Kinda the only way you can do this without being killed, kidnapped, or trafficked. He pushes the limits even than by his joking comments only one person that has power could see that and be in big trouble
When I first saw your videos, I thought you were a little too low-key. But now I like it! Too many vloggers feel the need to act like teenagers or try to make everything extra exciting. You are very knowledgeable, and your videos are super interesting!
Yet he’s been shadow banned… kinda sad. There other bloggers that get millions of views with kinda crappy content. This guy makes fantastic videos… yet he hardly ever gets past 200/300k views.
I'm an American who just found your videos. I have always been interested in China, its history, politics, food, people, language, and geography. Just wanted to say your types of videos are the ones I love.. Not flashy, no loud music with a CRAzy over the top intro/outro, no added sounds. Just simply showing us what it's like, organic sounds and scenes of daily life. love it
Hello Tommy, here is the citizen of Guangzhou. So glad that you been Guangzhou! I am always surprised by your knowledge of the city that you were traveling, including this time! Your language ability and the way you talk to the local people, that’s so cool man! Love your video, wish you have an amazing trip.
@@brando8086 But Cantonese is very different to mandarin and shanghainese in terms of pronunciation, Mandarin and shanghainese has four tones whereas cantonese has eight. What amazes me is this guy can speak several languages fairly well when he is travelling to different regions. I was borned in Guangzhou and lived there for 13 years, but I have never managed to speak cantonese since the state schools forces you to speak mandarin at school. In 2018 I came to Aus for middle school so I never had the chance to learn cantonese, this november I am finishing my high school and I will go back to china for half a year, I really hope to pick up my cantonese this time!
I’m Cantonese born and raised in Guangzhou and grew up iexactly in Xiaobei area, gotta say watching your video brings me right back to my childhood a lot. A lot of mixed experiences with African community in the Xiaobei area (not bad! Just mixed!). I haven’t been back for a good dozen year, and your video gives me homesick. Thank you for the work.
You will be surprised by the rate of change. I read that the local metro Rail, they aim to build 50 Kms a year. Quite amazing. I am a Nzer of Chinese origin. When will you visit?
Your comments are very insightful, unlike some TH-camrs in China who only say things for the sake of views and money. Furthermore, your understanding of the language, history, and culture of Canton and the Cantonese is impressive. I hope to see more of your travel videos in Canton region, and I wish you a pleasant journey.
Brings back so many memories!! I lived in China for ten years. The only thing I didn’t haggle over was food !! There is an underground shopping mall in Shanghai that is nothing but knock off brands. It’s crazy, so much fun!! The Chinese are a great people and the real Chinese food is incredible!!!
@@louiegonzales1407 - The counterfeit brands are for the Westerners that demand these items. Just because a few make the knockoffs doesn’t mean everyone does. As in the US just because some are looting stores doesn’t mean everyone loots.
Bro, you seem to be really happy in China. I noticed in many of your videos you didn't have much of a smile, but now your smile has clearly increased. That's great.
Commented in another video, I’m so impressed by Tommy’s linguistic talent. Also, at a time when many politicians are hot headed, I hope ordinary Americans watch the videos.
Okay Tommy, firstly let me say congrats on exceeding 500k. Your unique knowledge of the history of all places you have visited issome next level stuff. But then you put your foot in it with your language grasp. Damn Tommy to say you're amazing is an understatement. I dont believe anyone at the UN could outdo your polyglot level. Then, by the admission of even native chinese , many say they are not as good. Your humility and wit , pleasantry, and people skills puts you in a class by yourself. Tommy, you literally should run an international lecture series where you inform and entertain hefty audiences for a well deserved speaking fee. Bro EVERYONE would go see you!! There's a reason you got to 500k, although someone else implied you may have been shadow banned because other vloggers who just throw the one simple language around, are courting millions of subs. Tbh tho to jump from 20k in March 2021 when I first saw you in Tanzania to 500k in September 2023 is still a respectable climb. Bro i know you could skate on the youtube funds alone but if it wont be a hindrance consider having these meetups . In an academic setting of your choosing would be awesome. You're Harvard wit cruising along like the everyman from NY, and thats your magic. Always looking forward to your next history tinged travel vlog, with one certainty, you're gonna knock it out the park. I think with you around AI may have met its match Tommy. 😂
Your knowledge of the cities you travel to is better than the average person, which is admirable! Your fluent language resonates with local people and is amazing! I really appreciate your video and hope you have fun. You travel across countries with friendly and open eyes, bringing us a different perspective, and I send you my best wishes🌹
@@mattsavage9960here we have another AmeriKKKanoid Shill - Well done proud patriot, you’ve earned 2 cents and +1 U-SS social credit points for doing your patriotic duty
@@mattsavage9960lmao little buddy here also thinks superp00per India will be the next powerhouse 🤣🤡🤕 yeah yeah keep believing in your dream daddy Gordon Chang who’s been “predicting” china’s fall for the past 20 years 🤣 typical Westoid shills are laughable 🤡 #DownBad
I first visited Guangzhou in 2012. This video makes me want to go back. It's not the most touristy city, but there's something about it that gets under your skin. One of the best cities in the world for food too in my opinion.
When I was young my mom told me about how wonderful life in Guangzhou, it’s foods, movies after schools, streets,,, especially during times when she was in junior high and high school.. this was before 1949. I wish I can visit Guangzhou one day
Jesus man remember your stop look and listen. 27:21 nearly checked out... But your Boss Level attitude is now a shield. Cheers for the epic content as always... your a man without a shadow.
When I was between the ages of 1-3yrs old, our family lived in Malaysia, where there was a lot of Cantonese people. So one of the first languages I learnt was Cantonese from some very lovely friendly, beautiful & kind Chinese people & you’re correct, they make some of the best food around. I just want to say “duo xie” for these fascinating insights into local Chinese ways & sights. 🙏☺️
This is still my favorite travel channel, but this series through China is on another level! Travel on, homeboy... and look both ways. Cheers, from New Hampshire.
Love the episode. I used to watch serpentza and loawhey do this, but all they do now is bash on China. Love how you highlight the good things and are tasteful about the bad. Keep up the good work
Serpentza and laowhy were originally pretty objective about China, but later found out that anti china/ccp contents earn them great viewership and profits in the west, so they changed accordingly.
Your video brings back lovely memories! ❤ Flashback to 14 years ago, right out of college, I was filled with zeal and joined an NGO in Beijing. Six months in, with not a penny to my name, I felt the weight of my dreams clashing with reality. Seeking change, I ventured to West Africa, and that twist led me to further my education in the US. (Big shoutout to Notre Dame for the full ride!) That leap of faith transformed my life. Today, I'm blessed with financial freedom, have had the honor to teach at Arizona State, founded my own company, and I'm pouring my heart into videos to spread financial knowledge and inspire others to truly live. I often wonder, if I hadn't taken that first step away from home, where would I be now? 🌍📚🎥🌱
hahahaha, great work again Tommy. My favorite city too in China. Hope you are doing well now, saw in the latest video that you weren't feeling well, get well soon and take good care.
I can't make up my mind what I am most impressed by in this. The freedom to vlog, the openess of the city, the hot babes or the fact that you actually wore that shirt and shorts in public. It definitely wasn't the watch though. Great work man.
Guangzhou and surrounding cities like Shenzhen are pretty much the most developed and free cities in China. The story is different if you go to western China
@@btroy3768 - And you can also have a "drive by shooting" tour, "smash and grab" tour and "dine and dash" tour in US. There is not a day goes by without reading some body got shot and killed in the news.
Man you have the best travel videos on youtube or period i have ever seen. Makes me feel like im right there with you. Im most definitely surprised you dont got over 1M subscribers yet.
As a Chinese from Wuhan, I have much less knowledge about Guangzhou than Tommy, haha 😄. as Tommy said in the video, Guangzhou is really his second home, it's amazing , right? don't know Tommy's next city to visit, i hope it's a city in Sichuan, e.g. Chengdu, the city I've planed to go.
Hi! I stumbled upon your blog and I liked it. I want to ask you few things about China/IT. How can I contact you besides WeChat? Maybe WhatsApp/IG/Telegram?
Sabbatical, Good you are back and I love the video fun. It was hilarious to see you make the watch vendor laugh and accept your negotiated offer. You had me anxious there for a moment in one scene when I saw the fella on a motorcycle coming at you while you walked into traffic and didn't look, and the cyclist braked and the wheels squealed to stop. You just kept going like you missed the whole thing, which you did ---barely.
Hey Tommy, seen as you're checking out china atm.. It'd be great if you visited Kaifeng city in Henan. It has an interesting past and there a bunch of temples and they do shows.. I love travelling the globe through all your uploads, Thank you :)
Your narration and knowledge of the places you show us in China are both A-1. I especially like your tours of Shanghai and Quangzhou and make me want to visit them.
i'd say sabbatical is one of those laowais who really know how china works. Even I, a chinese born, haven't been to half of the places in his videos. I guess as a han chinese i was used and educated to live on the surface of these big city bubbles, not being able to see all these ethnic groups and expat community cultures scattered beneath them. this is truely a nicer travel guide than Lonely Planet imo.
I think what makes him different from other bloggers is that he doesn't try to give his opinion on many things and just accepts the way things are in other countries. Also he is always kind and respectful to the locals which goes a long way.
The picture Tommy paints of Guangzhou is quite the opposite of that of other China channels which show the many streets of closed businesses and factories. So it's nice to see that everything is not all "doom and gloom".
😂What you see is what the Western media wants you to see, which is completely opposite to the real situation. Many low-end manufacturing factories have gone bankrupt, because China is already a base for mid-to-high-end products, and most of the low-end factories have moved to Southeast Asia, China Some low-end factories have been retained, but they are basically fully automated. The West should feel the crisis. Why do you say China is collapsing? Maybe those reporters don’t even have the brains. You have to know that even if the West bans all Chinese products, the Chinese will still make money. Money, because most of the owners of low-end factories in Southeast Asia are Chinese. 😂, so I can only say that Western politicians are basically idiots.
In addition, many Chinese channels are not necessarily Chinese, most of them are filmed by Taiwanese. Their method is to fake and smear, without understanding the reasons behind it.😂
You have this dry wit and this speech pattern that is very entertaining to listen to..and your expressions are amusing! You arent sucking up to the country or the locals like some youtubers are doing in China. Subscribed!
Dang, you've reminded me on how much I miss China. It's been almost 5 years since my last time. I have wife's family in XinHui, a county of Jiangmen. Small third or fourth-tier city of 3.2 million. Go and check it out sometime. Famous for it's mandarin peel tea, and also has a Lee Kum Kee soy sauce factory....it's BIG! Thanks again for a wonderful video.
I loved it that you showed the older and more charming districts. Many TH-camrs only show the touristy/gentrified modern places, which in my opinion feel quite bland, and completely ignore the historic center. You should show Dongshankou next time, it has a very distinct hipsterish vibe.
hey Tommy as you explore your old digs it brings a smile to this 75 year old guy living off the BC coast woodstove going coffee in hand I get to enjoy your adventures...... I just want to thank you, I'm not sure if you have a mailing address back in NY if so I would love to send you a gift as a way of showing you my deep appreciation ......all the best Paul
#26:30 These little awnings are known as The Five-Foot-Way 'verandah', a legacy of British Architecture and Town Planning in Singapore and Malatya, was first mandated by Stamford Raffles as part of his 1822 Town Plan of Singapore. This concept was then brought back to Southern China by returnees of Cantonese, Hokkien and Teochew descent and has been fairly common in Guangdong and Fujian..
Five-foot way It's a Dutch system, still in use in Holland and Indonesia, Dutch East India Company, Batavia ! Not British at all, forget the Redcoats, why so evil ?
The excellence of his fluency and the varied number of languages is a marvel, but it is his humor in his ongoing dialogue with the viewer that is the best part of the videos.
if you're still in china, you should go to Yangshuo / Guillin, it has these nice mountains. When you're there there is a language school called Omeida, they're great
Oh my the bit where you upload the October holiday bought back memories. We landed Beijing on national holidays and I had never seen so many people on the subway was next level
My man started out with a Polo shirt, an hour later sporting around a Balenciaga shirt and Cartier watch. LoL You really should have bought the Gucci sunglasses too to complete the package.
Can I suggest you showing more maps and perhaps a mini map on the side sometimes showing where are you walking through? I know this might be a vibe killer if it follows the whole video, but I it would be pretty cool to have a sense of location of the places you go to - whether it is downtown or suburb, etc. Love your channel, I am really hooked!
Nah, it's a total vibe killer, I wouldn't recommend he do that. He's found his vlogging 'voice' ever since Mexico. There are some where he includes maps but as a whole, adding maps would make the videos feel too 'produced'.
I think I’ve watched about 20 of your videos now. I’ve lived in Shanghai for the past 10 years. You show China so well. But this might be my favorite video so far!
That was interesting, realizing that maybe the "quality" issue was due to a learning curve! Also, I would have been interested to see what you had at your favorite restaurant - or what they had to offer! I enjoyed your video very much.
you did great with this one, keep doing it! I just wanted to take a moment to say how amazing your video was! I was really impressed with the quality of the footage, the editing, and the overall presentation. You did a great job of explaining the topic in a clear and concise way, and I learned a lot from watching your video. ;)
Cool videos! have you visited Xinjiang, China? That could be an interesting place to visit. I'd like very much to know what is going on there? from your eyes of course.
You’ve got a really good channel. You speak very honestly and to the point. You show the world people are all same Be careful you don’t get demonetised lol
Thanks sabbatical! I will travel China in a few months as well. Watching your videos and experiencing the Chinese life makes my toes wiggle. I can't wait to see China
An interesting fact I found at knock off goods markets in ShenZhen and Shanghai, is that at least 50% customers are foreigners....That's the case about 7-10 years ago when I visited there.
Thank you for never denying you’re American. Easily you could pretend to be any other Nationality. Especially with your mastery of Spanish & other languages. But you choose not to. Even when confronted with the fact people don’t like The U.S.
@@xinjin902 Yes of course, they have no choice but to choose one. I know Americans who disliked Hilary Clinton and Trump, so they had to elect the lesser evil of the two. They can't be supporting all the policies of a candidate. The average Americans I've met are very friendly and polite, but it's been a very long time since I studied there. BTW, I also think average Americans are naive and self-righteous, and easily brainwashed by politicians. 🤪 So I blame the politicians.
Your a great story teller , I’m learning so much from you. about the China you worked in for a decade . I like how the people are impressed with your Chinese accent. Regards from Perth Australia … a fan of yours 😀😃
Always entertaining videos, interesting to discover the Chinese culture, of which I am particularly fond about it. We do know very little about this amazing country. It will be very interesting to watch Shenzhen city, I mean, I own thousands of objects, that are all made there, it must be a very prolific place.
i randomly found your channel tonight. this is only the second video i've watched, but you definitely got the juice. forreal. your demeanor is non invasive, while standing out like a sore thumb. cool. calm. collected. you remind me of one of the homies i grew up with in the PNW. glad i found you, after finding out Bald & Bankrupt is a weird sex tourist creep.
The knock off shopping in South Korea is also very interesting. I remember buying a Polex watch for around $30. Nice to see you level up your style, this will earn you some booty for sure!!
@@johnnewton8017Oh, yeah, the shoes are a no-go. When I was stationed in Busan you'd be able to easily identify the guys who bought local shoes after a PT run. Those things turned to dust in less than a week.
Some West Indian Islanders make soups and stews with chicken feet. Very tasty. It's not so uncommon. I love your travel vids. I will check out the advertisement. Thank you mr sabbatical🙌🏽
Tommy: [Looks at an expensive, genuinely authentic Cartier watch] How much? Lady seller: $40. Tommy: Too expensive. Lady seller: Come on, it is Cartier. Tommy: OK, how about $30? Lady seller: $35, do you want me to adjust the band length? Tommy: [Proudly walks away with his expensive, genuinely authentic Cartier watch] Me: 🤣🤣🤣
thx u 4 showing the world,that the world and mostly the peoples are so much better then the oficcial sayings are..u do a really important job. greatest respect for ya interesst in language..želim ti dug i sretan život!živio..peace
I love how you just somehow coast through countries under the radar without making a scene. Nice and laid back. Love the work, man.
Kinda the only way you can do this without being killed, kidnapped, or trafficked. He pushes the limits even than by his joking comments only one person that has power could see that and be in big trouble
@@jumpy2xstreamingthere are other ways… you should see what Kurt Caz does
@@jumpy2xstreamingSitting in a well and looking at the sky(坐井观天)
@@jumpy2xstreaming I think China is safer than the United States and many other countries. We don’t have to worry about robbery, drugs, or shootings.
I am a CCP member. I love this guy. He is very rational, neutral and objective.
When I first saw your videos, I thought you were a little too low-key. But now I like it! Too many vloggers feel the need to act like teenagers or try to make everything extra exciting. You are very knowledgeable, and your videos are super interesting!
We almost saw sabatticals last video @ 27:22..... 😂. Honestly, he makes better travel videos than anyone else on youtube.
the guy had to slam the brakes🤣 even heard the skid
Lmfao geeza was completely oblivious that he nearly got mowed down 🤣
Yet he’s been shadow banned… kinda sad. There other bloggers that get millions of views with kinda crappy content. This guy makes fantastic videos… yet he hardly ever gets past 200/300k views.
He said, “skeetskiiiirrrrtt”
@@mlx4543 shadowbanned - 200k/300k views ... pick one
I'm an American who just found your videos. I have always been interested in China, its history, politics, food, people, language, and geography. Just wanted to say your types of videos are the ones I love.. Not flashy, no loud music with a CRAzy over the top intro/outro, no added sounds. Just simply showing us what it's like, organic sounds and scenes of daily life. love it
When you speak in their language, you really make people feel happy and respected.
@LiaoKatya
Why I always get disappointment when I talk to US people in their home language?
He asked in Cantonese have you eaten?
Guangzhou native here. Thanks for visiting my hometown and even my childhood neighborhood, which had changed so much since I move to US.
难道你看不出他其实挺瞧不起中国人的么？西方人喜欢打猎吃野味也喜欢吃动物身上其它器官的。
Why can't yall Chynese return to your own damn country instead of mooching off of rich developed countries as a poor cattle...
Why did you move and that too the US? Your native is beautiful. Hope I get to visit someday?
Hello Tommy, here is the citizen of Guangzhou. So glad that you been Guangzhou! I am always surprised by your knowledge of the city that you were traveling, including this time! Your language ability and the way you talk to the local people, that’s so cool man! Love your video, wish you have an amazing trip.
He lived in China for a number of years apparently
You should start a vlog channel, I'd love to see insight into the city from a local! :)
@@brando8086 But Cantonese is very different to mandarin and shanghainese in terms of pronunciation, Mandarin and shanghainese has four tones whereas cantonese has eight. What amazes me is this guy can speak several languages fairly well when he is travelling to different regions. I was borned in Guangzhou and lived there for 13 years, but I have never managed to speak cantonese since the state schools forces you to speak mandarin at school. In 2018 I came to Aus for middle school so I never had the chance to learn cantonese, this november I am finishing my high school and I will go back to china for half a year, I really hope to pick up my cantonese this time!
I wouldn’t go to China for $1,000,000. There is no reason to visit that poisoned wasteland except to learn how not to run a country.
@@tokyo7671 Shanghainese has 5 tones and in traditional Shanghai dialect, it has 7 tones.
I’m Cantonese born and raised in Guangzhou and grew up iexactly in Xiaobei area, gotta say watching your video brings me right back to my childhood a lot. A lot of mixed experiences with African community in the Xiaobei area (not bad! Just mixed!). I haven’t been back for a good dozen year, and your video gives me homesick. Thank you for the work.
You will be surprised by the rate of change. I read that the local metro Rail, they aim to build 50 Kms a year. Quite amazing. I am a Nzer of Chinese origin. When will you visit?
Your comments are very insightful, unlike some TH-camrs in China who only say things for the sake of views and money. Furthermore, your understanding of the language, history, and culture of Canton and the Cantonese is impressive. I hope to see more of your travel videos in Canton region, and I wish you a pleasant journey.
Yes, like the anti-china China show is all lies
Brings back so many memories!! I lived in China for ten years. The only thing I didn’t haggle over was food !! There is an underground shopping mall in Shanghai that is nothing but knock off brands. It’s crazy, so much fun!! The Chinese are a great people and the real Chinese food is incredible!!!
I believe you're referring to the market at 科技馆. I tried to go there this summer but I think it might've gotten shut down
They sell counterfeit brands among other things but they are great people O.K.🤔
@@louiegonzales1407 - The counterfeit brands are for the Westerners that demand these items. Just because a few make the knockoffs doesn’t mean everyone does. As in the US just because some are looting stores doesn’t mean everyone loots.
Bro, you seem to be really happy in China. I noticed in many of your videos you didn't have much of a smile, but now your smile has clearly increased. That's great.
it's his second home. so many memories of China for him.
So is Africa and Spanish speaking countries +++❤
@@singhi89no, none of China's place is him his home.
@@IwasUnknownUser he live in shanghai 9 years
@@junaesi nomatter how long you live in China, you are not Chinese, and Chines is not your home.
Commented in another video, I’m so impressed by Tommy’s linguistic talent. Also, at a time when many politicians are hot headed, I hope ordinary Americans watch the videos.
Okay Tommy, firstly let me say congrats on exceeding 500k. Your unique knowledge of the history of all places you have visited issome next level stuff. But then you put your foot in it with your language grasp. Damn Tommy to say you're amazing is an understatement. I dont believe anyone at the UN could outdo your polyglot level. Then, by the admission of even native chinese , many say they are not as good. Your humility and wit , pleasantry, and people skills puts you in a class by yourself. Tommy, you literally should run an international lecture series where you inform and entertain hefty audiences for a well deserved speaking fee. Bro EVERYONE would go see you!! There's a reason you got to 500k, although someone else implied you may have been shadow banned because other vloggers who just throw the one simple language around, are courting millions of subs. Tbh tho to jump from 20k in March 2021 when I first saw you in Tanzania to 500k in September 2023 is still a respectable climb. Bro i know you could skate on the youtube funds alone but if it wont be a hindrance consider having these meetups . In an academic setting of your choosing would be awesome. You're Harvard wit cruising along like the everyman from NY, and thats your magic. Always looking forward to your next history tinged travel vlog, with one certainty, you're gonna knock it out the park. I think with you around AI may have met its match Tommy. 😂
Completely agree with your assessment.
Your knowledge of the cities you travel to is better than the average person, which is admirable! Your fluent language resonates with local people and is amazing! I really appreciate your video and hope you have fun.
You travel across countries with friendly and open eyes, bringing us a different perspective, and I send you my best wishes🌹
他了解中国只有30%不到。他说的很多都是错的。他并没有深入了解。
I want to applaud your China series, your knowledge is absolutely incredible! Great job!
Oh, Ponte you should. 😊
Nice to meet you Ponte, Have fun in China !
Sheep/shill
@@mattsavage9960here we have another AmeriKKKanoid Shill - Well done proud patriot, you’ve earned 2 cents and +1 U-SS social credit points for doing your patriotic duty
@@mattsavage9960lmao little buddy here also thinks superp00per India will be the next powerhouse 🤣🤡🤕 yeah yeah keep believing in your dream daddy Gordon Chang who’s been “predicting” china’s fall for the past 20 years 🤣 typical Westoid shills are laughable 🤡 #DownBad
I first visited Guangzhou in 2012. This video makes me want to go back. It's not the most touristy city, but there's something about it that gets under your skin. One of the best cities in the world for food too in my opinion.
When I was young my mom told me about how wonderful life in Guangzhou, it’s foods, movies after schools, streets,,, especially during times when she was in junior high and high school.. this was before 1949. I wish I can visit Guangzhou one day
Small tip: You don’t bargain 250 yuan because 250 is a swearing word in Chinese it’s used to call people dumb or crazy
Ahh that’s what he was saying
Foreigners are fine. Because it's not intentional.
hhhhhhhhh
The real crime is charging $10,000 for a gucci bag when these people can make borderline the same thing for $300
lv Gucci在中国生产实际成本大约不超过100美金，包含物料和工资以及包装成本。一个畅销款的女包
That’s true.
By the way, there’s a very good TH-camr who investigates the real price of ‘luxury’ handbags.
Jesus man remember your stop look and listen. 27:21 nearly checked out... But your Boss Level attitude is now a shield. Cheers for the epic content as always... your a man without a shadow.
Lol he almost gets bodied twice in the video the other time was when he was near the bras.
Lmao that guy the bile skrted
lol
When I was between the ages of 1-3yrs old, our family lived in Malaysia, where there was a lot of Cantonese people. So one of the first languages I learnt was Cantonese from some very lovely friendly, beautiful & kind Chinese people & you’re correct, they make some of the best food around. I just want to say “duo xie” for these fascinating insights into local Chinese ways & sights. 🙏☺️
So happy to see you again, love the China series so far ❤
@LiaoKatya
This is still my favorite travel channel, but this series through China is on another level! Travel on, homeboy... and look both ways. Cheers, from New Hampshire.
the commentary is great as it mentions what really going on in that particular society and how it connects to the rest of the world. Good work!
Love the episode. I used to watch serpentza and loawhey do this, but all they do now is bash on China. Love how you highlight the good things and are tasteful about the bad. Keep up the good work
I agree. Serpentza in particular.
Really dislike Serpent's now, used to be good but now just negative BS
Serpentza and laowhy were originally pretty objective about China, but later found out that anti china/ccp contents earn them great viewership and profits in the west, so they changed accordingly.
Got to say your videos are so addictive, my man. Started with the Japan ones. Been watching for days now, and still going… :)
你竟然去了白马服装市场，我曾经在那里学徒一年，然后拥有了自己的批发店铺。那个看起来很普通的市场可能是中国租金最贵的批发市场，每平方米的月租金超过1000美金。
最近几年那个市场没落了，以前那里有很多原创设计的服装，我们选最好的面料，去工艺最好的工厂委托生产，现在那里的衣服看起来款式很雷同，失去了独特性和质量保证。那也是一个时代的落幕。
Your video brings back lovely memories! ❤ Flashback to 14 years ago, right out of college, I was filled with zeal and joined an NGO in Beijing. Six months in, with not a penny to my name, I felt the weight of my dreams clashing with reality. Seeking change, I ventured to West Africa, and that twist led me to further my education in the US. (Big shoutout to Notre Dame for the full ride!) That leap of faith transformed my life. Today, I'm blessed with financial freedom, have had the honor to teach at Arizona State, founded my own company, and I'm pouring my heart into videos to spread financial knowledge and inspire others to truly live. I often wonder, if I hadn't taken that first step away from home, where would I be now? 🌍📚🎥🌱
hahahaha, great work again Tommy. My favorite city too in China. Hope you are doing well now, saw in the latest video that you weren't feeling well, get well soon and take good care.
I can't make up my mind what I am most impressed by in this. The freedom to vlog, the openess of the city, the hot babes or the fact that you actually wore that shirt and shorts in public. It definitely wasn't the watch though. Great work man.
Guangzhou and surrounding cities like Shenzhen are pretty much the most developed and free cities in China. The story is different if you go to western China
@@joelwieland1767 there was a Indian vloger when to xinjiang and he was eatten by the locals raw.
@@btroy3768 okay bot. Judging by your other comments praising Xi i'm pretty sure you earned a nice salary for yourself today
@@joelwieland1767 The western part of China borders many countries, so it is normal for the control to be stricter.
@@btroy3768 - And you can also have a "drive by shooting" tour, "smash and grab" tour and "dine and dash" tour in US. There is not a day goes by without reading some body got shot and killed in the news.
Man you have the best travel videos on youtube or period i have ever seen. Makes me feel like im right there with you. Im most definitely surprised you dont got over 1M subscribers yet.
As a Chinese from Wuhan, I have much less knowledge about Guangzhou than Tommy, haha 😄. as Tommy said in the video, Guangzhou is really his second home, it's amazing , right? don't know Tommy's next city to visit, i hope it's a city in Sichuan, e.g. Chengdu, the city I've planed to go.
Hi! I stumbled upon your blog and I liked it. I want to ask you few things about China/IT. How can I contact you besides WeChat? Maybe WhatsApp/IG/Telegram?
hello @@tengokuvision
Sabbatical, Good you are back and I love the video fun. It was hilarious to see you make the watch vendor laugh and accept your negotiated offer. You had me anxious there for a moment in one scene when I saw the fella on a motorcycle coming at you while you walked into traffic and didn't look, and the cyclist braked and the wheels squealed to stop. You just kept going like you missed the whole thing, which you did ---barely.
Dude.. your language skills are intense. Great video blog. You always show a different side.
This guy is so good at what he does, I really enjoyed this episode. Hope you will get a million subs soon man, you deserve it.
Hey Tommy, seen as you're checking out china atm.. It'd be great if you visited Kaifeng city in Henan. It has an interesting past and there a bunch of temples and they do shows.. I love travelling the globe through all your uploads, Thank you :)
You almost got ran over at 27:20 !!! Love your video's!❤ Keep em coming, and be careful
Your narration and knowledge of the places you show us in China are both A-1. I especially like your tours of Shanghai and Quangzhou and make me want to visit them.
So he's thought to be taking money from the Chinese government
Se nota que volviste a sentirte cómodo haciendo lo que te gusta. Seguí así amigo 👏👏👏
作为一名中国人，很高兴看到博主介绍我生活的城市！欢迎来到广州！😍
Hi, do you know the name of the dim sum restaurant that Sabbatical went to?
又一间茶点轩@@Specialcakes1
@@Specialcakes1 It is called 又一间“you yi jian（which means another one again）”
i'd say sabbatical is one of those laowais who really know how china works. Even I, a chinese born, haven't been to half of the places in his videos. I guess as a han chinese i was used and educated to live on the surface of these big city bubbles, not being able to see all these ethnic groups and expat community cultures scattered beneath them. this is truely a nicer travel guide than Lonely Planet imo.
还你被教育，你可以不学习呀，你可以躺平，然后呢，成为一个废物？
这也能怪到教育身上？你眼界不开阔，自己不到处走走，这还能甩锅了？真人才。
I think what makes him different from other bloggers is that he doesn't try to give his opinion on many things and just accepts the way things are in other countries. Also he is always kind and respectful to the locals which goes a long way.
Suttle flex...
Lmfao I'm glad I'm mexican we were taught the whole village is family although divided by family feuds.
你可以靠自己本事赚钱去潇洒啊，谁一生来拥有一切？还不是靠自己努力争取，没本事你就是社会最底层，在哪个国家都一样，甚至出了人类社会，我看你怎么活着都是个问题，去当野人还是乞讨？
The picture Tommy paints of Guangzhou is quite the opposite of that of other China channels which show the many streets of closed businesses and factories. So it's nice to see that everything is not all "doom and gloom".
Because you only watch western propaganda channels.
😂What you see is what the Western media wants you to see, which is completely opposite to the real situation. Many low-end manufacturing factories have gone bankrupt, because China is already a base for mid-to-high-end products, and most of the low-end factories have moved to Southeast Asia, China Some low-end factories have been retained, but they are basically fully automated. The West should feel the crisis. Why do you say China is collapsing? Maybe those reporters don’t even have the brains. You have to know that even if the West bans all Chinese products, the Chinese will still make money. Money, because most of the owners of low-end factories in Southeast Asia are Chinese. 😂, so I can only say that Western politicians are basically idiots.
In addition, many Chinese channels are not necessarily Chinese, most of them are filmed by Taiwanese. Their method is to fake and smear, without understanding the reasons behind it.😂
This is your best vlog yet. Happy memories.
I really enjoy this episode of Guangzhou.
Thank you, sir.
Your videos are genuinely so inspiring and fun to watch! Thank you for making such good videos (:
watching your travel videos is always an education in culture
You have this dry wit and this speech pattern that is very entertaining to listen to..and your expressions are amusing! You arent sucking up to the country or the locals like some youtubers are doing in China. Subscribed!
Thank you for travelling China for us. I lived in China for a long time, and I miss it ❤
Dang, you've reminded me on how much I miss China. It's been almost 5 years since my last time. I have wife's family in XinHui, a county of Jiangmen. Small third or fourth-tier city of 3.2 million. Go and check it out sometime. Famous for it's mandarin peel tea, and also has a Lee Kum Kee soy sauce factory....it's BIG! Thanks again for a wonderful video.
27:20 you nearly got hit by the guy on the bike 👀......
I feel like i know this guy. The way these videos are, it feels like you're with him taking a walk through the park. Thank u sabbatical
I loved it that you showed the older and more charming districts. Many TH-camrs only show the touristy/gentrified modern places, which in my opinion feel quite bland, and completely ignore the historic center. You should show Dongshankou next time, it has a very distinct hipsterish vibe.
hey Tommy as you explore your old digs it brings a smile to this 75 year old guy living off the BC coast woodstove going coffee in hand I get to enjoy your adventures...... I just want to thank you, I'm not sure if you have a mailing address back in NY if so I would love to send you a gift as a way of showing you my deep appreciation ......all the best Paul
That’s really nice of you to offer. Can you contact me on Instagram? @tommyelforastero
An educated tourist how refreshing Keep up the excellent work much appreciated
#26:30 These little awnings are known as The Five-Foot-Way 'verandah', a legacy of British Architecture and Town Planning in Singapore and Malatya, was first mandated by Stamford Raffles as part of his 1822 Town Plan of Singapore. This concept was then brought back to Southern China by returnees of Cantonese, Hokkien and Teochew descent and has been fairly common in Guangdong and Fujian..
wow good spot !
Five-foot way
It's a Dutch system, still in use in Holland and Indonesia, Dutch East India Company, Batavia !
Not British at all, forget the Redcoats, why so evil ?
简直胡说八道
@@pengzhang5081 你説是 就是 但身為馬來西亜人 我確知這點無誤
@@lucasrem 你説是 就是 但身為馬來西亜人 我確知這點無誤
The excellence of his fluency and the varied number of languages is a marvel, but it is his humor in his ongoing dialogue with the viewer that is the best part of the videos.
if you're still in china, you should go to Yangshuo / Guillin, it has these nice mountains. When you're there there is a language school called Omeida, they're great
Oh my the bit where you upload the October holiday bought back memories. We landed Beijing on national holidays and I had never seen so many people on the subway was next level
Your channel is better than every other travel vloggers, even B&B (who I like also). Please keep up this kind of content.
My man started out with a Polo shirt, an hour later sporting around a Balenciaga shirt and Cartier watch. LoL You really should have bought the Gucci sunglasses too to complete the package.
Can I suggest you showing more maps and perhaps a mini map on the side sometimes showing where are you walking through?
I know this might be a vibe killer if it follows the whole video, but I it would be pretty cool to have a sense of location of the places you go to - whether it is downtown or suburb, etc.
Love your channel, I am really hooked!
Nah, it's a total vibe killer, I wouldn't recommend he do that. He's found his vlogging 'voice' ever since Mexico. There are some where he includes maps but as a whole, adding maps would make the videos feel too 'produced'.
I think I’ve watched about 20 of your videos now. I’ve lived in Shanghai for the past 10 years. You show China so well. But this might be my favorite video so far!
Thank you for narrating your travels. Listening to your memories of the Turkish Restaurant hit me. Love your videos! Keep it up !!
That was interesting, realizing that maybe the "quality" issue was due to a learning curve! Also, I would have been interested to see what you had at your favorite restaurant - or what they had to offer! I enjoyed your video very much.
you did great with this one, keep doing it!
I just wanted to take a moment to say how amazing your video was! I was really impressed with the quality of the footage, the editing, and the overall presentation. You did a great job of explaining the topic in a clear and concise way, and I learned a lot from watching your video.
;)
Cool videos! have you visited Xinjiang, China? That could be an interesting place to visit. I'd like very much to know what is going on there? from your eyes of course.
没有必要知道，很多真相是残酷的，中国政府不会主动迫害维吾尔人，是维吾尔族的一些极端宗教分子破坏新疆的宁静，然后中国政府不得不出手镇压
Great video, as usual. I'll never be able to travel again (too old, health issues), but I am there with you. And I get to sleep in my own bed!
You’ve got a really good channel. You speak very honestly and to the point.
You show the world people are all same
Be careful you don’t get demonetised lol
Thanks sabbatical! I will travel China in a few months as well. Watching your videos and experiencing the Chinese life makes my toes wiggle. I can't wait to see China
Avoid the first week of May which is one of the two golden weeks and everywhere is PACKED with travelling people.
Fascinating and fun as always. I confess, I always wondered how you ate chicken feet, because there doesn't appear to be much meat on them.
No meat just eat the rendered fat and skin. It is quite tasty
I love how at 27:21 you almost get run over by a motorcycle, and are totally oblivious to it.
An interesting fact I found at knock off goods markets in ShenZhen and Shanghai, is that at least 50% customers are foreigners....That's the case about 7-10 years ago when I visited there.
Damn your bargaining skill better than my mother's. Excited to see you walking around the city. Love from Guangzhou.
In cities like Shanghai or Guangzhou, if you see the elder line up, that's a good (probably cheap too) place for food.
Thank you for never denying you’re American. Easily you could pretend to be any other Nationality. Especially with your mastery of Spanish & other languages. But you choose not to. Even when confronted with the fact people don’t like The U.S.
?? Many Chinese dislike American politicians, but not average Americans.
@@silmerusse Most of us are ignorant and brainwashed. I appreciate the sympathy.
@@charleneji6759 Aren't the American politicians elected by the average Americans?
@@xinjin902 Yes of course, they have no choice but to choose one. I know Americans who disliked Hilary Clinton and Trump, so they had to elect the lesser evil of the two. They can't be supporting all the policies of a candidate.
The average Americans I've met are very friendly and polite, but it's been a very long time since I studied there.
BTW, I also think average Americans are naive and self-righteous, and easily brainwashed by politicians. 🤪 So I blame the politicians.
@@xinjin902just by a small percentage that chose to vote during that election cycle.
It's refreshing to hear you speak Cantonese. One of the few languages you manage to speak that I can (barely) understand lol.
I am glad these are back on my feed. Thank you.
“Place that you can barely trust the food’s safety, its probably gonna be good” - this is so true 😝
I could watch Tommy interacting with Chinese people all day.
Talk about swag on the cheap! Thanks for another very informative, wide-angled video of our human family.
I have been watching your channel for awhile and noticed that your channel has grown. You are a travel guide and historian.
Amazing work you do.
When Sabbatical posts, it’s gonna be a good day!
You are the best ! I will watch all your recordings.
Nice to see China is same as ever with great food and friendly people!!❤
Dude you are so awesome to watch, I love how you interact with all the people in your videos.
An interesting thing to note is that until November of last year, motorbikes were banned in Guangzhou. They recently came back
So the ban was reversed?
Bikes returned during Covid lockdowns, for food deliveries and stuff, it kept everyone fed.
@@basque888 Electric mopeds/motor mopeds were banned in GZ throughout the entire pandemic and came back in November 2022.
Your a great story teller , I’m learning so much from you. about the China you worked in for a decade . I like how the people are impressed with your Chinese accent. Regards from Perth Australia … a fan of yours 😀😃
@LiaoKatya
27:20 - perfect timing with what you said and what almost happened lol
After watching few of your videos, it dawned on me that you have a great sense of humor. Nice work!
Always entertaining videos, interesting to discover the Chinese culture, of which I am particularly fond about it. We do know very little about this amazing country. It will be very interesting to watch Shenzhen city, I mean, I own thousands of objects, that are all made there, it must be a very prolific place.
i randomly found your channel tonight. this is only the second video i've watched, but you definitely got the juice. forreal. your demeanor is non invasive, while standing out like a sore thumb. cool. calm. collected. you remind me of one of the homies i grew up with in the PNW. glad i found you, after finding out Bald & Bankrupt is a weird sex tourist creep.
Always inspired to travel myself when watching your videos. Great content
27:20 Tommy almost died there and didn't even know it lol
Very interesting how many great Citys in China--and I like your style of talking to anyone--we get a look at poor and rich areas of China.
Thanks again this is wonderful - and your light humour is wonderful!
In Cantonese there is a saying I've heard about Guangzhou which translates roughly as :
If it moves eat it, if it doesn't move build something on it"
The oldest mosque in China is actually in Guangdong, about 1300 years ago, when Arabs were trading by sea route.
The knock off shopping in South Korea is also very interesting. I remember buying a Polex watch for around $30.
Nice to see you level up your style, this will earn you some booty for sure!!
Some booty 😂
Got some Air Jordan’s in Osan in the early 90’s. They fell apart the second day 🤣
@@johnnewton8017Oh, yeah, the shoes are a no-go. When I was stationed in Busan you'd be able to easily identify the guys who bought local shoes after a PT run. Those things turned to dust in less than a week.
Some West Indian Islanders make soups and stews with chicken feet. Very tasty. It's not so uncommon.
I love your travel vids. I will check out the advertisement. Thank you mr sabbatical🙌🏽
Tommy: [Looks at an expensive, genuinely authentic Cartier watch] How much?
Lady seller: $40.
Tommy: Too expensive.
Lady seller: Come on, it is Cartier.
Tommy: OK, how about $30?
Lady seller: $35, do you want me to adjust the band length?
Tommy: [Proudly walks away with his expensive, genuinely authentic Cartier watch]
Me: 🤣🤣🤣
You know he's getting all fake stuff at those prices.
@@ivegas1000 Of course, I was joking! 🤣
thx u 4 showing the world,that the world and mostly the peoples are so much better then the oficcial sayings are..u do a really important job. greatest respect for ya interesst in language..želim ti dug i sretan život!živio..peace