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Post by lachinatown on Jan 14, 2012 11:44:03 GMT -5
Excellent trip and photos.
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Post by douglaslam on Jan 15, 2012 2:26:44 GMT -5
I wind up my November / December 2011 trip to China with this image of the Xi'an City Wall at night. There is much to be grateful for, for the civic fathers in Xi'an who had the foresight to keep this priceless structure standing over the years. I did not get to as many places as I would like to. A good deal of time was spent in re-connecting with people, like the village folks and my aunt. Only through people can I feel the tie to this vast land. It makes every trip a very personal experience for me, not just an impassioned sightseer. There is still much for me to explore. I haven't really gone off the beaten tracks or sample life in remote areas. One life time is simply not enough to do all that. I have no doubt many of our members are seasoned travellers who have crisscrossed the world time and time again, Henry is one who immediately comes to mind. It would be nice to see more of the world outside of China. But I just don't feel that same urgency and pull. I am sure I'll marvel at the Acropolis, admire the Sistine Chapel, or spend long hours at the Louvre given the chance. The difference is I don't feel connected to those places, I can't relate to them. Visiting the Coliseum, where the gladiators fought each other to the death , where the Christians were fed to the lions, would mean less to me than seeing the Tomb of the 72 Martyrs at Huanghuagang. The same degree of passion is lacking elsewhere outside China. There is still a desire in me to tour the Yangtze, visit river ports large and small, see crumbling parts of the Great Wall at isolated places, go to Taiwan, go to the frigid far north-eastern provinces in winter, travel the Silk Road, and much, much more. Regrettably, I was never destined to see the Three Gorges as they were meant to be seen. There are many other sites literally got wiped off the map before I had a chance. Time is the essence takes on a new meaning for me. I am feeling hungry and would like to re-live my little dinner party of three round tables to conclude my photo report of my trip. It is only a simple fare of village offering. There is about a dozen dishes, enough for everyone present and a doggy bag for those who want to take home the uneaten portions. A happy and satisfying occasion for me.
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Post by helen on Jan 16, 2012 2:36:14 GMT -5
Douglas - we must be of the same mind - I too don't have an afinity to Europe - would far rather vist China again - not sure why - but thanks again for your photos and writings about your forays. Well done - we'll wait for the next holiday.
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Post by douglaslam on Jan 16, 2012 6:47:16 GMT -5
I love travelling, Helen. But I must not let advancing years get the better of me, falling victim to lethargy. I'd like to see Europe too, even with the high Australian dollar, it is still pricey. I think I'll stick to the low bar I set, see China the inexpensive way. I can never get tired of returning.
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Post by richardn23 on Jan 17, 2012 5:48:00 GMT -5
Douglas,
As I am very new to this forum I haven't had time to read all of your "Excellent Adventures" yet. However, your accounts and photos are most enjoyable (you should consider putting into book form). Thank you for sharing with us.
With best wishes from South Australia.
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Post by douglaslam on Jan 17, 2012 7:22:33 GMT -5
richardn23, I welcome you, a fellow Aussie to this Forum. Putting my random travelogue into a book form is the last thing on my mind. I am anything but a writer, my vocabulary is poor and grammar muddled, hardly literary material at all. I do enjoy sharing my thoughts on the mundane things I see in China, from the perspective of one who was born there but left some fifty-six years ago.
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Post by chansomvia on Jan 17, 2012 21:06:00 GMT -5
Douglas,
I agree with other forum members that your honest thoughts and discerning mind on your travels should be put into print. We have your travel blogs on this forum. We have seen your posted photos which can gloss over any deficiencies in vocabulary or weak grammar (you are too modest), a picture is worth a lot of words. I am sure that once you have had time to reflect you will have much post-travel comments.
I am also sure that you have many more unposted pictures which can can form a web for articles, these we will all enjoy. Now that you do not have censorship you can put more into the articles.
I enjoyed reading and seeing pictures of your adventures in China, I am sure I am not alone. Your comments on not visiting western countries. I had no inclination initially to visit America but after my son was posted there I went there with my wife and spent many happy months helping him raise their twins, I took the opportunity to drive from San Diego to Vancouver, the reality is much better than the preconceived perception of America. We stayed in off the main road simple motels, met genuine folks and it was a memorable experience. Not to be missed and will be repeated.
My daughter worked in England for 18 months as a pharmacist and we went with her to a few trips all over Western Europe by budget airlines, trains and buses, staying in budget hotels recommended by Lonely Planet. We did pilgrimages to Lourdes, Fatima, Rome and Jerusalem at different times. I would not therefore discount a trip to western countries, we do not however do conducted overseas tours.
We look forward to your post travel comments and more pictures.
Joe Rocky Christchurch
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Post by douglaslam on Jan 18, 2012 5:04:05 GMT -5
Joe,
Thanks for the critique. Don't get me wrong, I like to visit Western countries as much as the next man. When Henry was here in December 2010, I told him I 'd love to spend days going over the Smithsonian Institute, go to NY Museum Of Natural History, the Space Museum in Houston, or even the aircraft bone yard in the desert.Then, there are the breathtaking national parks.
I dearly want to find the saw mills at which my grandfather had worked for so many years early last century. I want to see the house which he had a share in, on Keefer St. Vancouver, which afforded him safe haven and kinship with fellow head tax payers when work was not available in extreme weather. It is like a reverse roots journey,
It is the antiquities in Europe and elsewhere that I cannot relate to, or feel the same degree of passion about as I would with the Great Wall, Summer Palace, Forbidden Palace, or the more recent Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum in Nanjing. That said, I like to see the many museums , working steam pump houses and canals of yesteryear in England.
There is still much for me to discover in China. It is in China that I can completely immerse myself wherever I choose to go. Therefore, the desire to go back often never left me.
The Chungshan compatriots are holding a bi-annual convention in San Francisco later on this year. I am pondering my options.
Douglas
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Post by Henry on Jan 18, 2012 8:20:40 GMT -5
Douglas,
Please allow me to also encourage you to record your adventures in China. I love your style of honest and astute comments on what you see & experience in China. Please consider doing at least an electronic version of your adventures in China.
I have visited Europe many times and there are some great places to visit, and I have made around 30 trips to China and have seen my share of sights, however, there still so much more to see China.
Please come to America, it is quite affordable, especially since the Aussie dollar is so strong. San Francisco and California is so rich in Chinese American history. Then take a shuttle up to Vancouver, BC and see what I believe is the largest Chinatown in North America, Victoria is also well worth a visit, and then there are all the places in BC & Alberta of significance for Canadian Chinese.
Henry
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Post by douglaslam on Jan 19, 2012 5:50:39 GMT -5
Henry,
I am attending the Spring banquet of our Chungshan Society on 30th Jan. I'll find out more datails of the convention on the evening. Of course, I can go independently of the Society.
I did go to California once in 1999, spending a few nights in LA with my aunt and uncle. Then I flew with them to Fremont ( San Jose?) in the Silicon Valley to their daughter's. I also have an older cousin from my mother side in Fremont. She has two daughters there. No shortage of places for lodging.
I spent barely a few hours in SFO, visiting aunt and uncle's eldest child. He is a dentist in a downtown clinic. I might take advantage of some free dental treatment next time round.
Twelve years on , it is definitely worthy of a second visit and in greater depth.
Douglas
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Post by christine on Jan 19, 2012 11:56:29 GMT -5
Douglas, Please do let me know if you visit San Francisco, I grew up here one block from Chinatown and spent many childhood days there with my grandmother doing to the daily grocery shopping and whatnot. I now live just across the bay in Oakland. I would be happy to show you around what I still consider my hometown. We could probably meet with Doug Joe too, he lives a little ways away but we've been able to meet up in the past when we plan ahead. Also if your genealogy side comes out and you want to see the immigration files at the national archives, it's a short drive away and I always enjoy my visits there. Actually I will probably go there today!
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Post by douglaslam on Jan 20, 2012 4:12:21 GMT -5
Christine, It was clumsy of me to convey the wrong impression that I was going to San Francisco for a spring banquet. I was referring to our own in Sydney on Jan. 30., whence I am going to find out about the convention to be held in San Francisco later on this year. "UP YOURS!" I think I deserve it for misleading you all.
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Post by tyuti1668 on Sept 7, 2012 1:05:36 GMT -5
...outcome of the Lotto draw in HK. They only have to bet on the special or supplementary number. For a small outlay, the winner may pick up a few hundred RMB. Thus its popularity amongst all the non-serious gamblers. Special no." is Fixed-odd ANYwhere in mainland which = "40". Most locals are non-serious about this game BUT the "migrants" take it VERY serious (Tips papers... & at least Y100 per bet) . For those serious about this game
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Post by douglaslam on Nov 4, 2012 0:56:34 GMT -5
Folks: it is about forty-eight hours away from take-off for my next trip to Hong Kong, China, and hopefully Taiwan as well. I hope I could make progressive reports of my travel, especially to those members who are not frequent, or not yet, visitors to China.
Once, I have my SIM card, I'll let everyone know.
Helen, hope you can log on and read this because we may not bump into each other intentionally in China. Please ask Lap Chi if I should get a motor bike taxi to Gwa Leng from Xintang, and how much I should pay. I don't want to be taken for a ride.
tyuti1668, I could not book into my preferred lodge at Argyle St., Mong Kok. I'll be staying at Chung King Mansion. You have a good idea what it is like. Tsuen Wan or Tai Kok Tsui might have been a better choice. So, N21 is the bus to catch from the airport,or would you recommend another route?
Call me in HKG or China, let's do yum cha together.
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Post by tyuti1668 on Nov 4, 2012 3:32:11 GMT -5
...should get a motor bike taxi to Gwa Leng from Xintang, and how much I ... So, N21 is the bus to catch from the airport,or would you recommend another route?... www.douban.com/note/193631615/ #3 bus OR Y10 m/b taxi from coach station (beginning of 2012 ). It's >7km from town center according to Google Maps. 125cc M/B usually burns < 2.5L /100km. Current #93 Gas : Y8/L. What's the "fair" price, use "ruler" in ur mind. Those "jockey" earns at least Y100 net profit per day in order to support family. - VS 201/NZ 4051/VA 7991 arrivals @ 22:00 which don't need N21 (1st: 00:20) if travels light & fit for FAST walk, the good old "A21" (Last : 00:00) is still there.
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