WSJ’s Best Of The China Blogs

The WSJ’s China blog has some recent items of note:

–Great Wall adventures. Trips to various parts of the wall, with an emphasis on those accessible from the author’s home in Tangshan, Hebei province. [Great Wall Blog]

–Street art is pretty rare in China, which makes this collection of Shanghai graffiti photos something of a treat (h/t Simpson’s Paradox). [Juxtapoz]

–A detailed look at Beijing’s subways, line-by-line. Includes maps, history, photos and lists of major sites by stop. [CNReviews.com]

–For more on getting around the Chinese capital, here’s an intro to Beijing A to B, a new guide to the city’s transportation systems. Currently available: roads and subways, in English. Coming soon: bus info and Chinese. [Beijingologist]

–You’ve read the book, now watch the dance. “Wolf Totem”: the ballet. [The Foreign Expert]

–A scholarly review of Amy Hanser’s scholarly book “Service Encounters,” a study of three vastly different retail environments in the northern city of Harbin, where the author’s fieldwork included working as a salesclerk in each setting. [China Beat]

Via China Journal : Best of the China Blogs: July 8

05.21.08 Part 6: Ghosts of Williamsburg

Wednesday, 21 May 2008 - Part 6 (8:00-9:30 pm)
Williamsburg, Virginia

So many people showed up for the Ghost walking tours this evening that they had to split us up into 4 separate tours. Interesting. This is with only one company. There were several other companies with the same amount of crowds, it was crazy.

Ghosts of Williamsburg candlelight walking Tour * http://www.theghosttour.com/ * meet in front of the William and Mary bookstore at the main gate for historic Williamsburg, Virginia * 757. 565.4821

A crowd is led by lantern candle light down the streets of historic Colonial Williamsburg and on the site of the 2nd oldest University in the United States - William and Mary. For only $10 you get an hour long tour covering various subjects of folklore and haunted history in the area that eventually leads you to the graveyard. Based on the book The Ghosts of Williamsburg by L.B. Taylor. It was a very interesting and informative walk. I thought I caught a glimpse of something in the window of the Indian dorm on William and Mary, as well as something in the shadows near the George Wythe House. Looking over the photographs, lots of orbs and interesting elements and oddities to the pictures. Great tour! According to the tour guides it’s notorious that the cameras attract and capture unexplainable orbs, vapors, colors and shapes.”
Rating 4.5 stars out of 5. Taken 5/21/2008.

Afterwards, I returned to the hostel and had a good night’s rest. Tomorrow Yorktown and then a return to Washington D.C. for the remainder of the National Geographic Society Live events on the Hidden Treasures of Afghanistan, as well as attending “Goth Prom”.

05.21.08 Part 5: Dinner in a Colonial tavern in Williamsburg

Wednesday, 21 May 2008 - Part 5 (4:00-8:00 pm)
Williamsburg, Virginia

All the running around and driving at Jamestown made me famished when I realized I hadn’t had lunch yet. So I figured, a nice meal at a Colonial tavern in Williamsburg would do the trick. The drive back to Williamsburg wasn’t more than 15 minutes, and since Williamsburg activities were slowing down for the evening, it was a good time to find parking and setting out into Williamsburg for day 2 of wanderings and excitement. I wasn’t sure where I was gonna go, but the attractive barmaid lured me into Chowning’s Tavern without hesitation ….

Josiah Chowning’s Tavern (Duke of Gloucester Street, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia)

A wink from a cute barmaid lured me into this fine and festive, speedy service establishment. Fashioned in Colonial style decor and architecture, as is every establishment in Colonial Williamsburg, lies Josiah Chowning’s tavern in the heart of the old town. They boast a daytime menu that has quick fresh fare such as pulled pork, beef brisket, hickory-grilled hamburgers, salads, and other sandwiches. In the evening, it becomes a true 18th century rum and alehouse, serving light fare, local ales and wines, rums, and Colonial Williamsburg’s own draft root beer. Balladeers lead guests in rousing sing-alongs and constumed servers invite patrons to play popular colonial games. I feasted on the small and pricey, but delicious crab cake sandwich while sitting with a couple from Texas as there are no private tables at this pub. Entertained by fiddlers and violinists, a magician, and comedy … my quickly served dinner snacking on bowls of peanuts while awaiting the food gave my feet a good rest and my spirit an uplift as I tried to figure out entertainment for the rest of the evening. Rating: 4 stars out of 5. Visited 5/21/08.

Afterwards, I wandered around Williamsburg, watching some more re-enactments, parades, and battles. Then to wind up the evening I figured I’d do the Ghost walk and hang out at the William and Mary bookstore until the tour began.

Yak and Yeti Indian Cuisine (Westminster, Colorado)

Yak and Yeti * Westminster * 8665 N. Sheridan * Westminster, Colorado * 303-426-1976 * http://www.yakandyeti.net/
A high-quality Indian chain restaurant with a delicious buffet. This Westminster branch is located in a shopping court and is easily located for a drive by from the highway. The decor is modest and lacks extravagance as one usually sees in most moderately priced Indian restaurants, but the service is very good, as is the food. The Buffet is all you can eat for $14.95 and gives you a wide variety of some of your favorite Indian dishes. All in all, a good experience, and I’m sure I’ll be back. Rating 3.5 stars out of 5. Visited 7/18/08.

Because Dragons Are Real

Why travel in China is like being the protagonist in a fantasy novel… Not a comparison that leaps to mind, but here are some convincing arguments!

I’ve noticed a certain similarity between my reading matter and my life. Some of the reasons overlap with Sinoplice’s brilliant “Why China Is Like An RPG”. Travel in China, like fantasy books, offers an escape from a monotonous life. Money is counted in “pieces” and dragons are real.

1) The way is fraught with peril. There’s no quick travel, the path from point A to Point B is always full of adventures. Come on, Frodo couldn’t just hop on the next plane to Mordor!

2) Dire predictions of doom. In fantasy stories, the protagonists are constantly warned about their destination, just like in China. “I heard of a foreign traveler who tried to reach Penglai by bus. We never saw him again.” or “You seek to visit Beijing? In October? Turn back while you still can!”

Via Why Travel In China Is Like Being the Protagonist In A Fantasy Novel

No Taxi For You!

The refusal of taxi drivers to take foreign passengers is seen more and more as a poitical reaction, but Simpson’s Paradox talks about all the other reasons a driver won’t accept her.

Often I hop into a Beijing taxi, only to get out again when the driver refuses to take me where I want to go. I thought this was a reaction to my bad Chinese but as I understand more and more, I’m stunned by the reasons the drivers refuse to take me.

Via Simpson’s Paradox » Blog Archive » Taxi Rejection

Jamestown Island, Jamestown, Virginia

Jamestown Island / Jamestown National Park (Jamestown, Virginia)

Upon exiting Jamestown Historical Site visitors are presented with an option to explore the remainder of the island, and to take the 3 or 5 mile driving tour around the loop following the higher ground of the island. Planted every 1/4-1/2 mile usually is a marker telling the tale of the island outside of the Jamestown settlement. You’ll pass the site of a Confederate fort, through the Pitch and Tar Swamp, At the point of the island is a small hiking trail that leads to the Black Point that hosts white sand, marsh, pine trees, swamps, and beautiful views. The island formed many thousands of years ago, from a series of shoals along the James River. The Colonists arrived in 1607 to find an isthmus that connected the island to the mainland as well as a “paradise” of virgin hardwoods suitable for building their settlement. Unfortunately in the 1800’s, the isthmus eroded away and the forests cleared for farming. After Jamestown moved to Williamsburg, the island became a plantation run by the Ambler and Travis families. During the Civil War, confederate forts guarded the river channel. Today its in the hands of the National Park service where it has been healed and is regenerating. I quite enjoyed the peaceful drive and walk about the area. Rating: 3 stars out of 5. Visited 5/21/08.

Jamestown Colonial National Historical Park, Virginia

Jamestown National Park (Jamestown, Virginia)
Another location I haven’t been to since childhood, and a site dear to my heart of inspirations that were just one more brick in the road of my childhood that led me into Archaeology as a life passion. I remember vividly when my father took me to Jamestown, Williamsburg, Mesa Verde, and a dozen other Archaeological parks. Jamestown is much more the historical “archaeological” section of Virginia’s famous “Historical Triangle”. While Colonial Williamsburg is much more popular (and certainly more touristy) in many ways, Jamestown is much more textbook and on-hands educational and informative (in my opinion). So I knew I’d be spending most of the day at this park. I was also inspired upon entrance that instead of paying the $10 entrance fee, that I would purchase an Annual pass to the National Parks ($80) as I know I’ll be hitting quite a few of them through the year. I always felt I should have been given a life pass to them since I used to work for the National Park Service, but I suppose that’s one perk they just don’t give to their employees.

In 1893 the landowners Mr. and Mrs. Edward Barney donated 22 1/2 acres of land which held the archaeological remains of the original Jamestown settlement, the 1639 tower of the Jamestown Church, and the original fort that encompassed most of Jamestown Island. They gave it to APVA Preservation Virginia which at that time was known as the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities. In 1934, the National Park Service teamed together with APVA and created the National Park Site that exists now that is often called “Historic Jamestowne”. It was designated the “Jamestown National Historic Site” on December 18, 1940 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 15, 1966 protecting it forever. This was the original site of the 1607 James Fort that was the first permanent British colony in North America and the later 17th century city of Jamestown that became the capital of the Virginia Colony that is located on Jamestown Island on the James River. Through the years erosion from the river had dissolved most of the western shore and visitors to the area just deduced that the site of James Fort was underwater. Thanks to federal assistance, a sea wall was constructed in 1900 to prevent furthere erosion and the archaeological remains were excavated and discovered in 1994. Evidence soon showed remnants of Bacon’s Rebellion that occured on this site in 1676 when the statehouse was burned and after its 2nd burning when the capital was relocated to higher ground at Middle Plantation (1699) which became the site of Colonial Williamsburg. After the relocation, this site reverted to little used farmland and became the site of Confederate earthworks during the Civil War with the intention to provide river defenses against Union gunboats. The Ambler Farm was then burned by escaped slaves and the remains slowly sunk into the vast marshes and wooded lands of the Island until its rediscovery and scientific explorations that made it the site that exists today. A very popular tourist spot, even Queen Elizabeth visited on May 4, 2007 for her second visit (the first being October 1957). Jamestowne is one of the three popular locations that comprise Virginia’s famous Historic Triangle that is nestled along the National Park Services scenic 22 mile long biway known as the Colonial Parkway.

Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg, Virginia
What a quaint little history rich town. It has been quite a long time since I visited this village. In fact, not since i was a child. My parents took me here a few times and its probably one of the key influences on formulating my strong interest in history. Well at least the Colonial living history part of Williamsburg. Colonial Williamsburg is of course the key attraction to the area next to the infamous college of William and Mary (1693 - the 2nd oldest university in the United States). Also home to the first known mental hospital in the United States (Eastern State Hospital 1770) This small 12,000 populated city (2000 census) is located on the Virginia Peninsula in the the Hampton Roads region in southeastern Virginia and forms a pivotal entry point to Historic Triangle where it borders James City County (Jamestown) and York County (Yorktown) connected by the National Park Service’s 23 mile long bucolic Colonial Parkway. It was originally known as Middle Plantation that was founded in 1632 that became a fortified settlement on high grounds between the James and York Rivers where it was defensible. In 1698 it became the capital of the Virginia Colony and renamed “Williamsburg”. In 1722 it became a royal charter and was the founding block for the political events that led to the American Revolution.
Weather in the area is very temperate and seasonal with hot and humid summers and cool evenings. The mean annual temperature is 60 °F (15 °C), with an average annual snowfall of 6 inches and an average annual rainfall of 47 inches. The highest recorded temperature was 104.0°F (40.0°C) on June 26, 1952 and August 22, 1983. The lowest recorded temperature was -7.0°F (-21.6°C) on January 21, 1985. Elevation: 82 ft (15 m). Website: http://www.williamsburgva.gov/ and more information can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Williamsburg%2C_Virginia.

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Chinese Visa Regulations

Looks like the end for Simpson’s Paradox. New visa regulations for foreigners in China are throwing many expats out of the country they call home.

Stick’s new visa fell through at the last possible second. It was a dramatic disaster, but the short version is that apparently the school wasn’t quite as professional and aboveboard as we’d thought. His current visa expires tomorrow, so he is flying home tomorrow night.

Expats and travelers should always be alert to the rules and regulations for the countries they’re visiting, but it seems like many foreign workers in China were legal when they arrived, and became illegal while they were abroad. This includes employees under 25 and over 60, both of which were legal visa-holders two months ago, but will be denied visas now. Also affected are expats working for smaller businesses, private schools, or start-ups.

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