Finally seeing China
paulinurus
August 31, 2010 at 03:15 PM posted in General DiscussionHey, Cpod message said "successfully posted" but my p
Well, here I am finally travellng China for the first time. Glad that due to the two years of learning Chinese mostly from Cpod I didn't feel entirely uncomfortable with the new environment and was able to get the gist of some Chinese conversations going on, especially the long "telling off" by an elderly lady to someone sitting behind her on the plane from Hong Kong to Beijing for apparently kicking the back of her seat. Interesting too that as soon as the plane came to a stop, cell phones suddenly popped out and people were speaking Mandarin everywhere, and very loudly too!
No problems at the Beijing airport since there were English signs/announcements everwhere. The only surprise was having to take a mile (左右）ride on the airport train to the baggage claim area.
At the hotel, I mentioned to the bellboy "小心，这包里面有电脑” and he nodded understandably as he loaded our baggage and bags on the cart. I asked him "你会讲英文吗？。 “一点儿”said he. In the room, he showed me where the internet cable was kept and the whereabouts of the wall socket/ receptacle. He spoke Chinese with lots of "rrrr" and was quite difficult to understand all that he said. Watching tv now in the middle of the night due to the jet lag... and lo and behold Michael Jackson's "This is it" is showing on HBO.
ost disappeared! Good thing I saved it on Wordpad. Here it is..2nd post. Hope it'll show up this time around.
zhenlijiang
October 25, 2010 at 09:17 PM
Hi Paul, now that he is in China I thought I'd leave XiaoLiang's thread for his updates. In response to:
Wow, $18 to see a movie! One thing I don't understand about Japan is why generally things are SO EXPENSIVE compared to other countries in Asia. I saw mangoes selling for US$50 each, water melons $15 each, apples $5 each, cantelopes $18. And of course, beef prices are out of this world. Well OK Okinawa is an island, but still...such prices are killers! How do Japanese people afford to buy food?
Well don't forget the US$ is just so weak against JPY now. In the actual current exchange rate US$1 is more like 81 JPY. So a regular movie ticket is US$22. hahaha. Can you see why I am very selective? I'm not sure why the cinema is as expensive as it is in Japan though. Land prices maybe?
Yeah it's generally expensive here, we locals think so too. For a while since Japan became industrialized we didn't think anything of having to pay so much for every kind of pleasure or convenience, I guess because so much of all that (the concept of "leisure" for instance) was new to us, and unlike China today, most of the population saw their living standards improve in pretty much the same way, together. But things have changed over the last two decades, people understand they can save money by doing more things on their own instead of paying others for a service, they're more resourceful in seeking out more information before deciding what to spend on, they've seen lower prices and so now demand them all the time, and keep looking for even lower; companies have had to become much more competitive and the job market is tighter, bonuses slimmer, the future uncertain, many more people not really able to make ends meet. So you still have high prices, but more people now know about and make use of less expensive choices too. Comparing to other Asian countries--? Japan has been considered an advanced economy / industrialized nation since the 1970s when the Group of Seven (G5 then) started.
I know you know this, but saying Okinawa is an island is like saying Hawaii is an island. Yes there is the main island Okinawa among the group of islands (that includes the Senkaku Islands!) that make up Okinawa prefecture. Was Okinawa all you had time for in Japan? It's quite different there you know, from the rest of the country. Sorry to say I've never been. Would like to very much.
Nobody I know buys apples at $5 each. Hit hard by the crazy summer weather driving vegetable prices up so high, what household has any left over for such luxuries? We have so-called "brand" fruits (I hear they're household names among China's wealthy too) and a mango grown in Miyazaki prefecture is very expensive, might have been the kind you saw. I guess some people splurge on them on occasion, for themselves or giving them in nice wooden boxes, they're supposed to be out-of-the-world delicious.
So how long was your entire holiday? Sounds like the trip of a lifetime.
paulinurus
October 14, 2010 at 03:44 AM
Had a good practice speaking Mandarin in Singapore. Govt has been encouraging citizens to speak Mandarin as a means of consolidating all the Chinese dialects spoken here into one language. Been travelling over 6 weeks now and looking forward to landing back in Canada soon.
pretzellogic
September 01, 2010 at 12:52 AM
I'm curious of your initial impressions of Beijing, and of China.what you think of the food, the people, the city,the zeitgeist.....
paulinurus
September 03, 2010 at 08:27 PM
If the temp goes above 38C, workers are entitled to stay home and still get paid. However, the official govt weather bureau (tvs) has never reported temps above 38, even though people have witnessed up to 40C.
Govt is promoting conservation. Malls and offices etc have stipulated air conditioning temperatures not to go below. Used to be 24C , now 26C
haha!
paulinurus
September 03, 2010 at 08:19 PM
Tomorrow is my last day in Beijing. Have visited the usual touristy sites (Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven, Great Wall (climbed the 2000 steps to top of Juyonguan wall and have heard lots from our guide about Beijing and about China . Will be vsiting the Summer Palace, walk the Hutong, then to Tianjing to board the ship. Sadly, no more internet for blogging till the ship arrrives in Hong Kong. Ports of call include Shanghai, Korea, Japan, Taiwan. Then I'm off to Singapore and hopefully if time permits, Malaysia.
Meanwhile, here are my first impressions of China/Beijing based on what I saw and from what the guide said.
Traffic jams are a problem - every month projected 12,000 more new cars on the road. Cars are major cause of air pollution .
Owners are allowed to drive weekends but only four working days out of five (regulated via digit number on licence plate.
Locals mostly buy fruits, vegetables, meats from markets, less so at supermarkets. Imported food found at supermarkets are heavily taxed by the govt.
Imported luxury items also heavily taxed by govt. Explans why I saw imported shirts selling above Y1,000. Foreign branded cars built in China not taxed as much as imported cars.
Beijing consist of "ring roads" with Tiananmen in the center (like a bull's eye) Downtown Beijing is inside the 3rd ring road. People who bought condos in the suburbs are now moving back down town due to the traffic jam situations.
My overall impression .... greatly impressed! Beijing is clean, modern. and safe. Seems to me that a centralized (brain) govt is incredibly efficient and effective, unlike the committees and parliamentary process of elected officials in North America . With 1.3 billion citizens to care for, the govt has done an incredible job. My guide speaks freely about the positives and negatives of Beijing life and the Chinese govt. "China", she said," is like a boat floating in the water. With 1.3 billion people, we are continually building a bigger boat to bring as many people on board. as we can. But sadly, some are still left in the water."
ps Beijing food is quite spicy !!!
paulinurus
September 03, 2010 at 07:15 PM
Yes, they do have events there, including sporting events such as soccer. Guide told us that at first the govt wanted a retractable roof however decided against it because of the Y1.4 billion additional cost. She said that the Bird's nest will pay for itself from entrance fees and events, but not the Olympic infrastructures built in university campus.
xiao_liang
September 03, 2010 at 09:25 AM
That's interesting. So they've turned the stadium into a tourist attraction etc? Do they still have events there, or is it just for people to ooh and aah at?
paulinurus
September 01, 2010 at 06:10 PM
Qing tao beer... bought four 355 ml cans refrigerated from a super market at Y45 (about 72 cents each). Goes down well with assorted Chinese bread buns.
paulinurus
September 01, 2010 at 06:03 PM
Strolled and window shopped the streets around the Bird's Nest Olympic stadium today without ... what caught my attention were...
There were "street wardens" at one busy intersection with megaphones and flags yelling instructions to people to obey the walk/don't walk traffic signs. The traffic lights have "count down" numbers same as in the West. Seems to me the govt is training pedestrains to use the cross walks/obey the lights.
One shopping mall has all 5 floors selling only brand name goods (clothings, shoes, electronics, wine/spirits) at prices much higher than in Canada. LaCoste casual shirts were selling above Y1,000...
Bags are xrayed and people patted down just like at airport security to go in the Bird's nest (Y50 entrance fee) Plenty of uniformed security people around the Bird's Nest. Inside, there were large screens showing excepts of the 2008 olympic.
Food courts selling lots of Chinese menu at what seems very cheap prices. Very clean premises, crowded at the lunch time, and the dishes look very delicious although I don't know what they are.
Zertgeist of the people? The nation getting wealthier and wealthier and they want in!
pretzellogic
August 31, 2010 at 04:25 PM
how was the taxi ride in from the airport? Did the drivers understand you? Did you get any flack from them about which hotel to take you to?
paulinurus
September 03, 2010 at 07:17 PM
Yes, shes from Beijing, not a 20 something as I thought at first, but a 30 something (Chinese women look ageless).
pretzellogic
September 01, 2010 at 12:48 AM
cool! interesting to hear what your guide thought was important. Sounds like she's from Beijing.
paulinurus
August 31, 2010 at 10:04 PM
p.s. she also mentioned about China's land ownerhsip policy which I found really interesting...there is none. All land are owned by the govt, assigned to developers (capitalist) to build condos and maximize the profit buck, people who got rich very quickly were those who bought and sold condos. Owners of condos have 70 year lease to stay in their units. At end of lease, who knows what the govt will do then. Only very rich people can afford house with land.
paulinurus
August 31, 2010 at 09:53 PM
Hi Pretz,
I had arranged for a local guide to pick us up. Figured it'll save all the hassles and pitfalls tryng to navigate our way in a foreign country with my limited vocab on the language. The guide is a young twenty something entrepreneur who spoke very good English and during the 40 minute ride was able to discuss Beijing's GDP, average wage per capita (Y$50,000 annual), China's continuing one child policy for couples who have brothers and sisters, help from govt for abortion including 3 day paid leave, rampant rise in Beijing condo prices making it unaffordable for young couples to afford own a condo (average condo price now arond Y5 million), the govt's attempt to control real estate speculation via 40% down and 8% mortgage. I asked her how the city is nowadays and she said "Beijing changes every day...its very exciting but lots of competitive pressure for young people.
zhenlijiang
August 31, 2010 at 04:18 PM
Yeah lots of grrr's rrrr's shrrr's in Beijing. Never been myself, but have seen movies.
Have a good trip!
(whoa I just saw that DRIVEL COFFEE SHOP link. those were the days hahaha)
paulinurus
August 31, 2010 at 09:34 PM
Yeah Zhen, those were the days when there was a lot of fun here .
RJ
August 31, 2010 at 03:59 PM
Hey, good for you Paul. Its the first trip that is the best. Like walking on the moon. Enjoy.
paulinurus
August 31, 2010 at 09:32 PM
RJ, nice to hear from you. Seems like you've not been posting much now.
xiao_liang
August 31, 2010 at 03:46 PM
Great news! And really exciting - I'll be doing something similar in late October! Keep us updated as to how it goes, treat the site like a blog of your visit :-) How long are you visiting for?
bababardwan
August 31, 2010 at 10:05 PM
Hey Paul,
Great to see you finally made it. Can't wait to hear your updates. Thanks for sharing some tales so far, including what mandarin was understood. These details bring it to life. Will we be hearing you on N&F? Have fun
zhenlijiang
August 31, 2010 at 09:57 PM
听起来很豪华啊。Hey is this your honeymoon? If so, 恭喜恭喜! If not, well 恭喜你们 anyway.
paulinurus
August 31, 2010 at 09:29 PM
xiao liang,
Spending 4 nights in Beijing before we (wife and I) boarding Royal Carribean cruise ship at Tianjin. This is a maiden voyage 13 nights itinerary for the Royal Carribean line so it'll be interesting to see how it goes. Apparently Shanghai is embarking on broadening the crusing business and has built a new port to accomodate international cruise shis. One of the ports of call is Shanghai where we'll have two clear days.. After reading the posts here and elsewhere, we have decided to skp the the Expo. I have arranged with a local tour guide to see the city, water town, and Suzhou.
paulinurus
October 26, 2010 at 05:45 AMThe cruise ship stopped at Nagasaki and Okinawa.. wife and I joined a tour in each city. We liked both cities very much... people are polite (lots of bowing), the streets and stores are clean and organized, and not a single trace of police around. I asked the guide why is it there are no cops in sight and she said, there are some, but they stay in little booths here and there. In Nagasaki we went up the Observation Hill (via tram) and had a spectacular view of the habour and city...then Glover Garden, then walked the streets to shop , had lunch at a Mall, and finally visited the Peace Park and Ground Zero.... very moving and sad. In Okinawa we learnt a lot about the interesting history of the Ryukyu kingdom, how the kingdom had very close ties with China, and how the king managed to please the samurais who invaded Ryukyu to join the mainland, while still maintaining close ties with China (went to the Shur Castle and saw the housing accomodations for the samurais on one side and the Chinese officials on the other side. Also walked the main streets of Okinawa and went to the food market. Wife took photos of the many types of sea food, meat (pig's heads sold in vacuumed packages, hehe), fruits, all sorts of pickled stuff. That's when I was surprised by the high prices of the fruits.... a wooden case containing two pineapples selling for Y44,000 !! Yeah, it was a big 7 weeks travel, able even to sqeeze in Kuala Lumpur and Penang while we were in Singapore. An opportunity to do so since I've changed job and could arrange for this big time off before settling in new position. Reckon now that the 2 kids are in late teens, wife and I deserve the big break.