China to Hong Kong and back to China

[john1964]

Robert, yes i got a 12 month multi-entry visa as always and could not see the sense of supplying my itinerary for this first trip but this is what they wanted  , so i had to supply, John.

[sunny]

I have ever taken the both of the ferry and bus to Guangzhou and Shenzhen from Hong Kong International Airport.  I think the bus is better if you want to go to Guangzhou directly.

I didn't find the ferry which can arrive Shunde from Hong Kong International Airport, http://www.hongkongairport.com/eng/transport/transport-connection-with-mainland-china/ferry-transfer/service-at-a-glance.html

If you want to take the bus to Shunde or somewhere else, see this link http://www.hongkongairport.com/CBT/Controller?locale=eng


BTW, I'm going to Guangzhou next month. I can't wait!

[Pineau]

Here is something to add to your checklist for first time travelers.
Get your phone ready for China.
    Get a SIM Card for mainland.
    Get 2 SIM cards for Hong Kong if you think you may get separated. (she can pick the up locally).
Talk to a guy named mark  http://www.3gsolutions.com.cn/page/simcard/... They accept paypal.

They like to send the SIM cards to your hotel but...Have him mail it to your house in the USA so you will arrive with it.  Just pop it in the phone as you leave the USA and you will be talking to her before you disembark the plane in Guangzhou.

If you want to know where you are install GPS software on your phone.  I hope you have an android phone cause the iphone GPS and map are less than worthless in China.

Install QQ on your phone and practice navigating the Chinese menus

If you need international long distance try getting a magic jack for your laptop. I have found that Skype in and around Guangzhou. SUCKS.

Get a purse...er man bag. it is really handy and deters pickpockets. Just don't forget it in a restaurant or bus.  ( I NEVER take mine off no matter what.)  BIG with zipper pockets and a large flap over the top work best.

As we think of more we will add it to this thread.

[IrishGuy65]

Here is something to add to your checklist for first time travelers.
Get your phone ready for China.
    Get a SIM Card for mainland.
    Get 2 SIM cards for Hong Kong if you think you may get separated. (she can pick the up locally).
Talk to a guy named mark  http://www.3gsolutions.com.cn/page/simcard/... They accept paypal.

They like to send the SIM cards to your hotel but...Have him mail it to your house in the USA so you will arrive with it.  Just pop it in the phone as you leave the USA and you will be talking to her before you disembark the plane in Guangzhou.

If you want to know where you are install GPS software on your phone.  I hope you have an android phone cause the iphone GPS and map are less than worthless in China.

Install QQ on your phone and practice navigating the Chinese menus

If you need international long distance try getting a magic jack for your laptop. I have found that Skype in and around Guangzhou. SUCKS.

Get a purse...er man bag. it is really handy and deters pickpockets. Just don't forget it in a restaurant or bus.  ( I NEVER take mine off no matter what.)  BIG with zipper pockets and a large flap over the top work best.

As we think of more we will add it to this thread.

Haha... I was talking the other day about things I'd need on my trip, and she already told me about the sim card.  Thanks for the info on where to get one, and to have them send it to me directly.  It would be nice to have my phone in useful condition on arrival.

I do have an Android phone with GPS, and I have WeChat installed on it.  I'm bringing my iPad.  Hongping is going to show me some ways to get more use out of it.  I use it mostly for FaceTime with her now.  FaceTime is much better than QQ's video chat.

Purse... (think HAL from 2001 Space Odyssey when reading this:) I'm sorry Gerry, I can't do that.  I generally travel light in the pockets anyway, and I need to bring very few things.   The $500 cards you have previously talked about, some cash, and my IDs.  That should be all I need.  Plus, if I need to, I think Hongping has a purse that I can stow that stuff into if needed    But, I have cargo shorts with zip pockets which should have the same effect when dealing with pickpockets.

[Pineau]

Here's some more ideas.
You have probably read this stuff before on this forum but as I remember it I will repeat it here.

On you android install one of the GPS tracker apps that keeps a record of everywhere you have been so you have a history of your memories on Google earth. 

A camera with a GPS is a good addition if you in need of a new camera anyway. Bring lots of flash cards for your camera. I have a Samsung camera that eats flash card like chicklets. They are cheap in China but you never know what your getting.

Backup your information and photos. I uploaded my stuff to skydrive periodically when I was in china. I was thankful when my flash cards started biting the dust.

If you are going to spend any time alone. Steal a menu from a Chinese restaurant in the USA that has both English and Chinese. SO you can order food just by pointing at it and know about what you are going to get.

Never get off the Bus without looking left and right unless you want to become road kill. It doesn't matter how close the bus gets to the curb someone on a bike or scooter will squeeze between it and the curb.

[Willy The Londoner]

Sujuan still uses her China passport and waits for me at customs in China , where as here I wait for her to clear ha ha , regards Sujuan and Robert .

We do not have that problem even though there are always massive queues in the at the check point at London Heathrow, I just pull my collapsable walking stick out of my walk on luggage and I hobble towards the special desk for the infirmed traveller, with youyuan offering her support and we go through without any problem. Never any queues and because they have her thumb print on computer its just a thumbs up to the reader and we are through.

Willy

[Neil]

I read this about GPS a while ago: http://motherboard.vice.com/blog/if-youre-a-foreigner-in-china-it-is-illegal-to-use-gps
Seems like a bit of a stretch, but who knows. 

[RobertBfrom aust]

Love your answer there Willy , to airport shuffles , Sujuan arrives back in Aussieland on Saturday with 5 lovely ladies all wanting husbands ha ha , guess I am the taxi driver again , trips to the penguins , great ocean road etc etc , oh and I think the animals at the zoo know me by name ha ha , I think maybe I should take up residence in the Shenyang apartment it would be a lot safer .
 now she wants to buy a 7 room house here so she can charge the girls 450 dollars a month while they are here for 3 months , no peace for me , but lots of yummy food , regards Robert .

[Pineau]

Your right Neil. It is a bit far fetched. Anyone that wants to do harm using a map already has far better precision maps than you can get from Google. And the GPS devices available in cameras and phones are sometimes accurate to a couple of yards but usually 50 or more feet. Not a serious threat to Chinese national security.

Its ironic that every cellphone clone sold in China has a built in GPS device. And their best seller the iPhone also has one. And every new car sold in China has one embedded in the dash. (Gosh the emperor has no cloths) ....I guess the theft and cloning of the technology is not illegal, just the use of it. haha
 
Its like every thing else in China. overblown and something to bitch about.    Reminds me of my ex-mother-in-law. If there is no trouble to fight about she would dream some up.


But the law is the law. Use at your own risk.

[Pineau]

Hey Willy,
Is photobucket available and legal in China? If so it would be a great place to store your photos in a safe place when traveling. When I was there I uploaded my photos to skydrive so I would have a back up copy. 

But if photobucket works there you can save them and display them for your friends at the same time...Zoot.

[Willy The Londoner]

Hey Willy,
Is photobucket available and legal in China? If so it would be a great place to store your photos in a safe place when traveling. When I was there I uploaded my photos to skydrive so I would have a back up copy. 

I do not know of photobucket. I use two laptops here and have all my photos copied to both. I also copy all my business files to both and have a 1 TB external hard disc that I can carry with the same files loaded on it. I update all of these daily.

I have got into Photo bucket.com with no problem here.  However I am permanently on proxy server so there is not reason that I could not.  I will try without the proxy later and see.
Willy

[Willy The Londoner]

I was able to get into photobucket.com without using the proxy server. - The great fire wall was working as I could not get into Google without the proxy being on.
Willy

[Robertt S]

Here is a link I use to determine if any specific site is blocked in China.   http://www.blockedinchina.net/

[IrishGuy65]

I use Flickr.  Don't know if that is accessible in China.

[Pineau]

Im not sure about flicker in China.

Flicker, Skydrive, photobucket. whatever  you use (and you should get those files backed up somewhere). Make sure it is accessible in China and it is on the other side of the great firewall.

here is the steps of the US consulate.  this is where you are going to go to get your single certificates.
 http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/Gpineau/media/Facebook/450152228356341/200859_451536034884627_1134155512_o.jpg.html?sort=3&o=0

Can you see Fiona?