Is just such a shock from being in China. Just got harassed and essentially threatened for being a socialist. They searched my bags and commented on my China flag and my little red books and my copy of Blackshirts and Reds. Fucking police state. The security in China is strict, but they don’t give a fuck about your thoughts, whereas this guy was very aggressive about “consequences” for being a socialist.
I’ve read accounts from people returning to the US after a visit in China saying it feels like returning to the 20th century after experiencing what 21st century infrastructure is like. Did you get that sense that all? I suppose it is highly dependent on which city you visited.
Yes. I literally was just telling someone it felt like it was both a century ahead and a century behind in some ways. Infrastructure and walk ability are amazing. The trains are so nice and so fast. I took multiple high speed trains, and next time I go back I intend to do the maglev train from Shanghai to… wherever it goes, I just want to ride the train 😂
When you say a century behind, I’m curious about what was like that.
Traffic is madness and I don’t understand how there’s not constant accidents all the time. It basically seems like a lawless land where everyone just does whatever they want wherever they want. Cars just sort of play chicken and force their way through gaps by just sort of… going and the other guy will either slow down or he won’t. Lots of people fail to stay in their lanes and many times my driver would have to honk to get someone to get back over into their lane instead of driving in the middle of two lanes.
I watched arguments between taxi drivers and regular drivers because some dude would just stop in the middle lane of a three lane road and play on his phone, and everyone just sort of had to go around them.
At the same time, traffic lights are tied into Didi and you can see when the light your driver is at will turn green while they’re on their way to you.
It’s not as bad as like the infamous videos from India and other countries , but it was still unsettling until I got used to it.