First impression is the colour of the sky. Even when waiting for transition in Hong Kong you can feel it. It's grey and it's just not quite as transparent. I reckon I have seen one blue sky day during my 17 day stay in China, which is the last day. I think it does indicate how pollution is going on around the country no matter how the government was trying to cover it up declaring close to 200 days of blue skies annually in their official reports.
Worse were the rivers. I went to a small village in Panyu near the river mouth of Pearl River, the water was brown, floating with rubbish and it stinks. And there's a pretty bad haze over the water too although it appeared to be a fine day, those huge ships from afar was a mere silhouette. The bank, on the other hand, looks quite recently renovated with newly tiled paths, freshly planted trees and grass, it was quite surreal.
Back in my home city of Guangzhou, of course it had changed quite a bit over the years while I wasn't home (not even sure whether I'd call it home any more). With skyscrapers erecting every day it was fascinating. The thing is people (including my family and friends) seems to be overly obsessed with those above ground achievements, they brag about it and always urge me to go and have a look at them. I did. Those high towers in neon lights and fountains that dance with music are nice to have I guess, but it's sort of an empty message and huge waste of money, especially when you don't even have a proper sewage system underground (ref. thunderstorms last summer in Beijing, I don't believe Guangzhou doing any better because I do remember those flash floods from my high school era and I have not heard about any improvements that had been done on them).
People are probably the most annoying part of China. I don't think I have met a single person that I know that hadn't asked me about my marital status and when I'd getting married and when I'd be having children within the first 5 lines of conversation. And when I tell them I won't be considering marriage any soon and I don't ever want children I apparently raised their eyebrows and they started talking about the daughter of someone they know, trying to interest me. I guess what I was trying to say is, this is my life and it is completely none of your business.
Well good to be back I guess. Seeing all those family and friends etc. I think I did miss some of you but that was supposed to be my holiday while apparently I was a lot more exhausted than at work because I did not have any weekends and every day there are at least 2 meals that I had to have out with someone for reunion. I am really glad that I am back in Australia and have my freedom back. I have a few friends here that I catch up with regularly for a drink or two, I do not have to talk about anything personal unless I wanted to and I just feel relaxed being with them. I like it a lot more in here.
Worse were the rivers. I went to a small village in Panyu near the river mouth of Pearl River, the water was brown, floating with rubbish and it stinks. And there's a pretty bad haze over the water too although it appeared to be a fine day, those huge ships from afar was a mere silhouette. The bank, on the other hand, looks quite recently renovated with newly tiled paths, freshly planted trees and grass, it was quite surreal.
Back in my home city of Guangzhou, of course it had changed quite a bit over the years while I wasn't home (not even sure whether I'd call it home any more). With skyscrapers erecting every day it was fascinating. The thing is people (including my family and friends) seems to be overly obsessed with those above ground achievements, they brag about it and always urge me to go and have a look at them. I did. Those high towers in neon lights and fountains that dance with music are nice to have I guess, but it's sort of an empty message and huge waste of money, especially when you don't even have a proper sewage system underground (ref. thunderstorms last summer in Beijing, I don't believe Guangzhou doing any better because I do remember those flash floods from my high school era and I have not heard about any improvements that had been done on them).
People are probably the most annoying part of China. I don't think I have met a single person that I know that hadn't asked me about my marital status and when I'd getting married and when I'd be having children within the first 5 lines of conversation. And when I tell them I won't be considering marriage any soon and I don't ever want children I apparently raised their eyebrows and they started talking about the daughter of someone they know, trying to interest me. I guess what I was trying to say is, this is my life and it is completely none of your business.
Well good to be back I guess. Seeing all those family and friends etc. I think I did miss some of you but that was supposed to be my holiday while apparently I was a lot more exhausted than at work because I did not have any weekends and every day there are at least 2 meals that I had to have out with someone for reunion. I am really glad that I am back in Australia and have my freedom back. I have a few friends here that I catch up with regularly for a drink or two, I do not have to talk about anything personal unless I wanted to and I just feel relaxed being with them. I like it a lot more in here.
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