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Yeah, i think China only allows 20 foreign films a year, so of course its gonna be mostly action-blockbuster stuff (unlikely to see something like Blue Valentine here). I remember a few years ago heading down to the local multi-plex and seeing a poster for an awful-looking Dolph Lundgren straight-to-dvd (STD)action fest. I guess it was the end of the year and they had to fill their quota…..
BTW: i’d take Dolph over Segal any day!
@ Charlie: agreed. You gotta give new acts a chance. The past month i’ve seen some really good local stuff at Little Bar (usually in the 15 minutes support slot)and Kungxiangzi also had some impressive local bands. No offence to these guys, but just having Soundtoy, mr. Turtle, P. Butterfly every year….already getting kinda stale.
@Charlie: I noticed LP “Iran”! Man, did you manage to get in? Beautiful country, great people BTW…
@KOPI: In Indo “Hello Mister!” used to drive me crazy, but dude, the attention you’re gonna get here can also be overwhelming. The best description i ever read about being a foreigner here: “It’s like having a flashlight constantly on you…everything you do, every moment, being watched, commented on.”
You get used to it eventually…………………………….?
My guy is back! Said he was just taking a short holiday (even DVD pirates need a break sometimes). Anyway, he’s just 5 mins from computer city, on Yihuan Lu towards Chuna Da. Some of you guys might know his shop. He’s a good guy. He laughed when I showed him Snakes on A Plane! But yeah, i shoud also hit this beiwody.com. Even us dinosaurs gotta evolve….
Might be tough to find one that stays open after 10 PM. The only ones I’ve found are some of the spa places that are basically all night, but you’re talking about small pools (sometimes like 15 metres long). Sometimes i get insomnia and the urge to swim….
Thanks guys. I was trying to avoid the computer city touts. Being led around by those guys was always a pain. I miss my old DVD guy! I thought we had a special connection. He had his films sorted into genre (strangely, porn films would show up in the animation section, but that could be naughty customers) and his recommendations were often pretty accurate. Just like street shao kao, illegal DVD shops seem to be disappearing. The gentrification of Chengdu?
@andy: thanks man, I’ll try it, but i’m pretty old school and still dig DVD’s. Man, don’t get me started on VHS. Those were golden days….
Yeah, i’ve had students with awesome English names, and i always encourage them to go for it: The top ten:
1.Black Angel
2.Vampire (current student)
3.Bin Laden (very popular about 7 yeears ago)
4.AK-47 (had this one a few times)
5.Let it Be (good philosophy too)
6.Elvis Cat King (great kid. Claimed to love Elvis)
7.Master (how can you fail the master?)
8.Snow Fox (alas, she never came to class)
9.Saw (as in the torture-porn flick)
10.George Bush (go figure)
@brendan: depends. In the past I’ve been told that I needed one, so my ex supplied some noble-sounding, impressive name (which i always felt stupid using). In HK a few weeks ago, it didn’t matter. I think generally it’s not compulsory…BTW: you got a Chinese AKA?
@steven: you mean Kuma translates as “cry”. Goddamn, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry… Maybe the police thought i was more of a “Hui tai leng” (bad wolf?) so that’s why they wouldn’t give me the Yang yang…?
Sadly, it seems that there has been a recent crackdown on many of the authentic, street shao kao stalls (I’m talking the portable, fly-by-night mom and pop REAL shao kao places). My favorite a few months ago was the one outside Golden Apple kindergarten in Zhongbei. Two young guys had a pretty pro set up; a truck that folded out, lotsa stools and tables, cooler full of ICE (blissful). It was the closest to an LA-style food van that I’d seen. They seem to have disappeared (busted?) but it sometimes turned into a “Chinese impromptu block party”. One night was standing room only, about 40 people, 3 AM, great vibe. Strangers talking and sharing beers (one whole table of Chonqingers speaking local dialect). People, that kinda street culture is what I love; authentic, semi-legal, unpretentious, old school…..
How about street BBQ? Warm nights, plastic stool, a cheap bottle of beer, watch the street life, good conversation. That’s a perfect night out… Shao kao party?
Sichuan gym is quite cheap if you’re a student or teacher, but if not, it’s only a few hundred kuai cheaper than private gyms (of course, you gotta bargain the price down). I went to Sichuan uni gym for about 3 years and its OK, but its VERY basic (no showers, basic free weights and machines). If youre gonna go in the mornings its fine, but afternoon and evening can be insanely packed. Most of the guys not using the equipment, just sitting around or staring into the mirrors. Got kinda sick of asking “are you using this?”…
No fans. I offered the guy 20 kuai yesterday to turn the AC on. Like i said, Groundhog Day. Same thing every day….At least they have free water…
No man, TigerKuma’s at KG/Miracle, above trustmart on yihuan lu. Yeah, we get one open air-con vent. This morning, 50 minute cardio/lower body workout: almost 3 litres of water, 2 full size towels drenched.
They have the “no shirtless policy” so I am one disgusting, sweat-soaked disgrace.
@Hilaryclinton: gym fees like everything are absolutely open to bargaining. I pay 800 for 6 months, went down from about 1000 with little resistance. If only they’d splash out on Air-con a little….
Soon I Will Be Invincible.
Oh, sorry, I thought the thread was “what book are you currently reading?”. My mistake. Great book BTW
