MOJO IN CHINA

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Take a day off, fool! It's Dragon Boat Festival!

admin | 03 June, 2008 10:46

Zong Zi -- WHAT, FOOL?!?!

Enough with th fool stuff... There's a holiday coming up and it's called the Dragon Boat Festival. All I know about the holiday is that people race on long boats kind of like crew but with dragon heads on the front of the boat and people eat lots of Zong Zi.

What's a Zong Zi? I don't have a direct translation, but it's a bunch of sticky rice filled with meat (or egg) and wrapped with bamboo leaves. it's really good, unless you find that your Zong Zi doesn't have enough meat (they can kep the egg)... grrr...

You can get a lot of Zong Zi in Zhejiang province in Jiaxing. Go Get YOURS.

More on Ningbo (aka Ning-bizzle)

admin | 06 May, 2008 14:25

Damn! That's a looong bridge!! (Hangzhou Bay Bridge)

Ningbo left a pretty darn good impression on me this weekend. Maybe it's because I spent a whole two days checking out the city rather than an overnight where I see more of the club and the hotel than the actual city. There are three things that stuck out in my mind while I was there...

Ningbohua = Shanghaihua

Ok, Ningbo and Shanghai dialects aren't exactly the same, but apparently, 70% of Shanghai dialect comes from Ningbo dialect. My wife understands Ningbo dialect even though she's never been there, but she could essentially speak Shanghaineese to the people there and it would sound the same... For me, that doesn't matter much because I'm like a guy from Beijing... I don't understand what these people are saying and my Mandarin is too proper.

Ningbo Guide

I'm really impressed by this magazine. They are located in all the right spots in Ningbo, they notify you on all the good deals in Ningbo and it's in both Chinese and English. Nice to see a full bilingual magazine and not just something catered to lost lao wai in this country. Craig, way to go. if it wasn't for this mag, I wouldn't know that Crowne Plaza Ningbo has an all you can eat barbecue for 68 kuai (10 Bucks! It's a steal!)

Hangzhou Bay Bridge

(both of the pictures above)

It's long and convenient. Supposedly the longest bridge in the world... (I think only in China, but they say the world in China...)

Anyway, it's way quicker to take a trip to and from Shanghai to Ningbo by the bus. We took the train over and it took about 3.5 hours (and that was the fastest train). We took the bus back and it was about 2.5 hours, and buses are torture to sit through in this country.

When we first got on the bridge, everyone stood up to look and took pictures and talked about the history of the bridge and what they heard about it and so on.. very excited...

Then... We were still on the bridge..

It kept going... With the sea all around us... Now I know how it feels being a sailor lost at see with water all around you... BORING... hehe

Anyway, that's not the point of the bridge... It's all about from point A to point B and now traveling from Shanghai to Ningbo and back has gotten a lot faster. I see a lot more manufacturing and travelling happening between Ningbo and Shanghai.. Does this mean that Ningbo will surpass Hangzhou in city development???

(I still think Hangzhou is prettier! Sorry, Craig.)

That's all folks. This week... Wuxi and... I'm going back home to Nanjing!

(This one's for you, Miki... IN-NANJING.NET!!!)

Suzhou, Jiangyin and Ningbo... Oh My!

admin | 03 May, 2008 11:04

Suzhou

It's Labor Day in China!!! Time for me to get back to work on this blog!!

"The Venice of China" is what people say about this city, full of canals and waterways. I've been there about three times already, so I'm all watered out.

So what do you do if you've seen all major attractions of Suzhou? Simple. You shop!

I suggest you go around "Guan Qie Jie" and there's a pedestrian street full of shops where you can bargain, malls where you can get all kinds of quality, international products and there are restaurants galore. Don't sleep on this spot.

As for Jiangyin, that place didn't leave very much of an impression on me, except for the club I perfromed at with Chivas 12 Y.O. called "Armani". Yes, spelled the same as the Armani we all know... (So much for Intellectual Property Rights...) Anyway, it's the hugest club in Jiangyin and it looks like a warehouse... If you want to see how Chinese people party in Jiangyin, go there...

But you won't see me there again unless they pay me...

I'm in Ningbo now, and I'll fill you in on what I think of the place in anohter post. Zoe and I are off to get our hands on a Ningbo Guide. Later!

Qingming Jie aka Tomb Sweeping Day

admin | 29 March, 2008 20:13

Tomb Sweeping Day, 4/4

Hey All! It's your boy MoJo again with more China, straight from China. Just want to first send my apologies about DJ Kentaro yesterday because Redstar actually sadly did not perform last night... But there will be more chances to see us do our thing!

Back to the post. Last Friday at work, I checked my schedule at Soulfire and realized that we have a day off next Friday. This is great since we've worked pretty hard these days trying to makes our shows so great, that starting in April, we'll also be broadcasting in Chengdu on Ming Jiang Radio!

So on 4/4 (which is kind of funny cause that's "si si", which sounds similar to "Dead Dead" in Chinese), most folks will be off for Qingming Jie also known as Tomb Sweeping Day.

In short, Tomb Sweeping Day is a big holiday in China all about visiting the tombs of your ancestors, sweeping their tombs and leaving them gifts like flowers, wine, chopsticks and stuff like that. Frequently people burn paper that looks similar to old money.

This is a very old and traditional holiday in China, and for many people to get off this day is China next step in helping people rememeber and take the time to celebrate this holy holiday in China.

I ppersonally don't have any relatives to visit out here, and my wife says that we don't either, but I wouldn't be surprised in on Thursday, I get a call from Dad and Mom telling me that we're headed to the Temple for some reason...

Happy Lei Feng Day!

admin | 05 March, 2008 10:16

Today is Lei Feng Day. Get 'cha service up!

March 5th is "Lei Feng Day" (Lei Feng Jie). For all you guys who have no idea who Lei Feng is, check out the link below... Mao said that people should be more like this dude, selfless and for his country.

I never knew about this holiday until my wife Zoe told me. Xie xie, lao po!

Anyway, here's a video from the song "All Northeasterners Are Living Lei Fengs". Enjoy! Lei Feng Jie Kuai Le!

Those Those Northeastern Lei Feng's... they're so nice.

Back To The Roots. This Saturday. It's March Maddness.

admin | 03 March, 2008 10:24

A lil' bit of shameless self promotion won't hurt...

A lot of folks ask me, "When can we see your shows?...", "When can we see you perfrom?...", "Who is Redstar?"

Well... Do yourself a favor, stop asking and come out to Back to the Roots this Saturday (3/8, Happy International Women's Day!!) at The Shelter.

Experience great music and great fun in China.

"Xie Xie Ni Men De Pei He."

Happy Lantern Festival

admin | 21 February, 2008 07:44

Today is Lantern Festival in China!

Lantern Festival is all about hanging cool looking Chinese Lanterns and stuff like that. It happens the last day of Chinese New Year (there are 15 days in the Chinese New Year) and some some say it's like the second New Year for China.

A lot of people eat what's called Tang Yuan. I like the sweet ones better!

Anyway, I came out of the apartment this morning with my wife and all of a sudden, a huge loud firecracker went off... Scared the crap out of me, but it woke me up!

Apparently, were supposed to have days off based on recent holiday regulation changes... but it ain't happenin' today! Maybe these things take time... Anyway, Happy Lantern Festival Day!

Get Yo' Lanterns Up!

The Most Annoying Commercial in China

admin | 15 February, 2008 16:19

How could they let this happen???

The first time I saw this commercial was durng the Chinese New Year's Eve Special on CCTV at around 12:00am... Annoying, right? And it for some wool company... I was with my parents and Zoe at the time. Dad and I already downed about 2 bottles of Huang Jiu (Chinese Yellow Wine) and man... This thing came on...

They keep repeating the company's name which is "Heng Yuan Xiang" and they they are the sponsor of the Beijing Olympics and then they say an animal from the Chinese zodiac three times. Then they repeat the same commercial with another animal in the zodiac... and again... and again... There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac!!!!!

In terms of advertising, it is genius, because it is so annoying and so unforgettable... Zhen tao yan! (How annoying!)

We back from Sanya, but we got some more pictures for you!

admin | 09 February, 2008 12:49

Zoe and I by the beach bby Sanya Bay. Jan.-Feb. in Sanya wasn't as warm as we liked, but the weather's better than Shanghai!

Sanya was fun but we're back home now, stuffed from all the New Years Food and Huang Jiu. Here's some more pics from Lovely Sanya. Wish the weather was better there, but it was enjoyable and we feel fully recharged!

Our First Resort... Not bad...

Our second resort, even better! (This one's called Cactus Resort, which is a part of Glora Hotels!)

Ctrip.com has some great deals!

Self-Contradictory

admin | 03 February, 2008 20:19

Or as the Chinese call it, Zi Xiang Mao Dun (Selling both the "Strongest Shield" and the "Strongest Spear") This was on my plane on the way to Sanya... I'm confused...

Hey... Smoking's OK?!

Wait... No it's not... I'm confused...

On The Way to Sanya!

admin | 03 February, 2008 20:13

Sanya Airport

So we made it to Sanya, but of course, had to go through some annoyances on the way over. We were delayed from 4:50pm to 6:10pm and then once again to about 8pm... so we didn't get into until about 11ish. But we're finally here and we made it. (Weather is a bit cool out here... but much cleaner and warmer than Shanghai!) Here's some pics covering our travels... Enjoy!

Quite a few people lined up for their flights...

... And this is why!

So many folks in Sanya waiting for their bags... Zoe and I were laughing about this one... C'mon ya'll!! Patience is a virtue!

My Trip to Hangzhou for the Zhejiang Media Group Chinese New Year's Party

admin | 01 February, 2008 11:37

So I took a trip to Hangzhou (thrid time this month!) for a Chinese New Years Party with the Zhejiang Media Group in Hangzhou (Their base city in Zhejiang). For all those who are already a bit lost about this post, let me help you out.

Zhejiang is a province in China known for it's most famous city and capital, Hangzhou. Hangzhou is best know for Xi Hu a.k.a. The West Lake. It's a great place to visit, especially in the late spring, early fall months and is a very natural city.

Xi Hu a.k.a. West Lake, in the Winter

The Zhejiang Media Group has a bunch of TV stations and radio stations, including the radio station where my program Soulfire is run from which is called Blue Channel, 99.6FM. (Zhejiang Dian Tai Wen Yi Pin Dao, Zhejiang Arts Station - Jazz is art and living a good life is an artform!)

Here's some more pics from my travels so you can take a good look at Hangzhou in it's beauty as well as how to decorate for a Chinese New Year's Gala. (The party was held at Media Hotel, a hotel owned by the Zhejiang Media Group... They even got their own hotel... Gangster...)

At Shanghai South Railway Station... Madd People!

Zara by the West Lake? Is Hangzhou becoming more like Shanghai? Or is China becoming more international? Things that make you go, "Hmmm..."

Red, Red everywhere... I told you Red is the bomb out here! This is the decor for the night's party... At Media Hotel. We be Media'd up!

Yah, dude, it's Da Year Of Da Rat!!

admin | 01 February, 2008 09:47

Rats are all about gettin' that cheese! Holla!

Yes, so it's the year of the rat (mouse, whatever -- same difference) and mom wrote me about this because, of course, she's a rat. I gave her some tips and I'd like to share some of this with you guys as well. This is great if this is your year.

RED RED RED

Wear some more red this year. People out here go as far as red undies, long johns and bras out here. They are that gangster. They do it cause it protects you from bad spirits and bad luck. Red is a pretty strong color too. If you want to keep it chill, just get some red string or some silkish type red stuff you can use as a necklace or a bracelet (anklet is cool, stlylish and sexy for the ladies!) with an accent of a light green jade. You can buy a lot of this kind of stuff in China, or you can hook up it DIY style if you got the designing chops for the job.

Feng Shui (Literally means Wind Water)

Yeah man... You can get a guru to Feng Shui your place (but that's expensive back in the states, as compared to about 100 USD out here in Shanghai). I'd google around and check out some DIY Feng Shuo sites... Changing where your furniture is placed, or thowing up some extra mirrors up around the house can really change the feel and spirit of your home.

Zou Yi Xie Xin Li De Zhun Bei (Brace Yourself)

Yeah man, if this is your year, get ready for a year of a lot of changes... In 2006, which was the year of the dog, I went through a lot of changes.. Moved from Nanjing to Shanghai, had a gal and then lost her, but then found another gal, who eventually became my wife... Had a job, then lost my job, then found a job that had completely nothing to do with my last job... Travelled all over the country... to rap... Crazy year? Yes... And for all those rats out there... it will be the same... but different... (That's my phrase of the day.)

I stumbled along this article from China Daily on the year of the rat in Shanghai (I jacked their pic and put it in this post.. I'm a sneaky rat too, when I want to be!). They even give a shout-out to The Shelter. Nice...

Happy Year Of The Rat!! Watch out for the mouse traps!

Vacation is is coming!

admin | 31 January, 2008 11:40

Gloria Resorts Sanya, one of the places Zoe and I will stay for CNY!

The snow is finally starting to melt and the sun is out... the powers from up above is giving China a moment to breathe and get a good start on the Chinese New Year holiday.

The week before the holiday is always the most hectic, everyone's trying to get their last chunk of work done before vacation, folks are trying their hardest to buy bus, train and plane tickets back home to to a special vacation destination... it's a mad house...

Luckily for me and my wife, we manged to score tickets to Sanya on Hainan island, so it'll be a good getaway from the winter cold. We'll be back the eve of Chinese New Year on February 6th.

We'll try our best to put up posts and pics on our vacation!

Careful of the snow and safe travels!

admin | 28 January, 2008 14:47

It's Chinese New Year, have a safe vacation this snowy season!

I've seen nothing like it, a foot of snow in Nanjing, 150,000 passengers stuck in Guangzhou, slush all over Shanghai. Places that haven't been affected by snow in years are getting a taste of winter's medicine.

Just wanted to take the time to which everyone safe travels wherever you go and as the Chinese say, "Wear more, drink more warm water and stay indoors as much as you can!" Peace.

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