blistery welts on my legs and feet, thinking "Oh great, I've caught bird-flu-meningitis-meningacocyl-leprosy-itis or something"
The lovely, helpful people of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital shrugged their shoulders, gave me some cream and pain killers (it sort of hurt too) and referred me to a Dermotologist.
The next day I went to said dermotologist. They wouldn't see me before I had made an appointment, despite me trying to make an appointment over the phone, to which they responded "Just come in". So I said "Ok, I need to make an appointment". The girl took out her diary and said "We can see you in September 2009". I kindly informed her that I didn't plan on being here in September 2009, so she gave me a list of other dermatologists I could try.
By this time, we were supposed to be leaving to catch a flight so Blake cancelled our flights and relocated us to (expensive) rooms next door at the Holiday Inn until something was sorted out. I was upstairs making phonecalls to the people on the list at that time. By the third unsuccessful phonecall, I lost it and started crying. Then I got over it and decided to call MY VERY OWN doctor Dr Janjic at the North Eltham Medical Clinic. This incredible, saintly woman listened to my tear-veilled description over the phone, told me it sounded like an allergic reaction that was possibly infected and told me to keep using the cream the hospital had given me, the antihistamines and to start on antibiotics that she had given me to take away just in case such a situation arose. She then strongly suggested I call the Australian embassy because the help I was getting was nowhere near good enough. After wishing I could hug over the phone, I thanked her and hung up.
After further to-ing and fro-ing with the Australian Embassy, call-backs and faxes, I finally got an appointment with a really good, english-speaking, London-trained, highly awarded Dermotologist who saw me that very same day (within about 2 hours, actually), gave me ($300 worth of) more medication and reassured me it was just a really bad reaction to what he thought was most likely flea bites and suggested I just stay put and ride it out.
So far, it all looks good. I think the antibiotics and creams and antihistamines are doing the trick and I feel better. Really, just having someone say "No, it's not bird-flu-meningitis-meningacocyl-leprosy-itis" was enough. It wasn't so much the condition but not knowing what the condition was precluding that freaked me out. Knowing it's just as simple as perhaps having a cat walk past me and rub against my shins thus leaving me flea-bitten" is great.
Onward and upward!!!
There I was, walking through the Zoological park, looking at Lemurs here, Flamingoes there, minding my own business when my leg started feeling itchy. It continued to feel itchy, then my other leg started to itch, then my feet and when I checked to see what it was, my leg had all these red blotches on it.
By 10pm that night, after having antihistamines which didn't work, I was sitting in the emergency department in the hospital, big red blistery welts on my legs and feet, thinking "Oh great, I've caught bird-flu-meningitis-meningacocyl-leprosy-itis or something"
The lovely, helpful people of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital shrugged their shoulders, gave me some cream and pain killers (it sort of hurt too) and referred me to a Dermotologist.
The next day I went to said dermotologist. They wouldn't see me before I had made an appointment, despite me trying to make an appointment over the phone, to which they responded "Just come in". So I said "Ok, I need to make an appointment". The girl took out her diary and said "We can see you in September 2009". I kindly informed her that I didn't plan on being here in September 2009, so she gave me a list of other dermatologists I could try.
By this time, we were supposed to be leaving to catch a flight so Blake cancelled our flights and relocated us to (expensive) rooms next door at the Holiday Inn until something was sorted out. I was upstairs making phonecalls to the people on the list at that time. By the third unsuccessful phonecall, I lost it and started crying. Then I got over it and decided to call MY VERY OWN doctor Dr Janjic at the North Eltham Medical Clinic. This incredible, saintly woman listened to my tear-veilled description over the phone, told me it sounded like an allergic reaction that was possibly infected and told me to keep using the cream the hospital had given me, the antihistamines and to start on antibiotics that she had given me to take away just in case such a situation arose. She then strongly suggested I call the Australian embassy because the help I was getting was nowhere near good enough. After wishing I could hug over the phone, I thanked her and hung up.
After further to-ing and fro-ing with the Australian Embassy, call-backs and faxes, I finally got an appointment with a really good, english-speaking, London-trained, highly awarded Dermotologist who saw me that very same day (within about 2 hours, actually), gave me ($300 worth of) more medication and reassured me it was just a really bad reaction to what he thought was most likely flea bites and suggested I just stay put and ride it out.
So far, it all looks good. I think the antibiotics and creams and antihistamines are doing the trick and I feel better. Really, just having someone say "No, it's not bird-flu-meningitis-meningacocyl-leprosy-itis" was enough. It wasn't so much the condition but not knowing what the condition was precluding that freaked me out. Knowing it's just as simple as perhaps having a cat walk past me and rub against my shins thus leaving me flea-bitten" is great.
Onward and upward!!!
Friday, December 12, 2008
China - The People
Be prepared. This entry is a bit of a rant and not all nice.
We've been in China 10 days now and it's been good. We've seen some cool things and ate some nice food. The one thing that really stands out here though... and is making it a little hard to put our time here into the 'great' category is the people.
We were warned to expect certain levels of behaviour from the people here, but not to such a full on degree. Especially not in the cities. I guess coming from the land of sweet and polite (Japan) has made it even more of a shock, but I struggle to believe that there is anywhere else on earth quite like this.
Let me start with the staring.
We receive the stare from pretty much every second person on the (busy) streets. It's not a "oh hey, it's a white person" kind of glance. It's a long hard stare. What makes it worse is that it's impossible to look into their eyes and know what they're thinking either. Do they think you're attractive? Are they curious? Are they sizing you up to rob you? It oten feels like the latter. You can't make them stop either. Staring back has no effect, it's like they're in some kind of trance. I'm often tempted to stick my fingers in my eyes and up my nose and make a super ugly face... save for the fact that I still don't know what to think of it all. If you're just walking by, they'll stare until you've managed to get by them. If you're unlucky enough to be standing still, it goes like this. First, they'll stare at your face for a good 5 to 10 seconds. Then they'll look you up and down.... slowly... inspecting your attire and what you're carrying with you. Then they'll return to looking at your face for as long as time permits or until something better comes along. Obviously there are different degrees of staring and that example is the worst of it. The staring itself doesn't bother me so much. The thing that gets to me is WHY?? This isn't a remote town in Western China where they get one whitey a year. This is central Beijing and Shanghai. We see another white person for every block we walk here. They must too! They can't not be used to having people with different skin colours in their city. I would be incredibly ashamed if this sort of thing occured in Melbourne.
Driving.
In some countries, the driving is endearingly chaotic. Like there are no rules and people just make them up as they go along. China feels the opposite. There are obviously road rules in place and they are very blatantly disobeyed at each and every intersection (often in front of police) due to an incredible level of impatience. It's not endearing, it's irritating.... and dangerous! Red lights mean nothing. Whatever can do the most damage has right of way. Obviously this leaves pedestrians in a bit of a spot. The honk of a horn is vehicular for "Open Sesame!" when there is an obstacle made of human beings in the way. If you don't move.... well I don't know. I move. I don't really want to know what happens if you don't.
Queuing.
We were told that people in China had only recently learnt the importance of a queue. This was obvious..... and I don't think everyone has had the lesson yet either. It's an odd feeling being the first person lined up to get onto a train and then somehow becoming the last person to go through the doors.
Spitting.
People here spit. All the time. You can't walk 20m without hearing that sound. It doesn't bother me at all really. Again, it's just a question of why? it's so puzling. Do Chinese people have different glands to the rest of the human population? Ones that produce phlegm at a rate 100 times faster than anyone else? Is it the pollution? I can't remember the last time I felt the need to spit anything from my mouth that wasn't toothpaste. Let alone the need to do it constantly!
There are other things which I could mention, but they're not particularly unique to China, so there isn't really much point.
You might be thinking "You're in China!! Just deal with it!" and I think we are dealing with it. We're still having a good time, despite these things. It only tends to get to you at the end of the day, when you're getting a little tired of walking and have no time for someone on a Vespa pushing their way through a crowd of people. When you get back from a day of activity and think "thank god we're back at the hostel". I don't think that's the ideal way to finish a day.
I feel the need to mention that we have come across some friendly and polite people here, at the hostels in particular, but unfortunately these sort of people seem to be the minority.
As for the other aspects of China, it's been pretty OK so far. Hiking along the Great Wall was superb! Beijing was cold and boring. Xi'An was lively and interesting. Shanghai is a fairly decent big city. The food has also been great!
I'm looking forward to our final Chinese destination, Guilin, as I feel like it might be a little different... being smaller and in a completely different kind of setting. But deep down, I think i'm thinking "BRING ON MEXICO!!!"
Blake
We've been in China 10 days now and it's been good. We've seen some cool things and ate some nice food. The one thing that really stands out here though... and is making it a little hard to put our time here into the 'great' category is the people.
We were warned to expect certain levels of behaviour from the people here, but not to such a full on degree. Especially not in the cities. I guess coming from the land of sweet and polite (Japan) has made it even more of a shock, but I struggle to believe that there is anywhere else on earth quite like this.
Let me start with the staring.
We receive the stare from pretty much every second person on the (busy) streets. It's not a "oh hey, it's a white person" kind of glance. It's a long hard stare. What makes it worse is that it's impossible to look into their eyes and know what they're thinking either. Do they think you're attractive? Are they curious? Are they sizing you up to rob you? It oten feels like the latter. You can't make them stop either. Staring back has no effect, it's like they're in some kind of trance. I'm often tempted to stick my fingers in my eyes and up my nose and make a super ugly face... save for the fact that I still don't know what to think of it all. If you're just walking by, they'll stare until you've managed to get by them. If you're unlucky enough to be standing still, it goes like this. First, they'll stare at your face for a good 5 to 10 seconds. Then they'll look you up and down.... slowly... inspecting your attire and what you're carrying with you. Then they'll return to looking at your face for as long as time permits or until something better comes along. Obviously there are different degrees of staring and that example is the worst of it. The staring itself doesn't bother me so much. The thing that gets to me is WHY?? This isn't a remote town in Western China where they get one whitey a year. This is central Beijing and Shanghai. We see another white person for every block we walk here. They must too! They can't not be used to having people with different skin colours in their city. I would be incredibly ashamed if this sort of thing occured in Melbourne.
Driving.
In some countries, the driving is endearingly chaotic. Like there are no rules and people just make them up as they go along. China feels the opposite. There are obviously road rules in place and they are very blatantly disobeyed at each and every intersection (often in front of police) due to an incredible level of impatience. It's not endearing, it's irritating.... and dangerous! Red lights mean nothing. Whatever can do the most damage has right of way. Obviously this leaves pedestrians in a bit of a spot. The honk of a horn is vehicular for "Open Sesame!" when there is an obstacle made of human beings in the way. If you don't move.... well I don't know. I move. I don't really want to know what happens if you don't.
Queuing.
We were told that people in China had only recently learnt the importance of a queue. This was obvious..... and I don't think everyone has had the lesson yet either. It's an odd feeling being the first person lined up to get onto a train and then somehow becoming the last person to go through the doors.
Spitting.
People here spit. All the time. You can't walk 20m without hearing that sound. It doesn't bother me at all really. Again, it's just a question of why? it's so puzling. Do Chinese people have different glands to the rest of the human population? Ones that produce phlegm at a rate 100 times faster than anyone else? Is it the pollution? I can't remember the last time I felt the need to spit anything from my mouth that wasn't toothpaste. Let alone the need to do it constantly!
There are other things which I could mention, but they're not particularly unique to China, so there isn't really much point.
You might be thinking "You're in China!! Just deal with it!" and I think we are dealing with it. We're still having a good time, despite these things. It only tends to get to you at the end of the day, when you're getting a little tired of walking and have no time for someone on a Vespa pushing their way through a crowd of people. When you get back from a day of activity and think "thank god we're back at the hostel". I don't think that's the ideal way to finish a day.
I feel the need to mention that we have come across some friendly and polite people here, at the hostels in particular, but unfortunately these sort of people seem to be the minority.
As for the other aspects of China, it's been pretty OK so far. Hiking along the Great Wall was superb! Beijing was cold and boring. Xi'An was lively and interesting. Shanghai is a fairly decent big city. The food has also been great!
I'm looking forward to our final Chinese destination, Guilin, as I feel like it might be a little different... being smaller and in a completely different kind of setting. But deep down, I think i'm thinking "BRING ON MEXICO!!!"
Blake
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Goodbye Japan - Hello China
We arrive in Beijing yesterday. The first thing that hit me was the smog. The aeroplane flew at an altitude that allowed a very interesting view from just slightly above the smog cloud. It was like having one eye under water and one eye above water.
Still, my asthma has behaved itself so far. Feeling ever-so-slightly sore in the chest but I'm willing to bet that's more to do with the cold air.
So far China seems pretty full-on. I think it's worth noting that coming from a place of politeness and order like Japan probably compounds the feeling of being a fish out of water in a place where road rules are ignored, people hack and spit on the ground, little children go to the bathroom on newspaper in the street and everywhere you go, people either shove you or shout at you. It's nothing personal, of course, people are just gruff and don't have the time for sensitivity.
In Japan, making a simple purchase was a ceremony of pleases, thank yous and over-the-top wrapping and packing and presentation.
In China, it's more about finding what you want, giving them the money and getting the hell out of their way, whitey!
I don't mean to paint it as a negative thing, it's just a different world. Utterly.
I'm also getting used to the fact that we're somewhat of a novelty here. We're stared at wherever we go, people point and giggle and say "Hello!" like you say "Asphinctersayswhat?" and, as we discovered today, want to have their photo taken with you in front of monuments like we're Posh and Becks. People also like shouting at you, they seem to think it's an encouraging thing, one to get you in the shop and spending up big. They seem to be surprised that when they go "HEY YOU!!!! HEY PRETTY LADDDYYYY!!!!" I go "FUCK!" and run, thinking I'm about to be mugged.
But yeah, different world. Like Narnia.
We checked out Tian'anmen square and the forbidden city today. We'll be heading to the Great Wall tomorrow. It's all happening.
Anyway, I have a warm beer waiting for me, and it's only going to get warmer.
Fly lice.
Still, my asthma has behaved itself so far. Feeling ever-so-slightly sore in the chest but I'm willing to bet that's more to do with the cold air.
So far China seems pretty full-on. I think it's worth noting that coming from a place of politeness and order like Japan probably compounds the feeling of being a fish out of water in a place where road rules are ignored, people hack and spit on the ground, little children go to the bathroom on newspaper in the street and everywhere you go, people either shove you or shout at you. It's nothing personal, of course, people are just gruff and don't have the time for sensitivity.
In Japan, making a simple purchase was a ceremony of pleases, thank yous and over-the-top wrapping and packing and presentation.
In China, it's more about finding what you want, giving them the money and getting the hell out of their way, whitey!
I don't mean to paint it as a negative thing, it's just a different world. Utterly.
I'm also getting used to the fact that we're somewhat of a novelty here. We're stared at wherever we go, people point and giggle and say "Hello!" like you say "Asphinctersayswhat?" and, as we discovered today, want to have their photo taken with you in front of monuments like we're Posh and Becks. People also like shouting at you, they seem to think it's an encouraging thing, one to get you in the shop and spending up big. They seem to be surprised that when they go "HEY YOU!!!! HEY PRETTY LADDDYYYY!!!!" I go "FUCK!" and run, thinking I'm about to be mugged.
But yeah, different world. Like Narnia.
We checked out Tian'anmen square and the forbidden city today. We'll be heading to the Great Wall tomorrow. It's all happening.
Anyway, I have a warm beer waiting for me, and it's only going to get warmer.
Fly lice.
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