Hello Everyone,
I have to write and tell you this. Currently, I am in China and have no access at all to any of my website social activities.
What does this mean? Well, so far I have discovered that Twitter, Facebook, FriendFeed, YouTube, and Plaxo are all blocked by China’s Great Firewall. On top of this, I cannot access any pages that say what exactly is blocked in China. But even worse, my website has been blocked by China!
I have no ftp access to upload photos so all of you are going to have to wait a month for the next blog post. Sorry.
Going for some duck!
Hello Robert and Rasa: I have enjoyed reading your BLOG and seeing the pictures of far away unfamiliar places. Savi and I have been to China some years ago but you are probably in some remote places. We will just have to wait until you are able to post new BLOG.
Best wishes for your continuing journeys.
Hello Tansukh,
Always glad to hear you enjoy the photos. I'll keep them coming from China. The most remote place we reached was Tibet. A great photo experience.
Dear Rasa and Rob,
Last april I met Peta and David at our common friend Manuel's place in J'burg. We had as nice bbq.
All the best .
Goos luck
regards from the ranch
Hello Ernesto,
I hope all is well. We have not seen Peta or David since Africa. It would be nice to visit there again soon. Thanks for writing.
Welcome to the core of the Orient!: But look on the brights side; you now have all that free time to meditate your navels & try to "fathom the unfathomable". This will certainly lead to enlightenment, & better understanding of the history of another "blocked" group: One living "on higher ground" than you'll probably ever attain.
But rest assured, we await your next "Perils of Pauline" sequel with bated breath!
[PS: We now have some key contacts, that might facilitate an eventual "unblocking"; but based on the time it took to unblock Customs' confiscation - of our donation of 10K/units of purification water purification/germicide solution vials, to the Szetchuan earthquake victims - is any indication, you'd probably be well into your new career years before that could take effect!]
Hi,
Wow, this is quite annoying. Even LinkedIn, which is purely business !
Hello Rob,
I'm familiar with blocking since we live in Syria, all you have to do is download one of these two softwares: freegate and ultrasurf, you can also try to use the https protocol instead of the normal http. In Syria we use proxies, so if you have someone who would give you a working proxy in China that would be great, thinking of that, I have a friend in China, I'll ask him about what he does.
Please give my regards to Rasa,
good luck
Ah, the joys of communist China :)
God Bless the USA!
Hi Rob,
Good to hear from you, with or without pictures.
Just exactly what is it that the ChiCom's have to fear about the Internet ? Social upheaval ? Political opposition ? Rampant capitalism ? It gives new meaning to "dim sum."
Enjoy the experience, but don't say the wrong thing lest someone will censure your voice. The vocabulary police are everywhere these days. And, the thought police aren't too far behind.
Hopefully, they won't confiscate your camera's memory cards as you exit the country. You might have to swallow them and exit them later.
On second thought, nah. Use FedEx.
Hello Sam,I have no idea why our website was blocked but for the rest of them they see any consolidation of ideas as a direct threat to the status quo. It really does make it difficult for the average person to navigate the web but all the savvy people just find a way around the blocks.I did make it through with all my pictures intact and no swallowing necessary.
Hi Rob and Rasa – we met at Rotary and I am enjoying your world travels blog. Just last week at church I heard about a small group that went to China from the USA. Someone in the group sent an e-mail home about praying for someone they met in China. The next day an official from the government showed up to "escort" the group for the rest of their stay with firm instructions to not be praying for anyone. Maybe this e-mail will get you a Chinese visit from someone who can explain all your Internet questions! What a country – what century are they in? I think I will let you do the reporting and not plan a trip to China anytime soon!
Hello Gary,Of course I remember you! It’s good to hear from you.I kept my comments to a minimum while in China and my blog will be PC as well. I actually have many friends there and I need to be respectful. Besides the people there were amazing. It was just the authorities that were restrictive. Although for picture taking, it was much easier than in Kazakhstan. There, every time I had my camera out the police would want to see what I photographed.But good stories and photos coming soon…
ok, thanks Bert, we can wait. By the way Sir Cañete was not around for almost 2 days coz he was at Talisay for 3 days seminar but dn't worry I will let him read ur message. Thanks. This Janet his FITS ISS at this Center.
Makes one appreciate the value of personal freedom. Keep safe.
Kumusta bai,
Geeze…that's terrible, Rob! Enjoy your time in China! Where abouts are you? I was there a couple years ago. Make some wonderful memories together with Rasa.
Ayo-ayo,
Hey Reins,Good to hear from you. We visited Beijing, Tibet, Chengdu and Shanghai. All great places to visit but each a bit hot, humid and smoggy (except Tibet).