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May 23, 2013, 2:47am

Chinese Genealogy :: Shop Talk :: Sharing Tales :: My Excellent Adventures in China

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Henry
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #345 on Dec 29, 2011, 8:20am »

Douglas,

What is the taboo subject?

Henry

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tyuti1668
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #346 on Dec 29, 2011, 11:18pm »

Dec 29, 2011, 8:20am, Henry wrote:

What is the taboo subject?

Anything against "party". You can sing but NOT the re-written lyrics of national anthem or alike

http://gcontent.oeeee.com/8/18/818f4654ed39a1c1/Blog/e82/62d9d0.html

Also heard a version sung in our dying mother tongue ... 東門三四...

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Henry
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #347 on Dec 29, 2011, 11:46pm »

tyuti1668,

Thank you for enlightening me.

I have lived free for so long, I am afraid that I take it for granted - something that I should never do.

Henry

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douglaslam
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #348 on Dec 31, 2011, 3:42am »

Henry,

The taboo subject is of course Falun Gong. You can't do it in the park. It is banned outright.

Sorry, no uploads because I am stuck and help is not at hand.

Douglas

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helen
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #349 on Dec 31, 2011, 4:15am »

Happy New Year Douglas. I have enjoyed you posts here, and your travel sounds like what I could do. Have a great Year, and look forward to your next trip. My husband wants to go crusing in Europe next year, but hopefully we can go via HK. He's semi retired now, and I have a few years to go.

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We shall pass this way but once All the good that can be done do it now. For we shall not pass this way again

douglaslam
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #350 on Dec 31, 2011, 7:58pm »

Happy 2012 to you Helen, and all our members. It is a good time to be in when you're not saddled with a mortgage or underage children. Enjoy your European holidays when it materialises.

I still have a few more photos to show, the problem is two of my children are in Tokyo, one is away for the long weekend. I am stuck with an upload glitch, and there is no one to turn to for help. It is hard to retain what I was shown, or how to overcome minor hiccups. Too late to teach an old dog new tricks never rang truer than in my case. Douglas

« Last Edit: Dec 31, 2011, 8:00pm by douglaslam »

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Henry
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #351 on Jan 1, 2012, 2:52pm »

Hi Douglas,

Happy New Year to you and all our Forum members.

Ah, if I were living near you, I would show you that it is entirely possible to teach an old dog new tricks - I have even learned.

Henry

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tyuti1668
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #352 on Jan 1, 2012, 10:44pm »

New trick for old dog

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douglaslam
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #353 on Jan 2, 2012, 2:11am »

Henry, My daughter and her boyfriend are returning later on today. I hope to have my problems sorted out by then.

東門三四... tyuti1668, you forgot to put in the first two words. Yes, I knew of the first few words of this unprintable version in our dialect of the March of the Volunteers, later on national anthem of the mainland, way back before I left China.

A happy 2012 to both of you. I am sure I can look forward to more contributions from you all.

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tyuti1668
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #354 on Jan 2, 2012, 5:27am »

douglaslam,
Your post contain sensitive word "flg" made this page can't access in mainland. (tested using a CN proxy server). :-[

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douglaslam
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #355 on Jan 2, 2012, 5:52am »

HOTCHPOTCH

My two cousins in Dongguan organised a dinner one night. It was the only night we ate out. My aunt has four children, they all grew up in Dongguan. Two of them are in Guangzhou. They know the city well, and know where to go for good dining.

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I think this is a seafood wholesale yard as well as retail outlets. It covers a large area. You buy the seafood, then there are restaurants which cook for you to your requirements, the freshwater or saltw-ater produce you have selected. Each item is weighed and charged to the customers accordingly. It is a real eye opener for me.

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We have salmon sashimi for starters. They fish slices look very red to me, quite unlike the ones I am used to seeing in Sydney. Is it the variety of fish or food colouring?

The periwinkles, snails, or whatever, are exceptional.They are served on aluminum foil on top of a bed of sea salt. They are my favourites for the evening.

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The hairy crab is at RMB60 each. I am not a big fan of crustaceans.

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The roast chicken is also very well done. It is cooked to order. It is worth waiting for.

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My cousins don't drink but one of them had bottles and bottles of top shelf Cognac brandy and other liquors. It is all about guanxi 關係 i.e. networking, connections and influence peddling and buying. Apparently, he is in the position to do so.

This is a bottle of Mao Tai, but not in the usual white crockery container. Ever since Zhou Enlai toasted Richard Nixon in 1972, the price of Mao Tai have shot through the roof. Cousin wants me to keep it, but it is highly impractical to lug it with me to Xi'an and back. I leave it at aunt's for my next visit.

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tyuti1668
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #356 on Jan 2, 2012, 6:38am »

Jan 2, 2012, 5:52am, douglaslam wrote:

salmon sashimi for starters. They fish slices look very red to me, quite unlike the ones I am used to seeing in Sydney

Treated w/ CO which BANNED in developed world years ago http://www.ythero.com/cn/news_show_29.htm

« Last Edit: Jan 2, 2012, 6:41am by tyuti1668 »

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douglaslam
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #357 on Jan 3, 2012, 4:57am »

tyuti1668, food safety is always on my mind. There is little I can do for what is going on behind the scene.

ON THE TRAIN

It was my choice to go by train to Xi'an. I wanted to see the country from the air- conditioned comfort of a rail carriage. I also wanted to immerse myself in and experience life in China amongst the ordinary travellers. The train I was catching was no Orient Express, Canadian Rockies Train, the EuroStar. or Australia's own Indian-Pacific or the Ghan. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Pacific
http://www.greatsouthernrail.com.au/site/the_ghan.jsp It was a people mover, not a scenic tour journey. I travelled in the relative comfort of a so-called hard sleeper berth. It is actually quite comfortable. A video monitor is also seen at the corner.

TOP BERTH

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Here I am on the top bunk of a three tier berth. I would not recommend it to an older or less mobile person. There is no room to sit up. The bottom or centre bunks are more popular and cost a little more. I could not secure one.There are seats and small tables along the aisle for passengers who seek relief from the bunks.

MOTHER AND CHILD

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A study of mother and child,---only child.

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This one is sleeping soundly.

I found it irresistible to take photos of these lovely children. Permission was asked on each occasion, and given happily by the adult. I would hesitate to do the same in Australia.

Throughout the forward and return journey, trolleys carrying refreshment, hot meals,fruit, or toiletry supplies go up and down the carriages. Travel time to Xi'an from Guangzhou was 26 hours. the return journey was 30 hours. During extended delays, passengers were not given any information. But everyone accepted the situation as a norm. Would I undertake a similar journey again? Yes, I would. Travelling is also about experiencing how local people live their lives. A train journey is part of the big picture.

HOME DELIVERY

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This is a 20 RMB meal from the trolley. It is hard to eat with a pair of throw-away chopsticks only. I didn't bother to make my way to the dining car, which offers only a small selection. Cup noodles from the trolley are also popular.

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This is one of the vendors operating on the platforms. In general,they offer hot food, beverages, nuts, and fruit. I notice all the barrows are of uniform design with three wheels. I think the industry is regulated. Even at very uncivilised hours, the vendors are there for your custom. This is free enterprise.

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Henry
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #358 on Jan 3, 2012, 10:33pm »

Hi Douglas,

Vendors in China are quite resourceful. As I understand it, these vendors make a fortune selling to the drivers stuck in those massive traffic jams that last for days.

Henry

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douglaslam
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Re: My Excellent Adventures in China
« Reply #359 on Jan 4, 2012, 4:04am »

I agree Henry. Give people a free rein and they will respond to market forces.

IN XI'AN

At the hostel

Whenever people ask me where did I stay in Xi'an and Hong Kong, I tell them I stayed at a 窮人館, a Poor Man's Lodging. The person(s) would be mystified and ask what is a 窮人館, then I tell them it is a place for the young backpackers. I am likely to get more questions because it is a new concept to most Chinese. Hostels are safe because they cater for laowai foreigners. Front line stuff speak English well. They mix with the guests, no us and them divide. At 50 RMB or A$8 / night, it is very affordable. If you think that is a bit rich, six person dorms are at 40 / night. Only park benches are cheaper, but I would not recommend them in November.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

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On my first evening in Xi'an, I meet these two English lasses Karen and Michelle.
We eat out together because my knowledge of Chinese comes in handy. It is so easy to get on with any one at the hostel. My first greeting is always "where do you come from?" . And it works every time when trying to break the ice.

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Wherever you are lodging in China, you'll find the thermos and hot water dispenser. Tea and hot water are inseparable with the Chinese. I first noticed this at the student dormitory at Peking University where my young daughter spent two semesters on exchange in 2008. I was amazed to see dozens of thermos lined up at a hot water station.

Similar amenities are provided for the local lodgers. I, too, make use of this service as you shall see in the next photo.

ROOM TO MOVE

[image]

This is my four person dorm. My bunk is on the bottom left.It is quite roomy. I have a thermos of hot water to rehydrate myself because I got sick and had the runs.

YOU CAN DO IT

[image]

This hostel has a sister hostel in close proximity. They know how to promote themselves. Here, Friday night is dumpling making night, and you get to eat what you have created. Third and fourth from the left are fellow Aussies Saan and Josh, two university students from the island state Tasmania. We share the same dorm.

YOU'LL NEVER EAT ALONE

[image]

My dining companion at the hostel.

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