China Romance
General Discussion and Useful Links => Newbies Corner => Topic started by: Martin on December 08, 2009, 10:07:27 pm
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Hi guys. I wanted to give our newer members a heads up about the upcoming Chinese New Year. Although it is still a few months away, I wanted to start to prepare you for what is likely to come.
Chinese New Year this year falls on February 14. In China, this is the time when families get together, and celebrations happen. A large part of China shuts down for at least a week.
For those that have not gone through this yet, and particularly for those brothers who are using the EMF system of chnlove, be prepared for NO CONTACT WITH YOUR LADY.
The agencies will be closed. The translators will be gone to visit their own families. Your lady might be gone, if her family lives away from where she works. You will have no way to contact your lady for at least a week.
She did not leave you. She is likely thinking about you. She has no way to get in touch with you, unless you are using personal email, QQ, MSN, Yahoo, Skype, or whatever else.
From my experience last year, and a few of the other brothers will no doubt agree with me, as the same happened to them...Chinese New Year left a few of us wondering what was going on with our ladies. One member was convinced his lady left him. My translator did not advise me she was taking a week off. I just want to warn you guys, so you are not taken by surprise.
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Thats a good date - can crack three occasions on the same day. Chinese New Year, St Valentines day and my Angel's birthday. I suppose I can also make it a fourth occasion but then only if I get a round tu it. Why save money rolling the other three into one event and then lashing out on a fourth!!!
Willy
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Is there anything special we have to eat for New Year? I didn't like my moon cake, it was horribly sickly :icon_mrgreen:.
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You are right Dinger. A lot of us were wondering what the heck was going on. Didnt realize it was at least a week long celebration. this year will be fun though as a bunch of us will be there. Good thought to warn the newer brothers.
I got my tickets already. Can't wait.
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I booked my ticket to China today so i will be there and no loss of communication !!
Translators of course will be returning home too to visit their families so for those that communicate via emf, go buy some dumplings, bao zi etc your local asian super market and celebrate it at home knowing your lady is happy and if you are doing it right - shes thinking about you!
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Remember that Chinese New Year is one of the two "Golden Weeks" of major holidays: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Week_%28China%29
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Some more on the Chinese new Year - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year
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Is there anything special we have to eat for New Year? I didn't like my moon cake, it was horribly sickly :icon_mrgreen:.
Mooncakes are usually served for Mid-Autumn Festival (at least here and in Singapore). In northern China, they like to serve dumplings. In Singapore they have a "fish salad" called yue-sang which has been showing up in HK over the last several years. Basically it's a salad of various vegetables mixed with a sauce...all the ingredients have a special meaning and there is a ritual to it as well. Some people from HK call it lo-hei.
Not sure what rituals they might have in southern China, but I would suspect longevity noodles would be a safe bet.
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Do flights to China get horribly expensive around Chinese new year like they do at Christmas? I thought about going to Hong Kong over Christmas, but the flight costs were horrendous compared to January, so that was a non starter. Midautumn flight costs seemed reasonable when I went to Hong Kong in 2006.
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I'm not sure? The recent search I did seemed that the Feb. prices were fair compared to late Spring (May/ June) which was 4x higher? I gave up for now until I have a better idea when I'll be going.
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My flight which leaves on Feb 10th cost €866 before insurance, last one in November was €575 but i booked that well in advance. The absolute cheapest flight I could find this time was €740 but it didnt leave on the day or time I wanted. So, for me this one will be my most expensive one so far by about €100.
But it's going to be worth it as I will be celebrating the Chinese new year with Sunny and her family and having the big meal etc with them so the extra cost is well worth it. I will officially become one of the family :) Apparently I am to address her mother as auntie and her father as uncle, and when I get married (but not before) they will become mother and father.
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Anyone from the states that is going. I am telling you to go to www.uschinatrip.com they have the best fares I have found. This will be the third time with them. Never a hitch, cheapest prices by at least $200, and I can fly from a smaller/closer airport for about the same cost.
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Just checked that site against China Air direct (from NY) about a $100. less (direct). The other flights were longer and went to LA or some west coast stop first. Add in the NY flight from here (about $200?) and it's about the same but less flying time. So I guess it's best to check ALL and ANY way.
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Anyone traveling to China/Hong Kong around Chinese New Year, will be paying premium rates.
They have you by the short and curlies, there should not be any difference in costs, based purely on a rise of customers interest in flying at that time, but hey, ....you all know the airlines!!!! You would think that they would be grateful their flying with full planes, during these economic times but NO, they want to sting you big time too.
Contrary to what Ronan stated, the best prices will be had booking your flights around 3 to 4 weeks max before the travel day. I know this may not suite all, but for those that are not restricted by work restrictions etc and can travel on any day or at any time, can pick up much better deals when you look around the internet....
I have just received an email flyer from a well known site advertising flights to HK for 269 sterling pounds in the new year (excluding Chinese New Year Period of course), can't grumble at that!!! ...haha!!
David....
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having spent a few chinese new years here before it is also a little
steep in price to travel within the country as they charge a little more
on the buses,trains,planes and be prepared for an enormous amount of
people at each place. this year Sisi and i are staying home for the new year
as shortly after that her parents will come to guangzhou to spend a few months
with us. the rest of her family lives here so we will socialize with them during this time.
looking forward to my first new year with my new family in china. i havent asked but i
am sure many things will be going on in guangzhou for the new year.
oh and i almost forgot the hotel prices require serious negotiations during this time
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Ted,
Yes, i quite agree i forgot all about mentioning the internal domestic flights and the price of hotel rooms during there holiday periods. Seems everyone jumps on band wagon when it comes to parting you from your cash, for no real reason, except that people seem to be willing to pay these high prices for exactly the same product/service!!! ....What do they call it, ..''supply & demand'' ...think a better description would be daylight robbery!! haha!!
David
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Ted mentioning the hotel prices was good. Both times I have been to Guangzhou, there has been a big event going on in the city, that has brought in a lot of laowai. First time was the Guangzhou Trade Fair...second time...I can't remember what was up. Because I am not Chinese, the price for the hotel started to go up. The same will happen at New Year like Ted said. For those needing hotel accommodations, let your ladies get the room. She will likely get a much better price for you.
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You know, for those of us who can't be there, we're going to expect a lot of stories and pictures during that time. :)
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Well, I just know I'll be in Gz on the 14th February (landing date), and the price for the flight was same as the one I paid in September, so, 550 € (about 804 $), (that is quite correct, I think :) )
If it is said that, on Chinese new year, each chinese families are "together", it seems that Lyian also wanted to be only with me, and she booked dates / holidays for that.
So... I just hope there will nothing to go "against" all of it..
I also hope to meet some Brothers over there if possible :)
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It looks as if you wont be lonely in Guangzhou Sylvain
A lot of us are planning to meet up in Guangzhou later in the month of February. Looks like the party may now be at Ted's and not mine.
Willy
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sounds like we might have a good turnout in febuary in guangzhou
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I'll see with Lyian how to proceed so that we can meet most of you :) maybe at the end of february, as we will go in Beijing on the 14th, then in Chengde. But date back to Gz is to determine :)
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Well, I just know I'll be in Gz on the 14th February (landing date), and the price for the flight was same as the one I paid in September, so, 550 € (about 804 $), (that is quite correct, I think :) )
If it is said that, on Chinese new year, each chinese families are "together", it seems that Lyian also wanted to be only with me, and she booked dates / holidays for that.
So... I just hope there will nothing to go "against" all of it..
I also hope to meet some Brothers over there if possible :)
I'm better this time ... Qatar Airways 520€ Paris/Doha/HK but leaving a week earlier (Feb 6th).
I'm flying this Thursday too, 836€ :s direct with Cathay Pacific ... but I booked it today, the cheapest was 700 something with China Southern, but I never got to finalize a booking.
All I can say is ouch!
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Just makes you wonder doesn't it, where the hell they get there prices from, at some of these airline!!!! Cathay has always been expensive, even on there so called special deals, same as Virgin Atlantic, which is a far cry from how the airline first started out!!
I'm going back some years now, but BA used to do a deal, 99 pounds one way to Hong Kong, this is when the normal price was somewhere in excess of 400 pounds, i think they called it a firecracker deal. It took two weeks to book your ticket and you flew on the 3rd week. I used that fare on about 3 seperate ocassions over the course of a couple of years. Now there is nothing like that available at BA.
Seems to be now, the up and coming airlines like Emerates and Qatar Airways are leading the way on low priced fares from Europe, and the National Carriers are quite content rolling along stitching past loyal customs up. Which seems very strange to me seeing as most of them are loseing money hand over foot, you think they would be doing there upmost to get bums on seats and filling there aircraft up on each and every flight!!! Nope, they'd rather cut there services or make you pay for services as if you were flying with a chartered airline...
I'm probably luckier than most here, i can go when i want to, ie,...i'm not tied by annual holidays, or other work related restrictions. So if i see a flight at a very reasonable price i can book it and just go. And that's where you get the best deals, from what i can see these days. I never start looking for flights before 3 or 4 weeks from my preferred departure date. Long gone are the days where you book months in advance to get the best prices on flights, though many seem to think this is still the case, ..... it definitly ISN'T!!!
Anyway, i've had my little rant now, so time for a coffee i think!! ...hahaha!!!!
David
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Correct analysis David, those airlines are a ripoff in general these days. Last time I took Swiss (precise service, comfy, good entertainment) for roughly 500€ booked well in advance. Mind you, there are over 200€ in taxes in that ticket, which I find awfully high ...
Lowest prices out of Paris are usually China Southern or Air China around 450€ but they don't motivate me :P. I experienced a nice near crash landing with China Southern on an internal flight, I think the pilot must have been used to landings on aircraft carriers hehe, cheapest I've seen on Cathay was about 150€ less than what I just paid, but then their service is top notch even in economy and it is a direct flight, just their schedule is a pain, loose half a day in HK, and return at 5:00am to Paris, no idea what I'll do with myself in Paris so early. Air France is priced a bit higher and I have a severe allergy against them, I used them a lot for business (flew about 400K miles with them), I can't take that crappy Air Chance service anymore, and their seats are tiny in economy, business was always so so and I flew first once on a transatlantic, got bumped from business because of miles status ... if it wasn't for that very entertaining stewardess, I would have been disappointed by the experience, not worth the regular price.
Emirates is still high out of France, Qatar a bit lower, and I hear their service is great, I'll be sure to do a review in February. I kind of like the split flight duration as well and the fact that your seats get assigned right when you buy the ticket... at least not middle row. I always choose a window, I sleep like a log on planes and hate it when somebody wakes me to go to the John.
Maybe we should start an airline review thread rather than polluting here? :D
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I know I have said this before, but I wanted to remind everyone again, because this is important. Chinese New year is coming up. For many, you might not hear from your lady for the better part of a week, and maybe slightly longer. The agencies will be closed, and the translators will be off to visit with their own families.
We went through this last year, with several wondering what had happened to their ladies. It was a confusing time for some. So please be prepared for this possibility.
A good idea might be to send a note to your translator asking how long they will be gone during the Spring Festival festivities.
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Yes, Martin. I have already been informed by the agency that they will be closed for Chinese New Year. Not sure for how long though. And Sha has told me she is already very busy with getting ready for the holiday and will talk with me "if she has time"!:-/ Tells you where I stand in the scheme of things, huh? haha But guess its all good. One thing I did not know is that "Spring Festival" is the same as "Chinese New Year". She kept telling me she was busy with Spring Festival and I was thinking.."huh? I thought it was Chinese New year". But i guess after a little research its the same thing.
Good luck to all that are heading to China for the holiday.
Don
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Yes, Martin. I have already been informed by the agency that they will be closed for Chinese New Year. Not sure for how long though. And Sha has told me she is already very busy with getting ready for the holiday and will talk with me "if she has time"!:-/ Tells you where I stand in the scheme of things, huh? haha But guess its all good. One thing I did not know is that "Spring Festival" is the same as "Chinese New Year". She kept telling me she was busy with Spring Festival and I was thinking.."huh? I thought it was Chinese New year". But i guess after a little research its the same thing.
Good luck to all that are heading to China for the holiday.
Don
I knew that as soon as I started writing to the women. Why should they call it a Chinese New Year? Americans don't call their New Year a American New Year.
Anyways it may be fun to be there but I was warned by experienced traveler to avoid that period if at all possible. In the most populous nation on earth, the place is every more crowded at this time.
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Yes....for many "travellers" it is a good thing to avoid Chinese new Year.
If you dont want to be part of a seething mass of humanity who have all come home for the first time in 12 months to see their beloved families and are all in delightful holiday mood.
If you dont want to be part of a gigantic celebration that does not have drunks spewing all over the place and hoons pissing up every corner, and druggies everywhere.
If you cant handle hundreds and hundreds of folk that you meet, all wanting to say a word or two to a foreigner and share their happy time.
If you cant get swept up in so much innocent, violence free fun which is mega noisy but mega delighful.
If you prefer to be scared to go out celebrating because the muggers are all on duty during holidays, or the drunks will make sure you or your family are accosted at least once.
Then dont go to China at the New Year Festival.
But if you dont go, you have missed one of the most wonderful, exhilarating celebrations of family that you will ever experience.
DavidE
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DavidE,
I agree wholeheartedly, ....I think everyone here should experience the Chinese New Year in China at least once in there lifetime. Preferably as part of a family or prospective family, and see what we in the West have never experienced. I think wonderful, exhilarating is an understatement, but it's a dammed good start ...lol!!!
David......
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I am very jealous of those that are headed over for the new year celebrations. I look forward to experiencing this for myself. I think it would also be fascinating to see the masses of people all traveling. To those that are headed over, enjoy yourself! We would like to see many pictures, and hear all the stories about it.
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Martin, i used to raise raccoons for pets and sell them. Always a lot of fun and the raccoons motto is : Busy hands are happy hands.
that one on your blog is cute. Looks like a female I use to have, she was very friendly to everyone and the dog to. she took a liking to watching TV from my lap on the couch. And she used to love sleeping on my face at night, never could figure that one out. But we got caught one morning, me sleeping, the coon on my face and the dog laying on my pillow on the floor, and all of us snoring...:sleepy:
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the coon on my face and the dog laying on my pillow on the floor, and all of us snoring...:sleepy:
And is this how you came about your name?
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my sentiments also must be how he aquired his nickname
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Wrong...buzzzzt
I like the song "Rocky raccoon" by the Beatles, and since someone already got it, I settled for rockycoon. Close enough for government work...hahaha:dodgy:
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things are already picking up here in guangzhou for the
new year. everywere you go to travel is really packed with people
and the hotels have started to raise their prices. looks like it will
probably continue until the end of feb
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many resturaunts here in guangzhou have now been booked for
the first dinner time and only have the 2nd dinner time open
which is later at night
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Wish I was there. You would find me at any one of the firework vendors or enjoying a display.
Dave
many resturaunts here in guangzhou have now been booked for
the first dinner time and only have the 2nd dinner time open
which is later at night
I am guessing from some of your other posts that you are a beer drinker, Ted. What is chinese beer like compared to Bud, Coors... ?
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i used to be a beer drinker Bee but now i really only
have a beer or two every once in a while. i have tried
only a few here since my permanent stay here and they
were ok not to bad and they do sell a lot of beers from
the USA here. i have noticed that Pabst Blue Ribbon is a
popular beer here as i see it everywere?? and some of the
Chinese wine and liquor will empty your wallet i see from the
prices posted for them. my vice is smoking as i need to really
give that up and find it harder to do as i am always trying to
do that
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i used to be a beer drinker Bee but now i really only
have a beer or two every once in a while. i have tried
only a few here since my permanent stay here and they
were ok not to bad and they do sell a lot of beers from
the USA here. i have noticed that Pabst Blue Ribbon is a
popular beer here as i see it everywere?? and some of the
Chinese wine and liquor will empty your wallet i see from the
prices posted for them. my vice is smoking as i need to really
give that up and find it harder to do as i am always trying to
do that
My 10 tear anniversary is march 12 at 11:17 am. (march 12, 2000 I quit) I was standing on the front porch of my place. I just looked at the cigarette that I had just lit and said to myself, I don't need this anymore. Exactly 2 weeks later, I found out that my ex had been cheating. I still stayed off the habit. Cuban cigars still smell good though. And pipes too, but you don't see them much anymore.
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ah the good cigar havent had a good one for a while now
anyway i will kick it before the end of the year as right now
i am cutting down and then quit. changing many habits were
smoking is concerned to eventually quit. hope it works but
my mindset is to by the end of the year. yea yea everyone
has there own approach will try this one
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ah the good cigar havent had a good one for a while now
anyway i will kick it before the end of the year as right now
i am cutting down and then quit. changing many habits were
smoking is concerned to eventually quit. hope it works but
my mindset is to by the end of the year. yea yea everyone
has there own approach will try this one
Just watch the nibbling habit that rears its ugly head after you stop. I put on about 20 pounds. I am still fighting to get it off.
Dave
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yes i know and will consider the side effect
have no food at home hahaha
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May I suggest yoga when you quit. It has helped me with a number of issues over the years. I have not done it for a while though. It really clears the mind.
Dave C
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Ted
I will put a genuine Cohiba (the one Castro smokes) in my luggage for you, you can smoke it when we meet in Guangzhou !!!
David
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sounds good DavidE never had one of those