Going Home, and Being Political for Awhile

It's been an unbelievable 30 days in China.

By this time tomorrow, I'll be touching down at KLIA. While not being the best of vacations, this trip has really opened my eyes and mind to the hidden potentials of one of the fastest growing economy in the world. In times where everyone is talking about recession and losing their job (and heads), China is growing like it has been doing for the past 50 years. This is not the Communist China you've read in history books, this is not the country full of touristy places you've heard from family and friends; this is the world's biggest superpower (and single-party government).

There might be some who've experienced China before who would tell you that you're not seeing the real picture of China: unemployment, polution, petty crimes, persecution of ideology and religion, the list goes on. What I can say is that what I see is as real as China gets. This is the picture of a country in transition, where certain things must go in the road to development. Ultimately, this is Yin and Yang in motion. Nothing is inheritantly good or bad. It is a balancing act that any country must learn to harness.

In retrospect, I like every part of the "new" China. Large and effective networks of public tranportation; apparent waste management; a blooming television industry; good hospitality (if you can speak Chinese); environmental friendly measures (Yay! No plastic bags). Of course, I'm also aware of the "other side" of the dragon, but it is unfair to say that people from rural areas are being neglected or treated unjustly. It all depends on their mindsets and determination: if this guy in downtown Shanghai can own a car, there's nothing to stop the farmer in faraway Kunming doing so. Everyone has to try; no government can feed all of its citizens (something most people wants).

Love the weather too!

Shanghai on cold feet

Alrights, this is day 5 of our Chinese trip and we've left the relative comfort of ultra-efficient Hangzhou to come to the ultra-modern metropolitan of Shanghai. It's about 10 degrees C and darn cold!
Pictures to come.

Waiting Pt. 1

It's boring sitting at a KFC table blogging about absolutely nothing. Anyways, I'm officially on my journey to China. But first, we had to wait and wait and wait. Hoping time flies, or else.