Adventure Entry 2 and Censorship in China

Written at 11.30pm 29 November.

And I've decided to post it up now as I was unable to post the entry at the time of writing.

Without further ado; Adventure Entry 2.

So, as I have been without internet for the past few days, I began to feel the withdrawal symptoms kick in.

I couldn't stand it for much longer so I managed to wheedle my Dad into purchasing 24hrs access to Internet from the hotel.
Quick update: I'm in Jiuzhaigou at the moment, a nature reserve in the north of sichuan which is the south-western part of China. Super-pretty and nice.

Nevertheless, onto my dilemma.

I eagerly opened Internet Explorer, in order to check Facebook, update Twitter, the usual.
Make some form of communication with the outerworld.
And to my complete horror, I found I couldn't log into any of the afore mentioned sites.
I couldn't even access Blogspot.

I had forgotten China's censorship laws.
As a result, I turned to trusty Google to try and overcome this slight problem.
I entered "how to use facebook in China" into the search box.
And clicked on a few links that came up.
Then, lo and behold, of course, to my suprise, yet again, even those sites were blocked.

Honestly China, you and your censorship laws. Maybe you're taking it a bit far.

I'm a huge advocator for freedom of speech and freedom of internet. And I do think that accessing Facebook doesn't quite mean I'm about to set up an anti-government movement, or anything close to it.

It wasn't even on my mind. Honest.

Though maybe I'm responding so strongly because I'm a foreigner and a vistor to China and I'm simply not used to the censorhip.
Maybe for residents and citizens of China, it is just a way of life.
And something to be accepted.

The more I think about it, the more I think I probably shouldn't make comments or judge China's censorship laws.
Especially as I don't know all the information regarding the censorship laws.
And I don't know what the opinions of the citizens of China are regarding the censorhip.

Well, because I can't access Facebook or Blogspot, I've turned to posting up my rant offline, and then waiting till I am able to post my entry on the internet.


Signing off, GenerallyJen.

Jennifun Fact:

Where I am at the moment; Jiuzhaigou, has an altitude of roughly 3,000m. I don't think I'm used to the altitude and so I haven't been feeling 100% lately. Nauseous, headache-y and a brisk 500m walk tires me out.
It makes me feel extremely fit.

Expectations and Disappointment

I'm back yet again my loyal readers.
Or may I simply call you "figments of my overactive imagination".

Quick life update on the hustle and bustle that is of course, my social life.
Again, cue sarcasm.

Main item on my mind.

The countdown has begun.
It's now almost the end of 2009 which brings us one more year closer to 2012.

No. Not really.
My countdown is in reference to my little Hong Kong and China trip.
I've been flirting with the idea of an online travel diary or quick holiday updates, though apparently, there is little internet access where I am going.
Exactly. What is this. 2009, 2008 or 2000-n-late.
Though I have been considering writing up entries and simply posting them when I find myself in an area with internet access.
You might find me cowering in a 24hrs MacDonalds in Hong Kong leeching off their free Wi-Fi.
We will see.

At this moment, I'm still indecisive on whether I'm excited or dreading the trip.
A change of scenery will be nice. But a change of scenery to a scene of nature commentated in Cantonese.
I'm not quite sure.
I'm very lacking in the understanding Cantonese department.
If only they ran these tours in Latin. My knowledge of which, possibly far exceeds the average person.
Though I blame Harry Potter.
And words such as Expelliarmus and Levicorpus may not arise in such everyday language.


So I'd like to extend my extreme thanks for those enduring that excrutiatingly painful segment of my rants and babblings.
The babblings which involve such nonsensical topics that even I'm not quite sure are about.
Possibly involving the end of the world and Harry Potter.

Onto the ever-cliche and possible emo-tional topic of Expectations and Disappointment.

This will be my attempt of keeping this post relatively brief.

I think, pardon the use of the overused phrase, that;
High expectations simply leads to heightened feelings of disappointment.
Though I agree with this is in relation to people, not including yourself.

Have little expectations of people and you're bound not to be be disappointed.
But.
For yourself, have extremely high expectations and push yourself to succeed.

Disappointment is not a nice feeling, so it's simply easier to avoid it using this quick and easy theory.
And people suck.
Without exception.
So people other than yourself will always fall short, so simply care a little less or lower your expectations.

Expectations of yourself should always remain high.
Push yourself to your true potential and beyond in order to be the best you can be.
How inspirational.
Take note of that in your little book of "Inspirational Quotes".

Keeping it brief.

I'm now signing off.


Signing off, GenerallyJen.

Jennifun Fact:
I received the Swine Flu Vaccine today.
Apparently, it becomes effective 2 weeks after the injection.
And I return in 2 weeks.
What is the point?

Just for funsies I guess.