Posts Under Random Snippets Category
As a prisoner at the Jixi labour camp, Liu Dali would slog through
tough days breaking rocks and digging trenches in the open cast
coalmines of north-east China. By night, he would slay demons, battle
goblins and cast spells.
Liu says he was one of scores of prisoners forced to play online
games to build up credits that prison guards would then trade for real
money.
“Prison bosses made more money forcing inmates to play
games than they do forcing people to do manual labour,” Liu told the
Guardian. “There were 300 prisoners forced to play games. We worked
12-hour shifts in the camp. I heard them say they could earn
5,000-6,000rmb [£470-570] a day. We didn’t see any of the money. The
computers were never turned off.”
It’s really tempting though. But I’ve already seeing two other concerts that month…so I think I’m already quite lucky!
I kinda forgot that I posted something this year! I actually thought I haven’t written here since like… 2008. Anyway, on one of my random YouTube-ing (if there is such a phrase) today I found these, and laughed so hard. Somehow, Xiao Zhu manages to be a very funny on TV, yet be dead serious when he’s singing love songs. 
But these are his funny sides:
Xiao Zhu tries to have a “conversation” with a Finnish girl
When I was a student (back in the day), people often ask me whether I’ll go back to Hong Kong once I graduate. At the time, I have never seriously thought about it, I like Australia. This place feels more like ‘home’.
But at the same time, I have to admit that despite Brissy’s developments over the last ten years or so, it’s still quite ‘behind’. Case on point – earlier this year, the GoCard system finally launched in Brisbane. Some people at work were talking about it and it went along the lines of: How do you use it? Swipe it? Just touch it? REALLY???? WOW, how do they do that??? That’s new! (Slightly exaggerated, but anyway…)
Anyone who has been to Hong Kong (and other cities like London etc) would know this technology has been around for a while. The HK one was launched in 1997, some ELEVEN years ago. Gah. Despite its pleasant environment, fresh air and leisurely pace, sometimes I wish I’m living in a ‘not-so-behind’ place. I’m sure people are going to laugh at my slow and noobness when I eventually go back to HK. 
After living in Australia for many years (15+ in fact), sometimes I feel like I haven’t “done” most of the tourist things. So this year, I sneaked in a day to the Twelve Apostles during the annual trip down south (Melbourne), and this past weekend I went whale watching!
The idea sounds fun, but in reality….
ARGH. I know I do suffer from the “occasional” motion sickness, but the last couple of times I was at sea, it wasn’t so bad. Or I thought I would only get sick after 3-4 hours at sea. So theoretically, at this outing (which was to be a 4 hour trip), I thought I would be okay. Oh that was so wrong.
I started throwing up after…. 40 minutes? It was a small-ish boat, the seas were kinda rough, but still! In total, I threw up for 5 times, but managed to be well enough to catch the best part of the whale watching. But… not well enough to eat the lunch they provided. I can’t say that was $120 well spent, but then, why are those trips so expensive anyway? I honestly thought the admission price at Underwater World was a better way to spend money!
