Posts from Tales from a parallel world.

I thought it was some nocturnal bird occasionally cooing under the window, breaking up the chirping of cicadas and the usual gecko sounds. Turns out, it's not a bird at all, but a lizard called "tuke" or "toki."

Cambodian cats are so tough that when their owners aren't home, they catch snakes for dinner… and maybe even for their owners’ dinner 😉.

The cat isn't mine; we just lived in the same city.

Instead of platform numbers, the display board in the main hall shows the waiting room numbers for each train. After entering the waiting room, you sit down and wait for the station staff to enter the room and announce the boarding. They will then guide all passengers to the correct platform. Wandering around the station and platforms in China is prohibited; only passengers whose train boarding has begun are allowed on the platform.

Just for future reference, in case I ever have to travel on a Chinese train and I don't know how things work there.

What's up with that, some kind of fascist star?

It's an ancient Slavic symbol of the Sun-Yarilo, you ignorant fool!

Don't forget to take off your padded jacket before the process!

Fresh meat!

How to create a paradise on Earth, using one city as an example.
I'm writing this down so I don't forget. I'll add more if I see or remember anything else.

Ideology.
1. There is ideological indoctrination in schools, and it's quite serious. It primarily focuses on internationalization. The national idea is to be friends with everyone, to be interested in other cultures, and to take the best from them.
There's even a direction in foreign policy that reflects this. "This year, we will especially be friends with the Russians; we need to invite more specialists from Russia to work here and have more cultural exchange. Ballet, for example. What else do the Russians have?" In a couple of years, the same thing happens with Peru or Mexico.
A similar situation exists with religion.
2. The second national idea is to work, work, and work all your life.
I often see retired people working in simple jobs, such as cleaning floors or clearing dishes in a food court. However, they don't work from sunrise to sunset. There are some regulations for the elderly, such as working half a day or something similar.
3. The third national idea is that you need to exercise.
4. There is censorship of films, TV programs, and the media.
There is no profanity or violence in films and on television.
Local film studios are not allowed to film violent scenes (so they have to go abroad for that). Explicit scenes are also probably not allowed, but I'm not sure.
The internet doesn't seem to be censored. At least, I don't have any problems viewing websites. Although torrents are officially discouraged, i.e., officially frowned upon, but I haven't encountered any blocking of them.
5. Video surveillance.
It's practically everywhere in public places.
An elevator is considered a public place, although in older areas, cameras are only on the elevator landings, not inside the elevators themselves.
On the other hand, privacy is respected as much as possible. For example, the local sky train (public transport that runs approximately on the 3rd-6th floor of local high-rise buildings) darkens the windows if it passes through a residential area. Yes, so that passengers don't see what's happening in the windows of the houses :) When leaving the residential area, the windows automatically become transparent again.

Incentives.
1. To purchase the first apartment (but only the first!), a zero-interest loan is provided for 20-30 years.
2. Education is paid, but local residents receive such benefits from the state that education can be considered virtually free. For example: a foreigner pays 2500-3000 per month for studying at school, while a local resident pays 200-700.
3. There is no corruption (well, almost). Taxes are among the lowest in the world. However, the downside is that there is practically no social support, including no pensions. But there are pension savings, i.e., you can save from your salary for your personal pension.
4. However, there is some social support. But it seems to me that it is mainly provided by volunteers.
5. Accessibility of sports.
Wushu, yoga, Zumba, running, swimming, and other activities are strongly encouraged. Memberships are quite cheap, and there are swimming pools, gyms, and dance studios on every corner. Simple exercise equipment is available in almost every yard, as are children's sandboxes (free of charge, of course). For example, near my place, a shopping center offers free Zumba classes for everyone every Tuesday and free yoga classes every Thursday.

Discipline.
1. An excise tax on alcoholic beverages makes alcohol more expensive than in neighboring countries, by approximately 5-10 times. A can of beer costs from $5 instead of 50 cents.
2. After some unpleasant events five years ago, the sale and consumption of alcohol are prohibited after 10:30 PM. However, this does not apply to food courts, cafes, and restaurants. You can sit and drink there until closing time.
3. A similar situation exists with the excise tax on cigarettes.
4. The penalty for drugs is the death penalty, no questions asked. This applies to foreigners as well.
However, there is an additional rule for locals: they are not allowed to use drugs, even abroad. For this, they don't face the death penalty, but they can go to jail.
5. Gambling is allowed, and there are a couple of casinos in the city. But a local resident (unlike a foreigner) must pay $100 to enter. Just to enter the casino. A gambling tax

And where do you live, Sesame?

4. Censorship of film, television, and media exists.
No profanity or violence in movies and on television.
Local film studios are not allowed to film violent scenes (so they have to go abroad for this). Explicit scenes are also prohibited, but I'm not sure about that.
The internet doesn't seem to be censored. At least, I haven't had any problems viewing websites. Although torrents are officially not approved, i.e., officially discouraged, but I haven't encountered any blocking of them.

I caught myself thinking that I like this situation with censorship. Unlike some others...

I caught myself thinking that I actually like this situation with censorship. Unlike some others...

Don't worry, Ment, we'll have the same thing soon. Some common traits are already visible.

Sesam works for the government; that's as clear as day.

Don't worry, Ment, we'll have the same situation soon. Some common traits are already visible.

We already have much stricter censorship where it shouldn't be, and less strict censorship where it would be helpful. To bring the situation to that point, we need to reverse it.

And where do you live, Sesame?

My new laptop will arrive, and I'll post some pictures; it's inconvenient to do it from my phone.

Added 1 minute ago

Some violations and punishments taken from the website of one of the local schools:
OFFENCE & CONSEQUENCES

Tinted Hair / Long Hair / Inappropriate Hairstyle / Facial Hair
First Time - Dye hair back to original colour / send to barber for haircut / cut by OM, DM or P / Shave in school
Repeat - School / Community Service / Home Involvement / Caning

Late for school
After 2 times - School Community Service / Home Involvement

Skipping Lessons
School Community Service

Sneaking into School after Morning Assembly
Detention outside OM/DM's Office until the end of the day / Home Involvement / Repeat - Caning

Playing Truant
School Community Service / Home Involvement / Caning

Smoking and Possession of Cigarettes
Cessation Clinic / School Community Service / Home Involvement/ Caning

Theft in School
School Community Service / Home Involvement / Caning / Police Report

Shoplifting
Home Involvement / Caning/ Police Report

Here, the word "caning" refers to punishment with sticks, and that's what it implies.

The secret to the success of the local school system.)

Just kidding. Probably.
According to local reviews, they rarely beat students in schools, but they do it on a legal basis.

Here are some photos of the city I currently live in. I took a ride on the local cable car (there are several lines here) and took some pictures with my phone (sorry for the quality). the first cable car line (view from the second line) local yacht club zoomed in

A water park with water slides, towers, waterfalls, and more.



A city beach.



Another city beach with a skewed horizon.