Tag Archives: #tv

Peninsula

Posted on October 3, 2016 by d4vid

One of the major tourist spots in Qinghai is 鸟岛 (Niǎo dǎo meaning “Bird Island.”)  In fact, the Hanzi character for “island” comes from the character for “bird” atop the character for “mountain.” However — much like Monster Island — … Continue reading →

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Regional

Posted on October 2, 2016 by d4vid

This is the impressive entrance to the Qinghai Regional Museum (with typical Chinese scale.) Weirdly, the main exhibit hall just brags about commerce.  The dairy industry…  The “this one robot” industry… And the “alcohol not famous enough for you to … Continue reading →

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Sky

Posted on September 17, 2016 by d4vid

I went to the “Sky Park” high atop the iconic Marina Bay Sands hotel.  Despite being a “Girl Drink Drunk” I had never had a Singapore Sling.  What better place to try my first one than at a bar overlooking … Continue reading →

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Sports

Posted on September 11, 2016 by d4vid

My Mandarin teacher and her husband lived in Japan for several years as he studied at a university.  Their daughter is in second grade now and attend the Shanghai Japanese School, an elementary school which teaches classes entirely in Japanese. … Continue reading →

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Top

Posted on August 1, 2016 by d4vid

The north end of Lake Wakatipu tapers off at a small, sleepy town called Glenorchy.  This is the “top of the lake” where acclaimed New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion set her television show Top of the Lake (which I haven’t … Continue reading →

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Carvings

Posted on January 6, 2016 by d4vid

Zhangyang Street is another major focus of the Harbin Ice Festival. I tried to get a terrier to pose next to this ice sculpture of a gramophone, but he was having none of it. This one is a reminder of … Continue reading →

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Floating

Posted on November 30, 2015 by d4vid

The Hanging Temple (悬空寺 or Xuánkōng Sì, literally meaning “floating-in-empty temple”) near Datong is magnificent.  I’m certain it was one of the inspirations for the Western Air Temple in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Just steps upriver from the temple is a dam and a … Continue reading →

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Mimesis

Posted on October 12, 2015 by d4vid
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Sayōnara

Posted on October 9, 2015 by d4vid

So, I go to Terminal 1.  But there are no China Eastern flights from Terminal 1.  That’s an “I” for the “International” terminal. Fuck you, Haneda Airport and your serif-dependent abbreviations. I plan for these things when traveling, though, so … Continue reading →

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Kawaii

Posted on October 6, 2015 by d4vid

 Kyoto was pleasant but Nikko is proving to be majestic as fuck.  Plus, my room here is super kawaii.  I can see and hear the Daiya River from my window.  And, I mean, just look at my room key.  Just … Continue reading →

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Lynchian

Posted on October 3, 2015 by d4vid

Just watched a beauty cream ad on Japanese television which used the Julee Cruise vocal version of the Twin Peaks theme song. I can only assume their slogan is “Maybe she’s born with it.  Maybe she’s dead, wrapped in plastic.”

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Unicorn

Posted on August 16, 2015 by d4vid

Shanghai taxi drivers are ranked on a scale from zero stars to five stars.  The vast majority have zero stars. I’ve heard whispers over imported beers in dark corners of 老外 bars.  Friends of friends who are said to have … Continue reading →

Posted in 上海 | Tagged | 1 Comment

Reflections

Posted on August 4, 2015 by d4vid

On my California visit, now that I’m de-jetlagging back in Shanghai: Seeing baseball fields while landing in any airport in America.  (Not something you see landing in any airport in China.) Ubiquitous Lo-Carb Monster energy drinks.  “Expand my brain, learning … Continue reading →

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Impossible

Posted on August 3, 2015 by d4vid

There is a lot to like about Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.  I loved how the score interpolated both Laszlo Schifrin’s original theme song (5/4 time signature, bitches!) and Pucini’s Turandot. And Christopher McQuarrie has grown into a solid action … Continue reading →

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Noughties

Posted on July 9, 2015 by d4vid

I’m at home recovering from bronchitis, watching CCTV (as is my wont.)  In the middle of a documentary on mammals — just as they were putting a crow in an MRI machine — they started playing FC Kahuna’s “Hayling”.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in 上海 | Tagged , , | 1 Comment