24.46 minutes. 5km.

60 minutes. 10.7km.

egg piracy in China

this one is unbelievable ...

http://paultan.org/archives/2006/01/01/china/

During a recent raid on a wholesale center in Guangzhou city, the capital of China’s Guangdong province, a large quantity of fake eggs was seized.

Their wholesale price is 0.15 yuan (S$0.03) each - half the price of a real egg.

Consumers have a hard time telling a genuine egg from a fake one. This is good news for unscrupulous entrepreneurs, who are even conducting three-day courses in the production of artificial eggs for less than S$150.
A reporter with Hong Kong-based Chinese magazine East Week enrolled in one such course.

To create egg white, the instructor - a woman in her 20s - used assorted ingredients such as gelatin, an unknown powder, benzoic acid, coagulating material and even alum, which is normally used for industrial processes.

For egg yolk, some lemon-yellow coloring powder is mixed to a liquid and the concoction stirred. The liquid is then poured into a round-shaped plastic mould and mixed with so-called ‘magic water’, which contains calcium chloride.

This gives the ‘yolk’ a thin outer membrane, firming it up. The egg is then shaped with a mould. The shell is not forgotten. Paraffin wax and an unidentified white liquid are poured onto the fake egg, which is then left to dry.

The artificial egg can be fried sunny-side up or steamed. Although bubbles appear on the white of the egg, those who have tasted it say the fake stuff tastes very much like the real thing.

But experts warn of the danger of eating fake eggs. Not only do they not contain any nutrients, a Hong Kong Chinese University professor warned that long-term consumption of alum could cause dementia.

To make the egg white, various ingredients, including a powder and alum, are mixed together.

The ‘yolk’ is shaped in the round mould. ‘Magic water’ containing calcium chloride is used.

Hardy shells are formed by pouring paraffin wax and a liquid onto the egg, which are then left to dry.

Beijing Guanyuan Market

Beijing Guanyuan Market – The Fish, Bird and Insect Market

an amazing market - a true Chinese experience!

Take the subway to Fuchengmen, leave by exit B and head North, the market is on the right (East) hand side of the road, just inside the Second Ring Road.

clumsy

on the beautiful Saturday of may 6th, N, my 'san ge mei mei' (three sisters), TI and I went to spend a day in the biggest flee market in Beijing - Pan Jie Yuan. it's a beautiful market with lots of things you really don't need that you are willing to bargain for for hours...

as there were six of us - we decided to split and meet later. it didn't take long before i laid my eyes on the most impressive pestle and mortar I have ever seen. three pieces of carved marble - I just had to have it. ofcourse i wanted to hold it so the seller handed the article to his helper who helped handing it to me. this complex handover allowed for one of the pieces to fall and break - well - a tiny piece of clay statue.

it took literally 3 seconds when a group of about 15 locals surrounded me - the foreigner - who just broke what is apperently a piece of a 6 statues series claimed to be worth 6000RMB (!!!).

big drama. lots of Chinese around you. very embarrassing. you want to disappear. you can't. it is very hot and your sisters are looking at you quite amused by the situation. heading to the market police to settle the issue. meeting with N and TI who will from now on take the lead on the negotiation. did I mention it was hot?! and tense?! after some 30 minutes (nerve racking... well - not so ...) we settled on 150RMB compensation for the statue (note that the negotiations involved tears, pregnant belly and three market police officers ...

I found a similar pestle and mortar in a different booth. bargained with my new 'friends' from ~1800RMB to ~160RMB.

Learn Chinese in 5 Minutes

-- You MUST read them aloud, First in English then Chinese below

That's not right
Sum Ting Wong

Are you harboring a fugitive?
Hu Yu Hai Ding

See me ASAP
Kum Hia Nao

Stupid Man
Dum Fuk

Small Horse
Tai Ni Po Ni

Did you go to the beach?
Wai Yu So Tan

I bumped into a coffee table
Ai Bang Mai Fu Kin Ni

I think you need a face lift
Chin Tu Fat

It's very dark in here
Wai So Dim

I thought you were on a diet
Wai Yu Mun Ching

This is a tow away zone
No Pah King

Our meeting is scheduled for next week
Wai Yu Kum Nao

Staying out of sight
Lei Ying Lo

He's cleaning his automobile
Wa Shing Ka

Your body odor is offensive
Yu Stin Ki Pu

Great
Fa Kin Su Pa