Month: October 2006

This is CRI, Easy FM! Let’s talk to Gilbert!

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

I am not a big fan of Chinese radio, they talk and blabla all the time, even when they call themselves “Music box” (the only English in the conversation).
Exception made for two FM channels in Beijing: 88.7 and 91.5 – CRI. They are mostly on when I work unless some mysterious interference in Julong wrecks (both) their transmission.
China Radio International is cool and news comes in several languages. Of course they are really cool coz they regularly interview me, and better, their journalist is friendly (and cute, look yourself).

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Yan Yinan of CRI bugging me again but she is convincing. For once, in a relaxed environment just before I went to the gym. Yinan took over from Chris Verril who left CRI.

Every Thursday between 11 and 12 am and between 5 and 6 pm I give a small talk about Beijing, the preparation for the Olympics (or lack of), the pollution, the disregard for disabled people, doping, even corruption (and it was NOT censored), etc. I must admit one thing: I hate to listen to my own voice, I think it’s “bu hao ting”, on the other hand I am curious to know what went through (or not). Mostly I … forget to listen anyway or I am out for meetings.
So, keep your ears to CRI EASY FM, at 91.5 FM from Beijing for China!

A new book about China! – and about Gilbert for once!

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

For a change, a book is coming out right now in Belgium about China:

cover Made in China.jpg
“Made in China – Meningen van daar”
van Ng Sauw Tjhoi & Marc Vandepitte
[Co-editie met Radio 1]
[Met de steun van het Fonds Pascal Decroos]

And, more curiously, with a whole chapter (no. 42) about myself – result of a couple of interviews by the authors. And, once again sorry guys, it’s all in Dutch.
For a full introduction to the book, click here: Made in China intro.pdf
Some journalists are a pain in the butt, some can be really nice. Ng Sauw Tjhoi, one of the two authors is a charming guy to meet but he has the exceptional touch to send a copy of what he wrote. It’s always interesting to read what people think you told them, or how to find out they have been putting words in your mouth with the most unlikely results. At least I don’t have a boss who could yell at me and ask what the hell went on in my mind to talk all that nonsense to journalists. Lately I have become philosophical about it. As Sun says, never mind, it makes you famous and if nobody complains within a week, just ignore the nonsense they wrote.
So, what I can say about the new book? Well, I am in a soft spot here. Tjhoi has more or less faithfully recorded my ramblings, spiced it up a bit but the end result is kinda interesting. If you wanna know more, learn Dutch and buy the book. Can’t say no more folks. But next time Tjhoi comes over in Beijing, I’ll buy him more than one nice drink.
I think the biggest creativity I ever experienced with journalists was in January of this year. I was interviewed by Chinese journalists when listening to the presentation of Beijing’s Eleventh Five Year Plan (very few foreigners were invited…).

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15 Jan. 06: Sun and Gilbert in the Beijing People’s Congress to listen to Mayor Wang Qishan; the journalists asking questions and hearing different things – I knew there was something spooky with that photographer.

Explaining a bit the work I had just done for the Beijing Government they turned it around and the headlines blasted something like “Gilbert is happy to learn that Beijing has followed his proposals for the new Plan” (Beijing Youth Daily – 16 Jan. 06). Yeah, of course. Good boy, Mayor Wang Qishan, you listened sooo well. Oops. Well, nobody seemed upset and the police did not come knocking on my door so I guess it was all fine after all.
As a result, I am now starting to report and comment on journalists. Turn the tables. So, next time you interview me – you have been warned. As for Tjhoi, he passed the test.

Powerhouse Gym – my place to work out

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

We all have to endure the wonderful air in Beijing – these days we had another “Golden Week” for National Day but pollution levels were still high, even with an apparently blue sky. A bit strange because normally during holidays the Beijing Environmental Bureau is posting API on its website of around 150.
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See here how it looked like on 31 July (yep, just close to the “Olympic Week”?!), views inside Julong; the 2nd ring road from Chaoyangmen Bridge and from the American Club.
Could be worse of course – I once run a relay marathon with an API of over 500.
So, like it or not, I find refuge in the near 5,000 sqm gym in Capital Group Plaza, the building between Swissotel and Fuhua Building. The gym occupies the entire 5th floor.

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See the Gym floor (red curtains)

I call it a factory, so large, and with a constant flow of people in the most varied outfits and the most varied body types – from ultra thin to overweight plus the usual muscle mountains.
The girls love to be assisted by the muscular trainers. One needs the psychological motivation, right!
The gym has dozens and dozens of machines (from the USA and Italy), saunas, showers, lockers, hot yoga room and a large activity room where Valerie enthusiastically joins the belly dancing, kickboxing and taiqi (or taichi) including sword taiqi. There is also a small bar, shop and an Internet corner.
Positive points: good and varied choice of machines, good layout and decoration, many group activities (most are free except the hot yoga), open space (in some gyms you feel like in a submarine), trainers, etc.
Weak points: lack of English speaking staff; no swimming pool; steam sauna and dry sauna are too basic and often don’t work properly (reason for some members to switch to other gyms); very poor temperature control: in winter up to 29C in some areas (with the dry air, that makes serious running a pretty bad experience), in summer the aircon is too weak in the running treadmill area (humid and stuffy – I lose liters of sweat); the shop could probably sell more outfits if they would have better stock of sizes.
I stick to my routine of workout machines and especially my favorite treadmill (Technogym – Italy), a special model just right in the middle of the many others – and with a nice view on the gym. Training for a marathon takes time so I keep myself busy listening to my iPods (either the Nano or the old 1st generation iPod (there is only one such machine in the gym though they all look alike).
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view from my machine – the control panel (with heart rate)
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training… and then stretching…
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the entrance to the activity room – Valerie at her belly dancing lesson
belly2.JPG belly3.JPG she takes it very seriously
Be warned: her father keeps an eye on strangers and she has vicious kickboxing legs and has a quick punch.

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So, what’s next? Well… I am getting pretty anxious as the Beijing International Marathon is soon… on 15 October. See here the map of the over 42 Km loop, only for crazy people like me.

The Olympics are coming: two special pics

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Some sharp-eyed Belgian girl spotted an “olympic” manhole cover on the streets of Beijing. I was in doubt but yes, here it is. I now pay attention where I walk but did not see a second one. Who can tell me the place gets a beer in Morel (certain Belgian girls are not allowed in the competition).
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BOCOG has a sharp eye. Maybe not for cast iron manhole covers but for attractive girls, sure. See here an official Olympic beauty (no joke – she is one of the selected Olympic beauties), during a private BOCOG party. I did not dare look at her too much as Sun was in the vicinity. Guess what, Sun made the picture as I discovered later in my camera. Damn, I could have made a real good close-up. Now I am really eager to attend all birthday and anniversary parties with BOCOG.

Gentse Feesten!

Posted on by Gilbert Van Kerckhove

Another print – a poster this time – also follows me since a couple of years and always hangs in my office: it was the official poster of the “Gentse Feesten” of 1993, a special design that still raises questions like “why?”. You have to admit – kind of funny to have this one hanging in Beijing. The “Gentse Feesten” are the annual summer holiday festivities in my hometown, Gent (Ghent in English).

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Always big fun to attend the colorful fair, lots of things to see, enjoy, buy and of course lots to eat and drink. It wouldn’t be Belgium!