Notes from China

Firstly, Hong Kong is definitely not china. Though its 10 year anniversary of its return to Chinese rule is this year, there is no way you can call it China... there are too many starbucks, too many people that speak too fluently english, too many signs that are in english and too many streets with English names (Cameron? Cardovan? Those don't come from any chinese I've ever seen). It didn't prepare me for china at all. I mean, it was fabulous: seeing gene, staying with a american in a fabulous apt. and walking around (and taking the convenient and fabulous metro) were all so great. It wasn't china though..

Here's what is China:
1. HOT and sweaty-- from the moment I arrived I have learned more about how many pores a person has because of the sweat I have generated... The temperature is about 30C (85F?) but the humidity is about 99.5%... It was only comfortable when it rained and then I was wet because it was rainy!
2. Ridiculous Drivers-- Every road is either 1 lane of 12 lanes... (but they are all the same width). I have not yet deciphered any sort of speed limit, but in Guilin and Yangshao (not "cities" per se) buses, minibuses, construction vehicles, bikes, ricksaw-like-things, pedicabs, pedestrians, cows, etc. all go on the same road however they like. Everything comes down to beeping... slow-steady beeping means "i'm approaching, but don't worry, i'll just pass you"... faster-louder means, "you should probably move over if you know whats good for you" and loud-loud-fast-fast means that "Hey jerky, you best be getting your slow car over, I have crap to do"... its unbelievable how crazy it is, and that I haven't witnessed any accidents. There are n turning lanes, no stop signs, notta... I can't fully describe in writing what its like, but its an experience to be a part of.
3. Hard Beds -- I took a "hard sleeper" from Guangzhou to guilin (10 hours on the train- 8 pm to 6 am) and the bed on that was more comfortable than the hostel I was in last night... and in each bed I've stayed in, I've been more than amazed by their ability to make beds that would be slabs of wood or beds with a sleep number of 4500. Its crazy.
4. Meat Madness -- Vegetarianism is on the side right now. There is no way I can do it here... I try to pick around the meat, but every broth, and every "veggie" dish has pieces of pork or chicken in it... So I give up. And I guess I'm being a good sport--Gene and I went to dim sum and I at cow stomach (or intestine, he didn't know the translation, but it was definitely a digestive part of the cow) and it was that bad; a little chewy, a little spicy, and had these strange folds in it. Anyway, I'm not converted, but its a lapse. I also would like to declare that I will be starting a "raw foods diet" when I'm back in Utah... You can't have any fruits of vegetables unless they are cooked. And everything that is cooked is cooked in grease and meat juice. 6 days in and I am already thinking about over-priced salads at Wild Oats...
5. A lesson in Bargaining -- When I 'tried' to bargain in Hong Kong, the guy got pissed and we had to go to another stall... Here in Yangshou, I just wanted to 'look' at these silk posters and ended up with 3 for the price of 1. Its interesting, and who knows if that's the only crap I'll buy or my bag will be full? If anyone wants something, just email me back... I am debating some pirated DVDs in Shanghai, but have no real other plan for purchases...
6. Fun... definitely fun. Meeting people, making a fool of myself trying to use the 5 phrases of mandarin I know, and seeing some unbelievable sites.