musicjunkiealex

Mar 18, 2015 00:43

Around China : musicjunkiealex commented on news Mainland Visitors Protest Smuggling Stereotypes in Hong Kong: “I Do Not Shop in Hong Kong”

I do exactly the same thing. I only live 6 subway stops from HK, takes less than 20 minutes to get to the border. I go at least once a month and fill a rucksack with stuff from the supermarket, not to mention the scores of electronic items, books and audio products I've bought from there. I have so much HK stuff I ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Mar 11, 2015 14:51

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Settling Down in China? Understanding The Chinese Spousal Visa

I got a 2 year Q2 visa in Hong Kong last week, I picked it up next day and just supplied a copy of my wife's ID card and my marriage book. It was more expensive than it would have been from the PSB (HK$3420 for UK), but I didn't have to go through the hassle of getting a health check, the hassle of dealing with the ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Mar 09, 2015 16:45

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Xi Jinping: The Governance Of China

He has no interest in stamping out corruption, his purpose is to consolidate his own power. Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Feb 18, 2015 03:03

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Backpacking with Chinese Characteristics: Interview with Travel Author Hong Mei

Great stuff, I really enjoyed this. Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Feb 02, 2015 00:37

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Spring Festival Travel Guide to Destinations and Buying Train & Airline Tickets

Anyone with even a tidbit of common sense leaves China via the nearest exit at this time of year, I haven't spent a single CNY in the country in 5 years nor do I ever intend to. It is almost impossible to travel anywhere, prices for everything imaginable skyrocket, and the weather is shit. Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Jan 17, 2015 15:20

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news A North Korea Travel Guide for China Expats

I refuse to go anywhere that I cannot travel independently. The cost is simply ridiculous for what you get and apart from the fact that it's North Korea would it be interesting if it wasn't the hermit state that it is? Being led around like a sheep with no control over what you can see or do is not my idea of fun. ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Jan 16, 2015 21:49

Around China : musicjunkiealex commented on news "Better Than Nothing”:British Foreign Office Accepts Beijing Hong Kong Reforms

Expecting the Tories to actually give a shit is the biggest mistake one can make. They know they price of everything and the value of precisely fuck all. Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Dec 20, 2014 17:26

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Coming in from the Cold: Dealing with Winter in China

Alternatively, don't live anywhere near Northern China. I live in Shenzhen where it's 18C today in the middle of December, I walked my dog in a t-shirt this morning and don't even have a heater in my flat. Problem solved. Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Dec 03, 2014 03:21

Around China : musicjunkiealex commented on news Man On Death Row Asks Victim’s Family for Forgiveness

I bet they would accept money though. Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Dec 03, 2014 00:59

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news China Through Film: 7 Contemporary Chinese Filmmakers You Should Know About

I have no doubt at all that there are many talented actors, actresses and directors in China, however most people will never get to see their work because the government won't allow it. For people to push back boundaries in film, music, literature and art it's often necessary to piss people off sometimes. Lots of ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Nov 20, 2014 00:33

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news China’s Foreign Exchange Underworld: Foreigners Scam Traders Out of 370,000 RMB in Beijing

Laundering filthy cash through forex is as old as money itself, there's a guy in Shenzhen who is very well known and he's involved in all sorts of shady dealings but loads of foreigners use him because he has the best rates and asks precisely zero questions. Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Oct 13, 2014 02:25

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news What’s in a Name? Foreigners in China with a Chinese Name

Very good article this, probably the best I've ever read on this site. The experience of overseas Chinese is something that not enough attention is paid to. The world is f***ed up when it comes to race in circumstances such as this. I'm British/South-African, but because both places have white populations and I'm ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Oct 06, 2014 13:49

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Bad Luck in China: Avoid These Superstitions if You Can

I acquired my dog from someone who was told by a fortune teller that my dog was the reason he had recently lost money in some business deals. He has been nothing but good luck for me. Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Sep 30, 2014 15:09

Around China : musicjunkiealex commented on news Instagram Blocked in China: Temporary or Permanent?

Possibly a business decision, maybe there are products about to be launched that are Instagram clones and they want the real thing out of the marketplace. I have no idea why other countries let China expand it's business interests abroad when they impose so many restrictions on foreign companies in China itself, or ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Jun 18, 2014 02:06

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news What You Must Know About Renting an Apartment in China

If you are on your own and don't mind living with other people sub-letting from a Chinese person who has a spare room is often a great idea. They will usually have formed a decent relationship with the landlord and you can pay them a smaller deposit. They will also deal with maintenance issues for you so you can ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

May 29, 2014 00:08

Blogs : musicjunkiealex commented on samferguson88 's blog Suzhou to Shenzhen: Nearly finished with my first year of teaching English

I've lived in Shenzhen for 4 and a half years so I know the place like the back of my hand. If you need any help, just send me a PM. Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

May 14, 2014 14:23

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Chinese Men, Western Women: Differences in the Dating Game

I'm not at all convinced that most Chinese men are attracted to Western Women, I think it's only a small minority who are. Sure, Western models are plastered all over billboards as some kind of ethereal creatures whose features are to be seen as desirable but I think the average size and weight of a Western Woman ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Feb 15, 2014 01:30

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Invasions of Privacy! Explaining the Issue of Personal Space in China

China is not even in the top 100 of the world's most urbanized countries, over 800 million people in China still live in largely rural/ agricultural areas. It is also not one of the world's most densely populated nations. Countries such as UK, Germany, Holland and Japan are all much more densely populated than China ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Dec 17, 2013 01:40

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Maximising Fun Days: China’s 2014 National Holiday’s Proposal

The system in it's current form is absolutely pathetic, nobody has a clue what time they will get off and the system of rescheduled workdays is ridiculous. At Chinese New year an estimated 300 million people are attempting to move around the country at the same time. The only solution for any sane person is to leave ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Jul 08, 2013 12:58

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Danger on the Dance Floor: Dealing with Trouble at Chinese Bars

I live in Shenzhen and there is one place in particular that is notorious for always having fights. It's simply because it primarily consists of men in their 20's who are like a "Two can Van Damme", they basically think they're rock hard after a couple of pints and start running their mouth. It's usually the same ... Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Jan 29, 2013 05:36

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Meet the Chinese Parents: Making First Impressions Count

At the end of the day, none of this matters one iota as all they give a shit about is how much you earn, whether or not you will give them any money to support them, how soon they will get a grandchild and whether or not you are going to whisk their daughter to a foreign country. Full Comment>>

musicjunkiealex

Jan 11, 2013 22:27

Articles : musicjunkiealex commented on news Spring Festival Memoir: In the Defense of Experiencing “Chun Yun”

I completely disagree. I think anyone with any brains gets on the first flight out of China at CNY, This is my fourth year here and I've gone abroad for every one and don't regret it in the slightest.It's impossible to get travel tickets or a hotel at a reasonable price and staying in your home city is stupid ... Full Comment>>