life in Dan Shui, Guangdong province, China

Feeling bad

2007-09-02T07:15:00.000-07:00

Feeling bad about the light hearted nature of the last post having seen two accidents over the last week. In one the motorbike rider was knocked of his bike by a vehicle turning into a side street - cutting his leg badly and was waiting for the ambulance when I cycled by - in the other a motorbike had lost control and skidded under the back of a lorry. The rider was being lifted into an ambulance as the coach went by.
Collegues talk of on average seeing one accident a month. The people are getting used to the much larger volume of traffic - and safety has yet to be learnt - it seems the hard way. Most cannot afford a four wheeled taxi - so a motorbike is their only option.

Taxi sir?

2007-08-26T00:04:00.001-07:00

There is a large number of taxis available in Dan Shui. They can be easily identified, as the driver wears a top with flourescent stripes bearing their licence number and a phone number. The driver will normally provide a building site helmet for a passenger, presumably in case debris falls from one of the many construction sites en route

These can be easily picked up at a taxi rank, such as this street corner, or just by walking along the street, where every few minutes a driver will honk at you. A party of two can use one taxi, although normally only one helmet will be available.

However if your party is larger than two, or you want luxury transportation a deluxe service with ample fresh air is also available.

and a limosine service with air conditioning and enclosed privacy seating can be found.

A farm, a walk - and a bike

2007-08-25T23:47:00.000-07:00

On Saturday I walked into the centre of Dan Shui, to see if I could buy a bike.

I started by walking through the resort I am staying in. This has a 'Farm' where vegetables are grown and there a few animals.

A few banana tress provide some fruit, and a large area covered in a black mesh is used to cultivate pot plants for decorating the accomodation.

I then walked into town. The shopping centre starts only about 15 mins walk from the resort, however the bike shop area was more like an hour and a half away (or 2 hours the way I went!). People seem to cross the road at all places with little concern.

And I bought myself a beautiful bike .. although a little small, at 6 foot I am considerably taller than any of the local population, so I have to accept that clothes shopping will be difficult, and bikes too small.

Some flowers

2007-08-25T23:42:00.000-07:00

Since arriving I have been impressed by the friendliness of everyone I have met, from my colleagues at work, to the drivers and staff in the resort .. and also people in the streets, who havebeen willing to help even though communication is currently difficult. I hope to learn some chinese, but expect it to be difficult.

Although the contrast with the state of the building close by is stark, most faces seem to be of happy people.

Thursday evening we went to a hotel for farewell dinner for the person I am replacing. We enjoyed a nice meal at the end of which I was presented with an impressive bunch of flowers by colleagues. Flowers are difficult to find in town, where there are not many imported goods, so I found it another sign of the friendliness of people, and willingness to make me feel at home.

Moving to china

2007-08-25T22:49:00.000-07:00

This is a log of my experiences in moving to China.
I am moving with a large international company to live in Huizhou, about 2 hours north of Hong Kong in the Guangdong province.
As my family is partly at school, I am separated by a 12 hour flight from them. This however is closer than many migrant workers in Asia, who take days to get home to their family.

I flew to Hong Kong on Virgin Airlines, enjoying a comfortable seat en route ...

this had a table which worked well as a small desk - and the seat folded down to make a bed.

I arrived in Hong Kong, where the signs are in both English and Chinese ... not realising how much of a luxury this is. When I arriven in Dan Shui I realised that English signs are few.

"

I was given an excessively large appartment to live in - with 5 toilets and 4 showers (and 4 double beds)

.. however no desk, so I have had to improvise ...