So it’s been a very long time since I posted anything here, and it is not from apathy. Since returning from Norway I decided that I wanted to go to Asia, and so after a lot of hard work renewing passports and obtaining visas, I am now living in Guangzhou, the third largest city in China.
I was very much hoping that China would be relatively free of the whole Christmas mania that blights everywhere in the West, but it seems not. In fact, the Christmas experience is heightened with the high pitched warbles of some child screeching Christmas songs out in every shop that are loud enough to do permanent damage to ears. Everyone seems oblivious to it apart from me. My ‘favourite’ was the adaptation of Jingle Bells:
Jingle Bells
Jingle Bells
Ding
Ding
Ding
Good every day
So why Guangzhou? Well, it’s certainly not for the clean and pollution free environment, but it is a big city with many advantages, the biggest being its vicinity to Hong Kong. Apparently Guangzhou is over 2000 years old, and is famed for it’s food (another name for the city is Canton, home of the Cantonese language and cuisine). The name itself apparently means ‘Goat Town’. Nice.
The weather averages a pleasant 20 degrees in winter, but it sure does feel cold at night with no heating.
And life in China? Very, very, strange. It’s a whole different world. I am constantly amazed by the amount of money that flows through the city. Restaurants and shops are always full to bursting, car dealers are selling 500 new cars a day, construction sites appear daily, and the whole place is alive. The eating experience is something that requires more details. Back home I’m used to restaurants and cafes being fairly small places, maybe serving 20 or 30 people. Restaurants here serve 1000’s at a time, over several floors, full of noise, chaos, and confusion (for me anyway). Need a table for two? No problem, the table folds down. Need a table for 20? Staff appear from nowhere rolling a giant table-top that fits over the smaller table.
It’s going to take a long time to fit everything inside my head.
(and I will get round to replying to all questions eventually).
My wife was born in Guangzhou, and i have been there 2 times in the last 2 years… and I completely agree with you in all your feelings 🙂
More interesting things in Guangzhou: the elevated highways and streets, sometimes 4 or 5 levels… the all-alive food: when you arriving the restaurant, you can choose the fish or the chicken (or the tortoise, or shrimp, or pigeon) when they still alive, and only 20 minutes later you have them cooked and ready to eat…
I will return there next June (in 2006)… and now counting the days for new interesting experiences 😀
whoa!is it a so-called small world?! just reading your blog about Norway,but now surprise to know you’ve been here–GuangZhou,I’m a cantonese anyway:P
Another Guangzhou-er – hello! The world is definatley shrinking all the time.
My great friend was in Guangzhou,employment
Came here originally for the review of Al Tech MG25 HDD player, but found this interesting post describing GZ from a view of a foreigner.
I was born and grew in GZ until year 1998, then I went to AU and now live in Perth. So GZ is my hometown and I have very close feeling to it in every aspects. I have to admit the changes since I left is dramatically. I normally go back every two years, and each time I will find somewhere, something is different. The whole city is still expanding and construction sites everywhere.
Anyway, would like to see more of your posts in GZ.
hee hee thought you’d get away from Christmas if you are in China? =)
look forward for more posts about GZ!
I will arrived Macau airport and planned to take bus to Guangzhou but we don’t the buses schedule .Can anybody help me on this
Thank you
Hi Monna, there’s very little information available, but what there is you can find at http://bestofguangzhou.com/travel/bus-coach/kwee-kwan-bus-macau/ and http://bestofguangzhou.com/travel/bus-coach/macau-airport-bus/
well hi.. i knew u’re living in guangzhou and me too… it’s such a big n modern city but i don’t feel well here.. u say lei??? pls send me a e mail or add my msn…..hope we can be friend..