China Romance
All About China => Your trip to China => Topic started by: Rhonald on May 02, 2010, 03:51:51 pm
-
[attachment=2072]HIC SVNT DRACONES - :fi_lone_ranger: Enter the Dragon:
Instead of chronological order, I have decided to post this trip's exploits as a summary of observations and photos for your discourse. I hope you will have a good laugh - all at my expense - as you drink in my photos. A good Haw haw with milk sir?
Let me begin my disjointed ramblings as the game is now afoot.
This trip incompassed 3 weeks and because of inclimatic weather, was not the funnest trip. But I was with my lady and we tried to make the best of it. I will follow up with other postings & photos to give you a taste of this ancient land. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I will share the beast of burden of my asian journey.
-
I hope you enjoyed the ass berries!
Those chicken feet are considered a delicacy but just are awful. In Beijing I had chicken feet skins already off the bone, and it was still rotten!
The worst I had was chicken feet with custard like dip in Taishan, that was truly nasty.
Still, I wish I was back there, suffering China withdrawal symptoms at the moment that webcams cannot fix.
-
Ron,
Way to start your thread. Berries. I will remember to NEVER eat berries in China now. Who know what kind they will really be. :icon_cheesygrin:
You have a way with words and presentation. I wait for the next with eagerness.
Shaun
-
I was planning on talking about my misadventure in Hong Kong at a later date, but since I replied to a person from an immigration blog site for Hong Kong, I thought to share the posting here.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
King125 I can feel your frustration. I share in your pain as I base my future timeline on your success. Since you hear next to nothing, I expect the same for us. I will share my experience with my futile visit to the Hong Kong consulate.
My plane would leave Hong Kong at 11:45 am on Wednesday April 21st so I knew that I needed to be at the airport no later then 10:00 am. On Monday morning I sent an email to the consulate saying that I would go there on Tuesday afternoon. In my email I stated that I was bringing additional proof of our ongoing relationship such as extra photos, ticket stubs on 3 more visits to China, and a years worth of moneygram receipts. I also said that my main wish, being that I knew the consulate was busy, was to drop off the documents, but if possible I would like to have a quick chat with a VO officer that was processing our case.
Tuesday morning I checked my email and had no reply. I had figured that I would not hear from them. We arrived at the consulate at about 2:00 pm and proceeded to the 12th floor. The security glass doors into the consulate was closed and manned by a security officer. He would open the doors briefly to let people out. The waiting area in the consulate had about 6 people waiting to see someone. We were not allowed in and through the glass doors had to state our business. When I said that I wished to drop of documents and maybe see someone, I was told that only by mail would they accept the documents. I stated that the website only mentioned applications needed to be mailed and that we already had an application and I had the file number with us. I also said that the website said that temporary visas could be dropped off in person to the secretary so I wished to drop off the additional proof to the secretary as well. He took our passports and inquired to a person behind the counter. He came back and said that the office was only open between 8:00 & 10:00 am. He said that the person behind the counter mentioned that if we came back the next day between 8:00 & 10:00 am and we had filled in a Case Specific Enquiry that maybe someone would see us. He did not promise us but said we could try. We thanked him for his effort and departed to prepare for tomorrow.
Our hotel was not close to the consulate and with my plane leaving that day, we arrived at the consulate at 7:45 with suitcases in tow. The 12th floor was already filled with a line of people waiting for the doors to open. We squeezed in the very back. Once the doors opened, the security officer started screening the people trying to get in. Some people were sent away and those that were allowed accesses had their bags checked. By 8:20 we arrived at the doors. He remembered us and took our passports and Case Specific Enquiry to the same lady behind the counter. After a brief discussion he returned and said that yes we could enter and maybe see a VO officer BUT, while pointing to our luggage, he stated that we could not take them into the consulate nor leave them in the 12th floor elevator lobby. We had to find a place that would hold my suitcases. I understood the security reasoning and we went back down the elevator to find a place to cache the baggage. My wife did not get the jest of the reasoning since on the main floor lobby she asked if they would watch them there. She also suggested the bank that was on the main floor. I tried to explain to her the heightened security now in the world because of 9/11. I said that maybe a hotel would allow us to check in our baggage so we left the building to find a nearby hotel. Across the road was the subway that we took to arrive here. She got excited and suggested that a store in the subway might hold our bags. I allowed her to try by asking but was convinced and correct that they would not take them either. We did find 2 blocks away the Mandarin Oriental Hotel that said the bag check in was for guests only but they would make an exception and took our bags. We got back to the consulate at 8:50 waited in line briefly, and then the security officer waved us forward checked my wife’s purse and let us in. He gave us a ticket and said to wait for our number to be called. By 9:20 I was getting worried because I still needed to get to the airport. My wife called over another security officer and showed my flight itinerary to her. She took the itinerary and showed it to the same lady behind the counter. The lady called us up and asked what we wanted. I would not be able to see a VO officer anymore so I asked if at least that I could drop of the extra documents of proof for our case file. She said that only by mail would they accept the documents. I mentioned, once again, that the website said that temporary visa applications and courier deliveries were accept in person so I was hopping to do the same. My rational was that delivering in person would be additional proof of the seriousness of our commitment. How many other Canadian sponsors take the time out to make an appearance? But my attempt at persuasion fell on deaf ears. Only by mail would they accept the additional proof. So poof – my hopes were dashed as I needed to dash back to the hotel, gather my bags, and depart for the airport.
I wonder if I had the extra time weather I would have gotten the chance to speak with a VO officer. Now I will never know. I hope that at least they remember that we had been there and when we mail in the additional proof I will make a copy of this posting for even an additional proof. I like to thank the security officer (I should have gotten his name) because he did try for us, but for the secretary – I can understand a policy set in place to discourage the locals from hounding their office, but how often does a Canadian, which I might add pays their salary, show up to be assisted. I sure hope I get better service if ever left stranded overseas, but alas I feel that the Canadian government abroad is meek in deed.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
AS to my night in Hong Kong....well that will be another story I will share, but as to some quick advice...Don't stay at a hotel that also has posted an hourly rate.
-
Rhonald , as alway's great stuff to read and from a vivid writer . Looking forward for more adventure of the Canadian type .
-
Rhonald,
As i've often stated in various threads here, Our Embassy's/Consulates are totally geared up to be as negative as they can possibly manage to be... They actually think there doing you a favour to even take the time to see you!!!
Rhonald, the whole set-up is basically geared up for business and commerce, Citizens requiring there services are just a nuisance and inconvenience to them. The staff live life's that bear no resemblance to yours or anyone else's, (there own little ''Protected'' world) and god forbid if you find yourself in trouble ....haha!!!
Your experience is basically, a very typical example most of us will find visiting most of our Western Embassy's and not what is expected by many!!!!
David....
-
Rhonald,
As i've often stated in various threads here, Our Embassy's/Consulates are totally geared up to be as negative as they can possibly manage to be... They actually think there doing you a favour to even take the time to see you!!!
Your experience is basically, a very typical example most of us will find visiting most of our Western Embassy's and not what is expected by many!!!!
David....
Yes I have read on other blog sites the response we can get if we visit. I have heard a few positive responses but mainly, as you say, negative ones. I just thought that since the onus is on us to prove our case of a valid relationship, if we ever did get denied our visa request, then I have evidence that showed the consulate blocked my attemp at providing more evidence. Any appeals are treated here in Canada and not at the consulate. But I also hear the appeal process takes another year. I hope we do not have to go this route but I am stockpiling my ammo in case it does.
In hindsight I wish we never made the trip to the consulate. I thought I was ready for a failed attempt but felt anger and discouragement anyways. Instead Yan and I should have spent the day site seeing and enjoying our last few hours unrushed. I would have left on a high note instead of B..eing flat.
-
Five Trip to be with Yan ! What more Proof do they want , for you to show it's a " REAL " relationship ? It really is pathetic how they treat someones Relationship of the highest quality . Maybe they think of their own and this get's them pissed ?
-
Rhonald,
Yep!! ....It's a sad fact but very true unfortunately. Most inexperienced travelers think and expect (rightly so) that these institutions are there to help there National Citizens. But they find that it can be a real pain in the arse at times to even get inside your Embassy.... Then find that the Passport/immigration dept s are only open 2 or 3 hours a day, ...if your lucky!! lol!!! Then treated to the total apathy of the staff (most of which are NOT even of your Nationality) and leave with a new understanding of there own country...lol!!!
David.....
-
at least the usa consulate is staffed with americans not the most freindly
but they are americans. i thought the british one was interesting when i went there
with someone-- it is in an old hotel that has been shut down for about 8 years and
looks like it. and the lady was chinese who wanted to talk with the person i the waiting area
so to speak i thought that was interesting
-
Ted,
Well your Embassy in Beijing is choker block with local Chinese staff, especially in the immigration/passport dept....
I think there's nothing worse, than to walk into your countries Embassy, and have to deal with a foreigner telling you, NO you can't do this and NO you can't do that, and NO you can't speak to the head of dept. I have nothing against having locals work in our Embassy's, but definitely not on the front line.... Frankly it's a bloody insult!!!
David.......
-
NOT FOR ALL THE TEA IN CHINA?
I have heard of this expression before so I traveled to the self acclaimed ceramic capital of China named Chaozhou to find the answer to this mysterious saying. After all, there is no “T” in “CHINA”.
We heard that the bus ride from Shenzhen to Chaozhou would take 5 hours so we left mid morning for the bus depot to catch our ride. We arrived at the station shortly passed 10:00 and found out to our disappointment that there were only 3 scheduled buses leaving each day. The times of 7:30, 1:30, & 6:30 were posted with a price of 150 rmb. This now would mean a 3 hour wait. The bus depot is located at Lo Wu right next to the main knock off mall. This depot also attracts beggars preying for charity because of the many tourist shoppers hunting for bargains. Oh great, I groaned, three hours of swatting away eFF..ing lies. There was one persistent middle aged lady that kept coming over with her hand out. She looked reasonably dressed and nourished and I would soon remember her because on two other days while passing through the station, I was hounded by her.
The one thing I can say about China is that if you missed your bus, another one soon would arrive. We did miss the major chain bus, but located in the bus depot are many smaller companies trolling for fares. We were approached by a man asking where we were going. Soon my wife was in deep negotiations with him as he said that he could get us to Chaozhou. They settled on 130 rmb per person and we followed after him through a maze of people, escalators, and hallways. We arrived at a small office at the further reaches of the depot were we found out that we would not go directly to Chaozhou but would need to switch buses at the costal city of Shantou. Our bus would leave in 20 minutes but I was worried about the connection and if our time would end up being longer for it. Yan was excited because she had already saved 60 rmb on the trip as there was her son with us on this trip. When it was time to depart, we had another trek of about 10 minutes to reach the place where the bus would pick us up. The bus depot only serviced the major lines. Around back by a parking lot was a ramp that left the bus depot and soon we had a reasonable looking bus stop and pick us up. Good I thought, as I had had an inkling feeling that we would be riding on a barely there bus.
The way the Chinese pronounced Shantou sounded like the Spanish Santos and coincidently, this costal city blessed me with a view of a beautifully styled Catholic church. It was of a fair size, and unfortunately, I did not have enough time to get my camera to take a picture before the bus had passed it. I did pass by a few more smaller, but Christian churches. This left me scratching my head to why and if there was a reason or just coincidence. We only had to wait 15 minutes in Shantou and soon we headed off to Chaozhou in a slightly smaller but adequate bus. Our destination was only an hour further away so all told, our round-about-trip took 6 hours instead of 5. But we arrived sooner then if we had waited and the ticket price was cheaper. The bus dropped us off on the other side of the highway from our hotel and after a mad dash in a gap in traffic while the rain drizzled down upon us, we arrived at our Hotel in the Ceramic Capital.
There is a “T” in Tiring and in Trip which this had been, but I was here to solve the riddle of all the “T” in China. Now this might come as a major shock for you so learned reader, as you already know that Grant is not buried in Grant’s tomb, nor do Camel hair brushes come from camels, but brace your self for this revelation. They make China in China!
The following photos show some of the collections I saw. But when I flipped the plate over, I was disappointed in not seeing Made In China. How will anyone believe me now! But at least I can prove and solve the riddle of this day’s topic.
If you take out the IN from CHINA you are left with CHA which is Pinyin for ?
Or as we say TEA. Case Closed.
-
T for Texas T for Tennessee. Oops sorry wrong thread.
Ron, great story and I'll have to talk with Peggy about going there next time.
-
Ron, great story, do you remember how much the knife set cost? And from the last picture, it goes again to prove the point, that our ladies travel much better, and arrive more lovely, than we men. I am looking forward to my trip in 3 weeks, as I am out of Cha from my first visit. buzz
-
Ron, great story, do you remember how much the knife set cost? And from the last picture, it goes again to prove the point, that our ladies travel much better, and arrive more lovely, than we men.
Well....they do have the advantage since they are the fairer sex. The knife set was given to me as a gift so it cost me nothing - must be that they thought I was a movie star. I will have more to say about being given too many gifts. But the price as you can see from this other box set was 880 rmb.
-
Uh...Rhonald... WHO gave you the knife set as a gift?
You might not believe in it, but there is the superstition that gifting a knife (or knife set or any "sharp" object) means you wish that relationship to be severed...
Just a thought...
-
Uh...Rhonald... WHO gave you the knife set as a gift?
You might not believe in it, but there is the superstition that gifting a knife (or knife set or any "sharp" object) means you wish that relationship to be severed...
Just a thought...
Darn....I thought he said he was a Rabbi and mentioned forskin but now I think, because of what you mentioned , he said forsaken and he was a Rebel :huh: in disguise.
-
The knives look pretty, but still...check with Yan... I've seen too many people believe that superstition and see it happen that it's not a good sign...
Although if those knives do work, you could probably make a fortune selling them here.
-
They are sharp but I wonder how well the edge will hold. I never heard of porcelan knifes before.
Just talked with my wife and she doesn't think anything of the superstition. For her she gets more delight in getting things for free - she kept telling me its the Chinese way (about getting free gifts). In fact I had to caution her that I felt uncomfortable recieving so many free gifts. I had to explain to her our belief that there is no such thing as a free lunch.
-
Rhonaid Have you ever heard of Ginsu Knives ? they are made of porcelan.They will cut a small branch off a bush.Then cut a tomato.Without ever needing to be sharpend.If the blade is made right.Your grandkids will still be useing the knives.When there grandkids are old enough to drive.
-
Rhonaid Have you ever heard of Ginsu Knives ?
Yes I remember the commercials - I just thought they were made from a kind of metal. Thanks for the info Maxx.
Just looked it up on the internet and seems the ginsu knife was an American product made from stainless steel. The current line does offer some impressive steel. Damascus Steel being one of the types that I find breathtakingly beautiful. Very sharp looking...in style I mean.
-
great story Rhonald and the pics were nice. i would have been a little worried on
the bus ride-- you know getting stuck out somewere and being asked for more money
to get you were you are going but it all worked out. they do that at the GUANGZHOU
bus station-- cheap rooms and they take you way outside of town and then tell you its
not 200 rmb but 800 rmb and your so far out you cant even get a taxi back to town.
QUESTION--- the other night i was on the immigration forum and made a post that never appeared
but it was late so i didnt rewrite it and post again and now i see it here on this thread??????
i wonder how did that happen???????
-
Hotel HK Californication:
When I arrived in Hong Kong from Canada on March 31st I stayed at a Hotel in central HK and paid 440 Rmb for 1 night. It was a modest hotel but for the price meet our needs. When I decided to spend a night in Hong Kong before returning home on April 20th the price had doubled for the same hotel. With a major mainland Chinese holiday coming at the end of the month, suddenly hotels in Hong Kong were becoming a precious commodity.
My wife talked with a friend of hers that was staying in Hong Kong. The girlfriend had gone to Hong Kong to have her baby. She believed that the hospitals were better in HK so she paid the extra expense to have her baby there. She told my wife about a hotel that we could stay in that was very small but cost only 200 Rmb. Great price I thought but with hotels becoming scarce, I worried about its quality.
After our unsuccessful afternoon trip to the consulate we took the subway to find this little bitty hotel. Just outside of the Mong Kok subway exit tucked away on a small side street my wife spotted the sign. The hotel occupied about 4 floors in a small building. As I looked into the hallway from outside I could see stairs and no elevator. My wife commented that she would go inside to investigate while I watched the suitcases. She came back a little later. She told me the price was 200 Rmb if we waited until 18:00 because 200 Rmb was for renting the room for 12 hours. If we checked in earlier we would pay an additional 50 Rmb each extra hour. She also mentioned the place was tiny and the washroom worse then hers back home. I told her that for my last night I wished to find a better place. I had noticed on a walkway we used a sign giving directions to a hotel. I thought that this meant the hotel was probably a larger better quality one. My wife warned me that it also meant that the price would be more. I said I rather treat her nice for the last night and was willing to check it out and then decide.
So off we went following the yellow bricked walkway. After a couple of blocks we descended from the above ground walkway onto the main street. We lost the trail to the hotel as I tried to identify another sign. But from the main street we did see another small hotel that had pictures of the rooms displayed on a bulletin board. The pictures displayed a nice sized bedroom with a view into a reasonable washroom. The prices quoted on the board was 460 Rmb and beside the room another price of 60 Rmb. I found out latter this was the hourly rate. This building did have an elevator and the hotel was located on the 4th to 6th floors. Once again I watched the bags as my wife went to investigate. She returned and said that the rooms were nice just like the pictures. She said that if we waited until 10:00 pm then we would only need to pay 320 Rmb. I said okay we will take it but wished to see if we could at least check in our bags now so we did not need to tote them around. It was 5:00 in the afternoon and I was getting hungry. She also wanted to see her girlfriend and the new baby. We were allowed to check in our bags but had to pay 40 Rmb for it. The hotel took up half of the 4th floor with a locked door that we needed to ring the doorbell on to gain entrance. The bedrooms were set up like a hostel with rooms coming off at different angles from the one main hallway. In a service hallway we were allowed to stash our bags and headed off to supper. While walking to find a restaurant I noticed my wife had white paint on the back of her skirt. After supper and before going to her friends location, we returned to the hotel for her to change. We tried to figure where she had leaned against a wall or bar that had wet white paint. In the hotel we went to the suitcases and I noticed down a small hallway a man painting the wainscoting in a fresh white paint. I pointed this out to my wife that got her calling the receptionist. While my wife changed into some shorts, the painter tried to clean up her black skirt by using some turpentine and water. We left to take the subway and go see her friend and baby.
At 10:30 we arrived back at the hotel and checked in. The room was of a nice size and the bed mattress for a change was firm, thick but not hard. The washroom looked clean and had a standard toilet, sink, and bathtub. Most hotels in China only have showers so this was different; however there was no shower curtain. The room did have a fair bit of mirrors and with an hourly rate room charge; I was not that naïve to figure why.
My wife wanted to take a shower before bed and this is when we found out that we needed to wait for the water to be turned on. Even the sink tap did not work but the toilet did flush. She had left the tap open and about 20 minutes later we heard the pipes burping. Soon water started coming out in a fine rusty brown spray. Oh great, I can get my iron supplementation with my bath. But after a couple of minutes the flow turned clean and we showered and got ready for the night.
Before coming back to the hotel that night, two blocks away I did see the sign for a Man’s night club, or maybe instead, it was a store selling women’s bikinis. Well during the night I did get clear evidence that it probably was a night club. I sure wish the interior soundproofing of walls was up to a better standard in China. Not for the first time on this trip have I had nocturnal noise disturbing the darkness of slumber. Also with a locked door lobby, during the night the door bell kept toiling and not for sleep. Added to this were the fumes from the freshly painted walls giving me a headache. We needed to be up early to get to the consulate before 8:00.
So memories of my last night with my wife were one of deep sadness. Before retiring that night she cried the 1st time about my departure. Never before on other trips did she show such great sadness because of my departure. It was usually I, at least the first two trips that had tears in my eyes. Added to her sadness was the noise and fume infested night.
I believe the both of us are showing the strain of a distant relationship. It is hard on the heart and spirit the many arrivals and departures, and always at the back of the mind, the worry about the visa process.
Not all was doom and gloom. After all I got to hold two brand new babies on this trip. The little girl here and earlier on the trip a brand new baby girl from Yan's friend Sally. I had a wild adventurous time with the bandit Kingpin of Kiaping and his lovely princess Sunny. I spent an enjoyable evening with Shaun and Peggy too so I will have more stories and pictures to follow.
-
another good read about your trip Rhonald.
the part of having the baby in H.K. there is also another
reason to do so becuase the baby is afforded a few more
rights and percs from being born there and not the mainland
at one time H. K. put a hold on that because of the influx of people
doing that
-
Ted,
Exactly what ''rights and Perks'' are you saying they will gain by being born in Hong Kong to Mainland parents??
David....
-
1---permanent residency status (hkpr)
2---free medical care
3---free education
4---passport with the ability to travel to over 100 countries
5---the one child policy doesnt apply so they can have another
child on the mainland
so some families even though it is expensive to do feel that having
their child born here is well worth it
-
Ted,
Then i'm afraid their under a misconception, at least one of the parents ''MUST'' have/hold a valid Hong Kong ID card to acquire any of the above benefits.... Someone has been misinforming these parents... This WAS the case, when the parents run the boader gaunlet during the British rule era, and made it to the designated immigration department for illegal Mainland citizens!! .....But then they lost there Chinese citizenship...
Or.....They are just going to Hong Kong for better and cleaner medical facilities....
David....
-
if you look it up they the kids do get all these benefits but the parents can only stay
for up to 3 months but the children do recieve all the above mentioned benefits as stated
-
Ted,
Hong Kong is a SAR State and will remain so for 50 years after the change of status, which means the British are still administering HK in many ways. Passports issued to HK residents are Actually still British Passports, but are not FULL British passports.
So show me the internet address where it states what you have posted above...
David....
-
i am basing this on 2 family members who had children born in HK
there children have different ids and passports are different than
those of their parents. you can do a internet search if you want
to read the implications but i am not going to find the site as i have
seen the difference between the two
-
Ted,
It seems as if there has been some changes since my last knowledge of the system. I checked the internet today and found an article specifically outlining the new benefits.
One or two points on this are, ...anyone born in HK are entitled to subsidised education and health benefits, ..but they are not at this time ...Free!! Along with ''Right of Abode''
The cost of maternity charges to Chinese non residents is around 6000 to 7000 US Dollars for basic delivery and care. Mainland Chinese, cannot gain a HK visit visa specifically for having a child born in the SAR territory. Tight boarder controls have been maintained since the 1997 change of sovereignty.
So my apologies to you, i was out of date and wrong ...lol!!
David....
-
David5o
ok apology accepted that will cost 1 bag of jerky will send my
mailing address NEXT time it will cost 2 hawaiian shirts hahahaha
Ted
-
Ted,
i haven't a clue what jerky is, or where to buy it, and as for walking into a MAN'S shop and asking for Flowery shirts ......eh, i don't think so!!! lol!!!
David....
-
well i dont have any issues with wearing or buying shirts of what i like
or what people think it doesnt affect who i am lol!!!
it takes a man to be able to wear anything except a dress!!!!!!
unless your from scotland
-
Ted,
Nor do i .... i'm just pulling your leg !! lol
David....
-
i know im just kidding around also