Dave’s Wagon

I just got my passport back with my Chinese visa, and I must say it’s a beauty.

I have to raise issue, though, with China’s choice of design for the document. Yes, I understand that the Great Wall is one of the wonders of the world and a timeless monument to Chinese imperial might. That said, for a piece of paper that grants outsiders free entry into the country, I don’t know that a massive fortification built to keep out foreigners is the best adornment.

Then again, maybe I’m just being old fashioned. These days the barbarian invaders pouring into China are coming from the West, not the north. They’re still marked by their garish dress and refusal to speak a word of Chinese, but this time the Wall serves to keep them in, not out. Keep them in, that is, long enough to buy an “I climbed the Great Wall” shirt or a pair of counterfeit handbags.

On second thought, China’s visa is perfect.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 13th, 2006 @ 8:04 am on the category Announcements, China, Photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

I just got my passport back with my Chinese visa, and I must say it’s a beauty.

I have to raise issue, though, with China’s choice of design for the document. Yes, I understand that the Great Wall is one of the wonders of the world and a timeless monument to Chinese imperial might. That said, for a piece of paper that grants outsiders free entry into the country, I don’t know that a massive fortification built to keep out foreigners is the best adornment.

Then again, maybe I’m just being old fashioned. These days the barbarian invaders pouring into China are coming from the West, not the north. They’re still marked by their garish dress and refusal to speak a word of Chinese, but this time the Wall serves to keep them in, not out. Keep them in, that is, long enough to buy an “I climbed the Great Wall” shirt or a pair of counterfeit handbags.

On second thought, China’s visa is perfect.

This entry was posted on Sunday, August 13th, 2006 @ 8:04 am on the category Announcements, China, Photos. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.