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More Hong Kong

2003-06-17 12:58:20.8542+00 by Dan Lyke 2 comments

Hoping I get this typed before I run out of time. Today we went up to Dong Guan. I should have been suspicious when they said "fill in 'Tour' for your reason, it'll make the visa easier to get". But yesterday evening it was "we'll never get a whole computer through customs. Find a nondescript bag and we'll carry parts." So we took the KCR[Wiki] up to Shenzen, then had a driver take us further in. Oh, my. Boston has nothing on driving in China. Lanes are taken as merest suggestions. If you might have to take a U-turn, people just drive the wrong way down a divided highway, including coming up the entrance ramp, to make the turn they want.

But actually (and the few images I felt comfortable taking are still uploading), what most surprised me was how much like Burning Man[Wiki] it was. Lots of wacky pedal-powered contraptions, various vehicles which looked like carts pulled by the guts of a roto-tiller. Shacks that were definitely destined for the next province if a big storm ever hit.

And, of course, nobody does class separation like the communists. Lunch was authentic Chinese on a big lazy susan in the middle served by women in uniforms who were constantly replacing our under-plates whenever anything fell out of the rice bowl onto it. And the private guards stood, clicked heels and saluted us whenever we went in or out of a building.

[ related topics: Burning Man Interactive Drama Pedal Power Hong Kong Dan's June 2003 Hong Kong Trip ]

comments in ascending chronological order (reverse):

#Comment made: 2003-06-17 13:01:31.576398+00 by: Dan Lyke

Shacks in the middle of industrial buildings, housing the workers who were building the building we were in.

Their idea of power strip. Yes, when they didn't have enough length on the extension cord they just twisted the ends together.

#Comment made: 2003-06-18 01:07:39.143584+00 by: Dan Lyke

Oh yeah, I should add: Big pedestrian bridge over 6 lane divided highway. People walking across highway under bridge.

Gulp.