North Korea and the current war rhetoric

7 Apr
0

Greetings from peaceful Dandong; yes it really is quiet and peaceful here.

With all the news these days about our neighbour I thought I would put my 2 RMB worth in, good news that is.
In my opinion, all the news you see about the North is mostly a lot of talk. I know it seems like far more but this kind of thing has gone on for years. Granted the rhetoric is a bit harsher these days but in the end little or nothing will come of it. We often have reporters coming to Dandong to get the low-down on things across the river in Sinijiu and North Korea. People come asking about trade, the current situation and we even have the US and Canadian embassies coming here for coffee to “talk”; they tend to end up at “Peter’s Coffee House”. I guess they figure here is closer to the “source” and they might get a better handle on things by coming here.

Let me say no one wants a war and I’m convinced there won’t be one. If anything small happens, and if it does it will be very small, it will be far far from here.

This past week I met the London Times here (UK) as well as an Italian news agency; they drank quite a few Espressos. Last week a small delegation from the US consulate came by; not just because of the good coffee either.

It’s good to remember that it’s China that keeps North Korea afloat. Something like 70% of the North Korea’s trade goes across the Yalu River Bridge that is within 1/2 km of Peter’s Coffee House, which I’m looking at it as I write. I’m convinced that North Korea will do nothing to “bite the hand that feeds it”.

There is a saying for China and the North that they are; “As close as lips and teeth”. I know it sounds funny but that’s the translation. It just means they have been close friends for a very long time.

Right now the China side of the “lips and teeth” is a bit peeved, maybe a lot peeved, with their neighbour and friend. China does not want instability on the Korean peninsula and will do everything to prevent it; believe me they have the capability.

A comment this weekend from Xi jing Ping appears aimed at North Korea. He said’ “No country “should be allowed to throw a region and even the whole world into chaos for selfish gain”, President Xi Jinping told a forum on the southern Chinese island of Hainan. He did not name North Korea but he appeared to refer to Pyongyang.” See: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/08/us-korea-north-idUSBRE93408020130408

It’s really business as usual here in Dandong. There is no perceptible difference in activity. Tourists are still coming, trade still goes on daily, trains still across the Yalu river Bridge daily and everyday life continues normally.

So don’t worry there will be no no war. It’s just a lot of rhetoric and bluster; ie. hot air. We actually could use some hot air here, it’s kind of cold here today.

I’ve gotta go, there is a hot Latte waiting for me!

Qing Ming on the Yalu River

4 Apr
0

It’s Qing Ming Festival (Clean and bright) or Tomb Sweeping day today and almost the first real sign of spring. People were out in force making early morning trips to their ancestors graves to brighten them up and of course offer sacrifices for the dead.

It seemed that afterwards everyone wanted to take a stroll on the Yalu and quite a few stopped in for coffee too; I did, though I was out sweeping a grave today.

The border was closed today so no trucks to/from Sinijiu in North Korea.

Enjoying spring here in Dandong on the border.

Spring…finally!

25 Mar
0

It’s true! We’re finally seeing signs of spring here on the Yalu River. Although there are no buds on the tress
yet it finally stopped snowing. Our last snow fall was March 18, a week ago. Over the “winter” we had 25 snow falls, a record I’m sure.

I think even Mao Tse Deng is happy; he’s in front of the railway station waving. Well okay, he’s always there waving but I really think he’s happy…I am!

There’s a lot more people out these days too, on the streets and along the board walk. I even saw a few tour buses today, spring it must be…the tourists are back.

Time for a Latte at Peter’s. Want to join me?

Deaf on the Yalu River

9 Feb
0

It’s Chinese New Years Eve, or Spring Festival and the firecrackers and fireworks have begun. By midnight the city will be lit like day with fireworks and the noise will be deafening as folks here in Dandong start the New Year. Why fireworks and firecrackers? Tradition has handed down that firecrackers scare away “evil spirits” and help you in the new year; the side affects is the ringing in your ears for a while afterwards.

Meanwhile. Across the river in Sinijiu there are very few lights on and I don’t think there is much celebrating going on.

For the next couple of days there will be lots of celebrating as families visit relatives, eat and visit more relatives and then close friends and so on.

Most businesses will be closed for a few days to a week, schools for up to 6 to 8 weeks.

Happy New Year!
Guo Nian Hao ! 过年好！

LEDs, Chinese New Year and Dandong

6 Feb
0

Have you seen the huge surge in LED sales this year? Well it seems to be govt sponsored because the streets, trees and almost everything is covered in LED lights. They’re really beautiful–or maybe almost too much. Each street is decorated differently. On the waterfront the trees are filled with LEDs that look like shooting stars falling along with the traditional red lanterns. I’m sure the Elect. Co., called State grid here, is happy with the bill all these lights are generating. It really does make the city look festive and warm though.

Speaking of festive and warm, across the Yalu River is anything but festive and warm, which is quite sad. The same few lights are consistently on but for Sinijiu, a city of some 250,000+, there are very very few lights. The one big light that is always on is the huge spot light on the statue of the former leader, hmmmm.

Another phenomenon of the coming of Chinese New year or Spring Festival as it’s also called is non stop rush hour. Normally little old Dandong has a 30-40 min rush hour, maybe. But these few days leading up to the holidays EVERYONE and their dog is out shopping, visiting and getting ready for the big days, which starts Feb 9.

Fireworks on being sold on many street corners too, I may have to indulge. I won’t be taking part for any superstitious or religious reason as most do—but for the fun of hearing big bangs and seeing lots of sparkling lights in the sky. Oh yes….still a kid, but give me a coffee please!

Thankful for warmer weather, it was up to 1C today.

An International School in Dandong

10 Jan
0

It’s true. As I was having a coffee today (Peter’s Coffee House) I met half a dozen guys here to setup an International School in wee little Dandong. I had heard the rumours earlier but this is now fact. This is quite amazing actually.

The plans are to open in September 2013 (THIS YEAR!) and start with grades 1, 7 and 10 and expand from each year there.

These guys have started schools around the world so this is no fly-by-night operation.

This will bring an influx of international teachers into town and also increase Dandong’s presence.

Wow with this and a new airport terminal coming online this year–Dandong is really up and coming.

Go Dandong! Go Yalu River!

Winter in Dandong

10 Jan
0

A few pictures so you too can enjoy the winter in Dandong here on the Yalu River as well as the upcoming Spring Festival or Chinese New Year; it’s just a month away.

Best Coffee on the Border

Spring Festival lights are going up all over the city.

One of the coldest winters in a long time!

Snow on the streets

It’s snowed 4 or 5 times in the last 3 weeks.

More snow on the streets

Want to get out of the cold? Come in for a hot coffee!. Enjoy!

Cccccold!

4 Jan
0

Yep! It’s cold here on the Yalu River border. I don’t remember a time it’s been so cold for so long here in Dandong; neither do the locals. For a couple of weeks now we’ve been down in the low negative teens and even down to -22C quite a few nights. Those kind of temperatures will frost up your windows quick.

The local heating plants have been working overtime to keep everybody warm here. Taxis have been full as no one walks to walk too far; they’ve even been doubling up on fares—always a good way to bring in a few extra RMB—and keep the customers from freezing.

But our neighbours—how are they keeping warm in Sinijiu? No one knows—we can only hope.

The Yalu River has not frozen over, but I suppose it could with these kind of temperatures. It’s been so cold, not to mention 3 or 4 snowfalls in the last couple of weeks that the hardy Yalu River swimmers have not even been out. I don’t blame them—I’d prefer to say in and drink a hot coffee too.

Merry Christmas from Dandong here on the Yalu River

23 Dec
0

Yes it’s true, Christmas is here. There are Christmas trees and decorations in a lot of shops and restaurants, Santa Clause pictures and all that Christmas has been commercialized to mean. But it’s missing the key element. The true reason for the season. Whether we’re here in Dandong across from Sinijiu (north Korea) or across the world in the US or UK — so many miss the true meaning. The gifts and giving is fine—if we hold fast to the truth. The reason we have and celebrate Christmas is the birth of Jesus—God’s son. There is no other reason to celebrate.

Why do we so often miss the key element of Christmas to focus on the peripheral things…we miss so much when we skip the central reason – Jesus. So take time to celebrate—but remember the real reason.

DandongXPat…from the border—celebrating but holding onto the real reason for the season.

Rockets and Coffee on the Yalu River

12 Dec
0

Well we read about it for a few weeks, we waited for it to happen (with coffee in hand) and now it’s done. This morning North Korean authorities launched a rocket, much to the chagrin of the rest of the world. According to reports it was successful too. Amazing!

Hear on the border at 9:51 am, when the rocket was launched, there was no sign of anything different. The launch site is only about 50 km from my favorite coffee shop here in Dandong — on the Yalu River across from Sinijiu, but we saw and heard nothing at all. Too bad.

Here at Peter’s Coffee House the crew had been planning a big “Launch Party” but were not given adequate notice by anyone on the border or anyone in North Korea, sad really. Well next time for!