Author Topic: Guangzhou  (Read 16100 times)

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Offline brett

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Guangzhou
« on: May 17, 2013, 09:32:21 am »
I know you guys love looking at photos, so here are some photos from Guangzhou.

Well if you've never been here before, China is probably the busiest place ever. And Guangzhou is the busiest city in China:



More hawkers and general chaos. In the background is a pretty busy bus. In all my time here, I've NEVER seen a bus driver refuse passengers entry to a bus. A bus can NEVER be full here, unlike back home in England!



Raw capitalism is alive and well here:



Guangzhou station - millions of migrant workers have started their new lives as city dwellers here (and it's no fun being stuck behind them as they try to figure out the metro gates!!!!)...



And a bit more about where I'm living...

I'm living in Baiyun, which is a less prosperous part of town. Much of it looks like this:



Although the part closer to me doesn't have the luxury of tarmac on the street!

And here's the view from my apartment building over Baiyun mountain. Notice how dark it is? Well it's actually 2pm, but a ferocious thunderstorm has rolled in...



Finally I often see stuff in China which just makes me want to laugh my ass off...


Offline Pineau

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #1 on: May 17, 2013, 10:17:15 am »
Brings back memories. I was walking those same streets and sidewalks just 4 months ago. I almost miss the place. I guess I need to go back for a few weeks to get the smell back on my clothes.

Thanks for the photos.
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Offline RobertBfrom aust

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #2 on: May 19, 2013, 12:44:51 am »
Brett , great photos , from an unreal city , regards Sujuan and Robert .
Now it is early to bed and late to rise .
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Offline Pineau

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #3 on: May 26, 2013, 10:57:13 am »
Brett, I hope you don't mind me sharing your thread from Guangzhou.

Not sure if you saw the video I made just before I left China. But today my wife was browsing a website in China and discovered MY video. I am surprised but they have been sharing it over there.  people in China like this video. ;-)

http://youtu.be/zG4eoONlutE

« Last Edit: May 26, 2013, 11:55:27 am by Pineau »
Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
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Offline fivetrout

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #4 on: May 26, 2013, 03:24:21 pm »
haha I watched several of your videos. The one of a shopping trip through the streets...totally wore me out, as my senses were over worked!

Offline Pineau

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #5 on: May 26, 2013, 06:48:31 pm »
Did you see the Guangzhou traffic jam. It is horrible at certain times of day.  We were in Tianhe and needed  to got to Baiyun. Al major streets were gridlocked and we needed to get home. We hopped on the back of one of those rickshaw motor cycles and sped down side streets at 50 mph. http://youtu.be/igct58w1Rok
« Last Edit: May 26, 2013, 07:03:41 pm by Pineau »
Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
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Offline Willy The Londoner

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #6 on: May 26, 2013, 09:01:13 pm »
Well I see your time in China was well filled.  I liked the mixture of stills and live. It worked well with the music.

Willy
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Offline brett

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #7 on: May 27, 2013, 08:49:24 am »
I should take a few videos when I'm out and about. People fighting to board a bus could have been a classic. And I must take a video of the clothes wholesale market I found once. It was absolute chaos and I got moved on several times, maybe I wasn't supposed to be there or something, who knows.

And as for the traffic, I no longer have a TV because a 2RMB bus ride in a thunderstorm at night is all the excitement you'll ever need here. How the bus avoids all those cyclists going the wrong way is a complete mystery. Yeah, 5000 years of civilization and they have yet to invent the bicycle light.

I'll miss this place, and I might even miss the creatures that live in my kettle  ;D ;D ;D ;D.

Offline Pineau

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #8 on: May 27, 2013, 09:01:18 pm »
Those are great photos. I know exactly where you were in some of them. I have actually stood where you were standing when you took the photo at the train station.  Post some more photos and videos. My wife enjoys them too.
Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
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Offline fivetrout

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #9 on: May 28, 2013, 12:37:56 am »
OK, I watched the motor scooter taxi ride video. All you needed was a small cooler with a few beers, but seeing that you were filming...your other hand was likely hanging on for dear life!

Offline Willy The Londoner

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #10 on: May 28, 2013, 01:09:19 am »
OK, I watched the motor scooter taxi ride video. All you needed was a small cooler with a few beers, but seeing that you were filming...your other hand was likely hanging on for dear life!
Either that or protecting the Crown Jewels as we say in UK. ;D

Willy
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Offline brett

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #11 on: May 28, 2013, 05:16:44 am »
Some photos of my apartment. It's very basic because it's in a student apartment building. But it's actually the same price as the on-campus accommodation, but I actually get my own room here, whereas students have to share! Also the University is very strict regarding alcohol, late returns to the dorms etc. etc..

I'm paying 1200RMB a month for this (1500 when you include all bills, including Internet). Smaller rooms in the same building are cheaper.

Basic Chinese hard bed:



I've since added a mosquito tent and mattress topper.

I actually have 2 bedrooms, but this is the master bedroom if you like - it has aircon:



I've since swapped the stool for a chair!

Basic kitchen. I've since added a kettle (65RMB) and slow cooker (48RMB) and a chopping board! The slow cooker is great for making soup and also pasta. I eat out sometimes, especially when meeting ladies. But cooking at home is cheaper plus you don't have the hassle of the sometimes very slow service in restaurants!



Washroom/toilet:



I took the photo when I moved in - I've cleaned it a bit since then! My 2 bed apartment was previously occupied by 3 students from Laos.

I spend a lot of time cleaning the place - it's a real battle living in a place where stuff goes mouldy and wildlife moves in so quickly. And the average shirt lasts a couple of hours before it needs washing again.

But incidentally, this place is immaculate compared to some of the places the estate agent took me round! Maybe Willy has similar real estate horror stories from China!!!

Offline Willy The Londoner

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #12 on: May 28, 2013, 12:41:37 pm »
No Brett. The first place I moved into was in Zhuhai and was in its own complex overlooking the swimming pool. That was pricey at 2400 rmb a month.

Then I came to Zhongshan and took another 2 bedroom place in an complex for 1200 rmb a month Squat toilet just like yours.  Nice place and is in the same complex that we bought our place.  But I do miss the squatty ::)

Better not get back onto toilets again. ;D

Willy
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Offline shaun

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #13 on: May 28, 2013, 01:17:46 pm »
Willy?  Are you saying that you miss the squirts... I mean squats?

Offline Pineau

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Re: Guangzhou
« Reply #14 on: May 28, 2013, 02:53:52 pm »
I cant do the squat. Well I can in an emergency but I don't like to. . I am afraid of loosing my balance and falling.  In my apartment I paid 700 RMB to have the floor tore up and a real toilet installed. The landlord was pissed but I told him he didn't need to pay his half.  Just like home. :0)
Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.
https://chinaandfriends.shutterfly.com/pictures
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http://youtu.be/zG4eoONlutE