It seemed high-time that I got around to joining the "What’s In Your Bag" bandwagon and contributing my own collection of curios to the mix.

Left-to-right, top-to-bottom:

1. Belkin NE-MS 12" Laptop Messenger Case (Website) – Recently purchased during a trip to Hong Kong.

2. Friendly Bunny – An as-yet nameless but exceedingly friendly bunny who recently found his way to Beijing from Taipei.

3. Shanghai Tang Writing Case (Website) – One of the few decent Chinese fashion brands out there, Shanghai Tang contribues one of the more garish things in the bag.

4. MacBook Air (Website) – A fairly frivolous purchase during my last trip back to Japan, the MacBook Air is now the prize jewel of the collection.

5. Sony Reader (Website) – Sony’s second attempt at an eBook reader makes a fairly good paperback replacement.

6. Ray-Ban Sunglasses – Slightly practical. Mostly for posing.

7. Victorinox – A seemingly more heavy-duty gunmetal equivalent of the Leatherman as made by Victorinox.

8. British Passport – A must when living abroad – "Her Britannic Majesty’s Secretary of State Requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance, and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary."

9. Shure SE310s – Using a pair of these is like hearing your music collection for the first time all over again.

10. Security Pass – Two RFID cards, an RSA keyfob and various other miscellanea.

11. Pen & Glass Marker – While it may be straight out of a scene in A Beautiful Mind, carrying a glass marker is perfect for anyone who finds themselves with an idea but without a whiteboard. Thankfully there is no shortage of windows!

12. Business Cards – No self-respecting business-man-in-asia should be without a set.

13. Wallet – A chinese knock-off bought in the Silk Market, Beijing. The wallet came with a choice of either Gucci or Armani branding. Less than 100 RMB and genuine leather to boot!

14. iPhone (Website) & Moshi iPouch (Website) – The battery life may be terrible and the telephony questionable, but I cannot cope without this one. The iPouch is the best I’ve found so far.

15. Seiko Watch – A 20th birthday present which has suffered more than its fair share of war wounds.

16. Mints – A box of ‘National Embarassmints’ sporting a picture of our good friend Mr. George W. Bush. Some things never get old.

17. Taiwanese Pebble – An exceedingly thoughtful gift from Junko, hand-picked from the shores of a Taiwanese beach.

Looking at the various offerings, it seems I’m not the only one with a bunny in the bag.

In the past, I have made a number of postings about things one might see or experience only in Japan. Having now spent about a month in China, I can say with reasonable certainty that this phenomenon is not only limited to Japan but that each country sports its own, unique, oddities. China no less than any other.

Two shining examples stand out thus far — captured on film for posterity:

The Osama Bin Lolly — for want of a better name — seems to be a wonderful example of the marketing techniques of a country which doesn’t quite understand international politics. That attitude which says, ‘if their photo is on the front of a newspaper then they just must be famous’. Somehow the good vs. bad argument just doesn’t enter into it; there just isn’t the comprehension. It is this same attitude which keeps much of Asia thinking that to be British means you must be personally aquainted with David Beckham, the Queen or — god forbid — both.

The second example is more of a multi-directional misunderstanding. Here in China Beijing, the city is gripped in Olympic fever. And by that, what I mean is, it is impossible to go anywhere without seeing the ugly mug of one of those mascots.

The Olympic slogan adopted by China reads “One World, One Dream”. A wonderful sentiment. Until, that is, it is borrowed and tweaked into something bound to upset any freedom-loving American:

Since encountering this, Junko has explained to me how it might not be quite as extreme as it first seems. Apparently, here in China, ‘red’ can mean popular, successful, etc, and might not — in fact — be referring to the ideals of Communism which first spring to mind. Either way, it gave me quite a chuckle.

Apologies to any readership located in China. Wikipedia links will be unaccessible as, for some reason, the government feels the need to block this wonderful resource…

Update: Mouse has pointed out an alternative take on the Olympic mascots.

As is becoming traditional (can one have tradition after only 2 years?), I returned to the UK over Christmas, spending a week in London and a week up North (no-orph).

Shockingly, London proved almost enjoyable this year and wandering around a Covent Garden decked out for Christmas was a pleasant experience. I tried to take a few photos but with a disappointing lack of success: the only one which came out was this heap of giant baubles:

Today, for some reason, I find myself missing a typical British Bonfire Night: a small fireworks display above an effigy of a burning man observed while standing in the rain in a muddy field, writing your name in the air with sparklers and eating toffee apples.

Remember remember the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder, treason,
Should ever be forgot…

There’s something rather dark about the whole affair which cannot quite be replaced by a superb hour-long display on a clear summer evening in Japan.

It seems that nothing is allowed to ship these days without a piece of mapping software.

While destined to be forever out-classed by the UI wizardry of the Apple iPhone and its Google Maps implementation, In7 is now equipped with a solution of its very own. Currently only showing my trip through Russia, I expect to be expanding upon this in the coming months.

Check out the “Maps” link for more (or go here).