How to avoid Chinese......

[S Landreth]

New Year

Tired of the thoughtful relatives and prying questions of what you’ve been doing for the past year, the smoke-filled room/s from incense burning that you can cut with a knife, the wonderful hostess who has had the helpers toiling for hours over the food that’s in front of you and you kept turning down because you’re already full?

After years of coping, she (and I) has had enough.

Time for an exit (this year). So, another holiday.

[sabang]

In HK, I loved Chinese New Year- because it seemed that about half the population had gone over the border to visit relatives. Great weather too. For me, CNY was a time I would avoid international travel and enjoy being in HK.

[cyrille]

^^Yeah, start racking up your millions of airmiles for this year, environmentalist.

Or maybe it's not your first flight.

[DrWilly]

^^Yeah, start racking up your millions of airmiles for this year, environmentalist.

Or maybe it's not your first flight.

I do detect a hint of jealousy

[ootai]

I do detect a hint of jealousy

No way, why would cyrille be jealous when he's living the dream?

[Switch]

I had planned to do some admin today. Until someone pointed out that today is a national public holiday. All banks and many local businesses will be closed. It’s somehow connected to CNY.

I recall years ago in Thailand having a good moan about high flight prices. The airline staff just said ‘oh, it’s CNY’? My reply is not suitable for work, but indicated that I am not Chinese!

Unless you are Chinese, it’s a right pain. Stupid fireworks and barking dogs is the least of it.

[cyrille]

Et tu, ootai?

Are you sure you want to be aligning with that hoser?

[Shutree]

Until someone pointed out that today is a national public holiday.

Thailand is funny in some ways. Today is not a national holiday or a public holiday or a government holiday. Some places will be closed for the first three days of CNY. Government offices and schools are all open, at least they are in my province.

[cyrille]

Sorry, but what part is 'funny'?

I mean, it's not a national holiday so government offices and schools are open.

Private businesses, as always, can open or stay shut as the owner/s prefer.

[ootai]

Et tu, ootai?

Are you sure you want to be aligning with that hoser?

cyrille
I am and don't planned to be aligned with anyone, I will talk to all and sundry on here and don't care if they like what I say or not.
IMHO what gets posted here should be informative and and a lot of the sniping is very informative.

[Shutree]

Sorry, but what part is 'funny'?

I mean, it's not a national holiday so government offices and schools are open.

Funny, peculiar, inconsistent. Maybe there is a better word. Festive days of various sorts are observed differently about the place. Decades ago when I lived in Bangkok our office had no holiday at CNY, yet I could drive to my office in 10 minutes when it usually took over an hour. May 1st here is a "bank holiday", which is a different thing from a UK bank holiday.

[cyrille]

Festive days of various sorts are observed differently about the place. Decades ago when I lived in Bangkok our office had no holiday at CNY, yet I could drive to my office in 10 minutes when it usually took over an hour. May 1st here is a "bank holiday", which is a different thing from a UK bank holiday.

Maybe you're unaware that Switch is not in Thailand.

Traffic will be lighter if many private businesses are closed, even if not a government holiday.

In Thailand I've seen the terms 'government', 'national' and 'public' holidays used. Not sure they use the term 'bank holiday'.

[Bogon]

^
Bank Holidays are a thing in Thailand. I had to Google to make sure.

Bank Holidays - ธนาคารกรุงเทพ

https://www.bangkokbank.com

[Shutree]

Maybe you're unaware that Switch is not in Thailand.

Ah! Sorry, not paying attention.

[cyrille]

It's an easy mistake to make.

[S Landreth]

This is always fun.

Yeah, start racking up your millions of airmiles for this year, environmentalist.

Remember it’s policy not just what one individual can do. As what recently happen in the US, Australia, Brazil and the EU.


Voting is critical. Everything starts at the voting booth.


US.......


Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act affecting health, climate and the economy

With the signing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on Tuesday Aug 16, the most significant climate legislation in US federal history (so far) became law.


Australia........


Passes a climate bill


Independent MP Dr Sophie Scamps has given her support to the Greens climate trigger legislation:

The science is clear, we must stop burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and gas if we are to avert the worst impacts of climate change. It is estimated there are over 100 new coal and gas projects up for assessment under the EPBC Act. We need to ensure the impact from the emissions that these projects will create are assessed and that approvals under our national environmental law are not just a smokescreen that provide fossil fuel companies cover to continue profiteering while destroying Australia’s environment.

The Albanese government cannot have it both ways. They cannot say the climate wars ‘are over’ and legislate our emissions reduction targets while also refusing to act on the root cause of climate change – fossil fuels.

It is time our national environmental laws were strengthened. And the first step in doing so, is ensuring every major project is assessed for its future climate change impacts – our environment, our economic prosperity and our future depends on it.


Brazil………


Bolsonaro election loss could cut Brazilian Amazon deforestation by 89%


A victory for left-wing challenger and current frontrunner Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva – commonly known as Lula – could avoid 75,960km2 of Amazon rainforest loss by 2030, the analysis shows – an area roughly the size of Panama. This would also significantly curb Brazil’s emissions when accompanied by a new focus on forest restoration.


EU…….


EU reaches deal on emissions trading, social climate fund


European Union governments and lawmakers reached a deal Sunday on key elements of the 27-nation bloc's green deal, reforming the EU's trading system for greenhouse gas emissions and creating a new hardship fund for those hardest-hit by measures to curb climate change.

The two sides agreed to push European industries and energy companies to cut their emissions by speeding up the phase-out of free pollution vouchers. Doing so makes each ton of carbon dioxide that's released into the atmosphere more expensive for polluters.

The EU's executive Commission said the measure would require European industries to reduce their emissions by 62% by 2030 from 2005 levels, compared to a target of 43% under the previous rules.

Science and continued awareness,.........rule.

[Switch]

Thailand is funny in some ways. Today is not a national holiday or a public holiday or a government holiday. Some places will be closed for the first three days of CNY. Government offices and schools are all open, at least they are in my province.

It is in Indonesia. All banks and government facilities shut. I did manage to go shopping instead. Admin will have to wait until tomorrow.

[HuangLao]

The real trick.....avoiding Farang.

[S Landreth]

^Not in portland. fvck off jeff

In HK, I loved Chinese New Year- because it seemed that about half the population had gone over the border to visit relatives. Great weather too. For me, CNY was a time I would avoid international travel and enjoy being in HK.

Always have enjoyed myself in Hong Kong any time of year. It is a nice place.

I recall years ago in Thailand having a good moan about high flight prices. The airline staff just said ‘oh, it’s CNY’? My reply is not suitable for work, but indicated that I am not Chinese!

About this trip. Whatshername booked everything maybe 4 months out. She received some good quotes/prices and it might have been due to Thailand looking forward to reopening again.

[OhOh]

I recall years ago in Thailand having a good moan about high flight prices. The airline staff just said ‘oh, it’s CNY’? My reply is not suitable for work, but indicated that I am not Chinese!

Unless you are Chinese, it’s a right pain.

Unless you are Chinese, who may or may not be able to holiday at other times.

Are you suggesting other countries holidays, whose travel costs, home or foreign, are not affected on others "holidays"?

For example, UK summer, winter, national, school ... holidays.

‘oh, it’s CNY’ it’s a right pain.

Try flying with non-Chinese airlines. OhOh, the alternates charge higher prices, as well.

it’s a right pain.

One way to bypass the "pain".

Insist you and family members can choose their holidays prior to you accept job offers or family's "schools rules".

[sabang]

Well it's the worlds largest annual human migration by a long shot. Not my preferred time to travel.

[S Landreth]

One picture (on an artificial reef) from the first set of three dives out of fifteen total dives scheduled.

[DrWilly]

Good vis

[panama hat]

Unless you are Chinese

. . . which you are, so your point is invalid toa large extent on this topic.

Well it's the worlds largest annual human migration by a long shot. Not my preferred time to travel.

As long as you're not going from a city to the country on the mainland then there isn't a problem, is there?

One picture

Beautiful

[sabang]

a city to the country on the mainland then there isn't a problem, is there?

Was still a busy, and expensive, time to take international flights from HK- and seeing it was pretty much my favorite time of year to spend some quality time there, why bother? What was a decent idea was to take a ferry to one of the outlying islands (Lantau, Lamma, Cheung Chau etc) and spend a couple of nights there. So still heading overseas!

Anyhow, good stuff SL. Is that a lionfish?