In New Zealand, where most shops close at 5pm, nightlife has become a word that points us in the general direction of bars, pubs, restaurants, clubs, clickable events and house parties. Booze, basically. In Chengdu, the city lights up after dark. In a second-tier city of over 14 million people, nightlife is everyone’s game. From the leisurely throngs of elderly dancers that flock to the streetsContinueContinue reading “VIDEO: Nightvisions Chengdu 成都夜视”
Author Archives: Kristen Ng
Shocking Pinks head for China! 震惊粉红色来中国!
Ten years after their maiden tour, Christchurch’s multi-instrumentalist, DJ and lo-fi king Nick Harte aka Shocking Pinks is once again pairing with New Zealand house(party)hold name Ian Jorgensen aka Blink to celebrate the re-release of his 2004 debut Dance, the Dance Electric with a three month A Low Hum world tour, including shows in both China and New Zealand! 将近十年前，来自基督城的多乐器演奏者，DJ和低保真大师Nick Harte也称为震惊粉红色跟新西兰家喻派对的名字Ian Jorgensen 人称Blink一起去做他们的处女巡演。今年，震惊粉红色将由在A Low Hum重新发行他2004年的首张专辑《Dance, the Dance Electric跳舞，跳舞电子》，而且要去大规模国际巡演，包括中国和新西兰站！ Shocking Pinks is a one-manContinueContinue reading “Shocking Pinks head for China! 震惊粉红色来中国!”
Fight Club: Shaolin Monk or Maori Warrior?
This episode of ‘Deadliest Warrior’ pits a Shaolin Monk against a Maori Warrior. Who will win…? Only tangentially related to Kiwese, but thought this battle scenario was too ridiculous not to post here!! Check out the link to watch trained martial artists destroy large pieces of meat with Shaolin and Maori weapons. FIGHT!! https://youtu.be/SYgKmb_YIoAContinueContinue reading “Fight Club: Shaolin Monk or Maori Warrior?”
Year of the (Scape)goat: Responding to Phil Twyford on Chinese sounding names
Crime rates rising? Road toll increasing? Quality of secondary or tertiary education declining? No jobs? Housing bubble in Auckland? Just blame the Chinese. New Zealand’s social media is aflame with hot and sour responses (from people with Chinese sounding names and non-Chinese sounding names) to comments from Labour’s housing spokesman Phil Twyford on TV3’s The Nation in an interview with Lisa Owen on Saturday evening,ContinueContinue reading “Year of the (Scape)goat: Responding to Phil Twyford on Chinese sounding names”
He Tangata: Interview with Mayor Meng Foon
Tūranga-nui-a-Kiwa, “the Great standing place of Kiwa,” formerly “the first city to see the sun” (jeez… thanks, Apia), whānau hometown Gisborne on the North Island’s East Coast is a very special place indeed. Beaches, cicada song, 50c ice-blocks from the dairy, backyard cricket with the cuzzies! Those hot summers up at Por Por’s are seared into my memory, us Chinese kids barefootContinueContinue reading “He Tangata: Interview with Mayor Meng Foon”
“Respect that, bow down bitches / 尊重吧，向她鞠躬”: ‘Flawless’ and Language Learning
Sometimes there are days in as a language student in China where group discussions just make me want to scream and/or smash my head against a wall for not being able to sufficiently articulate myself on the thinly veiled sexism and objectification that lies beneath almost every text or topic that relates to women. At least not inContinueContinue reading ““Respect that, bow down bitches / 尊重吧，向她鞠躬”: ‘Flawless’ and Language Learning”
Hanzu in a Headscarf: Travels in Xinjiang
Xinjiang شىنجاڭ 新疆 is a mountainous, oil-rich region that forms the bulbous bump of northwest China. Bordering Tibet to the south, Mongolia to the east, Russia to the north, with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India to the west, Xinjiang (lit. new frontier) has long been a vital trading hub and cultural melting pot at the heart of the Central Asian Silk Road. BuddhismContinueContinue reading “Hanzu in a Headscarf: Travels in Xinjiang”
WATCH: Ai Weiwei’s Appeal ¥15,220,910.50
Ai Weiwei’s Appeal ¥15,220,910.50 is a film that documents the long and tedious legal proceedings that hound Beijing artist Ai Weiwei 艾未未, son of famous poet Ai Qing 艾青, on alleged tax evasion charges against FAKE Design, following his unlawful imprisonment in 2011. His associates Wen Tao, Liu Zhenggang, Zhang Jingsong and Hu Mingfen were also imprisoned for over 80 days. Text from Youtube: Ai Weiwei’s Appeal ¥15,220,910.50 opensContinueContinue reading “WATCH: Ai Weiwei’s Appeal ¥15,220,910.50”
KIWESE 