BO and Weird Bugs

[akujunkan]

Sorry, guys. I really suck at doing the Travel Post thing. I will attempt to get around to it one of these days, but until then, some weird musings and happenings for you.

I am now in Korea, after a hellacious trip from Beijing, courtesy of China Air. Seriously, Chinese airlines suck. Suck, suck, SUCK. How badly do they suck?

Let's just say that my flight has been delayed eight out of the eight times I've flown with a Chinese airline, and that today's delay, clocking in at just under three hours, was one of the SHORTEST.

Korea gave me serious Not Japan culture shock when I first visited two years ago, but coming here today was like being able to breathe again. I love China to death, but it's exhausting. The people there are just horrendously rude by Asian standards. Korea functions quite similarly to Japan, and so I was easily able to navigate the airport, find myself a hostel, and get there with minimum hassle, and more importantly, without anyone trying to sell me something or rip me off. I can also read quite a bit more than I was able to the last time I visited, and that certainly helps.

But anyway, I promised you BO. And here it is.

Anyone who's studied Japan for any length of time will hear (horror?) stories from visitors about how Japanese complain about Westerners' body odors. This is usually attributed to the prevalence of meat in the Western diet. I always considered this to be a load of bullshit--I didn't eat meat before I came to Japan, and my host family still refused to wash my clothes in their washing machine. (They said my body scent was contaminating their wash.)

Japanese food is very subtle an adjective one might be inclined to replace with 'bland' in a less charitable moment. All the ginger, hot pepper, garlic, and spices associated with "Asian food" in the West really belong to Chinese and Southeast Asian cuisine; Japanese dislike strong flavors on the whole, and their food is mostly flavored with soybean paste, fish flakes, or soy sauce. Many Japanese also dislike food that is spicy, salty, or sweet.

Anyway, I'd been vaguely bothered by something for the past few days, but only put my finger on it this afternoon: I smell different. Not in a needs deoderant-kind of way, but rather, five days of a steady diet of flavorful Chinese food has literally changed the scent of my skin. It'll be interesting to see how Korean food will exacerbate this phenomenon.

If only drug dealers could get their hands on these bugs.

A bug bit me on the leg at the Summer Palace three days ago. Nothing much to speak of at the time; the bite was slightly smaller than a dime, didn't itch, and I didn't even notice it until I was showering that evening. But holy crap, that tiny little bite has anesthetised my entire thigh. Seriously, it's numb. I can feel everything up to my kneecap, and then there is no sensation until my waist. Touching it feels like touching someone else's skin. Freaky, but since there don't seem to be any adverse side effects, kinda cool.

And now, some Forbidden City Picspam.

The Main Gate


Main Imperial Hall

One year and two visits later and the Olympics is still punking my travel photo-ops.

Newly Restored Side Hall


I studied this scroll in Later Chinese Painting

Very cool to see it in person.


That will be all

Comments

[akujunkan.livejournal.com]

That's the real thing. Tiananmen Gate, complete with massive portrait of The Dead Guy and Communist banners extolling the virtues of the workers' party.

But don't feel bad, I get that a lot. For some reason my camera makes everything look as though it's been photoshopped in.