Shameless Chinese Cinemas Take Advantage on Avatar

Enough of reviews and movie plot of the film Avatar, many have already done that. What i would like to write it down here is the situation of Avatar in Shanghai.

Going to Shanghai cinema is not  a very pleasant thing compare to where i come from. Mainly because the ticket price is ridiculously expensive. For before noon session, the cheapest you can get is normally RMB35 a ticket (about RM17). And price gradually increases from there toward the evening. Because evening is the so called golden period, which means people have finished work and ready to relax after dinner. For weekend, such golden period starts after lunch time.

So how expensive will that be? RMB80 to RMB100 (RM40 to 50) per ticket in the evening. If you go to cinema at better location (not necessary better hardware, mind you), the price is even at RMB130. Now, i understand in microeconomics textbook, this is a good way to maximize your revenue, but i really hate this practice. I feel being exploited. I really missed Malaysia cinema with ticket price of just RM6-8 (believe me, of all the cinemas i have been to in other countries, Malaysia is still the cheapest).

The opening of Avatar in Shanghai cinema has brought this abominable practice to new height (or new low?). 5 days into screening, the movie has garnered enthusiasm of the whole city literally. And ticket is not cheap, the one that my girlfriend and I went to, ticket sells for RMB100 for 2D, RMB150 for 3D (we saw it on half-price Tuesday = ) ) And yet, people’s enthusiasm is not dampened by the high price. Ticket is still hard to get, people are queuing up for hours to get a ticket. Ticket scalpers are abound.

On one particular cinema, the only IMAX 3D screen in Shanghai, hundreds of people queue up hours before the cinema opens door. The line is in 200-300m length by estimation when my bus passed by this morning. The ticket price? RMB150 when it started screening a few days ago. Online rumour has it that starting next week, IMAX ticket will sell for RMB180. The fact is, scalpers have already started selling the ticket at RMB200. But still, plenty of people are willing to shell out that amount of money to buy the ticket (for the sake of comparison, here is the ticket price for Kuala Lumpur IMAX theater).

Who in the right mind will do such a thing? I mean the movie-goers, scalpers and the cinemas. And yet, they are happening, now. This reminds me a lot of similar incidence happening in China, most notably the real estate. The eager bunch of people drive up the price, the developers are ready to take advantage on the desperation of the people. And having millions of people in China helps too.

On a similar note, last Saturday my girlfriend and I met a new kind of “take-advantage-of-the-desperate scheme” on our way to Nanjing. I don’t have much feeling about it other than it impressed me as this is a whole new thing that i encounter (because i have already accepted the fact that with 1.3 billions people in this country, they will think of anything and everything to make a living, as a result of government is not really doing their job on the employment front). But my girlfriend was infuriated by it.

Because we forgot to take into account that the gate is closed 5 mins before train departs, we miscalculated our time and arrived late. 100m from the gate, we saw the train station worker was locking the gate, we immediately ran and shouted toward the gate. He must have been through some specialized training, because he didn’t see or hear us at all even though we were closing in in less than 25m away while he was about to leave. He left, and we were left outside the gate.

Seeing this whole drama, there were a few people starting to approach us and told us that they can bring us down to the train platform at RMB50 per person (there are just 5 mins left before the train departs). I told them they are insane and I just walked away, but my girlfriend was really furious. Really furious that she tried to argue with them. I could sense she is going to breakdown anytime soon, so i quickly pulled her away (rule in China #113: Never reason with Chinese stranger, because you never won. How could you win when the other party has no reasoning in the first place?).

In the end, we sneaked into the next train bound for Nanjing departing 25 mins later (officially allowed provided you have bought the ticket for the same day same destination). Why the drama if we can get another train 25 mins later you ask? Because in this train, you have to stand all the way to Nanjing.

(In retrospect, i bet those people who promise to bring you down to the platform would ask you to pay them upfront, then bring you down. Chances are the train is departing and you can’t get on the train. They will say: Oops! And they will rush you to get on the next train, telling you it’s OK to do this.)

Gosh, there are plenty of reasons for me living in Shanghai, or China for that matter. But sometimes i really hate this place. Too many people. Too many.

Looking Back in 2009

Ever since I left Malaysia for study, I have developed a habit of looking back at the end of each year to determine any defining events happened that year. Be it my first backpacking trip, meeting my current girlfriend, changing another city, or any other things that make me feel like I do not live through that particular year for nothing.

Unfortunately, I don’t feel I have done anything particular big in 2009. I once thought for a good 5 seconds about it, and it came out nothing. Not until I told this to one of my friends, she reminded me that I have been president for a Toastmasters Club. And then like a spark, i realized that besides the Toastmasters thing, there is another change i’ve made that would change me for a very long time, perhaps a life time.

Now, here is a summary of major things happen to me this year:

Exercising and Running

If you met me at the beginning of this year, you would think that i’ve joined the league of becoming-an-uncle, body figure wise. When i went back to Malaysia for CNY, relatives commented about it, friends asked about it, family members were nice enough not to talk about it. The fact is, i gained a lot of weight since mid of last year. When i went back Malaysia the second time this May, thing didn’t change much.

You know, most of the time people will take up radical change when they hit rock bottom. Well, I hit mine after that trip to Malaysia in May. Not satisfied, i went for an online search for exercise program. Before long i found one at Men’s Health Magazine website, i tried it out, off i go and i never looked back since.

After 4 months, i found myself lose 11kg+. No fancy things that i have done, it’s just an hour long workout 4 times a week and healthier meal of smaller portion. Also i have been very sick in September, so sick that i found myself lose 2 kgs in that process. Just another few more kgs and i will hit the goal i set when i first started.

That’s short term change. It is the long term change that really hit me. It makes me feel good. It makes me understand that i myself have the way to control my weight. It makes me want to incorporate exercise into my lifestyle. It is strange, by the time you are into exercising for the long term, you crave less for the junk food. You turn to healthier food and vegetable naturally.

Btw, have you ever tried working out in the early morning before going to work? It feels so different, your joints are so flexed that you feel like a different person the whole day.

Then, along came a book titled “Born to Run”.

And i started running. Barefoot.

Well, actually, not quite barefoot, i run in this shoes. This shoes emulates walking/running barefoot while protecting your foot from dangerous small objects on the road. In the case in Shanghai, it protects me from small pebbles and phlegm (they still do it in China you know). It does not protect you from unwanted attention though.

For now, i’m taking running slowly. Planning on talking part in 10km run next year. Next will be half marathon, marathon. Then ultra. And the ultimate goal will be running in Mexican canyon with the hidden tribe. Nice…

So after this half year of working out and running, i will not doubt i will continue doing so in many years to come. In fact, every missed scheduled work out to me is like a debt, because you don’t take a break from eating, but you missed the time for your body work out, and you can’t get that time back.

Pu Dong Toastmasters Club

2 years ago, i joined this Pu Dong Toastmasters Club (PDTMC) several months after my first visit. However, in 2008, we were seeing this club  falling apart week by week. I mean, the members are still there, but the club officers are no way to be found toward the end of 2008. So without leadership of any sort, members go to the club merely out of their own commitment, nothing else. Seeing this, i feel sad, because this is my club.

So when the election for 2009 officers came, i took matter into my own hand. Giving the fact that i do not know this club well and the internal working of Toastmasters, i ran for the office of the 2nd ranking officers, Vice President of Education (VPE). And i was elected. Heck of a VPE it is, it is actually the most demanding office of all the offices. I put a lot of heart and time into it. Sometimes i even guide other officers to do their work better.

When the election for 2009 2nd term officers election came up, i told myself i better get myself a befitting title for the job that i’m doing. So i ran for the president office. Everyone is expecting me to be a president, so there was not much of a challenge during the election. After being elected, I told the members what i told myself, to bring the club back to the level it once was, and get the club more organized internally.

So, after 1 year of VPE and President, together with the officers team, we have brought this club back to where it once was and rebuilt the back of house organization from the ground up. When i started, every documentation is none existent, including financial document. True, it is a daunting task, but when i left, when i saw everything is well organized with proper documentation, it is extra satisfying. Therefore, when handing over the club to the next term president, it feels like i’m giving my own baby away. It’s a hard feeling, a feeling that i know i will only shake off after some time.

In my last email as president, i wrote my member this email.

One thing i wanted to say to my members in the last meeting but didn’t was “Why did i step up for this club when it is in trouble? Because this is my club and i love this club. If they ask me run for area or division level officers, or even district level officers, i may not go for it. But if this club goes into trouble once more in the future, and yes, i will step up and lead this club once again.”

On another hand, in a bigger picture, i once told my girlfriend that, now i’m in Shanghai, i better do something that people will remember me when i’m no longer in this country, i want to leave my name here. I told her and I believe, being a president for PDTMC will be a small step to begin with.

I think I succeed in that regard.

Now, looking forward, in 2010, i plan to… Well, let’s save it for next time, shall we?

China (Grand)Parents Gone Too Far

This is beyond understanding, does not make much sense, and forces me to ask “What’s the point?”

GRANDPARENTS are sitting in the same vacation classes with grandchildren in an attempt to help them with advanced math problems.

The trend emerges as some children fail parents’ high expectations in the subject dubbed both “Math Olympiad” and “Math Acrobatics.”

A lot of children become bored and fall asleep in summer classes and this is where grandparents lend a hand.

For example, Ni Yunkai, 11, a Grade Five elementary school student, yawned during a lecture in the advanced math class, while his 68-year-old grandmother Ni Bingru, who sat behind the children, listened and took notes…

The whole piece of news is here.

On that same note, here is a great presentation of Arthur Benjamin on math that really matters.

Shanghai 2010 World Expo Official Preview

People, this is a very solid reason for you to visit Shanghai (read: me) next year.

I’m very excited after watching this video. Not because of its production value, but the assemble of countries around the world to showcase what they have to offer. It’s a report card that shows what the humanity and different cultures have achieved thus far, and what lies beyond.

Can’t wait….

What do I care in Life?

That’s the question that my girlfriend asked me last night.

Coincidentally, i saw this quote while reading a book on my way to work this morning. This is my reply to her.

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. – Bessie A. Stanley

That’s pretty much me.