Mar 29, 2009

Chinese Food!

Just another day for me...

Mar 27, 2009

Bad Mr. Mao

Question: What do these two pictures have in common?



Answer: They're both bad!

That's right, bad ankle and bad money!!
The top picture of Mr. Mao on my counterfeited 5 rmb, which someone pawned off on me, is as bad as my purplish ankle is. Mr. Mao, who graces his likeness on possibly all chinese money, was given to me somewhere from my local haunts, and the other day I proceeded to give it back in exchange for some copies. As with alot of the money exchanged, the local proprieter takes the bill, looks at it, holds it up to the light (somewhere along the line I had heard that counterfeiting is big business, and there's a whole lotta fake quai out there), but this time, unlike all others, the gal handed me back the bill with an exchange of assorted chinese words that I dont understand, along with giggles and laughs from some standing around. At this point, I didnt think too much of it. The bill had a crease in it, and it appeared that that's what they were commenting about. I of course thought "how odd," but then again, this is China, one can't be too surprised by too much, or one may go crazy. This might be just some funny Chinese quirk, I thought, although in the back of my head I was also thinking "counterfeit." So, I simply went to a couple shops down to buy something else. I have learned in my short time here that if U dont understand what's goin' on, dont waste alot a time on it.
SO...to my not so great amazement, the gal at the second shop, after looking at the bill for a few seconds had the same reaction. This of course to the joy and laughter of the people standing back at the previous shop who had continued to talk about me as they watched me stroll away. Now ALL of them joined in a chorus of some chinese word (and giggles) that obviously was for "counterfeit." Then some crazy guy comes over, talking a million words a minute, shaking my hand while uttering "meiguo, meiguo," and then taking the bill while laughing and pointing at it.
So now, I am clear on what is happening, and i just happened to have another 5 rmb and was able to compare the two. Wow, a very small subtlety, but YEP, different!!

MY FIRST COUNTERFEIT BILL, TO MY KNOWLEDGE.
I GUESS I HAVE A SOUVENIR TO TAKE HOME.

I hope the title of this post doesn't get me sent to re-education camp.

Mar 20, 2009

On the way to the Peach Festival

Every year in Ya'an (where i live), the peach trees bloom, and all these pretty little flowers fill the hills very near to where I live. Its actually quite nice.
This is a short picture journey to the festival (sorta), as i travel through everyday life here in Ya'an.


Peace bro!





That look says it all.




EQUAL RIGHTS !!! This is what i'm talking about!! Why can't the woman push the pedal once in a while, huh??

Almost there, with the help of my two tour guides.

Mar 15, 2009

Around Town

People around here seem to sleep even more than Josh!!




My duck shop.

SEE THIS? This is why China is going to beat us!!

Carving up some eels...

ELVIS lives!

break time.

The culture of hard working.

And for a relaxing time, a little Chinese chess.

My egg sellers.

More break time.

Look at that ganster lookin' sideways wearing hat.

Mar 14, 2009

"What I did over my Winter Vacation"

This is a video that i put together for an English presentation at school.

Laos from jimd on Vimeo.