Stories about East Asia from July, 2006
Indonesia: Chinese Valentine's Day
Indonesian blogger Christine Susanna Tjhin, currently a student in China, talks about the traditional Chinese Valentine's Day. This year, the day falls on 31 July.
China: reticence: would-be lesbians, corporate executives and urban journalists
Ever wonder why there was no male version of 2004's smash television phenomenon Super Girl? While a lesbian conspiracy might have made for better Communist Party PR positioning than news of yet another great initiative cut down by state censorship, super-adrogynous and super-popular Super Girl winner Li Yuchun‘s queer image...
China and South Korea: whose cultural heritage ?
Richardson in Korea Liberator blogs about the potential debate between China and South Korea concerning Mt Baedu (or Changbaishan in Chinese pronounciation) as China has decided to register Mt. Baekdu on the World Geopark list designated by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
South Korea: green tea
Sanshinseon in Marmot's Hole blogs about the recent Tea World Festival in Seoul and gives the readers some background about Korea green tea culture.
South Korea: fan death
Robert Koehler in Marmot's Hole blogs about the urban legend of “fan death” in South Korea: Can you really die from falling asleep with your fan on and your windows closed?
Hong Kong: Richard Li
Martinoe comments that even though Richard Li (Tycoon Lee Kar-shing's son) is able to purchase the liberal intellectual Chinese newspapers, Hong Kong Economic Journal, some young progressive columnists will probably leave and the original readers community won't be the same anymore.
China: the chinese blog guidebook
Jason Li introduces the newly published chinese blog guidebook titled as Everyone Plays with Blogs.
China: Tangshan earthquake
Joel Martinsen in Danwei attemps to explain why the Chinese Government spent so much effort to commemorate the Tangshan earthquake. “To some extent, it is this determination, and not the tragedy itself, that is being commemorated today.”
Malaysia: Mace Attack
The former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir was attacked with mace today at an airport. The attacker was one of the 1000 people gathered to welcome the former Prime Minister. Ktemoc Konsiders blog looks at different versions of the incident.
Indonesia: New English Daily
Unspun reviews the newest English language daily in Indonesian market. The paper is produced by a business group called Jababeka. “If the Jababeka group wants to run its own newsletter then they should just get a blog, a website or print out a newsletter. To dress it up as a...
China: money out of disaster
ESWN translates a BBS post on how a local company made money out of a memorial park of the victim of the Tangshan earthquake.
Taiwan: corruption
FLD from China Times wonders how president Chen Shui-bian would response to the recent accounting department report on the president house national secret expenses (zh). The report was released yesterday: 77% of the expenses was without standard record. The case is now filed at the department of justice.
China: Sino-America Police Sanshou Championship
Zat Liu in Shanghaiist reports on the Sino-America Police Sanshou Championship organized by Ministry of Public Security and Public Security Office of Hunan Province and to be held from August 26-29 at Helong Stadium in Changsha. There is a voting on web (zh) where China supporters out numbered America supporter...
China: spoofing culture
Lyn Jeffery in Virtual China blogs about spoofing culture in Chinese internet sphere and translates an article from QQ discussing whether spoofing can prevent social tragedies. Spoofing is a popular subculture that deconstructs serious themes to entertain people with comedy effects.
Hong Kong: Book exhibition
Many bloggers in Hong Kong blog about book exhibition. Henry porter criticizes book exhibition this year become even more “vulgar”. Because of the crowd, the host has to urge people to leave the exhibition center as soon as possible; so how can people choose their books? (zh). Thomas describes the...
Reforming Philippine Elections
Philippine electoral system is one of the most inefficient in the world. It would take more than a month before results can be known after election day since counting of votes is still done manually.
Indoensia: Expat Life and Indonesian Thoughts
The blogger at Sarapan Ekonomi talks about expats discussing life in Indonesia. The blogger does not agree with some of the views the expats have but at the end of the post, the blogger asks everyone “Meanwhile, lighten up. It's Friday after all.”
Myanmar: Love and Relationship in Myanmar
Dawn in Myanmar takes a look at love and relationship in Myanmar and how people are holding on some traditions while some things are changing.
Thailand: Pad Thai Pho Noodles
Manivan Larprom in her Thai Lao Food Blog has text and video instructions for preparing Pad Thai Pho Noodles.
Brunei: Spotting a Bruneian
The Daily Brunei Resources blog talks about what makes a person a Bruneian.
Malaysia: Online Freedom
Malaysian opposition politician Lim Kit Siang is asking the Prime Minister to give assurance that online media would not be censored in Malaysia. The call comes after the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers made negative comments about blogs and online media in general.
About our East Asia coverage
Oiwan Lam is the North East Asia editor. Email her story ideas or volunteer to write.
Nevin Thompson is the Japan editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
