Western versus Eastern BBQ
It’s tough enough here.
I get Chinese food three meals a day.
It’s the same soup, followed by rice bowl, followed by an array of plates on the lazy susan day after day.
But here is Charles Gibson making it tougher this morning! ABC News Tonight (shown here live at 7:30 AM the next day) had a Memorial Day special on North Carolina barbeque!!! There was Jerry Bledsoe and an eastern NC news reporter blessing the virtues of western versus eastern BBQ right there on the TV in my room in China!! Oh did those loins of pork look good. Why do they do this to me?? Its tough enough thinking about, it, but no…. they have to show the pork being chopped in Greenville, and the shoulders being turned in a pit in Lexington!! Oh to savor those choices!!
We had pork last night. As usual, it was small (1/2”) bones with a small amount of meat with a carmalized style breading. Well, at least that’s the best I can describe it. It’s good, but it ain’t from Hickory Log!!
It seems the battle of western versus eastern BBQ has been given some new ground for debate in the state legislature of NC. Well, politicians have long known to throw a BBQ with every rally. Now the debate over the Lexington BBQ Festival getting state billing has easterners riled, because they don’t serve their vinegar-based, eastern style in Lexington. Who cares, it’s better than Chinese BBQ!!!
Oh to savor a sliced pork tray from Speedy’s for lunch! And hush puppies……. And oh yea, red BBQ slaw………… oh man!! They even have sweet tea there! I haven’t even seen iced tea in a month!! Withdrawal!!
Target Practice
In my quest for activity on Sunday, I found my way to the former squash court at the “hotel”.
Now converted into an indoor golf driving range, it was most relaxing to hit balls into the large net.
The clubs are very nice looking “Nike” irons and woods.
I say, “looking”, because that is what they are.
The local factory turns out very nice reproductions.
But that’s another story in the works.
I was blasting balls into the target at the end of the room. It is regulation squash size room, with the netting strung between tall PVC piping. A target in the center makes a good thud when hit well. And the floor is covered in Astroturf, so we don’t end up with balls ricocheting off the wood floor underneath.
The clubs hit amazingly well. At least they do into a net. You always wonder how much off line they will be when you get out to a range or the course, and begin hitting over distance instead of a target only a few yards away.
Anyway, I was getting my frustrations out, when I noticed an odd shape behind the net at the back wall. It seemed rather odd to have a cat outlined on the wall. Taking a closer look, I crept around the net to come face to face with a pumpkin colored live cat!! How it hadn’t moved while I had been blasting balls into the target over its head was beyond me. But it was definitely alive, and I didn’t fancy finding out its reason for being in a locked driving range. So I gave up the range to the cat.
My next act was even more fruitless. I tried in vain to tell the waitress at dinner that there was a moving live animal in the driving range. God knows what she probably thought I was trying to tell her with all my motions and animations I was making. To say the least she didn’t understand.
When some of the English-speaking managers returned today, I relayed the story and they passed along to the waitress at lunch. They all seemed to have a good laugh on my behalf. I hope waitress wasn’t saving the cat for …………. No, I’m going to just not think about that……….
"Hotel" exercise room - yes, I have used it today!
Weekend Blues
It’s a long weekend in Dahlingshan.
I’m watching the Spurs beat the Suns in Game 3 of the NBA Playoffs.
I don’t understand a word of the commentators.
It’s all Mandarin.
Although I’ve been here a couple of weeks now, I sure haven’t mastered many words.
And it will be a long time before I catch up with the speed of these sports commentators.
But this is the best thing I have to do. I have to plan weekends a little better. Not only is everyone gone to Hong Kong for Sunday, but the plant is even closed. It is the one day a month they close for everyone to have a day off. Kinda quiet around here.
I’m about the only one in the “hotel”. There may be a few managers, but not many. And none that speak English. So I’m resigned to my room and the “karaoke” room for television and computer.
Just my luck though, the computer network isn’t working now. Had trouble all day on Saturday, and now trouble connecting in the “hotel”. I’m getting no wireless network connection at all. What a bummer.
At least the “I love this game” ads are in English. But Ray Allen sure can’t sing.
English Names
Well, I learned today why so many here have an English name. I guess we can blame it on the British too.
As I’ve mentioned before, most everyone here in management comes from Hong Kong. As simple as it may be: many of their teachers were British or managed by British, since it was a British colony for such a long time. The schools, therefore, prompted the students to take on an English name for simplicity to us foreigners to better communicate with them. Most went home after their first days in school and agreed to a new name with their parents before the second day.
I do find it still rather odd that many of they can’t really pronounce many of the letters very effectively. For example, v’s get pronounced like a "w", so that Vicky comes out like “Wicky”.
Sure a lot easier for us to pronounce Cindy though, than Xiao Hua. I’m still trying to learn how to properly say her name.
"Hotel" Table Tennis room - another popular pastime of management here.
Downtown Dalingshan Town in Dongguan - Large white building is department store, complete with supermarket and a McDonald's.
A Double Cheeseburger!!
I just had a Double Cheeseburger!!
I never thought I would enjoy McDonald’s so much in my life!
Tired of Chinese food day after day, I finally requested a burger tonight. I was treated to the local McDonald’s. It was really my only choice in burger nearby. But ohhhhhh how good! I sure enjoyed!!
Surprisingly the only offered Combos were with double cheeseburger and Big Mac in the burger options. Over here, chicken is the preferred meat of choice. There were a lot more options with chicken.
The burger tasted close to a US version, and in fact, was probably better than a version I had in London. The fries were very similar. The Coke was served in a smaller wider version, even though fries were “Biggee sized”. I even followed it up with an ice cream sundae!!
All told the two of us ate for 47 renminbi. Not many locals eat there too often. The wage for a skilled employee at Decca – like a finishing sprayer - is only about 35 renminbi per day! That’s about $4.23 US. Most operators only get about 20 renminbi per day.
A waitress actually visited our table to sell the sundae and deliver it. And I was told to ignore cleaning the table. They leave the cleanup to the McDonalds help right at your table!!
"Hotel" Badminton Court. I got to practice with players the other night - I'm not in their league. They play a different game than from the lawn game I learned in Rulfton.
He Who Honks Loudest Has Right of Way
I haven’t driven a vehicle now in weeks.
And I don’t look forward to even thinking about driving here.
The rules are entirely different.
And I don’t just mean driving regulations.
I confirmed the other day: “He who honks loudest has the right of way”. They definitely do a lot of honking here. My “hotel” room is on the backside to the street, and until late at night there is constant honking. Trucks and cars constantly just honk to move into a lane, or prompt pedestrians and other vehicles out of the way.
Honking is somewhat required too. Pedestrians are everywhere. There are always sooo many people. The highways, except for freeways, have pedestrians constantly crossing the road. They go about a lane at a time and just stop precariously between lanes to dodge cars passing each way, before then jumping to the next lane. Remember “Frogger”? Certainly comes to mind.
And vehicles cross intersections, merge, and change lanes, just by honking and moving. Somehow there don’t seem to be too many risky situations created. The Chinese seem to be understanding. I’ve seen no rise in tempers. Road rage would be at all time highs in the US over this type driving. Yesterday, we crossed right into the lane of another van, and it just slowed and waited for us. Seemed pretty close for comfort, but we survived.
I’ve told many of you the story about what Tony, our Operations Manager, told me on the way back from the wedding reception I attended on my visit here in March. As we approached an intersection near our plant, we had passed a moped. Stopping at one of the only stop lights soon thereafter, I was quite surprised when the same moped sped by me and weaved its way through cars traversing the intersection. I know I would not have been to comfortable riding on the back of that moped, like the three riders it carried. I turned to Tony and asked if a red light didn’t mean to stop. He just grinned and said: “Generally, but I’m being kind with you in the car today”.
I was glad he was being kind for me.
Lycium Fruit
Good for vision and the kidneys:
Lycium Fruit.
Well, I can use improvement.
So today I tried the first Lycium Fruit I can ever remember.
It did taste oddly familiar, but I can’t think of when I may have ever tried it.
Every meal is ended with desert here. However, the Chinese don’t seem to care for sweets. It is almost always an offering of a fruit. I’ve had pears for days now. Sliced or peeled, always pear.
But today, we had the first Lycium. It is from a fruit tree plentiful in this area. The Chinese have for hundreds of years considered it as “a Chinese herb that is used to improve vision and to prevent headaches and dizziness caused by liver and kidney deficiencies”. It is about the size of a kiwi, with a peel that is removed to expose a sweet onion-like core that is both sweet and a little bitter.
The ownership of the orchards is most interesting. (I think I have most of this right.) The government decided to get out of the farming of the fruit but had many trees of its possession. Being for the people, a tree or two was given to each family. In fact, they are awarded in drawings in each township yearly according to the available trees (some get destroyed in urban development). Each is numbered, and a family will be provided rights to particular trees. So all families harvest their own tree.
I was told these lycium were too early. They will be better in a month. Still pretty good.
New World Garden - My future home
Closer to a New Home
I got called from the factory today to urgently join the operations manager, Tony, on a trip.
We were going to visit a nearby furniture factory.
So here I jump in the van with a driver and Tony, and we head out.
(Why do the Chinese have English names? I’ll have to ask that sometime.)
Well, thirty minutes later, we pull into a beautiful complex that looked familiar. But I couldn’t imagine making furniture in this high rise. I was soon to learn that this was my proposed new home!!! Yes, my own place! At New World Garden!!
I had visited here when I came to interview in China in March. And I had requested to live there when I took the job. I just didn’t know this trip was to check an option. In fact, there were three options.
After learning the third option was up several floors with no elevator, I agreed to a couple of choices. Both were very similar, and the favored overlooked the tennis, swimming pool, and clubhouse. Size was a little surprising for a two bedroom. I think either unit might have fit in my master bedroom back home. Okay, not quite. But they were most convenient and very nice.
Each was furnished. The Chinese seem to really favor modern. I may have to change the chairs and sofa. They were a little less comfy than I would prefer. Bed was a little hard too, but that’s okay.
Tony keeps surprising me. As we were leaving he pointed out his own apartment there. Said he hadn’t visited it in sometime. When I asked why he had it, he just grinned and answered: “Storage”.
So I may have a new home soon. Still haven’t visited the other factory, but that’s okay, this was the preferred visit today. More later.
Garden
Monday vs. Sunday
Is this Monday?
Very different feeling to the day.
I watched ABC World News Tonight from Sunday evening at 7:30 this morning.
Then rolled into work, just like I did yesterday.
In fact, Sunday is really the most interesting day here. As I mentioned before, they work seven days a week here! It was as busy on Sunday as any other day. Only there were a few less top managers, since most had gone to their homes in Hong Kong for their one day home per week.
I asked one manager: who was in charge on Sunday? I sure didn’t want to be called on in an emergency. They complied that the supervisors handle things in their absence, and that “hopefully there be no emergency”.
The plant was packed with workers just continuing on with their jobs. They seem to never stop.
But now on Monday, the feeling is a little unique since its still Sunday in the US. Really makes you realize you are ahead of the rest of the world. It ends up being a rather quiet day. Email complaints from US managers are practically nonexistent. So it really puts you ahead of the US so much you feel like it’s a free day.
Royal Lagoon Lake in front of hotel
Buffet for King
I did get one treat on Sunday.
I visited the Royal Lagoon Sofitel hotel nearby for the Sunday buffet.
What a treat!
I stuffed myself.
The Royal Lagoon is about a 30 minute drive from Decca’s plant site. It is still in the city of Dongguan (it’s a pretty big city), but a world of difference. A resort catering to Americans and other guests to this large industrial city, it has a five-star rating. And well deserved.
A large lake skirts the entry. Huge dragon boat is in the water. Pagodas pop up from numerous points around the lake. And two 18 hole golf courses are nearby.
The hotel is a very modern facility on the hill overlooking the lake. The pool is one of the biggest I have ever seen.
But I was here for the meal. At least 40 P.R.C. Guard members beat me to the bar on my first visit, and I had to wait for refilling. On the other hand, I was much more interested in the cheese and breads than they were. In fact, I think I had the cheese all to myself.
I stuffed myself on potato salad, cheese, bread, sushi, green beans, and even a cheese and onion omelet. For desert there was bread pudding, lime squares, and apple pound cake. What a treat!
Wish I had felt a little better. My cold prevented me from really digging in to more.
Ants and Barnaba Island
Did you know there is a problem with ants in the Mediterranean? And that there are no residents of Barnaba Island, although many former residents return weekly to their former home in hopes of one day inhabiting again. Amazing what worthless information you get here on the only two English channels when you're stuck in bed on a weekend.
I didn't feel so good on Sunday, so I spent most of the day in bed. I can't fit in the only chair in the room. It's some type of lavanity chair, about two feet in total height. I haven't even pulled it out. So I lay back in bed looking at a small TV in a wall, with blinds closed on the only small window because it gets sooo hot otherwise.
Trying to find anything on television to keep my interests wasn't easy. The documentaries shown are not real thrilling. I've watched more soccer than I hate to admit. And a lot that of it with Chinese commentators. At least I did get to see Spurs beat the Suns last night. Interesting hearing a game in Mandarin.
This cold has hit me pretty hard. You go from very humid day conditions to very cold rooms constantly. They are consistent at turning off air conditioning whenever out of a room, but then they crank it up whenever you walk in. The constant change hasn’t helped me when I’m already fighting jet lag.
Maybe I can find another special about wildlife on some rare Pacific island…… how exciting!
Saturday Cold
It was gonna happen sooner or later. Just didn’t expect sooner. Nothing worse than being sick in a foreign country by yourself…….. or maybe there is: where no one speaks English.
Ms. Vicky, our finishing manager, has been working with me this week, and asked last night if I was getting a cold when I happened to cough at dinner. I replied no at the time, but she must be clairvoyant. When I awoke this morning, I definitely had a cold. Not too bad, but its been getting worse.
Now you have to understand that I am one of the few managers remaining here in Dongguan on the weekend. The plant operates seven days a week, but most managers are from Hong Kong, and a bus leaves on Saturday afternoon to take them back home. They return again on Monday about 9 AM. So when they left this afternoon, I have no one else on site that speaks English.
Thankfully, I do have a cell phone, and have several phone numbers so that I can call Ms. Vicky or others to interpret as necessary. So its not sooo bad. Just a little boring, and unpleasant when you don’t feel so well.
Since I don’t have anything to do, I may as well be sick and stay in my room.
Room is a little claustrophobic though.
I do have a bigger bed this time, but all told its about 8’ x 10’.
Only one small window, and the television is mounted in the wall.
Very well planned, but pretty small.
It’s too dangerous to go out in the area on my own, although I have made arrangements to go to a nearby hotel and resort for a buffet on Sunday. It is the Royal Lagoon, a Sofitel hotel, and very beautiful.
Decca Work Schedule
One of the most amazing things that is quickly apparent on a visit to manufacturing plants in China, is the diligence of the workers.
They do not work necessarily fast, but they certainly work long hours.
It is common for teams to work twelve hours a day, seven days a week.
The daily schedule may vary from eight to twelve hours in a day, depending on the work load in each group’s specific area.
The employees get one day off per month.
Decca now has about 1500 employees here in the 800K square foot facility. It is spread over many interconnected buildings that rise up to six floors high. With the addition of 360K square feet, this will be an enormous plant. Employees will then number over 2200.
Many of the employees are housed right here in a dormitory. They get three meals per day of an hour period each. There are no other break periods. To serve all that many people the company has three shifts, twenty minutes apart (so lunch periods start at 11: 20, 11:40, and 12:00). The lunchroom is an incredible sight, and you don’t want to be in aisles when the lunch or dinner bell rings.
Here I am on a Saturday and it seems just like any other day. In fact we have made arrangements for a test in the finishing area that will continue on through Sunday. I keep being surprised on any morning to find that goods have progressed more than expected. Of course when they work late into the night, they get several more hours to move things along.
Two Hours of Divine Relaxation
Google doesn't don't have anything on Dongguan Decca Furniture. Google may be famous for massages for employees, but I bet one of theirs wouldn't compare to the massage I got here last night!! What a perk! A masseuse on staff!!
I got the treatment on my earlier visit here in March, and was treated again last night by Xtao Zhu to two hours of the most wonderful massage possible!! This little lady works the body with the strength of an arm wrestler, and there are times you are ready to bolt from the table when she pinches tightly or presses to the bone. But the feeling achieved is divine!!
The whole massage takes two hours. Yes, that’s 120 minutes!! I am not sure how many times I fell asleep, but it was several. Then you get stretched or prodded for the next maneuver.
What is even more amazing is that this little lady, of no more than 5’5” tall, can stretch your shoulder and feet at the same time!! And I’m 6’2”! Laying face down you want to look around to see who’s helping! How does she do it! At other times, she is practically walking on your back! She uses her knees, arms, elbows, feet, and hands. You ever had your toe knuckles cracked? She even does that.
And this ain’t one of them feel good oily massages. At no time does she ever apply a bunch of oils. But at times her hands feel like they’ve been set on fire. She somehow gets them incredibly warm, and ohhhhhh does it feel good!
I feel great today (other than I am getting a touch of cold). I'm limber and so much more relaxed.
Decca hired Ms. Zhu from a local massage house. They just went in and hired the best on staff, and she is available for massages to the management staff! I think I’ll be taking advantage.
Chinese Doughnuts!
Well, it wasn't Krispy Kreme, but today was doughnut day for breakfast!! I spied a stack early, and decided it was a good day to return for breakfast.
The "Chinese doughnut" is really a non-sweet, long dough product, that at least resembles a doughnut in taste. No sugar or sweet treatment though. But it is rather tasty. They come in two pieces that are twisted together to be about a foot long.
Of course, it comes with a hot bowl of a type of soup. Today it wasn't noodles, but rather a rice like soup. ............ Very different than grits and eggs.
At least the Chinese doughnut was a treat!!
Dinner on the Town
I should let everyone know I also got out of the "hotel" for dinner last night. There seems to be a tradition among the management to get a night "on the town" (that is my term - they didn't call it that) once a week. This event coincided with the absence of the owner and managing director from the "hotel".
Decca Furniture is owned by a Mr. Tsung with Mr. Liu as the managing director. They, like most management, live in Hong Kong, and visit the plant weekly to work. For Mr. Tsung it is usually for two days. For Mr. Liu three days per week. And most other managers arrive on Monday and work until 1 PM on Saturday. But more about work later, let's get back to dinner.
With Mr. Tsung and Mr. Liu out, there were only four of us for dinner, Tony - the Operations Manager, Mrs. Wong - the controller, Vicky - the manager of the finishing department, and myself. So we all piled into Tony's van and set out from the industrial compound and drove into Dalingshan - really just a couple of blocks away.
This town of Dalingshan is one of about 30 towns within the city of Dongguan. Dongguan has about 8 million people, with up to 6 million being residents that probably consider home elsewhere. I was told of this phenomenon over dinner and am still trying to comprehend, but it stems from so many coming here to work, as in the managers from Hong Kong; and including the plant workers who reside in dormitories, but call home elsewhere; to many Hong Kong residents that come to Dongguan on weekends for "vacation", since it is so much cheaper than Hong Kong.
And back to dinner, it was like so many traditional Chinese dinners. A table with a "lazy susan" where plate after plate of food was placed. Soup and rice bowls served individually. Chinese tea, of course. But at least there was beer included on this night.
We ate at the King's Hotel. It was described as a three-star establishment, and was very big and pleasant. We opted for a private dining room (which there were many), since a large party was expected shortly after our arrival in a section of the main dining room. And on departure, it sounded like it was a good choice, since they were obviously in good spirits, and very loud.
Typical beef on the bone, chicken, and vegetables were good. The shrimp in the shell (with the head), was very hard to eat. I just haven't mastered eating meat from shells or off bones while holding with chopsticks. Amazing how my associates can do it.
At least at this meal we didn't have chicken wings. Just think of trying to eat buffalo wings with chop sticks.
They even treated me to a pork bbq dish. Not exactly Lexington style. More like a cross section of the outer meat of the pig, including the skin. Still pretty delectable.
But I think I'm gonna loose some weight.
Breakfast Crackers
Well, I had a very different breakfast today: peanut butter crackers and Pringles. Better than noodles.
I had the chance yesterday to visit a local supermarket. Out visiting a supplier nearby to our plant in Dalingshan, I suggested to my associate to buy some snacks. We promptly had the driver stop near the town square, and visited a large department store. The second floor was devoted to a supermarket. I didn't shop long on this visit, but it was certainly well stocked.
There were plenty of fruits, vegetables, and other fresh produce. Racks of packaged goods advertised new treats including cereal and potato chips. The Pringles can was even primarily in English. Most other things were much more Chinese, and it wasn't easy finding crackers to my liking. Most had "yogurt" filling... so I was told.
Quite an infactuation with toothpaste and shampoos, too. On the English television channels, those two products dominate the advertising. Probably at least 75% of the advertisements are for the same Crest or Olay products. The supermarket had several rows devoted to toothpaste, shampoo, and soaps.
Also, the first floor included a McDonald's. So there is one nearby!! KFC round the corner, and they are very proud of the new Adidas store, and that a new Grand Hyatt will be opening soon.
Anyway, I loaded up on snacks. That will help get me in between meals of chicken and noodles.
"Hotel" garden from above Waterfall
"Hotel" and garden looking above waterfall to badminton court (enclosed) and to top of roof at vegetable gardens
"Hotel" swimming pool
Garden from inside waterfall
Rain.... and more rain
Rain…. Wow, is it ever raining! The boom of thunder shook me out of my bed this morning at 5:30. Since, it has continued to rain off and on.
I even had to get a special passage through the plant from lunch, so that I did not have to walk through a downpour. The passage was through a tunnel under the waterfall into the back of the plant (they think of everything). Then with a little maneuvering from level to level, I was able to pass through about three buildings, up stairs, across causeways, and back down to my new office. The factory is spread across about six buildings, usually connected in some fashion, but split by a drive. All told, it is about 800,000 square feet, and they are adding a new addition of six floors of 60K each. That will make over a million square feet. Pretty big!
Management Dining Room
Breakfast Noodles
I'm definitely in China now. It's back to noodles for breakfast. I don't know the infactuation with noodles for breakfast, but that is the daily fare here in the "hotel".
As many of you have heard from me before, the "hotel" is the management dormitory at the plant here at Decca Furniture. It is a beautiful place (I will include some photos from last visit). There is a garden with a three story waterfall in front. An olympic three lane swimming pool, hardwood badminton court, table tennis room, indoor golf, and karaoke room are just some of the amenities. But those are shared options, and otherwise the rooms themselves, although beautiful and efficient, are very small.
The dining is separated between a large room for most management to a special dining room for upper management. I get to eat in the beautiful dining room, but for breakfast the option is only to line up in the other room and dip out noodles. Of course, I do get to garnish with pickle relish and soy sauce. Enticing, huh? The waitress had pitty on me during my last visit and broke out some white bread - didn't toast it mind you - but at least brought out some butter and jam for it.
At least Charles Gibson shares breakfast with me. Yes, I get to see the prior evening ABC news broadcast from the US live at 7:30 AM local time. Nice at least to still be connected that way. Otherwise, TV here in Dongguan much more lacking than in Hong Kong. Only two English channels, and I can't even begin to tell you where they get these shows. Most are documentaries from low budget producers. Even got some horse races last night at prime time. Only current shows seem to be Desparate Housewives and Cold Case, and don't air until 10:30 per night, and only for that hour per night. I gotta get satelitte!!
I will be living in the "hotel" until I get an apartment contracted nearby in a village of many expatriots. I can't wait.
Until then, its noodles for breakfast. Maybe my waitress friend will find some more white bread again soon.
Difference of Opinion
One thing I noticed in my previous international travels, is that there is a very different attitude and opinion on things than the usual perspective of us Americans.
Case in point, see the link to the article from The Standard. I was provided a copy of this Hong Kong business newspaper over dinner last night (by the way, a cheap $448HK or $62 for lasagne, salad, and wine - just where are the bargains??) The opinion on the back page is quite interesting.
I am no expert on worldwide currency, but it is worthwhile reading to read this opposing perspective:
http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Opinion/GE17Df01.html
(Hope this link works.)
Dongguan Decca Entry looking into street from courtyard, with additional Decca factory buildings across street
Plant Courtyard - Office entry to left
Dongguan Decca Plant Headquarters Entry
Arrival in Dongguan
Well, I’m in China now! I arrived at my new office about 9 AM local time. Its hot and humid here. The winds made it a little more tolerable in Hong Kong, but not so in Dongguan. At least the office is very comfortable.
It gets so humid here that the walls and floors sweat! They have to take extra steps in the processing of wood to be sure the moisture content is low enough. If not, the finishing material does not adhere well, and customers don’t like that!
Anyway, I now even have a cell phone here. It is the same loaner I got before, so I know it. But that doesn’t mean I can use it very well. The only thing I can read on the display is “Gene”. They had that specially put in for me. Doesn’t help with the address book though. You ever tried to use all the functionality of a cell phone when you can’t read the characters. Not just can’t read the words….. I can’t even begin to comprehend what these characters mean (格式設定). I’m gonna end up with dozens of slips of paper with phone numbers.
My new number is 86 (country code) 769 (local area code) and 4868935 (number). I think if you are calling from the US, you use 011 in advance of that string, for a total of 011 86 769 4868935.
The plant address here is:
Dongguan Decca Furniture Ltd.
Lot 25-36 Nan Chu Industrial Estate
Dalingshan Town, Dongguan City
Guangdong Province, P.R.C.
And my company email is gbryson@deccafurniture.com.
If you are gonna be kind enough to call, remember that when it is 1 PM in the afternoon in North Carolina, its 1 AM here! Hopefully, I’ll be sleeping. Of course, that’s probably what some of you want to be sure of when ya call!!
Decca Management "Hotel"
Management Dining Room
Hong Kong Harbor
Other Side of the Harbor
Well, I saw another side of Hong Kong today! In fact, I went to the other side. The other side of the harbor anyway.
I had to get my visa back at the office, and this time I was on my own. My boss, Richard Herbst, had taken me to apply on Monday, but he had headed in to Dongguan, so I had to make the trek back to retrieve my visa by myself.
No big deal. I just walked down to the subway station nearby. It was my first visit there. Found the line to Central. Walked a couple of blocks back down to the waterfront. Took the Star Ferry across the harbor, and walked the next few blocks to the visa office.
Of course, I took my time doing that to see a few sites. Central is near some of the original buildings of the area. Very nice. The ferry was quick and simple. But I can tell you it sure rocked in the waves around the docks. It was calm when charging across the harbor, amongst the many ships and boats. But when it docked the waves really rocked it. Balance was difficult.
The other side is very interesting. It’s the Kowloon Peninsula. The Sheraton and Peninsula hotels are there. So it is much more of a tourist area than around the Excelsior, where I stay. That has its benefits and downfalls. I was able to see the Clock Tower, the Concert Hall, and the Avenue of Stars. Seems there were several places devoted to tourists. The Avenue for the Stars is like the Hollywood Walk of the Stars. I only recognized the names of Jackie Chan and Bruce Lee.
And shops in that area range from the high end malls to the market type shops down alley-like aisles stocked from floor to ceiling. There were many selling Chinese clothes for the tourists. Bright colored kimono type dresses, etc. Probably no one wears those clothes in Hong Kong.
I had always heard about the tailors selling suits in Hong Kong. Well, I finally saw them today. I can’t remember one shop here at Causeway Bay. On the other hand, one in ten shops in the tourists area was devoted to selling custom tailored suits. They even have resorted to custom ladies suits to increase business. All had at least one hawker on the street trying to get my business. All seemed to be Indian, and knew me as “boss”. You know, not a one of them was wearing a suit.
"Hotel" Garden with three story Waterfall
Passing Time
So what do I do all day waiting for a visa?
Well, the view from my hotel room is interesting enough. I have a great view across Hong Kong harbor to Kowloon penisula. From here, I can see at least 20-30 boats and ships up and down the harbor. Everything from ferries to container ships.
And then, of course, there is Hong Kong shopping. I haven't done so much of that. I did find a very interesting computer mall yesterday. Otherwise, I haven't wanted to pick up more to carry. I am still moving a lot of clothes to Dongguan. Don't need more to carry.
Nonetheless, jewelry looks pretty well priced. Particularly opals. Place your orders.
Otherwise, since I didn't feel so well yesterday, I spent a lot of time watching television. The hotel programming is interesting. I guess it speaks to local interests, or at least, the interests of guests. There are 43 channels, and probably half are in English. There is also Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, Spainish, etc. Four channels have movies, but two of those are foreign with subtitles in both Chinese and English.
Sports takes up almost 10 channels. At one time yesterday, there were two badminton contests, one table tennis contest, at least 5 "football" games, and bowling. And, of course, the "football" was all European soccer events. Boring.
At least we do get about three news channels, from CNN, BBC, and Fox. Weird getting Brit Hume when you wake in the morning.
Programming is an interesting twist too. They show a lot of Fear Factor, Bounty Hunter, COPS, type shows. Then there is Alias about three times a day, but two seasons old. JAG, Miss USA 2005, and Lost make up other shows. Desparate Housewives is one of few new shows. And all of these are really only on the same channel, Star World. Oprah gets broadcast too. And BTW, I gotta go now, Shania Twain and Dolly Parton are on Oprah !
VISA to Mainland
One never quite knows what to expect here. The people are so efficient. But it is also China.
Today, I went to a travel office for a visa to the mainland. The fact that I went today at all, is significant. This is a holiday in Hong Kong (don't ask me what holiday). But one of the offices... not all offices... but at least this one, was open today.
On my first visit to China, I walked down to the main office, applied, left, returned in 3 hours, and received my visa to enter the mainland. This time, I was surprised to find that there was no 3 hour wait available. It would be no visa until Tuesday afternoon!! That sure changes plans! Still not quite sure how I will get to the plant tomorrow.
It seems that the wait was a little longer, first, since it is a holiday, and second, I've been caught in a relations issue between the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the USA. The PRC has been offended by the US, and taking it out on applicants for visas. When the US started fingerprints of entrants from certain countries, applicants from the PRC were included on the list. That has offended the PRC, since no terrorists ever came from China. Now, I've been affected by this!
The fee for the visa was interesting too. I was first told $550HK, but when they realized I was from the US, the fee was suddenly $850HK. I'm told they charge whatever fee the US charges applicants from the PRC. Which in this case is much higher than the fee ($550HK) charged to residents entering the mainland.
Oh well, another day in Hong Kong isn't sooo bad.
Hong Kong Streets
Splash Me with Water
WOW! It hit me! Someone splash some water in my face!
It's 7 PM in Hong Kong, but 7 AM in Winston-Salem. I didn't feel so well this afternoon, and laid down for a nap.......Well, a couple of hours later, and I feel like #!)@#(!?!. This time zone stuff is hitting me pretty hard. This is much worse than my first visit.
I thought I was doing pretty good, but not so well now. At least, I'm waking a little now. Physically, I'm better, but boy I feel way off my body clock!
The Noon Day Gun
Today I crossed under the freeway in front of the Excelsior Hotel to observe a daily event that has been held on Causeway Bay in Hong Kong since the 1840's: the firing of the Noon Day Gun.
As I may have told you from my first visit to Hong Kong in March, I had been startled by this tradition. Seating in my hotel room awaiting transport to Decca offices, I heard a blast that I feared was a bombing of some nature. I relaxed further when I realized the time was close to noon, and I remembered I had seen a reference to some type of "Noon Day Gun".
Well, the gun is anything but a simple rifle. It is a high powered small cannon. What a blast! I needed ear plugs today..... I was directly behind it. Ten feet from the firing.
History has recorded that the famous trading company of the British, Jardine's, had an outpost at the site of the Excelsior Hotel equipped with a small battery. In respect of their ships sailing in or out of the Hong Kong bay, the Jardine company fired a cannon. A H.M.S. schooner once transporting out of the harbor at the same time was startled by the firing, and in penalty for putting them in such peril, the commanding officer demanded that a cannon be fired daily from Causeway Bay.
Thus, the firing of the Noon Day Gun. It's now a Hong Kong tradition. It was even made famous by Noel Coward in "Mad Dogs and Englishmen".
An officer of Jardine's rings a bell twice, marches behind the gun, and fires the gun, and then returns to twice more ring the bell (don't know why two each time). Of course, it wasn't so ceremonious when he had to refer regularly to his watch from his stoic stance of attention. But I guess, he wanted to be on time.
Nice ceremony. Much better when you know what it is!
Decca Furniture
Okay, just who is Decca Furniture. Well, it is a manufacturer of furniture and architectural millwork, based in Hong Kong. The main plant is in Dongguan, in the Guangdong province.
Here are some links for Decca and Dongguan:
Main site: http://www.decca.com.cn:81/
and: http://www.decca.com.hk/
Bolier, for residential furniture: http://www.bolierco.com/
Hospitality furniture: http://www.deccahospitality.com/
Contract Office furniture: http://www.deccacontract.com/main/index.html
http://www.bobpearlman.org/Strategies/Dongguan.htm
http://www.getgd.net/gd_city/dg_gaikuang_e.html
http://www.visitdongguan.com/
http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2004_4th/Nov04_SofitelDongguan.html
Copy and paste to your browser to visit and enjoy.
Do you walk on the left or right?
Okay, what side of the street do you walk in Hong Kong??
As I was heading out to dinner last night at a nearby Outback Steakhouse, I found myself sometimes dodging left and at other times right. You see, they drive on the left here. Stems from the British heritage. But in the mainland, as many of you have heard me mention in my stories from my first visit, they drive on the right.
So to which side do you walk? I find myself walking on one side sometimes and to the other later. I've just decided I follow and don't try to lead to one side or the other. Its fairly easy, since I tower over most everyone anyway. I just trail. No leading anyway. There are so many people you can't find space to get in front of anyone at anytime.
After dinner last night, I was out after 9 PM, and you would have thought it was rush hour. The streets were packed with people. And I do mean streets. Many were closed to pedestrians only. Good thing, because I don't think everyone would be able to move had they been restricted to the sidewalks.
Its Monday morning here now. The sun is breaking through a mass of black clouds over the harbor. Looks like another humid day. Seems prevalent this time of year.
And what a world it is. Here it is Monday morning, and I'm sitting here at my hotel in Hong Kong writing to the internet, with CNN on TV, and WMAG radio from High Point, NC streaming in the background on my computer. Yes, I'm listening to North Carolina radio on my computer! Unbelievable.
I even read the Raleigh News and Observer and Winston-Salem Journal newspapers last night. An alert had prompted me to a N&O article about Phillip Rivers. When I went to it, I realized I was reading it around 5 PM local, but that it hadn't been posted to the internet for more than 5 minutes. That meant I was probably reading before most North Carolinians received their own paper to read the article!!
And soon, I can walk across the street to Starbucks or McDonalds. Even can go to a Tony Roma Ribs next door. There are two Starbucks within a block. I just read in the China special in Newsweek, that there will soon be more Starbucks in China than any other country!
Well, I gotta go get my Visa to go inland. Off to the local offices later. Have to decide which side of the sidewalk to walk!
Off to China
On Friday the 13th, I left the United States. The flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong was 13 hours and 13 minutes. The pilot said that was in our favor! At least it was uneventful - the ways flights are supposed to be.
Anna, my sister, had taken me to the airport in Denver, by leaving the house at 6 AM Mountain Daylight Savings Time. I arrived in my hotel, the Excelsior, in Hong Kong about 8 PM local time, and almost exactly 24 hours since I had left Anna's Longmont, CO patio home. What a long day!
The flight was longer than usual. United upgraded me to first class from Denver. But the upgrade on the leg I really wanted, was never called. I sat in the back, on a two sided section behind three seats. Mine was offset such that when my neighbor pulled down his tray, it always bumped my left leg. Of course, my knees were into the seats in front of me anyway. I really think these seats violated some space requirement. I had none.
So I walked and stood a lot. It seemed like an awfully long flight. Didn't sleep as much as I usually do on flights. Only missed one of the five movies. It is always such a shock to see the "Time since Departure" after watching a movie. After already having had a meal, and watched National Treasure and Spanglish, the "Time since Departure" was a shocking: 4:57. Unbelivable, all that time passed, and a quick calculation makes you realize we still have eight hours to go!! Not even close to halfway! When you see 600 mph, you think it should be faster than this!
Hong Kong airport is great though. I was out of the plane and sitting in the bus lounge within 30 minutes. Customs is efficient and you move right through so effectively. I took a shuttle bus to the Excelsior this time. Traveling with all my wardrobe in four suitcases made switching to the express train a little tough. And the bus ride was very good. It went right to the Excelsior first. First stop on Causeway Bay, made all very quick and simple.
The Excelsior is so nice. They are incredibly efficient, and very pleasant in their dealings. I was quickly greeted and welcomed back. By the time I got to my room, a bellman arrived with a welcome back tray of fruit and tea. Nice touch!
Quick beer and drink at the Dickens bar... a wonderful British style pub .... and I was out for a good long night of sleep. Boy did I need that!
I'm in China now!
Welcome to A Bryson In China
I'm Gene Bryson. Yea, I've been pretty good with computers, but this blog stuff is new. But I figure, what better way to communicate about my new life and career in China, than a journal on a website, where my friends, relatives, and associates can get regular updates on how and what I'm doing. So here goes......
I'll try to keep this updated regularly with news and my activities from daily life and events as they occur here in China. I will be living and working in Dongguan, only a few hours from Hong Kong.
What am I doing in China? I found a job! Yep, its in China, but that is where the furniture industry is strongest now! And I have found a great job, with a great company: Decca Furniture. I am officially employed by the USA branch in High Point, and will be responsible for quality assurance of goods exported to the US. Furniture produced at Decca supplies the residential, contract, and hospitality (hotel, motel, etc.) markets. All is of the highest quality.
I'll provide more information and detail about Decca and products in the future. If you want to be included in updates to the site, be sure to let me know. And send me any friends' email addresses for addition too.
Enjoy!
