Chinese
Coffee cups
This afternoon I had a very pleasant lunch with Richard H. Houghton III at the only Chinese restaurant in the Green Zone. Actually it opened a few days ago, and the ladies serving tables there speak only Chinese. How they got in Baghdad, and for what reason exactly, remains a miracle.
Fortunately enough Richard, Rich for friends, speaks Chinese and six or seven other languages as well.
He has written the thorough “A Visitor’s Guide To Baghdad’s Green Zone” -- a book that can compete with all tourist guides I have read in my life. Only the sections “where to dine”, “where to stay”, “where to cut your hair” are omitted – for obvious reasons.
Nightlife is non-existent in the Green Zone. But I keep looking.
The dumplings we had for lunch were greasy but tasty. Beer, illegal in the Green Zone is being served in coffee cups - at least if you speak Chinese.
The Green Zone
No sex? No drugs? How about the music? And books maybe?Jan T
Drugs? Maybe. As I said officially alcohol is prohibited. By the way one of things I don’t miss at all: drinking. Books? No not really. There is always amazon though. Music? The bar ar Ar-Rashid hotel didn’t look too promising this afternoon.I’m afraid the party in the Green Zone. is over As I was told this afternoon: “Those who organized the parties moved on.”
The days that the Green Zone was the Wild West are past I’m afraid.
Sex? Probably. A massage parlor used to offer more than sex. It was shut down. Read today’s post again. You will find some message between the lines.
It other words: there are plenty of business opportunities for you in the Green Zone.
alive!
I suppose you’re not going to Bagdad for simple pleasures. I assume, that, the simple fact of the danger of losing your live, is enough mental tension. When you feel, you realy can lose your live, isn’t that the ultimate moment of feeling alive?Once upon a time, a felt realy misarable. I wanted to feel. For me the moment to face my greatest fear.... jumping out of a plane....
Dens
The US Army has the famously "don't ask - don't tell" policy. So you still can get discharged because you are gay.On this site the policy is "don't ask -- but feel free to tell".
Mark T
I went to Iraq for journalistic reasons. About the feeling of being threatened and the excitement that can go with this threat I wrote in my book about Afghanistan “Among the soldiers” (Onder de soldaten.)But I do not speak Chinese… Thanks anyway for the comment.
@ Arnon
If you want a beer, just ask for "Yi bei pijiu".Mieke
Thanks! Rich gave me more or less the same advice.Between you and me, do you have a Chinese lover?
@ Arnon
A Chinese is still lacking on my list. If you know someone, send him over.Aha.
By the way, the miracle of the Chinese being present, can perhaps being explained because of the Irakian fugitives in the east of China. Among these fugitives are a lot of traders. What comes around goes around......
