China is SO flexible!The telephone authorities are apparently charging 100 RMB less for any mobile number is viewed as inauspicious because the word for death sounds similar.

A new trend in piercing is emerging, although it's rather less physically intrusive than some -- pierced fingernails. A lady I met named Lu Jing who works at the X bar in the Park Hotel proudly showed me her long, silver nails with a bangle dangling from the edge of the left ring finger. Very cool. Although not very practical if you play a musical instrument.

I understand there's an old Chinese phrase about Suzhou and Hangzhou -- maybe you've heard it -- "Su you xi lai deng, hang you xiang ge li la". Interesting, no?

There's said to be a large Thai restaurant in Hongqiao which is getting great reviews both for the food and the prices. But I still can't figure out where it is or what it is called. Can anyone help?

And speaking of Thai food, a new three-in-one venue will soon be opening somewhere in the Ruijin Hotel complex, the first time Tandoor has had any competition on the Indian market although the Thai market is now getting decidedly crowded.

I was down in Suzhou last week end and spotted a large sign on the wall of a building construction site which said: "building for people to build people". What on earth does it mean?

Rojam is the disco people talk about these days, but where did the name come from? It was pointed out to me yesterday that turned around the name spells "Major". Could this be a coincidence?

My good friend Coco is moving into a really great little line of business and becoming a Friday and Saturday night party impressario. It looks like he is holding them in different places around town. The first was at Park 97 the second at JBL. So keep your ear to the ground and I'll see you there!

Byeeeee!!!