Counterfeit what?

Most western-friendly Chinese hotels have complimentary copies of a local english language newspaper, The China Daily.  Even though this paper, like all in China has limited editorial freedom, it is still enjoyable to read and offers a look into Chinese life that would be easy to miss.  I mostly enjoy reading the crime stories.  Chinese cities are mostly free from violent crime, but fraud and corruption are everywhere and exist at all levels, and the China Daily seems to really enjoy bringing these cases to light

My favorite story from the China Daily on my most recent trip involved, I am not kidding, counterfeit taxi cabs!  The Shanghai goverment estimates that among the aproximately 45,000 licensed cabs in the city, there are close to 5000 fake ones.  These bogus cabs are painted like the real thing, and apparently even have working meters (also counterfeit).  In most cases, the driver operates like a normal taxi, hauling passengers from one place to another and charging the normal rates.  He is just not paying his taxes to the local government or licensing his cab.  It appears, however, that a couple of drivers of fake cabs have taken a more aggressive approach by simply driving to a secluded spot and robbing their unsuspecting customers at knife point. 

China is definately a "buyer beware" society!

Is it real??

Bicycle delivery in Shenzhen

In Shenzhen, it seems most small commerce is handled via bicycle.  5 gallon bottles for water coolers, 40 lb propane cylinders, and all manner of materials and supplies are delivered by bike or scooter. 

Food is also delivered in this manner.  The popular fast food places all deliver.  Yes you can call the Colonel and in a few minutes have a bucket o' finger linckin' good!  McDonalds delivers also...

One night during my last trip to China, I was at the bar and had a taste for a caipirinha.  The bar had no limes, no call for them I guess.  However, one phone call from the bartender and 5 minutes later, a young Chinese girl on a bicycle arrived with a small bag of limes and a case of other bottled goods. 

Recycling is handled in the same manner...

June 2012 - Belgium -"How would you like your horse cooked?"

Tastes in food and what is considered acceptable to eat varies widely. The appearance of unusual items on a menu don't often surprise me anymore, but occasionally I am still caught off guard. At dinner last night in a very nice restaurant in Leuven on a cobblestoned side street near the town center two items made me laugh. The first item was horse. I seriously considered ordering this, but only so I could have some fun with the waitress. "Excuse me miss, but was this a 'free range' horse or did he just lose at the track?". "What wine goes best with palomino. Perhaps a mare-lot?". The possibilities are endless.

Leuven, Belgium

The second item was, I am not joking, kangaroo. If I were in Australia this would not be surprising I suppose, but in Belgium? Anyway, I figured unless there was a kangaroo ranch somewhere in Europe that this unfortunate Joey was probably not very fresh. I opted for shrimp. Not very funny but quite tasty.

June 2012 - Leuven, Belgium

I am on what I have been describing as a "short trip" - to Belgium.  Since nearly all of my trips are outside of North America, when I say short I mean duration, not distance.  I think I will spend more time in the air than on the ground...   I have been to Belgium once before, but it was also brief, just an in and out day trip from Germany.  However, this trip I will spend one night in Leuven, near Brussels. 

Leuven is famous for two things; it houses the oldest Catholic university in the world, and it is home to InBev, the worlds largest brewing company.  In fact, my hotel is directly across the street from the Stella Artois brewery.  Fortunately - no detectable brewery smell so far



Such a view!



I have dinner plans with coworkers in the evening, but today I was free to wander.  Leuven seems like a very nice town;  clean, everything looks well maintained, few cars - lots of pedestrians and bicycles - although I have yet to see anyone wearing a bike helmet. 

I also seems people here are rather polite...




Please and thank you...

More later.

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May 2012 - Last days - I give them a taste of their own medicine...

Even though I expressely told him not to, Larry gave me not one but two bottles of baijo.  I know it is just Chinese hospitality and I appreciate that, but A: I don't like baijo and would rarely if ever drink it outside the context of a dinner with Chinese customers, and B: I already have 3 bottles of this at home, also gifts from Larry.  The contents of one of these is so nasty, I am sure it will eventually eat through the bottle, the floor, the foundation, and will eventually find its way back to China.  So what to do with two more bottles? 

I could have, I suppose conveniently forgotten them in the hotel room, but Larry occasionally comes to my house when in the US and he might notice its absence.

I could just bring them home, but 2 more bottles?  No.  I came up with a different plan

I am taking one bottle home, but the second I took to my favorite Shenzhen bar and gave a shot to every Chinese person there, even the girls who do not normally drink this.  Everyone enjoyed this, although the girls made some pretty strange faces.  Good times...

The waitresses take one for the team