My First Trilogy Is Complete!

This is the final movie in my epic China-trilogy, "Going Back To My Roots: A Memoir" and you, yes YOU made it possible.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you: The Last Dinner: CHINA STRIKES BACK!!

Now you see this third movie is more of a easy letdown, where our merry friends take a breather from the hustle and bustle of a busy Beijing set in the 2009's. What we are trying to show here that we are also normal people, who occasionally likes to talk bull in front of the camera. 

The two previous released parts, The Shanghai Incident: Return of The Plushie and Parade of Sweat, Feet and Ass: A New Hope can be viewed here. If you want more special features, please send a 20-dollar bill via e-mail and I'll do a dramatic re-enactment with editor-commentary.

Too Close?

( If There Is Only One Thing You'll See On My Blog, Watch This)

Everyone that reads this blog, knows I went to China last month. One of the most interesting trips we made, was to NRK's offices (Norwegian Broadcasting Channel) and their Asia correspondent Ole Torp. Hearing about the daily life of a man who've been working years in newspapers, radio and tv, really inspired me. Working around the clock, chasing stories around the Asian continent, both east and west, presenting news for a Norwegian audience that wakes up 6 hours later in your workday, seems in a way exhilarating for a young seedling like me. But Mr.Torp, being in the business for quite a while, worried about the fact that his workday starts at 0800 AM and often doesn't end before 7 PM. But he loves the job. So do I.

When we were there, he told us about a reportage (can you use this word?) about a girl, Siyu, an earthquake survivor from the Chengdu catastrophe which happened exactly one year ago today.  It's the story of her homecoming to her family who lived in the area where the earthquake hit and the stories of her classmates, neighbors and strangers who she befriends. It's a sad story, made me shed a tear or five, and you learn something about how Chinese handle disasters of this magnitude. All the world put their eyes to this catastrophy and suddenly China got a lot of unwanted attention because of this incident. Remember, this was only three months before the Beijing Olympics.

Even though the media and their cameras disappears, we can't forget that the lives of the ones who survived, go on. 

It's 25 mins long, but I really think it's a nice way to end a day as sunny as this. It's a bit intense and hits home with me, so much that it gets a bit uncomfortable. My thoughts go out to all the children who perished this day, a year ago. 

(Hope NRK doesn't get angry because of me embedding their clip into my blog. Here's the link.)

This is how I feel about leaving..

I hate leaving a place that has been good, kind, generous, inspirational, educational, engrossing, wonderful and absolutely stunning to me. That place being China, mainly Beijing and Shanghai. Being with awesome and special people, I've enjoyed: places we've seen together, experiences we've had together, laughters we've shared and the joyful complaints we've moaned to each other! I must say this has been truly an honor for me to be a part of a trip that've fulfilled all my expectations and then some more. So to the China Crew of '09, I salute you! 

SALUTE!

SALUD! (CHINA CREW 2009 AIN'T NO BETTER CREW) :P

Back From Shanghai

I fell in love with Shanghai. Beautiful city, even though I spent most of the time recuperating from the fortnight's hijinks and gallivanting in the city's weird bars and clubs. I've got new footage from Shanghai. I'll try putting it together. 

In the meantime, I'm going to bed, so I'd like to leave you guys with this:

(found it on Mike's blog)

Notte Sento (English subtitles) from napdan on Vimeo.

The Parade of Ass, Feet and Sweat

Enjoy!

A picture is worth a thousand words..not.

The above statement is a tough one. How can a picture say anything if you don't know it's context? Of course, y'all know I'm in the Big C-H-I-NAAAAAAAH, so yeah. Here's a picturestory told with a fragmented storyline. Good luck. There are chinese in this one. I'll try to take more pictures of girls next time. They be fly.

Heavenly Palace, Maja, Mari, sacrifice for great victories and safe arrivals back home.
Touristical pimps!
Mistaken for one of the natives, thought I wanted a picture with them.
Lured into art studio. scam? Middle one, my favorite.
Not a scam. Hella awesome art and gifts. Free. (the gifts, not the art) I'd buy some.
Themepark in Bejing in Bao..something. Sucked ass. Most of it. Or it didn't suck, it's just not Six Flags or Disney World. It's a potpourri of half-assed imitations. And they played "It's A Small World" all day long. GOD ALMIGHTY.
Swag of the day. (Sanji, One Piece, 18 NOK) The animebeast in me is awakening. And he's hungry. 
Good shoes = Skilled tourist. Tian'anmen Square.
Chinese Booty Inspectahs. Squat, squaaaat!?
Chinese /asians in general love them blonde girls. Thank you and good night from Beijing. School tomorrow!? :O Time is 23.09 PM here. And it's hella hot.