CHINA VISITS

[Scottish_Rob]

....... Keep a low profile.

Kinda hard for me too do brother hahahaha...

I think my smallness is a major point of interest to the Chinese mate LOL

[ttwjr32]

 Mike,

i dont think we ever really blend in but if you keep quiet and they see you here for a while then
they do want to become freinds with you. they learn to respect and trust you when they see you more
around the neighborhood.

im almost 6 foot and i weigh 240 pds not kg so i dont think i blend well here  lol!!!

case in point when i went to the hospital to get my visa for another year these guys are getting on the
scale and not topping 75 kg  i get on and it goes to 114  they looked at it for a minute probably to big a
number to write    so no blending here 

[Scottish_Rob]

[

darn ..... and I thought I had them fooled !!!!!

must be my blue eyes that give me away ....   

Or your dashing good looks mate...

[Martin]

Mike....you are NOT Chinese??

[ttwjr32]

no sorry that wont work either but they sure would get a kick out of it  hahaha

[Scottish_Rob]

no sorry that wont work either but they sure would get a kick out of it  hahaha

Aww Ted , we should at least let him try !!!...hahahaha

[Pineau]

Finally in the hotel in Beijing.  Warning about connections with Air China in San Francisco. Air China closes their check-in and ticket counter 1.5 hours before the flight takes off. So when Arriving with about 45 minutes to departure the Air China counter was a ghost town. Luckily we found someone that worked for Air China that walked  us throiugh security and were just able to make the gate and board the flight.  What a day. Man I am tired. But I am here.  Careful of connections and layovers.

Gerry

[Arnold]

Well hope things go well for you Gerry . My first Flight was with Air China , not bad to Beijing .. but on my return Flight to San Francisco it was switched over to United Airline . This made me never to fly Air China again . I hate United , as we were leaving Beijing .. we were sitting on the Taxiway for take-off an hour and ahalf before taking off . Not one word .. why ? This is NOT the first incidence with them . Go Asiana Airlines !!!!

[Pineau]

I don't know if this is the right thread but I will use it instead of starting another for travel tips.  My first week in Beijing I bought a I-phone knock off. It was not that expensive but it supported Chinese characters. I got China unicom service using the 3g-solutions company I posted about earlier ( my telephone SIM card and my usb Wi-Fi modem was waiting for me when i checked into the hotel) . This worked out really great for giving and getting directions and information to use on people that dint use English.  Here is how I have used it so far. When I need to meet a lady I ask her or my translator to text message me the directions to my phone (in Chinese). Bingo- just show the message to the taxi driver or some local and eventually you will get there.  I also used the talk2china SMS service to text myself messages. Like locations store names train station. I just used it again to find a medicine for my sore throat. A lady sent me a message for herbal tea to fix a sore throat (in Chinese) I sent the message to my phone, walked to the nearest grocery and showed him the message and voila he took me to the to the shelf and I left with my medicine. This has really turned into a handy tool.

[Pineau]

Some new things I have learned.

When leaving the Beijing Airport I went to the taxi queue and just got into the next available taxi. Bad bad bad.  I should wait for the queue director to assign  a cab. Let them know I don't speak Chinese and they will try to find you a driver that will understand me or will give your driver directions.  My driver got really pissed because he was expecting a Chinese speaking customer.

In September, October. BUY AND UMBRELLA even if the sky is clear. There is usually a someone on the sidewalk selling them but you have to find them first. It is best to get it in advance of the down pore.

Beware of people that just walk up and say they want to practice their English, or they are students and then engage you in a conversation. With me in all cases they wanted to take you somewhere and sell you something or they are a prostitute. They sound very sincere at first but your intuition will warn you something is not right. Follow your intuition.  In Shenzhen this never happened to me but in Beijing it happened about every other day.

Its darn hard to get a taxi in Beijing.

The rickshaw rides in Beijing are a conn. The guy told me the ride to the temple of heaven was 3 money. I thought it was 3 Yuan. but it turned out to be 300 yuan. If you refuse to pay his friends come out to greet you. Make sure of the price and pay hime before you get in. That worked for me later on.

Most everything cheap electronic at the Pearl Market is a knock off or completely fake. I was in the market for SD memory cards for my phone and camera. The cheap ones did not work. Make them test it first.

I used a train to get from Beijing to Shenyang ( a 4 hour trip). Book your ticket well in advance. I got my ticket the day before and there were no seats left. I had to stand in a crowded isle for 4 hours.

I am still using the girl Rachel as a translator and I couldn't be happier. Every time I needed information or help she was able to steer me right.  She met me in Shenyang when I arrived. She found me an nice but cheap hotel (Hanting Express)  She picked me up at the train station and took me to the hotel and checked me in and took care of all the details at the front desk. Her English is quite good although she does mispronounce a word occasionally. 

[Peter Arnold]

Hey Pineau, I am in Shenyang at the moment. I would have sent a message to you, but haven't worked out how to. I am staying at the Ibis Hotel in the Tiexi district for the next couple of weeks. Would you like to connect somewhere in Shenyang? I have most days free as my lady works of course. I'd love to get out of the hotel and speak real English with another male. My email address is 
petermiles55@gmail.com  if you want to get me.

[Pineau]

Peter. I just sent you an email.