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Post by helen on Aug 24, 2016 4:01:09 GMT -5
Plans are underway again - visit to villages in Zengcheng and Dongguan; Guangzhou, Foshan, Gulin and Yangshuo. Going with a group again - should be fun.
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Post by douglaslam on Aug 25, 2016 2:52:33 GMT -5
Hi Helen, I booked my ticket and applied for my visa to China today. But I leave in October, days if not a month ahead of your planned trip. I go to Taiwan first then China via Hong Kong. Guilin and Yangshuo are also in my sights.
It was a very time-consuming process at the Chinese visa centre. It is going backwards rather than streamlining it.
Next May, we'll meet up in Auckland. Perhaps you can come up with some good ideas as to what to see and do over there. Suggestions welcome. I'll probably have a friend coming over from California to join me in Auckland, then we'll fly off for Sydney.
See you again in New Zealand if not China. Douglas
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Post by chansomvia on Aug 25, 2016 5:02:15 GMT -5
There is a new Chinese Visa office in Christchurch and did my and my wife's China visa in about half an hour last week. Asked to come back in two days and took about 15 minutes to collect the passport as there was a dedicated window for the collection. Perhaps because not many people applying at this time of the year. Will be in Guangzhou on 8th September, then flying back to Malaysia on 15th September via Shenzhen. May not make it to Haiyan this time but plan to do the village visit in April 2017, will make it a point to try meet up with you all in May 2017. Joe
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Post by douglaslam on Aug 25, 2016 7:07:35 GMT -5
Good to hear, Joe. I am going to spend two weeks in New Zealand. Will try to make it to South Island. I'll have one week saved for the friend from California, who is coming to Sydney with me. My second batch of leave is four weeks ( pending approval) in September 2017. Not sure where to go yet. The USA maybe? Douglas
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Post by helen on Aug 26, 2016 1:10:19 GMT -5
Hi Douglas and Joe - I will save some annual leave for May. Douglas - let us kiwis know how long you are going to be here. We can do some of the North Island then go to South Island. Maybe we can drive around NI, the fly to SI.
Looks like Joe goes first - Hope you both have a great holiday. And Douglas - enjoy Taiwan. One day we'll go there too.
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Post by douglaslam on Oct 16, 2016 1:50:20 GMT -5
Hi Helen, I'll be on my way to the airport in a little over an hour for a night flight to Hong Kong, then Taipei. It is my first trip to Taiwan, not sure what to expect.
Yes, I am sure I'll be in Auckland on May 7, 2017 or thereabout. Please don't sacrifice your leave because of me. I have no firm itineraries yet. We'll probably not meet up in China. Let's save that for May.
I hope I can come up with some good news for our new member Gina in a little over a week from now.
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Post by chansomvia on Oct 16, 2016 4:15:59 GMT -5
Hi douglaslam
Have a good flight to Taiwan, and enjoy what there is available for you, my trip was rather different as my daughter and son-in-law took us along, they have ex-Malaysian classmates living in Taiwan so we oldies had a royal treatment. Our children are Mandarin educated and my wife speaks Hokkien so it helped me as a only Cantonese and Toisanwaah speaking old man. I note May 7th 2017 is an important date for your imminent and long awaited visit to New Zealand, the Chinese Association would love to see a slide or power point show of China villages, Helen has some on power point. We had a marvellous time in Guangzhou and Shenzhen which did not leave time for a trip to Haiyan, the visit is firming up as to be there on April 5th 2017. Look forward to hearing of your adventures. Joe
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Post by helen on Oct 23, 2016 15:57:50 GMT -5
Hi Douglas and Joe - Glad to get an approx date you will be in NZ. Sorry to hear the Typhoon hit Taiwan. My cousin's son is in Guangzhou and it missed them. Just rain. Have fun in Taiwan. Are you going to start another thread on your trip?
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Post by helen on Oct 30, 2016 4:13:29 GMT -5
Have found a friend of my husband's - he now lives in Guangzhou. Hopefully he will have the time to take me back to Zengcheng at the end of November. I can't believe that it is almost November - leaving 3 weeks from now.
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Post by douglaslam on Oct 30, 2016 21:24:41 GMT -5
Helen, I am winding down my trip to China whereas you're firing to go.
I had a good day with Carlos and his many relatives in 三鄉 Sam Heung. It takes too long to tell what Carlos is doing here and why. But we are meeting often, he joins me on my genealogy hunts sometime. It is just impossible to upload photos at where I am staying. Carlos is repairing the laptop I took with me. He is reversing the damage I've done. Carlos is an outstanding young professional. He sets his sights on becoming a project manager or consultant engineer to large projects. He can make hard decisions and act decisively like walking away from a top job in Peru, in order to advance his career.
I fly out on 10 Nov. from HKG. We have a date in May next year.
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Post by helen on Nov 4, 2016 22:06:50 GMT -5
Hi Douglas - Hope you're still having a great time.
I will be on a mission for a day - like you. I have to located the burial place for a friend's Grandfather Chan. In my home province in NZ, are 2 headstones for men from that same village. I will take photos back to see if anyone knows them.
I will also be going to a Wong village - to try and locate my GF's sister's husband's house. There is also someone else looking for her GF's house/family. So 2 Wong families to locate.
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Post by helen on Nov 19, 2016 18:46:47 GMT -5
Out of here - be back in 3 weeks. Cheers
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Post by douglaslam on Nov 20, 2016 4:18:50 GMT -5
Helen, have a safe and happy trip in China. Keep us posted.
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Post by helen on Dec 24, 2016 5:03:45 GMT -5
Got back to NZ 2 weeks ago - straight back to work. haven't even had time to look at my photos - all 2,500. I went back to Zengcheng with my Aunt and Uncle. Managed to locate my Grandfather's sister's family - 3 generations below her. Also found another family - for someone else. They are going back to visit their Mother's village next year.
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Post by helen on Dec 24, 2016 16:32:45 GMT -5
 River is low and not too clean |
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