My Way - now in Chinese

If you spend time with Chinese, then you from time to time end up at Karaoke, (卡拉OK/KTV) . As I many times mentioned, my big favorite is Paul Anka's / Frank Sinatra 's "My Way", that I always perform when I got a Karaoke microphone in my hand.

Recently, one of my friend finalised the big project to create a Chinese version of "My Way", which is not so easy. If you know the biggest language in the world, then you are most welcome to comment the translation:

现在,结局已近 (And now, the end is near)

我终于面临最终的谢幕 (And so I face the final curtain)

我的朋友,我会清楚的说出 (My friend, I'll say it clear)

我将会说出那些我确信的经历 (I'll state my case, of which I'm certain)

我度过了充实的一生 (I've lived a life that's full)

我已走过了每一条道路 (I've traveled each and ev'ry highway)

而且更多 更多的是 (And more, much more than this)

我以自己的方式 (I did it my way)

懊悔,我也曾有过 (Regrets, I've had a few)

但再次想起，那些已微不足道 (But then again, too few to mention)

我做着自己想做事 (I did what I had to do)

回首过去,已不想再改变
(And saw it through without exemption)

我计划好每一次的旅程
(I planned each charted course)

谨慎的向前跨出每一步
(Each careful step along the byway)

但更多更多的是
(But more, much more than this)

我以自己的方式 (I did it my way)

的确,我相信你也知道有那么几次
(Yes, there were times, I'm sure you knew)

当我承担了超出我所能承的
(When I bit off more than I could chew)

但是从始至终,当这一切还在被质疑
(But through it all, when there was doubt)

我毫不犹豫的坚持着
(I ate it up and spit it out)

我直面一切,傲然挺立
(I faced it all and I stood tall)

依然以我自己的方式 (And did it my way)

我曾爱过,也曾笑过哭过
(I've loved, I've laughed and cried)

我曾志得已满,也曾承受失败 (I've had my fill; my share of losing)

但是现在,当泪水已逝去
(And now, as tears subside)

我才发现这一切原来都是那么有趣
(I find it all so amusing)

回忆起我所做过的一切 (To think I did all that)

我可以毫不愧疚的说
(And may I say - not in a shy way)

不,那不是我 (Oh no, oh no not me)

我行我素 (I did it my way)

作为一个男人,什么才是他拥有的？(For what is a man, what has he got?)

如果不能拥有自我,他将一无所有
(If not himself, then he has naught)

说出他真实的感受
(To say the things he truly feels)

而不是那些虚伪谄媚的言语
(And not the words of one who kneels)

这里记载着我所承受过的一切
(The record shows I took the blows)

我依然我行我素 (And did it my way!)

I perform the ENGLISH version of "My Way" for the third times in this blog.

V as in Victory

I use to reflect over that when Chinese people is been photographed they use to stand in a very strict "military" position with straight back, arms along there sides and head up. Specially in front of tourist attractions. This gives extreme boring pictures if you ask me - but the Chinese like it.

The last years I have seen an obvious changes in the behavior. Specially for the young people. These days they always have there index- and middle finger in V-shape when someone is in front of a camera. Also sometimes even in half formal pictures. If I ask them why the do the V-sign or what it means they usually dont have any good answer, but I take for sure that it is the classic Victory sign they have seen. Young Chinese really love to follow some west world behavior.

Normally it is needed to take at least two pictures when I photo Chinese people. The other one is after I told them to remove the stupid looking fingers.

They have total control

All person that enter China needs to register there presence to the police within 24 hours. You dont have to think about this if you are living at a hotel, since the hotel staff is demanded to handle this issue for all there foreigner guests. They will take copy of your passport, including the visa and send it to the governments administration.

Two times I have staid in China until the very last days before my visa expire, and both time the hotel stuff contacted me and warn me about the situation. I dont know if it is the hotel it self that have this control, or it it is the police that contact the hotel.

Anyway, the hotel looks very carefully into the passport. When I should change my living last autumn, and where and bargain about the price they initially asked to see my passport. When I later use the argument that I will stay for several month in the hotel, then I got the replay:

"...but your visa expire within three weeks?"

This days I had been at the bank so I also had my other passport with me with a long term visa inside (In Sweden its OK to have two passport if you have a good reason)

This caused an even worth reaction. To have two passport seams impossible for a Chinese. The really thought that this was corrupt in some way.

I took some time to convince them, but it was a happy ending, and I have now lived here for almost a half year.

To eat Bird Food

One of the winter traditions when I was a child was that we bought Bird Food (sunflower seed) and feed the birds with.

This childhood memories popped up in my mind when I started to spend time with Chinese in home environment, and find out that its often are standing a bowl of "Bird Food", which means Sunflower seed on the table, and the Chinese eat it like candy. They open the seed with there teeth and throw the shell somewhere around them, and then eat the very small core inside. It use to be a bit messy, since it will be seed shells all over the place.

I tried it from time to time, but for me it is like eat air. Much work for almost nothing - the core is so small.

In China, this "Bird Food" is sold based on weight together with raisins, peanuts and a lot of other nature candy that I dont know what it is. The Chinese do not think it is funny when I call it Bird Food. ;-)

Bird Food....och Chinese candy, is sold everywhere in China.

PanGu Plaza

According to the Chinese mythology, it was Pangu, 盘古, that created the university, and also made the gigantic work to separate the earth and the heaven.

With the name from Pangu, it was built just before the olympics a very beautiful set of buildings just west of the olympic green with the name PanGu Plaza. The special thing with this building is the architecture with the 192 meter hight dragon head that looks south out over the city. This is the building that dominate the Skyline in the north part of Beijing, and according to me, is a beauty. The soft shape in the top of the building gives a pleasant feeling of harmony.

PanGu Plaza include five building with office, apartments, and not at least Beijing PanGu 7 Star Hotel, 北京盘古七星酒店. The different building blocks are connected with the 411 meter long Dragon Corridor, that will be a luxury shopping mall.

PanGu Plaza is not a big tourist attraction by it self, but will act as a beautiful background when you visit the Olympic Green. If you like to se the olympic park from above, then you have one of the most beautiful view spot in beijing from the bar at the top of the hotel.

The five buildings that create PanGu Plaza look like a crawling dragon with its head high and look to the south. It has been drawn of the same architect that also done Taipei 101 (that for six years was the highest building in the world)

It is not always in a big city to get the correct picture of how big some buildings really are. PanGu Plaza is with its 192 meter just a little bit higher then the highest building in Sweden (Turning Torso in Malmö)

A typical day

Many bloggwriter are writing in the format of diary and tell what they are doing during the day. As shown, this is not the usual thing for me, but I do an exemption:

A typical day in pictures (or a day at different tables)

06:40, I wake up

I sit a while at my computer and see if I received some life important mail or comments that demand an answer. I normally publish the todays blogg post just after 07:00, which means midnight in Europe (wintertime). I prepare todays class, or some other minor things. I am a morning person so this early hours use to be effective.

08:10 - 08:40. I eat breakfast

Sometimes a bowl of noodles in a small restaurant if I have the time, or else I buy some fast food on the street. I have beed forced to learn to eat Chinese breakfast since I dont have any alternative in my close area.

09:10 - 11:50, In School

Pronouncement practice, Write practice, Listening practice etc... A typical day use to include it all. Since I have a private teacher, this lessons is very efficient due too I get 100% of the teachers attention, and the show is totally adapted to me.

12:30 - 16:00, In the lunch restaurant

I usually go to one of all restaurants in the Sanlitun area for my lunch. I like to take good time and spend long time at the restaurant. More or less all "west-restaurants" have wireless internet so I always bring my computer and study, surfing, use Skype or write blogg posts. A very comfortable time. Sometimes I stay until I get hungry again and have the dinner at the same place, but usually I go home around 04:00

16:30 - 18:30, Home and have a rest

Since I have a very hard and tiring life, I need much rest

19:00 - 21:00, Dinner

Sometimes I go some small local place, and sometimes something nicer - Depending on my mood. The picture above is from one of the places close to my home.

21:30 - 23:00 SPA/Masage or a walk

I dont go to SPA everyday, but pretty often. Its a comfortable way of ending the day. If not, then I use to take a long walk. Beijing, as the most cities, become as most beautiful at night.

When I read what I write above it seams that I spend my days at a lot of different tables - but it is not really that bad. I also mix the program above with some other things ;-)

LAN Club

There are lot of real fancy places in Beijing, and LAN Club, 兰会所, is definitely one of them. LAN Club have a complete entertainment concept with a combination of restaurant, bar, lounge and nightclub with live music.

So far I have only visited LAN Club during daytime, so I can not comment the nightlife. The real characteristic for the place is that it is big and the decoration and environment is EXTREMELY hard designed, in some not easy defined style. It is a mix of classic and modern style, but the classic part is in majority. For example the roof is covered by paintings, and there are a lot of wall hanging, or floor standing, paintings that after a closer look turn out to be big TV-screens that slowly changes the image in a sober way.

When you enter the LAN Club, it is easy to get the feeling of a "Crazy Expensive" place, but you can afford it with an normal European salary. The cocktails is around 70 RMB, and the food and the rest of the drinks goes in the same level - but for sure the place belongs to the higher price range in Beijing.

The service level dont deliver what can be expected in a place like this, so here is definitely room for improvement. This is a phenomenon that is way too common in the luxury places in Beijing: The environment is fantastic, and the service dont reach the same level.

The menu hold a wide range of dishes, both for Chinese- and West style food, so I believe all can find something good here.

The main reason to visit LAN Club is definitely to experience the environment. LAN Club fill up the compete fourth floor of the base to the two lipstick shaped towers that is located just south of The Silk Street next to the subway station Line 1/YONGANLI

4/F Twin Tower, B12 Jianguomen Waidajie,

建国门外大街B12双子座大厦4层

Tel: 5109-6012/13

Take notice of the paintings in the roof, and the "living" painting on the wall.

LAN Clup have several private VIP-room for individual dining as is standard for nicer Chinese restaurants.

The toilets in LAN Club follow the cool design from the rest of the place. Note the armchair with "The China Daily"-paper.

Potato Chips

I have entered a healthy period when I eat Potato Chips every day, and sometimes even more often(!)

The different Supermarkets in China have wide range of strange Chips brands, and you can also buy Chips based on weight on the street. The most types are really bad, and to be on the safe side it is imported(?) Pringles that is the solution - but it cost like three times the Chinese brand.

I have gone through the hard work to try all the local brands, and finally find one type that qualify:

Lay's, 乐事, (Lèshì), that translated means "pleasure".

The taste is in line with the west brand and it cost only a few RMB for one package. These days I have always some bags of Lay's in my room.

There are also disadvantage with this kind of food. My teacher just told me - according to the Chinese way of saying just "what ever" about a persons appearance:

你的肚子像西瓜一样的样子

...and it means "Your stomach look like a watermelon"

I am sorry to say that she sometimes is right.

Street selling of Potato Chipps. Possible to eat, but not more.

Lay's, 乐事 - The only acceptable Chinese Potato Chips brand

Lama Temple, 雍和宫

The Lama Temple, 雍和宫, Yōnghé Gōng, is one of the biggest Tibetan Buddhist Monasteries in the world, and use to be considered as one of the big attractions in Beijing. If you are Buddhist, or have a special interest of it, then this is extremely interesting, or else it is a nice two hours outing.

The temple is pretty big, and have five bigger halls, with different constellations of Buddha sculptures. I think the last hall, The Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses, 万福阁, Wànfúgé, is the most interesting one that hold a 18 meters high wood sculpture of Maitreya Buddha that is cut out from one single piece of wood.

The temple is located just south of the north 2:nd ring road and have a subway station that is named after it (YONGHEGONG LAMA TEMPLE) on line 2/5, so it is very easy to find the place. When you already is in the area, you can also visit the mellow and quiet Temple of Confucius, 孔庙, that is located just west of the Lama Temple, and you can also pass the ring road and have a walk in the Temple of Earth, 地坛.

The Pavilion of Ten Thousand Happinesses, 万福阁. The last one in the row of five halls at the Lama Temple.

The 18 meters high Buddha sculpture that is cut from a solid part of wood. It is forbidden to take photo of it, so you have to watch out for the monks if you like to try.

15 days of bombing has reached its end

Yesterday it was the 15:s day of the Tiger Year, and the Chinese Lantern Festival, 元宵节, (Yuánxiāojié), is hold when the first full moon of the year is celebrated by hanging a lots or red lamps everywhere. The day is also called the Small New Year's Eve, and is the completion of the big new year celebration.

You also eat "rice-flour-balls" with different stuffing. The balls is called Yuanxiao, 元宵, in north of China, and the south have there corresponding Tangyuan, 汤圆, that is a bit smaller.

Yesterday was the last day that it is allowed to shoot fireworks in Beijing, and it was of course an explosive termination, and I can really say that it is a comfortable feeling that 15 days of continues shooting has reached its end.

A Chinese saying tells that extreme happiness demand sadness, and every year many tragic accidents happens because of the fireworks. The glad news for this year is that the death victims only become half related to last year. The biggest fire scandal for the year was that they succeeded to burn down the 1 600 years old south city gate of Zhengding, 正定.

The 1 600 years old south city gate in Zhengding was this years most discussed victim for the new year fireworks.

Yuanxiao, 元宵, (also called Tangyuan, 汤圆, in south of China) is traditional rice-flour-balls that is eaten as a conclusion for the celebration of the new year.

Traffic overview

The Chinese government, and also the local Beijing government, have much information on internet, and also often in English. Beijing Traffic Management Bureau, 北京市公安局公安交通管理局, have an interesting page on the web that show a real time picture of the actual traffic situation in Beijing. (there are also a simplified English version)

If you have a special interest in infra structure or just like to see if you shall select subway or taxi, then this could be a good page for you. The engineering side of me like this type real time data.

Sometimes it it is easy to get pissed off because the taxi driver select strange ways, but I believe they pretty often have good knowledge about the traffic situation. The times when I re-direct the taxi cars, it is not usual that we end up in traffic jam, and then you will get a aggressive monolog from the driver that is not so easy to reply.

Green = Free Flowing

Yellow = Slow

Red = Congested

The traffic situation a typical thursday evening. 2:nd, 3:rd and 4:th ring road goes slow or are even congested on several places. At this time it is often not so funny to do a longer taxi ride.

Who pays the bill?

When Chinese goes to restaurant it is always ONE person that pays the bill. The typical Swedish behavior when two couples is going to a restaurant and ask for a calculator together with the bill so they can calculate exactly "fear" how much everyone shall pay does not exist over here. In stead is the problem WHO shall pay.

It is a pretty advances relation-based mechanism that control who take the bill. Sometimes it is not obvious and then it can end up with (friendly) fighting. If it is obvious, and still some other pays the bill, then it is a courteous crime. But, what is obvious for the Chinese, is not always obvois for us from the outside. If you for example are on business trip in China and are invited to dinner, and you think you are polite to sneak out and pay the bill before the Chinese, then you have made a big mistake. You have really humiliated your host and you can actually have burned your business relation. It is really this serious.

A story from the real life:

A man from West did meat a Chines lady. After a while they decided to get married. A time before the wedding it was the moment for the man to meet the parents-in-law in a restaurant. The man, that actually knows a bit about Chinese culture, did not understand that he was supposed to pay the bill, so after a while the brides father pays. The result of this was that the brides parents was really disappointed of there daughters selection of man. How stupid is he if he dont can take the bill? It was not an easy game to convince the parents that it was a culture misunderstanding.

In spite of this situation, it become a wedding. A time after the wedding they again ended up in a restaurant together with the parents-in-law. Wise of the previous experiences the man was now good enough to pay the bill in front of the eyes of her wife's parents. What he did not understand was that he now after the marriage was considered as a sun in the family, and in this situation it is obvious that the father shall pay. The fact that he now payed was a disaster mistake, because he really humiliated the father that understand the situation that the "sun" considered him to not be capable to pay for the families bill.

I can really confirm that my years with Chinese have included some hard situations when I thought I done the right thing, and after get informed that I had break some culture rules. It take really deep knowledge to know how to behave "correct" with Chinese company. It is not enough to just learn the "base rule" because it is always some exemption in the actual situation that demand an alternative act.

Extreme Propaganda

In my exchange money I find a 1 Yuan bill with some written text on. The text was nice and elegant, and did not look like a regular note, and could actually have been printed on the bill. I was sorry to realize that the text include to many, for me unknown characters, so I could not understand the contents.

I show the bill to a Chinese, that reacted very strong and actually like to take the bill from me. I was not allowed to get the meaning from the text!

Very interesting of course, so I asked some of my Chinese friends that stand me closer, and they translate the contents to me, and also they was obvious affected about the message, and gave my strong recommendation to not spread this information further.

I have now also by my self gone through the text with a dictionary, so I am pretty sure about the contents.

The text tell a very hard propaganda against China, which based on natural reasons not so often run into here. Specially not as a foreigner. Now it is so bad for you reader that I have made a promise to my Chinese friends to not spread this meaning, so I will not publish the message, not even the Chinese characters. Further more I dont believe the contents, and according to my judgment it can not be true.

(As addition I can mention that China belong to the group of countries where it is un-legal to write in the money)

The Propaganda-bill, with the special text to the right where I (its better) have covered the main part with the red area.

Get smarter - Eat Pig Brain

I have previous heard Chinese persons full series state that you will run faster if you eat chicken feet. Recently I was informed that you will be smarter if you eat the Brain of a Pig. Obvious a Chinese friend think I was in need of it, so now I have also eating this "delicacy".

Chinese HotPot, 火锅, (huǒguō) is more or less the same as we call Fondue, which means that you by your self cock the food in some spicy broth, and this was the way I was eating the Pig Brain. After boiling for a while, it become gray and easy fall apart.

I am bad to describe different tastes, so my report will be a disaster:

The "meat" consistency is like an extreme small particular powder that pressed together to become a solid paste. A maybe sick comparing is that is some way was similar to Goose Liver, or even also Tooth Paste(!).

I have some kind of psychologic defense that I have to pass when I shall try to eat extreme things - like Brain, and my spontaneous feeling is often that it tastes awful, and so also for this Pig Brain - but next time it will be more easy. (The first killing is the hardest)

It is not so usual to find Pig Brain in the menus in Beijing, but from time to time you run into "offsiders" like this. If you like to eat extreme things, then the south of China is the place, with its maximum in Guangzhou, 广州.

Grishjärna, 猪脑, (zhūnǎo). A "delicacy" that makes you smarter?

人 太多- TOO much people

Temple of Earth, 地坛, is one of the four temple for Earth, 地, Moon, 月, Sun, 日, and Heaven, 天. These four temple is placed in the four point of the compass from the center of Beijing. (Temple of Heaven is the most famous). Temple of Earth is mainly a park, but have also some buildings and a big "altar", that is square because of the classic Chinese believe that the earth was square. The park is located just outside the 2:nd north ring road and is really big - about 700 x 700 meter, so it take some time to go around the whole. Temple of Earth is not a "heavy" tourist attraction, but can be a pleasant place for a walk after a visit the Lama Temple or the Confucius Temple that both are very close just on the other side of the ring road.

In these New Year days it is every year hold a festival at Temple of Earth. Could be interesting, I thought, so I went there. The festival was in my eyes 90% market selling of "crap". The rest 10% was local fast food and red lanterns in the trees. These rad lanterns is one of the characteristics for this festival. So - not so very funny, but a little interesting.

The thing that I really will remember from this festival was that it was so EXTREMELY LOTS OF PEOLPE!. Every little spot on the ground was covered by humans. After two second of thinking I realize that this is obvious since all are free from work these days. It was just only one person in the complete park that was not Chinese! Sometimes it was actually hard to decide by your self which direction to go, and it was a fight to se what was to be sold at the small shops. After one hour I got some kind of panic and wanted to get out, but that was not so easy.

Tigers shows up on many places a day like this.

It was so much people that it was not one single free spot on the ground, and you have to follow the river of people. The red lanterns in the tree is characteristic for this festival.