Jul 2023, Guangzhou I walked past Starbucks at the Guangzhou Airport and my mind started drifting back to 2009. I had just relocated from Singapore to Shanghai at that time. For the next five years, whenever I needed a break from being in China, I had always stepped into a Starbucks. It was my comfort... Continue Reading →
Jul 2023, Guangzhou This is a Kweichow Moutai advertisement at the Guangzhou Airport. Kweichow Moutai is a luxury spirit in China popular with politicians and businessmen. Three years ago, it overtook Diageo as the world's most valuable liquor company (owner of Johnnie Walker, J&B, Vat 69, Guinness, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan Rum, Tanqueray, Gordon's Gin etc).... Continue Reading →
Jul 2023. Guangzhou The bottle's shape was misleading. If not for the golden hue of its contents, I would have thought that it was a baijiu advertisement at the Guangzhou Airport in China. But it was Johnny Walker, the world's highest selling Scotch whisky. Departing from its signature square bottle designs and wedging its way... Continue Reading →
Jul 2023. Guangzhou I don't know what's this man's story, but he is definitely going to be woken up by the airport authorities real soon. The life is so busy and hectic for many people in China. If you get a few minutes of spare time, you try to have a quick meal, catch a... Continue Reading →
Jul 2023. Guangzhou It was 6.00am. I had an hour more before I caught my transit flight from Guangzhou to Beijing. I didn't want to sleep and kept walking around the transit hall. At the end of the long hall stood a huge video screen featuring a China Customs video about the do's and don'ts... Continue Reading →
Jul 2023. Guangzhou This is a customs notice at the transit centre in the Guangzhou Airport. Normally this used to be just in Chinese and English back in 2018. But now it's in Chinese, English, Korean, Japanese, French, Spanish, Arabic and in one more language. It definitely shows that China is trying to be more... Continue Reading →
Jul 2023. Guangzhou One of the most common meals taken by the Chinese when they are in a hurry is the instant cup noodles, which I personally think is one of the greatest inventions of mankind. All you need is hot water. Another favourite Chinese habit is drinking tea and for which again you need... Continue Reading →
Jul 2023. Guangzhou The airports are the only place in China where they split you into locals and foreigners. And when they do that, you have to pay attention. You need to make sure all your papers are in order. The Chinese customs are strict and there will not take any nonsense. The foreigners' queues... Continue Reading →
I saw some Africans filling-up their arrival cards at the Guangzhou Airport. I started thinking about the African students in my residential compound and the Nigerian medical doctor in BMW China. Other than that, I didn't see many Africans during my ten years there. But apparently African Chinese relationships have expanded in the recent years... Continue Reading →
Jul 2023. Guangzhou When you work for German companies for 19 years, their strong work ethics for punctuality and comprehensive planning does rub onto you. I ended up planning a lot even when I was not working for German companies and also in my private life. Depending on who you ask, this is a boon... Continue Reading →
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