Just got back from a 2 month project in China - Glad to be home, I am very TIRED!

Their ISP (and other public) infrastructure bites (except that their mobile phone services are the best I've seen - even worked on the Great Wall). Internet services are a nightmare to implement because of lack of skilled personnel. Tons of script kiddies and even a few legitimate hackers.

They do seem to be about the nicest people I have met in a long time; helpful, kind and not too judgmental (except in their media).

Poverty and pollution levels were far worse than I expected or imagined! Everything I brought (clothes, bags, laptop...) smelled like a smoldering cigarette laced with oil and aluminum.

Traveling there anytime soon? Watch out for Bus drivers (a bit on the wild side), taxi drivers (driving there is like a free for all - you gotta see it to appreciate it), and the occasional street vendors (sometimes aggressive).

Working with construction or technology vendors is a challenge - the slightest change in a quote requires a complete rebuild of the entire quote...

All things considered, it was an excellent learning experience (cultural, and a real eye opener!). I will say that Microsoft has a very tough road ahead of them. You can get almost anything software or hardware related there in either a hack form, an original form, or a "cloned" form

I do look forward to going back - just not for a couple of months. My daughter (almost 2 yrs old) was sooooo happy to see me I wanted to cry. She has yet to let me out of her sight (after a week at home).

Enjoy Life. It only comes around once!

Regards,

Danny