Pollution in China- part deux

Click the link for more news about one of the options for helping with the worsening pollution in China.  My personal opinion is this is not the right approach, more of a band aid than a true fix...but short term something would be nice...

Cloud Seeding...

http://news.yahoo.com/can-cloud-seeding-beat-back-china-s-smog-200555140.html

Pollution...the saga gets worse!

Yes folks I am back and will get you caught up shortly with my travels, challenges, fun, etc.

But first and foremost the wonderful pollution in China and specifically Shanghai, is getting horrific of late!  Yesterday we had exceeded the highest level the air quality index will even allow!  (See above).  I don't think anyone has a specific reason for the high pollution levels we are seeing but winter often seems to be worse. 

In the US if I recall correctly any reading above 125 PM 2.5 particles is considered unsafe/unhealthy.  Well in China we like to do things in a BIG way, so why not exceed 500!!! 

This is definitely putting a damper on my outdoor runs and rides...

Want to see some fun of travel in China during major holidays?  Like Chinese New Year or Golden Week (October National Day)?  This will tell you why I much prefer to get myself out of China during these holidays...

http://www.businessinsider.com/china-golden-week-traffic-jams-photos-2013-10

Chinese Tourists

As China has seen rapid economic development over the past 20-30 years one result of this is that more Chinese people want to travel both domestically and internationally.  Well let's just say that right now the Chinese don't have the best reputation as tourists...unless of course you open a high end luxury brand name shop where they come and buy like nobody else!

Earlier this year a new guidebook was published giving Chinese tourists all sorts of warnings and suggestions...plenty of good humor here.


http://t.nbcnews.com/travel/new-guidebook-chinese-tourists-warns-against-nose-picking-8C11320196

And yes sorry I have been MIA, it all becomes difficult and I owe you plenty of updates...

nolan

Some more Chinglish Humor

Chinglish, the mix of Chinese/English that is on the decline around China thanks to a better understanding of English and the fact that the government is cracking down to clean it up...is not gone!  And for that I am happy.  Chinglish is cultural to me and more importantly it puts a smile on my face.

I just came across this article and some of these are amazing!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/nataliemorin/chinese-signs-that-got-seriously-lost-in-tranlsation

You must check it out, I promise some laughs.

India Driver - receipt

OK as you can tell if you have followed me at all, I have definitely gone in spurts as to whether I update this or not.  And now...well that happens to be a span of a few months where I haven't updated anything...yet lots has occurred!

This one is old but I thought I would include it.  As I oversee our India office these days I was reviewing expenses and found this taxi/driver receipt.  Raju here apparently thinks highly of himself at least enough to describe himself as a "cool" cab hirer. :) 

Serious Heat in Shanghai!

So I got back to China on Saturday afternoon after two weeks in the US (more on that later).  And while I was gone Shanghai was HOT!  Well it still hadn't cooled off much.  In fact the first two things my driver said to me after picking me up at the airport was "it's been crazy hot the whole time."  Followed by the brutal honesty of the Chinese culture when he said "you look a little fat."  Thanks Mao for noticing that over two weeks I didn't exercise, spent lots of time on planes, ate wonderful food, drank, etc. 

In any event Sunday morning I went to buy groceries so I could cook at home again.  It's only about 6 block walk to the grocery store.  When I got back I looked like I had stepped out of a shower!  My white shirt was stuck to me completely and I was literally dripping with sweat. 

Here is what the phone showed me the temp was at 11:34AM...please note the heat index...

 For those of you who prefer Centigrade here you go...

July 2013 was the hottest July since the 1800's here in Shanghai.  Today is Friday and I'm happy to say it has cooled off a bit.  Right now it is 95 degrees with a heat index of 103...not so bad!

Happy Father's Day!

As my weekend is coming to a end here on Sunday night, many of my friends and family are just waking up back in the US.  So just a quick note to all fathers out there to have a wonderful Father's Day!  You have earned it.  As for my dad, I haven't spoken to him yet but will try shortly.  My guess is he will be enjoying the day either on the golf course or the tennis courts.  Dad, thanks for all you have done in raising myself, Alex and Taylor.  We have been lucky to have you as our dad!

Here is a photo from 2012 Thanksgiving when all of us were in town and you were thrilled to be back behind the wheel of a boat!

Check out this amazing video about Shanghai!  Something tells me most of you would not expect this to be China at all, when it reality this place is enormous, bustling and filled with skyscrapers!


http://vimeo.com/63635193

Tomb Sweeping Holiday Growing in Interest

Right now I'm in the middle of a nice 4 day break before a crazy month of work, travel, races, etc begins (Sunday 3 NY colleagues arrive for the week, with the last one leaving on Saturday, then Sunday I depart for the US, heading to NY, NC and then back to NY/CT to see my mom, upon getting back to Shanghai I have 4 days before my first 1/2 Ironman race of the year - Challenge Taiwan.

 In any event the holiday right now is generally called Tomb Sweeping Day and the below article which appeared in the April 5th edition of The NY Times, lays out what goes on.  Short recap though is that it is a time to head to your ancestors tombs and burial site and pay your respects by cleaning up the area, burning fake money, food and anything else that those ancestors might need in the afterlife.  It's pretty interesting as this year I've heard some people talk about burning fake iPhones and iPads (made of paper by the way) but then others say they couldn't do that because their ancestors were farmers and wouldn't know how to use such advanced devices, so they stick to money and food.

 Check out the article here...

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/05/world/asia/in-china-a-newfound-interest-in-keeping-dead-relatives-happy.html?emc=eta1