China's daily news offering - some cherry picked delights

When I sit down for breakfast with my host family and start the day eating whatever Chinese delight awaits me (sometimes dumplings, sometimes those steamed buns, and sometimes just plain bread with qiaokeli, chocolate) I also like to indulge in some China Daily and see what China's English-speaking newspaper (unfortunately my Chinese is a long way off newspaper standard) has to offer.

Then after class I'll invest 15 RMB in the paper version to get a little bit extra and be able to awkwardly turn pages on the bus.

However I read it, it always gets the cogs in my head turning. 'Well, that was expected' 'Oh, that's crazy' 'Hmmm, actually maybe they have a point'.

They say History is written by the victors but who writes the news? Here I offer you some of the articles that have caught my eye from the Chinese-speaking part of the world.

'Judicial move aims at online rumours'
New guidelines issued by the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate have got me thinking about free speech v. truth-based publications.

'Official calls for improved elevator safety'
I might start taking the stairs.

'Taking Chinese culture to the world'
Hello Joseph Nye but then again China's millennia-old history, culture, philosophy, economy, language... are all pretty interesting so there's a lot to take in.

'Silk Road to take on a new look'
There's more to trade than the European single market. This is a very interesting proposal from President Xi Jinping which uses historic ties to tap into a potentially massive market.

More to come soon.

Park Life - What are they playing?

As I get out the subway on the way to my hostel, as I head down the road to grab some supplies and most definitely when I’m heading out for dinner in the evening, I see groups of Chinese men huddled around, enthusiastically commentating on what’s going on in the middle of the group.

In Beijing, the centre of attention is usually two elderly men playing a board game with lines within two large square perimeters. The game pieces are large and round, each punctuated with their own Chinese character.

The game is Xianqi, a game based on military strategy. Translated loosely it means ‘Elephant game’ but it’s often known as Chinese Chess and the object of the game is to capture your opponent's General/Marshall. Dividing the two players is the river which is often marked with 楚河 (Chu River) and 漢界 (Han border) referring to the Chu-Han War, an interregnum conflict between the Qin and Han Dynasty.


For me this game represents so much. It seems to highlight a deep social link where communities enjoy supporting and watching their friends battle head-to-head with strategic moves. It represents a peoples who still hold onto the physical rather than the digital. (For better and worse). Finally it represents a deep link to China’s history (intellectual, militaristic and social). 

Let's clear the air

It’s imperative we do so. Honestly, it really can’t go on like this…

After spending the early hours of the morning in the baggage area of Beijing international airport (I was waiting for the first metro and this was the most comfortable place – honestly) I then make it through customs, grab a coffee and wait for the sun to rise. I finish my coffee and read a bit more of my book, before checking the time. Looking out at 6 am, I suspect the sun should have risen but I can’t see much light. I look out again and glance around. I realise that the dimly glowing grey matter that’s sprawled across the sky was a sign that the day had begun. Well.. I thought… I think this is as much light as we’re gonna get, better head into town.

Unfortunately, I was right. I didn’t see a patch of real sky for two and a half days. The fog and pollution had descended into Beijing creating an all-encompassing substance that filled up the sky. There is grey everywhere you look. It gets in your eyes, your nose, your lungs and, if you’re not careful, your soul.

They’ve got to get this cleared up and they know it but it’s going to take a lot of effort and a lot of consideration. We’re talking about the capital city of the world’s factory here.


For me, and my time here, it was however time to sleep through the grey. I was exhausted and jetlagged. 

China

An exploration of Beijing and beyond. http://www.flickr.com/photos/98261674@N06/sets/72157635302978582

Questions in Qatar

Flying into Doha, the grumbling woman beside me started to ask me if I’d ever seen any graveyards in Qatar. The strange question was an opening into a conversation on the “controlling” politics and society of Qatar. I didn’t delve much further as her conversation became more bizarre but it had given me food for thought as we landed.

After landing I then stepped off the plane hit by mother nature’s reminder that this was not home. It was 18:45, pure night sky, and the temperature was in its high-30s. Catching my breath for a moment, I readjust to the incredible heat of the desert.

At Passport control, I was confronted with half of Nepal which gave me even more to contemplate. According to the mumbling expat voices around me and the comments of my friend, these Nepalese workers were a common site. I later find out they have arrived in their thousands(there was a population of 70,000 in 2009)^1. They carry out hard manual labour in Qatar, employed mostly in unqualified construction work and their safety is under question.

Officially allowed on Qatari soil, I then pass through arrivals to meet a friend. To respect the local customs I have covered my shoulders and knees and consider the role of women in this gas-rich patriarchal society. Qatar was indeed the first country among the Arab States of the Persian Gulf to allow women to vote, and they can run for public office, but I still have many questions.

Throughout my time in Doha however I am met with smiles, politeness, respect and good service. I see some interesting sights and eat good food in a Souq not far from the Corniche. I saw falcons, coloured mice, ate good food and even get an impromptu tour of stables near the Emiri Diwan.

This desert country, one of the world’s top Liquefied Natural Gas producers, with a population of just over 2 million and a GDP of over 170 billion² has certainly got me thinking. This is a culture, a country, which is ever-more present in my every day life in Europe. In Paris they have bought the Longchamp Races and will supposedly buy Le Primtemps. In London, they famously bought Harrods, the American Embassy and more recently heavily financed the Shard (Western Europe’s tallest building). This is a country with different faces, many of which they are still defining. It will have me asking questions for a while yet.

Next stop China: 1.3 billion GDP: more than 7 trillion

Travel notes:
- When you arrive at Doha International Airport you’ll be taken on a bus to arrivals. Depending on your luck it can take anywhere from 5 minutes to a few hours.
- There is free Wi-Fi at the airport
- Do go to a souq and enjoy good local food.
1. http://www.inf.org/map/diaspora

2. http://databank.worldbank.org/data/views/reports/tableview.aspx

Frankfurt

http://www.flickr.com/photos/98261674@N06/sets/72157634968348124

Graz

http://www.flickr.com/photos/98261674@N06/sets/72157634944467849