Letters from China - Table of Contents

In January 2003, I went to China after I finished studying in Montreal.

I went to China, ostensibly, to have a cultural experience... truthfully, though, I went to China because I knew it was going to be weird. Weirder than Canada. More interesting than Canada.

And it was. I'd like to say something formulaic, like it opened my eyes, or changed my perspective or, even, that I *shudder* found myself. All that happened, really, is that I had some great food, some hearty laughs, and I saw some beautiful places.

Is that so bad?

Do I recommend going to China?

Only if it'll never get weird enough for you...

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Letters from China - a 18-month look at Zhongguo, the Central Country


#2 - tourist parks and bizarre sculptures along the coast

#3 - a trip to Dandong, a look at N. Korea, and terrified masseuses

We stink - the Chinese don't sweat, but I do

Buy a Chick - buying presents and hating the Japanese

Hot girls with umbrellas - fear of the sun and girls with umbrellas

Raw Squid - the end of summer and the entrails of squid

Tai Shan Quickie - I climbed a sacred mountain and it was cool, fool

Life in Hell Exclusive - a torturous bus ride through the desert

Xinjiang Pictorial - some of my best photos from Xinjiang, the remote western province of China

Ho Ho Ho Hold the Payment - gang dreams and no-Christmas

Going to the Gym - working out is a work out

Dances with Dentists feat. the Insane Chinese Teacher - a warning to Westerners: never have a tooth extracted in China... it made me scream, then cry

The Insane Chinese Teacher and Shanghai Triads - a Chinese teacher erupts into violence

Bamboo Groves - Shanghai and Sichuan

Exit Strategy #1 - last weeks in China along the canal
Exit Strategy #2 - comments on hot girls and studly guys

FIN