Author Archives: Kristen Ng

New Year’s what?

New Year’s Eve [除夕, chúxī]. The party highlight of the year for many young Kiwis , yet a notable non-event for most Chinese. Ahh, the NZ summer holiday season. As I glazed over social media feeds full of #amping festival crowds La De Da-ing in the fields of Martinborough, ravers pinging on yáo tóu wán [摇头丸,ContinueContinue reading “New Year’s what?”

Pinyin Problems with the Wellington Phoenix

Bye bye, Sony. Ni hao Huawei! The Wellington Phoenix A-League Football Club welcome their big new Chinese sponsor with a cheesy YouTube video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv1T8FBTgDM Though I’m a Welly gal through and through, I don’t really have much to do with the capital’s beloved Phoenix.  I smile at stadium goers clad in black and yellow from theContinueContinue reading “Pinyin Problems with the Wellington Phoenix”

Unknown Mortal Orchestra set to play China and NZ in January

Tài hǎo le! [太好了! Awesome!] Split Works are bringing Unknown Mortal Orchestra to China next month as they kick off the Asian leg of their colossal ‘II’ tour. Seems like just yesterday they were playing at good ol’ Bodega, but January has long since past for this hardworking, hard touring three-piece psychedelic-pop powerhouse, who have played packed outContinueContinue reading “Unknown Mortal Orchestra set to play China and NZ in January”

New Love for Litang

An entry from a travel blog about a two-month long backpacking trip around Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Hainan during the Chinese summer. 8am: Feeling a little bit stuck in a rut, I know that once I leave this place the Tibetan vibe will gradually fall away as I move south, but it is imminent andContinueContinue reading “New Love for Litang”