To Qingxi Ancient Town (青溪古镇) in Shanghai’s Fengxian District and back again, in total an eighty kilometers bike ride. I just randomly picked this on the map. It’s not a famous destination or anything, but that in itself is also relaxing. Apart from walking around, having a look, and some food, I’m expecting that much. […]
The Little Peach Garden Mosque (小桃园清真寺), and the one for women (清真女寺) next to it. They’re operating but just closed when we got there. The back entrance. Nanjing East Road. It’s been over two years since I last came here. These scratch-off lottery tickets seem more popular as of late. I think most people know […]
Just watched “Farewell My Concubine” (霸王别姬). It’s not really a love drama, nor a historical film. It touches on several genres (It’s even a coming-of-age movie). It’s just incredibly poetic, and right away, I just want to watch it again from start to finish. What a masterpiece from 1993.
This is my first time in the United States. It’s just a business trip and we don’t really go anywhere, but I’m super excited. Despite being from the Netherlands, I’ve grown up with the USA around me. Movies, TV series, music, brands, video games. Names of states and cities that I’ve never been to feel […]
A bit underwhelming and this won’t get any ‘tech media coverage’ (I wrote about this before), but I just printed a document (in color) for 2 RMB by scanning & transferring & paying with my phone through WeChat. In the middle of a xiaoqu in Suzhou, with around 8,000 people living here, I think.
Apart from Huangshan, I’ve never heard anyone say they’re going on a holiday in Anhui. I often hear Chongqing, Changsha, Qingdao, Beijing, Sanya, and the nearby province of Zhejiang is popular for people in Shanghai — but never in five years has anyone said Anhui. All I hear about Anhui is that it’s poor. If […]
My parents never forced us to believe, and if they ever told us stories from the bible I don’t remember it. But we did have to go to church. No devotion was demanded of our minds, it was just our bodies that had to be there. We were all three baptized; my sister, brother and […]
Kantou Village (坎头古村落) lies in between a range of mountains in Anhui. Some guides speak of a mysterious and hidden village, but it is a popular destination for tourists — especially people riding bicycles and motorbikes. Kids playing in a litter. The village is pretty, but the best view is provided by a nearby hill. […]
I still remember Tommy and Øyvind, at least their names. My brother and I were dipping our toes into Norwegian meltwater and decided it was too cold to go in, then those two local boys showed up and jumped in without even testing the water, Øyvind wearing yellow swim fins. When we saw them we […]
In Anhui, leave a city, drive for half an hour, and leave the highway. Then drive half an hour on a long and narrow road into the mountains through tiny villages. You’ll encounter a dozen grey Wulin mini-vans. No restaurants, two tiny supermarkets. Park your car. Then walk two hours alongside creeks and waterfalls, and […]