[Written this morning as for some reason I couldnt' post then.]
Sorry I've not posted on my blog for so long. I'm having such a good time in Beijing it's been difficult to fit in the time :) So while I have a bit of a lazy morning today I thought I'd write another post.
Beijing is a great city. I got here early on Monday morning after taking the night train from Shanghai. The city to me seems very different from Shanghai, so much more space, and less busy. On my first day I checked into the Far East International Youth Hostel and had a bit of a wonder around getting my bearings etc. I met up with a friend of a friend who comes from Beijing in the evening so that was nice to begin to meet some locals.
On Tuesday I went to the forbidden city. The place is just awesome, you really have to see it to appreciate the size of the place! I spent the whole day wondering around and then in the late afternoon went up the hill in the park just to the North to try and get a view of Beijing. The hill was built using the soil excavated to build the moat. Unfortunately due to the smog you couldn't see very far, probably about 1km but never mind.
Wednesday was a bit of a lazy morning, and then a trip to the Lama temple in the afternoon. Again rather sad to see people very sincerely paying respects to false gods. The Lama temple is the most renowned Tibetan Buddhist outside Tibet. Wednesday night was meeting more locals and took me to the financial district of Beijing to the East.
Thursday was a 10km walk on the Great Wall with some friends from the hostel. Me and a guy Daniel from my room decided we'd try to get their ourselves rather than book on one of the fairly expensive tours. At the bus station we met 3 Americans who were doing the same which was helpful for haggling a bit late on. The minibus from the bus station first took us about 2 hours away and then we tried to find the minibus that lonely planet talked about to do the next bit of the journey to Jinshanling. Unfortunately no such minibus seemed to be around, but there were lots of minivan drivers vying for our money. So here the purchasing power of 5 of us was helpful, and the fact that Daniel and another guy could speak some Chinese. After 15 minutes of haggling we eventually got a good price to get us to the wall, and another hour or so later we were there.
The great wall was 'great'! It's amazing to see and walk on. The section we did to Simatai was quite steep in parts but was well worth the nearly 4 hour trek in the sun. The views are stunning of the mountains round there. The ride back was a lot easier as our minivan driver was at the other end (we'd not arranged it as we again thought there would be minibuses as lonely planet said). We got back tired, sweaty and hungry. First stop was the shower, then we went out for some street food and a couple of beers. Beer is cheap out here (Y2 for a 600ml bottle!).All in all I'm loving Beijing.
I'd better go as I'm off to the summer palace now.
See you,
Andy
Friday, 20 July 2007
Friday, 13 July 2007
Shanghai - travel tips
Well I've now been in Shanghai for a day and a half. The 19 hour train journey from Hong Kong was fun, meeting people from China and things like that.
Shanghai is very different to Hong Kong One of the most visible things is it's not as clean as Hong Kong. Some people here just throw litter onto the street even though there are lots of bins nearby. Also people here seem quite cold, pushing to get to places, and you hardly see people smile. If people are friendly then they are most likely trying to con you, see tip 2 below, or sell you fake goods. It seems you have to actually ignore people who offer you things or say hello which seems really rude.
A friend of mine (Rob) from Cambridge South Hockey Club has a brother Nick out here teaching English so I met him in the evening after I arrived yesterday. It was great to chat to him about what Shanghai is like, in a couple of the bars here. I also met him this afternoon in the old part of Shanghai. I'm staying in the International Youth Hostel here which is actually pretty good. It's a good way of meeting fellow travelers. Tomorrow I'm going with a guy from the same dorm to Suzhou, which is a 1 hour train journey away and should have lots of gardens to see so quite different to here in the city.
Anyway on with the travel tips...
Tip 1 - eat in restaurants that are busy preferably with locals.
I was wondering around the Nanjing Road and was looking for something to eat. You get all sorts of people wanting you to eat at such and such a place. I ignored them and turned off to a side street, I was hungry so looked at a menu outside a restaurant without looking in. Oops. There weren't many people there and I could see why after eating my duck which was more bones that meat. Thankfully it wasn't very expensive.
Tip 2 - be very wary of trusting anyone.
You get all sorts of people approaching you here, trying to offer you all sorts of things. You also get people who are trying to con you. On my first day here I went with a guy from the Netherlands for a walk along The Bund. There two Chinese girls came up and chatted to us. We walked along with them for a bit, and it was all nice and friendly. I just thought they were wanting to practice English. Then they suggested that we go to a tea ceremony display nearby. Ok I thought, so we went up to where this tea cremony was. The prices didn't seem to bad so we went along with it, each of us buying a different tea and before we got our tea, sampling a bit of all four. All very interesting and some nice teas. Then the bill came - just under 900 RMB! I looked at the bill a bit closer and it seemed they'd charged us for 4 of each of the teas. As not much of the tea menu was in English, I guessed we had misunderstood and so the price was probably right. My companion from the Netherlands didn't seem to think anything was up, so we split the bill four ways. Why alarm bells didn't ring I don't know! I think I'm a bit guillable at times :)
When I told Nick about this on the first evening, he'd told me we'd fallen for one of the cons that happen in the city. Interestingly Lonely Planet didn't say anything about scams here like it did for Bangkok :(. Anyway, today I happened to pass the hotel where the 'tea ceremony' had been the day before. I thought I'd just go and see what was happening there and perhaps complain about what had happened telling them I think they'd conned us. But on my way in I met some police outside so I thought I'd ask them if they knew anything about the tea house. One of them spoke a bit of English, so I explained that I thought I'd been conned. They went to see the tea house (on the 12 floor) and when one came back a police van arrived that they said I should get into. I didnt' really know what was going on, were they helping me out? Well I got in (not the bit where they lock you up so I thought it was probably ok) and a few minutes later ended up at the Public Security Bereau (police station). I was taken to a little office upstairs and had to wait. It was a bit like how I imagine police stations were like in the UK 20 or so years ago! Smoking allowed, not much going on, but lots of plain clothed officer around. After asking a few times and about half an hour had passed, I eventually managed to speak to someone who spoke English ok. I explained again what had happened and how I'd ended up in the PSB office. From what I understood apparently some French guys got scammed the same day as us but this time for 7,000 RMB! They'd reported the tea house to the PSB and it got raided that night. I wish I'd realised earlier that it was a con. I showed the PSB some photos of the poeple I'd taken and the PSB said they were now in custody or whatever. However it seemed I wasn't going to get my money back and I thought it wasn't worth the hassle and time trying to pursue things any further. I also got a slight impression that they thought I might have been involved in scamming people which is perhaps why they took me to the PSB - who knows but the helpful police officer did say to the others that I was a 'British citizen' during that part! Anyway after half an hour or so of wasted time I was out, with an 'amusing' story to tell to all of you. I don't think many people can say they were taken to the PSB in China in a police van! Anyway don't worry I'm fine, just a bit annoyed I fell for a con trick. Thankfully it didn't cost to much for the 'experience' :)
Hope you're all well.
Andy
Shanghai is very different to Hong Kong One of the most visible things is it's not as clean as Hong Kong. Some people here just throw litter onto the street even though there are lots of bins nearby. Also people here seem quite cold, pushing to get to places, and you hardly see people smile. If people are friendly then they are most likely trying to con you, see tip 2 below, or sell you fake goods. It seems you have to actually ignore people who offer you things or say hello which seems really rude.
A friend of mine (Rob) from Cambridge South Hockey Club has a brother Nick out here teaching English so I met him in the evening after I arrived yesterday. It was great to chat to him about what Shanghai is like, in a couple of the bars here. I also met him this afternoon in the old part of Shanghai. I'm staying in the International Youth Hostel here which is actually pretty good. It's a good way of meeting fellow travelers. Tomorrow I'm going with a guy from the same dorm to Suzhou, which is a 1 hour train journey away and should have lots of gardens to see so quite different to here in the city.
Anyway on with the travel tips...
Tip 1 - eat in restaurants that are busy preferably with locals.
I was wondering around the Nanjing Road and was looking for something to eat. You get all sorts of people wanting you to eat at such and such a place. I ignored them and turned off to a side street, I was hungry so looked at a menu outside a restaurant without looking in. Oops. There weren't many people there and I could see why after eating my duck which was more bones that meat. Thankfully it wasn't very expensive.
Tip 2 - be very wary of trusting anyone.
You get all sorts of people approaching you here, trying to offer you all sorts of things. You also get people who are trying to con you. On my first day here I went with a guy from the Netherlands for a walk along The Bund. There two Chinese girls came up and chatted to us. We walked along with them for a bit, and it was all nice and friendly. I just thought they were wanting to practice English. Then they suggested that we go to a tea ceremony display nearby. Ok I thought, so we went up to where this tea cremony was. The prices didn't seem to bad so we went along with it, each of us buying a different tea and before we got our tea, sampling a bit of all four. All very interesting and some nice teas. Then the bill came - just under 900 RMB! I looked at the bill a bit closer and it seemed they'd charged us for 4 of each of the teas. As not much of the tea menu was in English, I guessed we had misunderstood and so the price was probably right. My companion from the Netherlands didn't seem to think anything was up, so we split the bill four ways. Why alarm bells didn't ring I don't know! I think I'm a bit guillable at times :)
When I told Nick about this on the first evening, he'd told me we'd fallen for one of the cons that happen in the city. Interestingly Lonely Planet didn't say anything about scams here like it did for Bangkok :(. Anyway, today I happened to pass the hotel where the 'tea ceremony' had been the day before. I thought I'd just go and see what was happening there and perhaps complain about what had happened telling them I think they'd conned us. But on my way in I met some police outside so I thought I'd ask them if they knew anything about the tea house. One of them spoke a bit of English, so I explained that I thought I'd been conned. They went to see the tea house (on the 12 floor) and when one came back a police van arrived that they said I should get into. I didnt' really know what was going on, were they helping me out? Well I got in (not the bit where they lock you up so I thought it was probably ok) and a few minutes later ended up at the Public Security Bereau (police station). I was taken to a little office upstairs and had to wait. It was a bit like how I imagine police stations were like in the UK 20 or so years ago! Smoking allowed, not much going on, but lots of plain clothed officer around. After asking a few times and about half an hour had passed, I eventually managed to speak to someone who spoke English ok. I explained again what had happened and how I'd ended up in the PSB office. From what I understood apparently some French guys got scammed the same day as us but this time for 7,000 RMB! They'd reported the tea house to the PSB and it got raided that night. I wish I'd realised earlier that it was a con. I showed the PSB some photos of the poeple I'd taken and the PSB said they were now in custody or whatever. However it seemed I wasn't going to get my money back and I thought it wasn't worth the hassle and time trying to pursue things any further. I also got a slight impression that they thought I might have been involved in scamming people which is perhaps why they took me to the PSB - who knows but the helpful police officer did say to the others that I was a 'British citizen' during that part! Anyway after half an hour or so of wasted time I was out, with an 'amusing' story to tell to all of you. I don't think many people can say they were taken to the PSB in China in a police van! Anyway don't worry I'm fine, just a bit annoyed I fell for a con trick. Thankfully it didn't cost to much for the 'experience' :)
Hope you're all well.
Andy
Monday, 9 July 2007
Hong Kong (who you know, not what you know)
Well I've now been in Hong Kong for 4 days so far and will be leaving soon, so time for a post about Hong Kong and what I've been up to here.
On my first full day here I spent some time wondering around parts of old Hong Kong, and then the financial 'Central' district. I decided to use the old fashined tram to get to old Hong Kong, which was great fun. The trams are still made of wood and are probably the only form of public transport without air conditioning. While I mention transport, I really am impressed by the transport here in Hong Kong. It's cheap, clean, efficient, runs when you want it... infact I haven't got anything bad to say about it so far. Of course you do get traffic jams in rush hour if you're using road based transport, but I think that's to be expected. Why does the transport system in London have to be so bad in comparison?
Anyway, in my wonderings of the old city I found the Man Mo temple (1847). I was sad to see people worshipping and praying to the variety of gods there, because they are just lumps of wood (or whatever) unable to do any good (Jeremiah 10). So different to the living God of Christianity. After the old I saw some of the new wondering around the skyscrapers of Hong Kong. I went up to the 55th floor (of 88) of the International Financial Centre 2 tower (the tallest skyscraper I believe) which gave a great view over Hong Kong Island.
The next day, Saturday, I went up The Peak (by car with my Aunt) in the morning after breakfast at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. You get a good view of the North of the island (the main part of the city) from the top of the peak. In the afternoon I explored some of the countryside of Hong Kong. As it happened it was the hottest day of the year! So lot's more sweat :) I walked for a total of 8.5km over a couple of the hills that run across the middle of Hong Kong Island (Jardine's Lookout and Mount Butler) and then down past Tia Tam reservoir to nearby Stanley. I had a swim in Stanley which was nice, in 28 degree water I think (or was it 23? hmm... whatever it was it certainly much warmer than the UK). I didn't realise there was so much countryside in Hong Kong.
On Sunday I was encouraged to find a welcoming international English speaking church, Ambassador International Church, where the Bible was taught well. Unfortunately I had to leave early so couldn't meet people afterwards as I had to meet my family and some of their friends for lunch. After lunch I wondered around some of the shops with my uncle and cousin. There are so many shops in Hong Kong. Basically the first few floors of any skyscraper are shops. I think shopping must be the biggest past time here. And the shops stay open till 10pm or later (but don't open till 1oam). I tried to get a train ticket to Shanghai, but at the travel agents found that the train on Wednesday I intended to get (which only goes every other day was fully booked). So it looked like I was going to have to fly to Shanghai (from just inside the China border which is cheaper than going from Hong Kong).
However in the evening I (plus my uncle, aunt and cousin) met up with some friends of theirs for dinner, whom I know a little because my parents were guardians to one of their children, while he studied in the UK. It was good to see them and their children again, and proved very helpful. I was talking about my travel plans and how I wasn't able to travel by train any more, when the father said he'd see it he could sort out the train ticket I needed. It seems he knows someone who works at the China Travel Service, and somehow he managed to get me a train ticket on the train that was full! It seems to me that in Hong Kong it's who you know that counts, not what you know.
I picked the ticket up today (Monday) from the train station in Kowloon, and then spent the afternoon wondering around Kowloon. I went to the Hong Kong History Museum which was really interesting and a very well done museum (it's fairly compact so you can see most things in a couple of hours). I then took the Star Ferry back to Hong Kong Island (only 2 HK dollars!).
Tomorrow I'm hoping to get up fairly early and have a day out walking and perhaps taking in a beach as well, so I'd better go and get some sleep.
On my first full day here I spent some time wondering around parts of old Hong Kong, and then the financial 'Central' district. I decided to use the old fashined tram to get to old Hong Kong, which was great fun. The trams are still made of wood and are probably the only form of public transport without air conditioning. While I mention transport, I really am impressed by the transport here in Hong Kong. It's cheap, clean, efficient, runs when you want it... infact I haven't got anything bad to say about it so far. Of course you do get traffic jams in rush hour if you're using road based transport, but I think that's to be expected. Why does the transport system in London have to be so bad in comparison?
Anyway, in my wonderings of the old city I found the Man Mo temple (1847). I was sad to see people worshipping and praying to the variety of gods there, because they are just lumps of wood (or whatever) unable to do any good (Jeremiah 10). So different to the living God of Christianity. After the old I saw some of the new wondering around the skyscrapers of Hong Kong. I went up to the 55th floor (of 88) of the International Financial Centre 2 tower (the tallest skyscraper I believe) which gave a great view over Hong Kong Island.
The next day, Saturday, I went up The Peak (by car with my Aunt) in the morning after breakfast at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. You get a good view of the North of the island (the main part of the city) from the top of the peak. In the afternoon I explored some of the countryside of Hong Kong. As it happened it was the hottest day of the year! So lot's more sweat :) I walked for a total of 8.5km over a couple of the hills that run across the middle of Hong Kong Island (Jardine's Lookout and Mount Butler) and then down past Tia Tam reservoir to nearby Stanley. I had a swim in Stanley which was nice, in 28 degree water I think (or was it 23? hmm... whatever it was it certainly much warmer than the UK). I didn't realise there was so much countryside in Hong Kong.
On Sunday I was encouraged to find a welcoming international English speaking church, Ambassador International Church, where the Bible was taught well. Unfortunately I had to leave early so couldn't meet people afterwards as I had to meet my family and some of their friends for lunch. After lunch I wondered around some of the shops with my uncle and cousin. There are so many shops in Hong Kong. Basically the first few floors of any skyscraper are shops. I think shopping must be the biggest past time here. And the shops stay open till 10pm or later (but don't open till 1oam). I tried to get a train ticket to Shanghai, but at the travel agents found that the train on Wednesday I intended to get (which only goes every other day was fully booked). So it looked like I was going to have to fly to Shanghai (from just inside the China border which is cheaper than going from Hong Kong).
However in the evening I (plus my uncle, aunt and cousin) met up with some friends of theirs for dinner, whom I know a little because my parents were guardians to one of their children, while he studied in the UK. It was good to see them and their children again, and proved very helpful. I was talking about my travel plans and how I wasn't able to travel by train any more, when the father said he'd see it he could sort out the train ticket I needed. It seems he knows someone who works at the China Travel Service, and somehow he managed to get me a train ticket on the train that was full! It seems to me that in Hong Kong it's who you know that counts, not what you know.
I picked the ticket up today (Monday) from the train station in Kowloon, and then spent the afternoon wondering around Kowloon. I went to the Hong Kong History Museum which was really interesting and a very well done museum (it's fairly compact so you can see most things in a couple of hours). I then took the Star Ferry back to Hong Kong Island (only 2 HK dollars!).
Tomorrow I'm hoping to get up fairly early and have a day out walking and perhaps taking in a beach as well, so I'd better go and get some sleep.
Thursday, 5 July 2007
Undeserved kindness, and farewell Thailand
Just a quick post for the moment. I'm now in Hong Kong with my family (Uncle, Aunt, Cousin). I've only just arrived here so not much to say about Hong Kong for the moment.
I sadly left Nakhon Sawan on Wednesday night and took a minibus to Bangkok for the night before flying on to Hong Kong today. I had a great time in Nakhon Sawan, and really enjoyed seeing the work the McClean's did with students there, and getting involved where I could. It was nice to get to know some of the students a little from hanging out with them at the Youth House (the bottom floor of the McClean's house).
On the minibus into Bangkok I met a friendly guy called something like 'Teem'. In fact he was really helpful to me and when we arrived at the Victory monument in Bangkok, helped me to find where I planned to stay for the night. But he didn't just point me in the right direction for the SkyTrain to travel into the city, he actually got on the SkyTrain with me (at his own cost) and then came down the road where the guesthouses were until I'd found a room to stay. He didn't want to stay for a drink so sadly I didn't really get a chance to know him. He works as a military doctor in Bangkok. But I was just so surprised at his undeserved kindness.
It reminds me of someone else's undeserved kindness towards us all - God's in sending his Son to save us from our sin if we trust in him.
I sadly left Nakhon Sawan on Wednesday night and took a minibus to Bangkok for the night before flying on to Hong Kong today. I had a great time in Nakhon Sawan, and really enjoyed seeing the work the McClean's did with students there, and getting involved where I could. It was nice to get to know some of the students a little from hanging out with them at the Youth House (the bottom floor of the McClean's house).
On the minibus into Bangkok I met a friendly guy called something like 'Teem'. In fact he was really helpful to me and when we arrived at the Victory monument in Bangkok, helped me to find where I planned to stay for the night. But he didn't just point me in the right direction for the SkyTrain to travel into the city, he actually got on the SkyTrain with me (at his own cost) and then came down the road where the guesthouses were until I'd found a room to stay. He didn't want to stay for a drink so sadly I didn't really get a chance to know him. He works as a military doctor in Bangkok. But I was just so surprised at his undeserved kindness.
It reminds me of someone else's undeserved kindness towards us all - God's in sending his Son to save us from our sin if we trust in him.
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