Thursday 21 June 2007
Dragon Boat 2007
The origins of this festival are lost in the mists of an ancient culture.
It is thought, that a revered poet throw himself in the river, at frustration with the corruption of the government.
The people loved him so much they threw rice in the water to prevent the fish from eating him, while boats scooted across the water looking for his body and beating drums.
Today, the result is: a day off work, families getting together, rice dumplings being prepared and a shirt-load of blokes getting in a narrow boat and race to grab a flag at the other end of the river.
It was definitely all the fun of the fair as we rode down to the river. Fairy floss, ice cream and corn-dogs competed for space with the Coke girls and a plethora of stalls promoting every variety of community group.
When the gun shot was heard, people crowded along the banks of The Love River, to see the brightly coloured boats race along the short course.
Well worth a look if you happen to be somewhere near Chinese culture.
Monday 18 June 2007
Living Cheap in Foreign Parts
When you arrive in a foreign country, with hardly any money, no language and a long time before the first pay cheque, there are ways to minimize your expenses until you can afford to start living.
Here are a few tips we have come up with -
Food:
No Western food, as it is foreign they charge a premium.
Noodles and veggies, cheap easy and healthy, instant noodles are your new staple.
Eat on the street, for less than two dollars you can get a meal of soup, meat, two veg and rice from those roadside buffets. It also means that you just have to point at what you want.
Get a job that provides free lunch.
Housing:
If you don't get a job that includes housing in your contract, go for something cheap, maybe on the sixth floor with no lift.
Find something close to where you work which will cut down you transport costs.
Transport:
Just walk, the locals who never move anywhere without burning fossil fuels will look at you like your an idiot in this heat, but it is cheap.
Learn the bus system. Extremely difficult when you cannot read where it is going but just jump on ans see where it goes, you can always get on the same one going the other way.
Borrow a bicycle, good exercise and quicker than walking.
Borrow a scooter, with no registration or brakes, or maybe stick to the bicycle.
Thursday 14 June 2007
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