Frustration

Arrgghh!!! 

As as soon as I entered China from Hong Kong half of my internet connection broke down. I get access to some sites and my e-mail while I can't see others including my prepared posts.

This means that the Before and After Post which I had prepared somewhat for today and which I sat down hours ago to finish off isn't going to happen as I can't access the photos.  I'm so frustrated. I've had about seven hotel employees in my room from the concierge to the general manager and head engineer and none of them know what's up.

Sorry. I'm frustrated. I'm sweaty. My hair is frizzy. I want to go home.  

Comments

[Melissa of {craftgasm}]

I'm sorry you're having a rough time with the internet there -- is it an issue of failing connectivity or their government censoring the websites they'll let people access?

[Anita]

I have lived and visited countries with heavy censoring/room bugging. I expect it may have something to do with that. Good luck, I am enjoying your before and after posts.

[Judith]

Oh blah. Sorry you're having problems - hope you get to see/eat/experience something really nice soon to balance out your visit :)

[Suzie]

I can tell you what's up: welcome to China ! This is the GREAT FIREWALL OF CHINA. They block blogger, blogspot, facebook etc.
It is frustrating ! I had this experience for 3 years in Beijing (www.beijingnotebook.blogspot.com). However I used to live in a compound where they used to have a proxy server that went around the firewall. This should work in bigger hotels as well. But you never know. They tighten the firewall again lately (60th anniverary of China) !!!
Good luck, or wait until you leave China.
However, wish you a nice stay !

[judith b]

Poor Benita,

It seems you are fighting a losing battle with the great firewall. We'll miss our before & after today but we can hold out! Don't worry about us and enjoy the better things in China...just don't stay away too long!

[Frau Mayer]

Hey, it's a communist country, Benita, so please relax and be happy you don't have to live in one. Everything's gonna be OK - as soon as you leave this zone of total censorship.

[Zewa]

Hi Benita, sit back, relax, get a shower and something to eat and marvel about the great democracy, that values free thinking, which you call your home country. It's one of those days, when you can really appreciate what you have where you come from. It's a good day, really.

[Sara]

You can probably get a replica Chi hair straightener and I'm sure a replica Hermes-anything would cheer you up. Have fun and don't worry about us... We'll wait til you get home and we'll be happy to have you at all! :)

[bec]

Hi Benita,
Thanks for all the posts, I have really enjoyed them.
Safe travels

[NancyV908]

Benita, sorry for your frustration, but really, it's amazing that you have been doing so much during your travels to begin with. Thanks for all your work on our behalf during your travels!

[Lori]

We'll wait for you! No worries; enjoy your time in China!

[Erin Kleider]

Deep breaths!

We can wait! Don't worry! Relax and try to enjoy yourself!

Erin :)

[carol k]

I wish I could bring you a tall cool something or other to drink and a very chic hat (Hermes ?). I think you have amazing energy - to be on this trip and to continue posting and to be pre-preprepared (maybe not a real word?) boggles my mind. Big hug!

[Nilla]

Trist...
Ha det fint, i alla fall.

[Pamela]

Breathe deeply -- we promise to be patient! Enjoy China . . . and enjoy coming home again!

[Marianne.]

Don't worry! We can and will wait!

[Cassie]

That would be so frustrating! I hope you get it all figured out.

[Liz]

Welcome to the Great FIREwall of China!

[oh holland]

Well, now you can say you visited the Great Firewall of China.

[oh holland]

Oof, I see Liz beat me to it.

[Christina Ponte-Slocum]

It must be such a different world over there.
Relax and simply take in the essense of China,and soon you'll be home (with photos I hope! heehee)
Tinaxox

[joan]

You are in China - enjoy it! We'll live :)
(I lived there for a year so I am very familiar with not being able to get on the internet or having my electricity randomly turned off or not having heat when it's freezing.)

There is an amazing young man who built a windmill in the middle of a Malawi famine (that's in Africa) - William Makwamba. Go to his website and see his interview with Jon Stewart. He struggled to build the windmill out of rubbish around his starving village from a picture he'd found in a US government sponsored library to power his house, since he couldn't afford to attend school. Later, when his amazing abilities were discovered and he was brought into "civilization" and he learned about Google - he said, "Where was this Google all the time?" What a different perspective on how the majority of the world functions on less than $1/day, with no running water, let alone the internet!!

We are so spoiled with our luxuries like the internet - use the time to see, smell, taste, and smile at the awesome Chinese people who often come from such poor villages.

[jja]

Dear Benita, just relax, we will wait.

[Tajana]

Dear Benita,

I am so sorry for your frustration, but hope you already have found the way to cheer up a little bit. You'll be home soon, and everything will be fine, you know it. And we will wait for you and your great posts! We are thinking of you so you are not cut out of the rest of the world :)

love,
tajana

[shan]

china is a frustrating place to travel!!!
good luck :)

[Patia]

Hellooo censorship! Don't worry, we'll wait. Relax and enjoy your trip.

Wow, cool. Whatever the text is at the bottom of this page, it's in Chinese!