Oolong Musk 🇵🇸
@curtexplores.bsky.social
China. Travel. Music. Sport. Culture. Whatever.
Free Palestine.
Free Palestine.
Betacross Tracks of 2025: 100 - 76 🧵
December 7, 2025 at 4:04 AM
Betacross Tracks of 2025: 100 - 76 🧵
Often the hardest part of putting together my 100 tracks of the year list is not deciding on which song goes were, but on choosing which to cut form the longlist.
This year, that longlist was 141 songs long.
He's the 41 that just missed out. Consider them honorable mentions 🧵
This year, that longlist was 141 songs long.
He's the 41 that just missed out. Consider them honorable mentions 🧵
December 6, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Often the hardest part of putting together my 100 tracks of the year list is not deciding on which song goes were, but on choosing which to cut form the longlist.
This year, that longlist was 141 songs long.
He's the 41 that just missed out. Consider them honorable mentions 🧵
This year, that longlist was 141 songs long.
He's the 41 that just missed out. Consider them honorable mentions 🧵
You will be pleased to hear that he appeared twice in the 'Good Band, Shit Person' round in this years Music League competition
December 1, 2025 at 8:45 AM
You will be pleased to hear that he appeared twice in the 'Good Band, Shit Person' round in this years Music League competition
Recently put together my '50 Tracks of the First Half of the Decade'.
Was hoping to share them as little clips like I usually do so you could sample each song before listening, but that no longer seems to work. What a pity.
But anyway - here's the list! 🧵
Was hoping to share them as little clips like I usually do so you could sample each song before listening, but that no longer seems to work. What a pity.
But anyway - here's the list! 🧵
December 1, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Recently put together my '50 Tracks of the First Half of the Decade'.
Was hoping to share them as little clips like I usually do so you could sample each song before listening, but that no longer seems to work. What a pity.
But anyway - here's the list! 🧵
Was hoping to share them as little clips like I usually do so you could sample each song before listening, but that no longer seems to work. What a pity.
But anyway - here's the list! 🧵
We were due to visit Japan for Christmas. Had started weighing up our options with the current geopolitical tension.
I thank the Ambassador for making our decision for us by making it about lazy stereotypes of people no way involved.
Absolutely no desire to visit now.
I thank the Ambassador for making our decision for us by making it about lazy stereotypes of people no way involved.
Absolutely no desire to visit now.
November 21, 2025 at 9:27 AM
We were due to visit Japan for Christmas. Had started weighing up our options with the current geopolitical tension.
I thank the Ambassador for making our decision for us by making it about lazy stereotypes of people no way involved.
Absolutely no desire to visit now.
I thank the Ambassador for making our decision for us by making it about lazy stereotypes of people no way involved.
Absolutely no desire to visit now.
(I'm not saying he edits his own page too, but I will say that an account called 'Ccpvid19' added the politician infobox & did some of the early editing (alongside a non-logged in user w/ a QLD IP).
'Ccpvid19' has only ever edited one page - Drew Pavlou - & also uploaded some other pics of him.)
'Ccpvid19' has only ever edited one page - Drew Pavlou - & also uploaded some other pics of him.)
November 18, 2025 at 10:15 AM
(I'm not saying he edits his own page too, but I will say that an account called 'Ccpvid19' added the politician infobox & did some of the early editing (alongside a non-logged in user w/ a QLD IP).
'Ccpvid19' has only ever edited one page - Drew Pavlou - & also uploaded some other pics of him.)
'Ccpvid19' has only ever edited one page - Drew Pavlou - & also uploaded some other pics of him.)
Anyway since we're on China commentators, I also found out Drew Pavlou added his own picture to his Wikipedia page, which is quite funny isn't it?
November 18, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Anyway since we're on China commentators, I also found out Drew Pavlou added his own picture to his Wikipedia page, which is quite funny isn't it?
Not one of them have called this out. The only slight acknowledgement was to attack me for doing so when I pointed out that no one had questioned him calling murdered Palestinian children 'dead niglets' & calling rape victims 'porn stars'. Since then, nothing.
Plenty of moralizing, just not on Buki
Plenty of moralizing, just not on Buki
November 14, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Not one of them have called this out. The only slight acknowledgement was to attack me for doing so when I pointed out that no one had questioned him calling murdered Palestinian children 'dead niglets' & calling rape victims 'porn stars'. Since then, nothing.
Plenty of moralizing, just not on Buki
Plenty of moralizing, just not on Buki
A good friend to many of the moral arbiters of the China Twitter space 👇🏻
November 14, 2025 at 3:02 AM
A good friend to many of the moral arbiters of the China Twitter space 👇🏻
Surely that would be uncomfortable for both
November 13, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Surely that would be uncomfortable for both
Ancient rune or chicken foot?
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Ancient rune or chicken foot?
Night kites over the business district
November 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Night kites over the business district
A beautiful performance by the NCPA Orchestra & Beijing Philharmonic Choir performing 炎黄风情 at the sleek & smooth National Center for Performing Arts.
My first time inside, & my first full orchestra performance!
My first time inside, & my first full orchestra performance!
November 7, 2025 at 2:18 PM
A beautiful performance by the NCPA Orchestra & Beijing Philharmonic Choir performing 炎黄风情 at the sleek & smooth National Center for Performing Arts.
My first time inside, & my first full orchestra performance!
My first time inside, & my first full orchestra performance!
All will be revealed come the end of the year with my '100 tracks of the year' countdown.
For now, I have about 9 or 10 albums on the waitlist & a preliminary 128 tracks that deserve to be in the top 100.
I'm fairly sure I know what will be no.1 though
For now, I have about 9 or 10 albums on the waitlist & a preliminary 128 tracks that deserve to be in the top 100.
I'm fairly sure I know what will be no.1 though
November 7, 2025 at 5:36 AM
All will be revealed come the end of the year with my '100 tracks of the year' countdown.
For now, I have about 9 or 10 albums on the waitlist & a preliminary 128 tracks that deserve to be in the top 100.
I'm fairly sure I know what will be no.1 though
For now, I have about 9 or 10 albums on the waitlist & a preliminary 128 tracks that deserve to be in the top 100.
I'm fairly sure I know what will be no.1 though
Hmm, I wonder if it's the same people who run the one in nearby Suzhou? If so, it's one of my favourite restaurants in the country. If not, great! A new place to try!
Next time I'm in Shanghai I'll head there for sure
Next time I'm in Shanghai I'll head there for sure
November 7, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Hmm, I wonder if it's the same people who run the one in nearby Suzhou? If so, it's one of my favourite restaurants in the country. If not, great! A new place to try!
Next time I'm in Shanghai I'll head there for sure
Next time I'm in Shanghai I'll head there for sure
Indeed, we ate at Beijing's Vege Tiger 素虎 buffet in Qianmen for Christmas this year - 130 vegan dishes, only 78rmb, & decent quality too!
November 7, 2025 at 5:33 AM
Indeed, we ate at Beijing's Vege Tiger 素虎 buffet in Qianmen for Christmas this year - 130 vegan dishes, only 78rmb, & decent quality too!
Some of my favourite dishes ever have come from these type of places, though they're usually reserved as a treat.
The 锅包'肉' from the afformentioned Hohhot place
The 松鼠鳜'鱼' from Lotus in Suzhou.
The 叉烧'肉' from Fortunate Cafe in Shanghai
The 锅包'肉' from the afformentioned Hohhot place
The 松鼠鳜'鱼' from Lotus in Suzhou.
The 叉烧'肉' from Fortunate Cafe in Shanghai
November 7, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Some of my favourite dishes ever have come from these type of places, though they're usually reserved as a treat.
The 锅包'肉' from the afformentioned Hohhot place
The 松鼠鳜'鱼' from Lotus in Suzhou.
The 叉烧'肉' from Fortunate Cafe in Shanghai
The 锅包'肉' from the afformentioned Hohhot place
The 松鼠鳜'鱼' from Lotus in Suzhou.
The 叉烧'肉' from Fortunate Cafe in Shanghai
These can get pretty high end. Kings Joy (guide.michelin.com/hk/en/beijin...) in Beijing held 3 Michelin stars until recently & still has 2. I've never been, of course, but on the same road is Veggie Table - more in my budget (& very tasty, albeit not specifically Chinese food)
November 7, 2025 at 5:16 AM
These can get pretty high end. Kings Joy (guide.michelin.com/hk/en/beijin...) in Beijing held 3 Michelin stars until recently & still has 2. I've never been, of course, but on the same road is Veggie Table - more in my budget (& very tasty, albeit not specifically Chinese food)
Though it is true that the bigger the city, the more likely you are to find more of these. I have two I sometimes order from in work if I'm working late - the first here is cheaper & does nice meat-style 饺子, the second more expensive but does great vegan 宫保鸡丁.
November 7, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Though it is true that the bigger the city, the more likely you are to find more of these. I have two I sometimes order from in work if I'm working late - the first here is cheaper & does nice meat-style 饺子, the second more expensive but does great vegan 宫保鸡丁.
The second are the vegetarian-specific restaurants that make meatless alternatives to dishes that usually contain meat.
Most cities will have these - one of my favourites ever was in Baotou (pictured in 2017), another in Hohhot. Not big cities!
These are often but not always near temples.
Most cities will have these - one of my favourites ever was in Baotou (pictured in 2017), another in Hohhot. Not big cities!
These are often but not always near temples.
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 AM
The second are the vegetarian-specific restaurants that make meatless alternatives to dishes that usually contain meat.
Most cities will have these - one of my favourites ever was in Baotou (pictured in 2017), another in Hohhot. Not big cities!
These are often but not always near temples.
Most cities will have these - one of my favourites ever was in Baotou (pictured in 2017), another in Hohhot. Not big cities!
These are often but not always near temples.
There's two types of vegetarian food in China, I'd say (& indeed this is by no means unique to China, it's a global thing).
The first, & what comprises the majority of my diet, is the 'accidently vegetarian' section.
The first, & what comprises the majority of my diet, is the 'accidently vegetarian' section.
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 AM
There's two types of vegetarian food in China, I'd say (& indeed this is by no means unique to China, it's a global thing).
The first, & what comprises the majority of my diet, is the 'accidently vegetarian' section.
The first, & what comprises the majority of my diet, is the 'accidently vegetarian' section.
Have you been talking small talk lessons from a taxi driver?
To answer your other questions.
- The UK
- No, I'm not married
- Yes, I love this country
- Sure, but the cost of living is much higher too
- No thank you, I don't smoke/Oh, thanks! (depending on who I'm with)
To answer your other questions.
- The UK
- No, I'm not married
- Yes, I love this country
- Sure, but the cost of living is much higher too
- No thank you, I don't smoke/Oh, thanks! (depending on who I'm with)
November 7, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Have you been talking small talk lessons from a taxi driver?
To answer your other questions.
- The UK
- No, I'm not married
- Yes, I love this country
- Sure, but the cost of living is much higher too
- No thank you, I don't smoke/Oh, thanks! (depending on who I'm with)
To answer your other questions.
- The UK
- No, I'm not married
- Yes, I love this country
- Sure, but the cost of living is much higher too
- No thank you, I don't smoke/Oh, thanks! (depending on who I'm with)
Lots has changed since I moved here, including the loss of the easiest route. Now, I'm probably not the guy to ask. But I did read they're easing the visa requirements for STEM graduates?
I think the easiest route, though, would be post-graduate study
I think the easiest route, though, would be post-graduate study
November 7, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Lots has changed since I moved here, including the loss of the easiest route. Now, I'm probably not the guy to ask. But I did read they're easing the visa requirements for STEM graduates?
I think the easiest route, though, would be post-graduate study
I think the easiest route, though, would be post-graduate study