A Bryson in China

Me, Steve, Lucas, and Leon (in front) on the first tee Christmas Day at the Hillview Country Club in Dongguan City, P.R.C.

For more golf photos, click here.

Labels: Christmas, Dongguan, Golf, Life in China

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:12 PM Comments: 0

Christmas In China

Well, Christmas Day was certainly enjoyable! In our own little version of Ryder Cup, the Rebels halved the match. (Just can’t call Steve & I “Yankees” – being both from Western North Carolina!) We came from down 2 in the last three holes to split. In fact, I had the chance to secure the fictional “cup” from the evil Brits on the last hole on a fast curving, down hiller, that got away and nipped the cup. But what a great match. And great fun on a beautiful day!

Then it was on to One for the Road for all the Christmas fixings. Had a great meal just in time too. A burning electrical wire closed the restaurant early on this day. So we had to move the party to the reliable Thirsty Dog. At least I had already had dinner by then!

Just hope that doesn’t happen again at the New Year’s Party!

For more photos, click here.

Labels: Christmas, Dongguan, Golf, Life in China

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:09 PM Comments: 0

Merry Christmas 2007

Labels: 2007, Christmas, Dongguan, Life in China

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 8:38 AM Comments: 0

Basketball in China

The one thing I have not gotten to do in China, that I have desired since arriving, is to attend a basketball game here. I posted about how the television broadcasts look so enjoyable, and really wanted to go for myself. Only luck and timing have not been on my side. There are no more local games this year, since they shortened the local league's season so that the National Team is in preparation for the Olympics.

Nonetheless, I have met one of the American stars in the league, Jason Dixon. Click here to read about Jason and his nine year career here in China.

Labels: Basketball, Dongguan, Life in China

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 6:05 PM Comments: 0

Labels: Bangkok, Emerald Buddha, Thailand

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 6:26 PM Comments: 0

OHIO

Now one of the things I didn’t expect with my friends was to be subjected to their interests in Ohio State. It’s not even football season, but that didn’t stop them from wanting to sign OHIO like the singers from the Village People, every chance they got.

My good friend Jim McD, has long been an avid OSU fan, and his compatriots all had Ohio roots that put them in similar interests. Every where they went, Jim, Jim C, Jay and Steve were plotting how to show their school spirit again and again.

Here are a couple of shots where they even got a little assistance from the guards at The Emerald Temple and The Grand Palace – both very stoic, but one more alive than the other.

More photos available by clicking here or using the link on the right.

Labels: Bangkok, Emerald Buddha, Grand Palace, Thailand

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 6:18 PM Comments: 0

O - H - I - O with help from a Palace guard.

Labels: Bangkok, Grand Palace, Thailand

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 6:00 PM Comments: 0

What a Small World!

Now I’m really worried that I’m traveling too much. Here I was in Bangkok for the weekend in a hotel with friends, and up walks a coworker from Decca, and says “Hi Gene.” ………. Are you kidding me? I can’t even go to Bangkok now without running into people I know!

Here my USA friends decided to meet in Bangkok because it was close to where they had been doing business in India, and it was convenient to my business in Thailand the following week. Only my coworker didn’t even know I was going to Bangkok, nor I that he was. Who would have ever thought that we would end up at the same hotel! But of all the hotels all over this beautiful city, he happened to book the same one my friends had booked. Amazing!

And BTW Bangkok was great! We had wonderful foot massages, watched some soccer in a great pub, ate some great Thai food, and saw the Emerald Buddha and The Grand Palace. Very impressive! The friends didn’t have much time here (less than 2 days), but they made the most of it, and thoroughly enjoyed it!

Labels: Bangkok, Life in China, Thailand

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:19 PM Comments: 0

More Guangdong News

Well, I guess I don’t see enough of Dongguan. I just caught some more interesting news about Dongguan today: “Pig Farms Banned in 2009.”

I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of the 433 pig farms mentioned here. I guess I don’t have to worry about one being built near my apartment complex either now. The city has banned pig farms effective 2009. I guess that’s fair warning. But kinda rude in the Year of the Pig!

Be sure to notice the website that the article appears in too: Pig Progress. Interesting… huh?!?!

Labels: Dongguan, Guangdong, Guangdong News, Life in China, Year of the Pig

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:50 PM Comments: 0

Guangdong News

I missed a major news item from Guangdong recently. A cousin was kind enough to ask about one and send me the link. I had often wondered how this area could handle the demands of water for all these people. It may not be so well. Read by clicking here.

The other news event is more apparent. Daily my drivers are faced with difficult maneuvering past service stations along the highway. They have some kind of separation here for which stations provide gasoline to trucks versus general transport vehicles. And at the stations for trucks, the lines usually spill out into the streets blocking traffic at each. However, for cars, the gasoline must be more readily available, because lines are rare.

Today, we even stopped at one station for gas in our van on the way to work. As we sat there, several trucks pulled in requesting gasoline, only to be turned away. I still haven’t quite figured out the separation, but they were sure disappointed.

In the meantime, the lines continue to back up for trucks. They say that gas is still being regulated at a rate far lower than market prices, so refineries and distributors claim to be loosing money (read about it here). Even though it was raised recently, that only temporarily fixed the problem. A couple of weeks passed, and with the oil futures still climbing, the suppliers have cut back availability again. It’s pretty simple supply and demand economics, but without free markets, its effect becomes more apparent.

Labels: Dongguan, Gas Prices, Guangdong, Guangdong News, Life in China

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:12 PM Comments: 0

Now Teaching Fan Etiquette

First it was learning to queue in preparation for the Olympics. Now they are teaching the Chinese how to behave at international competitions. Hearing how some of the things went with the recent golf tournament nearby, and seeing how many people act on a golf course, I can believe they need some training. Be sure to read this article from ESPN.com: Olympic cheering program hopes to stamp out bad sportsmanship

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Labels: Life in China, Olympics

posted by A Bryson (formerly) in China @ 5:37 PM Comments: 0