Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category
And ... I'm back.
I was hoped I could be able to update everything while on the go, but as one of the problems of travelling alone is that I have to plan everything myself, there was very little time for me to actually take care of this blog. So my apology for my laziness and not updating this blog for more than 3 month.
In the past three month I have visited a total of 8 Chinese provinces/multiplicities. My original motive for this travel was to see as much as possible of my home country before I suddenly find myself no longer a student. Unlike many kiwis, I don't like to do OEs as travel isn't really on my favourite list.
However, people, have become another important attraction for me. I was warmly welcomed by my friends online, especially those from twitter in every stage of my travel; some even kindly offered me free accommodations. They come from a variety of background: university students, white-collar workers, social activists whom have spent time in Chinese jails and government officers who are living in a very affluent life.
China is a land full of opportunities. The country is like a giant construction site and everything is played in fast-forward motion - I experienced this in Shanghai, literally. I was circling around Shanghai for about 2 weeks, visiting surrounding cities. Two weeks later, when I get back to Shanghai, I nearly got lost as I was troubling to find the very same accommodation I lived two weeks ago - everything around has changed, business were closed for some kind of redevelopment.
However, this incredible speed comes at a hefty price. Every person I have met, regardless of whether they are pro communist party or not, admit that this country cannot continue on this road forever, both socially and economically. Chinese society has become a kind of jungle, where the strongest survive and become affluent in every way, leaving very little physical and social resources for the poor and less fortunate ones.
This itself isn't wrong, however, relative strength of a person isn't decided he or her ability and skills, but money, power, and guanxi. This left the socially and economically disadvantage group very little opportunity to succeed, making the gaps bigger and bigger as time goes by.
Anyway, enough for the political side. If you have a few thousand NZ$ floating around, China is a good place to go. It offers you pretty much everything you can imagine at a very modest price. My budget was about #3,000. The only problem is time, China is huge - I was only able to experience a slice of China - Panda, Great Wall, Terracotta Army and Shanghai in three month's time, there are a lot of place I want to go but couldn't find enough time and money.
On holiday
Well I didn't update here for quite a while, one was because I was preparing for the exam, which didn't go well at all (as usual), and I was preparing for the trip to China.
I'm planning to stay in the country for about 3 month.For most of the time I'll be staying in my hometown , however, I'm also planning to visit number of Chinese cities including Shanghai and Beijing.
I'll be arriving in Shanghai sometime tomorrow morning (2oth) and visiting cities like Nanjing and Hangzhou in the surrouding area for two weeks before I get to my hometown, Chengdu. So, anyone who would like to buy me a meal, the time to contact me is now :)
I don't think I'll be able to access the Internet for quite a while, I don't have a laptop, and I heard that the Great Firewall of China is now more capable than any other internet censorship system existed in this world. However, I can assure you that this is not the last post of 2009, if I have time and access then I may update while on the go.
If anyone wants to find me, just leave a message to my email or here, I'll get back to you as soon as possible, but do expect delays.
See you in China:)
The plan
Why I has been away for such a long time - I had a tough week before finish the semester, and ... I was just too lazy and really have nothing to say here. Now I'm back, but I still don't expect to update here as usual as before. As you may know, I'm about to travel to China for three months. Mainly to visit relatives and my extend family, but with a little bit of spare time, I'll also be visiting a few cities in eastern part of China like Shanghai, Nanjing and Beijing as a tourist.
But before I go, there are still exams I have to do.
So, the plan is I'll be leaving on 20th November. Before I get home I'll be having a stopover in Shanghai for about 2 weeks. During the period I'll be visiting cities around the area, most likely Hangzhou and Nanjing. Schedule for Beijing is still not yet decided, I'm trying to arrange a trip to North Korea, if it is possible to get into Kim's Realm , Beijing would be part of that trip.
There are several other places like Xinjiang and Taiwan on my list but not planned yet. I highly doubt I'll be able to go as my wallet would unlikely to allow me to do so.
I'll be on my own for most of the time in China, so anyone who would like to buy me a lunch or dinner will be much appreciated :)
MfE Briefing to the Incoming Minister released
It's here.
I 'm only interested in the Resource Management Act part, so here's what the briefing said.
- Devolved RMA decision-making has exacerbated capacity issues in local government and led to variability in planning controls and consent processing. It is often difficult (both practically and politically) for councils to factor national benefits, priorities and strategies into planning and decision making when the costs of decisions fall locally.
- Central government is now making more use of the RMA instruments that offer greater national direction, involvement and guidance. Because there is no overall strategy for use of these powers, there is a lack of certainty about when and how central government will intervene.
- Under current RMA practice, effective and efficient resource allocation is not occurring, and new or expanding high-value uses are not being provided for. Problems are most keenly felt where resources are approaching or at full allocation in some areas: fresh water, coastal space, and air-sheds.
- The current ‘first-come-first-served’ system evolved from case law in the absence of central government direction, in a period of less resource competition.
Another thing worth to notice is that MfE stressed that "Meeting New Zealand’s international climate change obligations" as part of critical issues for environmental sustainability - bit harder for Rodney Hide to explain why he wants to dump the carbon credit system.
About ... severe cold weather in China
Most up to date information from China says that due to the improved weather condition, most stranded passengers in major train stations are now on their way home.
The problem is, it's New Year's Eve today. In Chinese tradition, tonight is the night of family union. When I was young, Chinese New Year Holiday was always the happiest time, you get lots of good food, presents (most time this means Cash in the Red envelope), just like the importance of Christmas for youngsters here.
But now it seems a lot of people may not able to make it on time and see their child's happy face.
The word "home" has a very special place in the hearts of Chinese People, especially for the migrant workers. In most cases you only get to see your family, your wife or your husband and your children once a year, and now is a time.
In rest of the year, they work long hours for low pay, they save every hard earned cent - never spend more than housing and food cost, so they can bring more money home and hope to get their child a better life, and we can cheaper goods from China.
They are the powerhouse of the booming Chinese economy and yet they received a lot of unfair treatment. When they lived in the tents outside train stations in sub-zero temperature, I saw no one in the local government ever considered somethine like "maybe we should open covered stadiums, schools and get all the empty hotel rooms for them".
Another news says a train was running without air conditioning, food, and water. When the train finally stopped for waterfor more than ten hours, while the trainmen can get off the train and have their food, passengers were prohibited from leaving the train.
It's such a shame for the Chinese authority, what a poor management.
My best wishes are with the people still on their way home, hope them could have a peaceful, and joyful Chinese New Year of Rat with the warmth of their home.
It's just another site visit...
This one due next monday, it's the last major assignment .... before the "big group work one".
I don't want say which suburb is, that's for you to guess ... it's in Auckland though. Abundance of greens, nice terraced houses, but very unfriendly people. I was stopped by at least three peoplein one hour, they questioned and treated me like a thief or a foreign spy who got their personal secretes in the camera.
I think I'd better own a UoA shirt so next time when people start to think that they have captured a foreign spy, instead of endless explanations, I may just point them the university insignia on the shirt .
Apart from that spy thing, I quite like the style of houses there. Some terraced houses look really even you know that they are at least 30 years old.
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There seems to be a lot of photos from this suburb on Wikipedia, so I didn't upload below ones there. Regular cc-by-nc-nd copyright still applies.
