Thoughts at the End of a Journey

Its been almost 4 months since I've written anything in my blog.  Mostly because I have done anything out of the ordinary.  And partly because I just wasn't in a contemplative mood while being near a computer.  Well, now I am so I thought I reflect on the year I've been here in China.  This may be a bit of ramble but that is how I write most of the time.  Ha!

China is a strange beast.  In my learned opinion it is mostly show and not a lot of substance.  I'm not talking about the people as much as I am talking about the infrastructure, although you have to place the blame with the people, where it deservedly belongs.

For example, I have been told that I live in the most exclusive suburb in the third largest city in the richest province in China.  Yet, the apartment I live in has no utilities that would past the most lenient of inspection it would have to pass if it were built in America.  The windows are single pane, no central air or heating, the cable is down the majority of the time and when it does work the sound that comes across it is unbearable.  I haven't turned my television on for the past two months.  Where the electrical wiring is there are huge holes where an outlet should be.  The kitchen is really like that of an efficiency apartment.  And no, this is not an efficiency I am living in but a "luxury" one bedroom apartment.  My apartment is bigger than most houses in China.  And remember this is suppose to be the Beverly Hills of China.  I'd hate to see what the ghettos look like.

Well, actually I've seen them.  And well, they look about like ours but a lot filthier.  But then again, all of China is filthy - from the ground up.  People have no real pride in their country here.  They may tell you they do but the common people and even the upper crust when not on camera no there is much to be done here in China.  Fiscally, politically, culturally, etal.  You can be walking down the street and people just simply throw there trash that's in their hand on the ground.  Men still take a piss wherever they desire.  No qualms at all.  I've even caught myself doing the same - not the garbage, I can't bring myself to do that - when I've really needed to go.  Find a bush, done!!  It's like you're on one great big golf course.  lol

Bathing is culturally still in the 1700s.  If the commoner takes a bath more than once a week I'd be completely surprised.  Even in some of the school dormitories there is only one or two showers areas for 200-300+ students.  They literally live in a barracks like environment.  No wonder they go home every chance they get.  And again, I'm teaching at a very expensive school for the rich.

One of the things I hate the most about China is the air quality.  Any globalist that thinks America can do anything to combat air quality around the world has their eyes closed, are simply anti-America or just an idiot; I'll let you decide.  I generally will one shower a day; sometimes more.  That's just me.  But when I do its not so much to get clean as to feel clean.  Here in China, if I didn't bath every day my hair would feel very heavy with air particles.  Just disgusting.  But you learn to adapt and as long as the water is running I'll be fine.

And speaking of water, I swear I think something happen in the last couple weeks.  When I wash my clothes I know they are coming our dirtier than when they went in.

Maybe I'm just getting trunkee (slang for wanting to get back home asap) and letting some steam off but I can promise all that I write is true.  I've lived.  Would I do again?  Probably, but that the bizarre adventuresome type of person that I am.  I don't mind going out of my comfort zone.  It is the way I have lived my whole life, why change now.

Enough for now, I'm going to go veg awhile.

Thailand

Well, I'm back from Thailand and after spending a month there I have come to the conclusion that paradise is one of two places: 1) where family and friends are and 2) any beach in Thailand.  lol

I know I'm being a bit silly in the above statement but being in Thailand is almost like living in the United States but for 3 cents on the dollar.  Yeah, you read that right.  If you are considering living off of your retirement then Thailand might just be the answer to your prayers.  Condo on or near the beach for under $50K.  And if you don't want to buy you can always rent for less than $500 a month.  And I'm not talking four walls and a window; renting condos includes everything including furniture.  Most are vacation rentals so you can understand why everything is included.  For less you can rent an apartment, condo or house where you take care of all of the amenities.

Food is plentiful and delicious by American standards.  American food is a bit more expensive but a traditional American breakfast will still only cost you $4; and if you enjoy Thai food you can get by on much less.  And yes, Thai food is very, very, very, very hot.  I'm not exaggerating so ask the cook to make it "not so spicy" and they will.  The choice of food is varied and delicious.

Golf - there are over 15 golf courses in the area.  The nicer ones will cost you a bit more than most.  Siam Country Club where the LPGA recently played the Honda Classic cost me, let me see, oh yeah, $70 to play.  lol  And that is the most expensive course in the area.  I must admit I did get on at the member guest rate, but even at $100 for a world class golf course it is still a real bargain.

Can you tell I'm really hating being back in China.  What mystifies me is that China is suppose to be the First World Country while Thailand is the Third World Country and yet I felt much more home in Thailand.  I'd say China has a long way to go before it is even closely compared to the USA.

And I can hear most of you saying it already; "Louis, you're only mesmerized because of all the ladies in Thailand.", and while I have to admit that is certainly an attraction in my above analysis I am simply trying to compare what each has and how similar they are to each other.  Heck, while in China I have four channels and most of the time they freeze.  In Thailand, I was there for one month was able to watch Fox News, the Super Bowl and even one of my Arizona Wildcats basketball games.  The cable here in Thailand is not unlike any you'd get in America.

So the ladies are simply the icing on a very nice cake.  Speaking of ladies, really the nicest thing here in Thailand that concerns women are the massage parlors.  I can get a "legit" one hour oil massage for $10.  One a day for the rest of my life is about the best selling point I can think of even if there were no other "ladies".  2 hours for less than $20, truly "Paradise on Earth."

Jane

Joy

Well, enough for now.  I'll try to be a bit more philosophical on my other blog about the cultural differences between Thailand and the USA when I get around to writing it.

Traveling to Thailand

Okay, let's see how much of this interesting side trip I can still remember.  And this is more about the China part of getting to Thailand that actual Thailand.

Getting up early Tuesday morning it was around 9 Degrees Centigrade outside.  Can not wait to get into the 25+ degree centigrade weather in Pattaya.  Anyway, I of course dressed warm because I had to walk the quarter mile to the bus stop.  I'm way to cheap to pay for a taxi to the bus station.  Besides, I take this walk all the time.  No big deal since I'm all wrapped up nice and toasty.

Nothing extraordinary about the bus ride to the bus station but then it starts to get interesting.  I'm thinking that the bus going to Shanghai's Pu Dong airport will be nice and warm when we get seated.  After all, in America, when you get on a Greyhound Bus it is always already prepped for you.  Gas topped off, bus warmed up, etc. etc.  Not here.  But I didn't know that.

So in the bus terminal I start to take off some of my warmer clothes so when I do get to Thailand I'm not sweating like a stuck pig and a skewer.  Bo bigger so far.  The terminal is a bit cold but not that bad unless you are standing by the doors so I avoid the doors.  Finally the time comes to board the bus and I'm thinking, "Cool, I'll get warm again."  Ha!  What a joke!

First, my seat number is #4 so I'm seating in the front roll right by the door, second, the bus is a chilling 5 degrees.  Yes, 5 degees!  And of course, being one fo the first to get on I had to sit there while everyone proceeds to get on the bus and find their seats.  You'd think the bus was on and engine running, warming up the bus while all this was happening - NOPE!!  Can't waste that gas.  I don't think it got above 10 degrees for 30 minutes.

And another fascinating thing, about 10 minutes out, we stop at a gas station to fill up with gas.  You'd think they would have done that prior.  It was interesting watching the process as I was able to watch the bus as well as several cars fill up.  There are no credit card slots on the gas pumps.  Instead, each driver reaches for an RF reader on the gas pump and scans a tag, probably the vehicles ID, and proceeds to pump the gas.  I can see this happening in the States.  The government will then know exactly where you are, where you go and how often and how much gas you expend.  Yikes!!  Big brother at his best.

In a sense we already do it with credit cards unless you pay with cash, but when cash is no longer an option - GOTCHA!!!

Well, I'm in Thailand now and the flight was uneventful and I need to get out and see what this place is all about.

Till next time..............