Last weekend a group of three ecstatic revellers hopped on the ferry to Jung Saan (Zhongshan) and got straight in a taxi at the ferry pier and darted into the hinterland.
In the lovely, slightly run-down town of Toi Saan (yeah, yeah, “Taishan” – actually the town itself is called Toi Seng) we revisited the Golden Chilli, the best Sichuan restaurant in town and with the loudest proprietress in the world. She won new fans among ah-Jeun and ah-Leun.
But here is the MYTH I wanted to debunk, and listen carefully for it is important.
Many, many people have told me that they can’t practise Cantonese in Guangdong province because “everybody speaks Mandarin”. Er, no. Everybody speaks to them in Mandarin.
During our trip it happened probably 12 or 15 times; I’d be chatting to someone in Cantonese, but when I told that person that the two guys ah-Jeun and ah-Lun also spoke Cantonese, he would immediately address them in Mandarin – in fact would compliment them on their excellent Cantonese – in Mandarin!
Sound familar? Yes. That’s what Hong Kong people do too – only in English. They are brainwashed to speak any language but their own when up against Whitey. They think they are being polite. They also think “maybe you can speak, but you can in no way understand [your Cantonese is very good], so let me tell you in a way you can understand.”
So when you go into the hinterland to immerse yourself in Cantonese, whatever you do, don’t give up! They DO speak Cantonese.
And learn from Lei Feng. (The geezer at the bottom of the photo below)
台山 – Toi Saan (Platform Hill/Taishan)
台城 – Toi Seng (Platform City/Taicheng)
金辣椒 – Gam Lat Chiu (Gold Chilli)
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Are you going into mainland China on a tour (with me for example), travelling for business or going there anyway? Even if you’re driven around by a personal guide, waited on hand and foot by people who speak English, it’s always useful to speak some Mandarin.
In only three or four short hours, I’ll teach you everything you need to know about
Like Cantonese in Hong Kong, a little bit of Mandarin goes a super long way in the mainland, and unlike Hong Kong, people won’t be answering you in English.
As well as general stuff, we’ll set off some time addressing your specific travel needs, which you will have emailed me beforehand. With the course material I give you, packaged in a travel-friendly way and complete with Chinese characters to show to people, you can even do the “solo intrepid traveller” bit by yourself.
With the basic phrases you learn from me and practise on locals, you will be conversant in no time. (And the Chinese only want to know where you’re from, where you’re going and how long you’ve been in China anyway.) I’ve been travelling in China for 21 years and know the score.
Now I’ve boiled all those years down to a ONE DAY CRASH COURSE!
HAPPY JELLYFISH PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC LANGUAGE BUREAU.
Everything Chinese made easy.
