14.4.11

Human Rights? A Hot Potato


Yesterday I was reading on The New York Times and article with the following title: China: U.S. Accused of Rights Violations
According to this article China accuses, in a report, The United States of promoting freedom on the internet to undermine other countries while they have their own campaign against antisicrecy website Wikileaks. This report also criticises the States in terms of homelessness, violent crime, the influence of money over politics and “ civilian casualties” in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
And what do you want me to say? Well, it is true. The report is totally right. But it is a pitty this compilation of accusations feels just like a reply to the annual evaluation of the Department of State which was, as usual, very critical with China. 
In conclusion, who’s right? Everybody... Who does something to improve things? Well, obviously nobody... And I’m not sure anymore wether the XXI century is the desinformation century or the overinformation century. We’ve reached a point where everything seems to be so obvious, and it is so easy for everyone to wash one's dirty linen in public, that the most used strategy seems to be the game of the hot potato. In the end, while one accuses the other, what must really be important is not known, The United States continue doing and undoing at will and if I write things on my blog such as revolution, Ai Wei Wei or Tian An Men, the most probable thing is that after a minute of publishing the post I lose access to the link. Anybody can tell me what we need to do?  

4.4.11

HongKong, concrete jungle


Victoria Peak

What does an expatriate do when the visa to stay in China expires? Well, there are several options, but the best well-known and used is to "leave" the country. And I write it between commas because the most common option is to go to Hong Kong which, even though has great autonomy, it's still part of the Popular Republic. And so that is what I did last week. Leaving aside the bureaucratic details, I'll tell you what I thought about the city in two days. Well, in a few words, Hong Kong is a jungle. It is a mixture of skyscrapers, exuberant vegetation, trams, buses, trolleybuses, taxis, corridors and people. A vertical puzzle where every piece seems to have its place and sometimes there seems to be no space for anything else. A controlled chaos with an exotic and tropical touch, but cosmopolitan and international at the same time. 
It’s necessary to take the tram up to Victoria Peak in order to see the sky, and at the same time enjoy the spectacular views over the city and the different islands. Once up there, it becomes really clear why the city owns the title of the most vertical city on earth and why it’s one of the cities with the most people density. And sincerely, if someone who lives in Shanghai is impressed by people concentration and skyscrapers it must mean it really is something, maybe even too much! However, when it looks like there’s no space for another building in the city, among towers several colorful cranes appear to start constructing. 
Walking around HongKong is fascinating, but from my point of view, thinking about moving there would be quite stressful... Hong Kong is probably the capitalism paradise. Between Skyscrapers, thousands of signs blind you with publicity of luxurious brands and thousands of products you will never need but that at first sight seem essential. And what can I tell you, I’m not gonna be a hypocrite either. Living in HongKong for a while with real money would be amazing. Walking around Soho district, culinary offer from all over the world is impressive, attractive and addictive. With so many giants around, these little spaces are like culinary shelters that take you away from the hustle and bustle and the neon lights to bring you back home to have a good glass of wine, stop in Belgium to enjoy a good Chimay, or fly you to Vietnam to eat a good portion of GỏI Cuốn. And if once full and fatter you decide it’s time to change your wardrobe, you only need to take you credit card out and I’m pretty sure it will lead you to the closest store itself...
Then, imagining I did have that much money, why would I find it stressful? Well, I think there were times my mind was telling me the buildings were going to fall onto me! And not due to bad construction (which is not the case), but due to the proximity of one another. I need my space! But hei, I don’t want to make it look dark... I have to say, as in the beginning, that Hong Kong is perfectly controlled chaos. To start with the city is also atop of the rankings regarding the use of public transport, which is extremely efficient. And second, the almost inexistent distance between buildings has allowed the metropolis to grow at different levels. At Hong Kong Island skyscrapers are connected by corridors at the second floor, which gives you the chance to walk around avoiding noises, traffic lights and even rain.
In conclusion, I cannot imagine myself living in HongKong for claustrophobia-related reasons, but spending there weekends and concerning cultural entertainment, culinary offer and shopping, it is probably one of the best spots in South-east Asia. So if you’re around the area, stop by! Those who’ve been there already, what do you think?