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Post by Ah Gin on Jun 15, 2008 11:41:46 GMT -5
Hi folks,
In November 2008, I will be revisiting Kaiping, Taisan City, Zhongshan, passing through Hong Kong on the way in and out. While in China, I plan to buy a Chinese Input Tablet that works well with XP or Vista.
I know one can purchase such items through the Internet (but I dislike using the Internet for that purpose). Also I have seen a few in San Francisco Chinatown. They cost anything from USD 50 upwards. I have also used Nciku.com -- their handwriting input is quite impressive -- if only I can carry my laptop in my pocket (no, I refuse to buy a PDA, whatever a PDA stands for. Maybe I will get to the 18th century soon and upgrade to pen and paper)
I will appreciate any advice from this Forum: e.g. your experience in using such devices, robustness of the device, simplicity in input, accuracy, Simplified / Traditional input and conversion (of course), translation (from Simplified, Tradition to English and vice versa?) .
Regards, Ah Gin
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Post by tyuti1668 on Jun 23, 2008 17:10:39 GMT -5
There's plenty knockoff Input Tablet in the east that 're exactly same chip & cracked firmware as "name brand" which can "borrow" their software. China: Y1x up HK:2x up If need product support/ against pirate product -stick to name brands TWese product PenPower had the best accuracy rate Y2xx up UNIS's product: sound.intozgc.com/145/145209.html(NOT bad) Y4x up BUY computer related product in Kaiping/Taisan/ Zhongshan is very bad idea. These area's computer mall always stocked substandard "general" product & always want to rip u off (For ex headphone w/mic can marked Y50+ but in HK is HK$2x ) . To buy "goodies" locals always "Net" order" from Guangzhou / Shenzhen (Courier is fast & reliable: Y10/3kg )
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Post by Henry on Jun 23, 2008 18:12:48 GMT -5
Dear friends, Philip Tan put me on to his website - where you can write Chinese characters with your mouse and you can choose the appropriate Chinese character from the list of characters provided - based upon your mouse input. Works very nicely. Enjoy and it is free: www.nciku.com/Henry
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Post by Ah Gin on Jun 23, 2008 23:19:17 GMT -5
tyuti1668,
Many thanks for tips. I will probably buy the toy from HK, or the Net, when I have the courage of using the Net to buy things.
Henry: Thanks. I do use nciku, and it is indeed a good free software. Just that from time to time I treat myself to toys. And that it can work offline is appealing. Meanwhile you enjoy KL. Great city, good food and good people lah. (Don't fotget to use "lah" at the end of most sentences. I did, when I was kid there lah). Chinese Heritage things in Malaysia (including food) -- there are quite a few interesting things there that I am sure will occupy your attention. Re, my promise to you, to take a few photos of the Tan Asociations around San Francisco Chinatown -- that I have done already, but I still have not uploaded to my heritage work laptop, which I left at base camp. I should be able to do that in the next two weeks. Sorry, this old man is slow. By the way, amazingly, one of the Tan Asociations is located just a block away from our own Asociation (viz the Gin Family Association).
Regards, Ah Gin
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Post by laohuaqiao on Jun 24, 2008 9:28:39 GMT -5
Ah Gin and anyone who plans to visit Taishan City,
If you have the time, stop by the Taishan Library and ask for Jimmy in the internet cafe inside. He is a repatriot, having lived some years in Australia. He organizes a weekly English Corner for people to practice conversation in English. The group can be a valuable resource for information and, of course, is eager to meet visitors.
Jimmy can also help on computer related matters.
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Post by Ah Gin on Jun 24, 2008 10:05:00 GMT -5
laohuaqiao,
Many thanks for your tips. I expect "Jimmy" would be the same Jimmy whose name I have seen on a couple of web sites, including his own I think. Good on him to give his time to help others. I must try to get to the Library to meet him. Mostly I will be in Kaiping, as there will be a big celebration with our Clan, and of course relatives. We aim to visit one of our ancestral villages now known as "No people village" in Kaiping as well, our ancester's grave, etc. But just to walk along the "Hom" river bank and the city will be a real privilege.
On the matter of "computer things", on reflection, I think I will get my toys from the Wanchai computer place, in HK.
Regards, Ah Gin
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Post by Henry on Jun 24, 2008 13:48:22 GMT -5
Hi Ah Gin,
Thanks, I have several friends in KL that will be taking me around. Yes, the Chinese food in KL is excellent. I had "beggars chicken" for the first time in KL - yummy! There are quite a few shark-fin soup and birds nest soup restaurants in KL. No problem, I know you are about up to your eyebrows trying to juggle so many balls in the air - while in SFO. Whever you can send those photos is fine. I appreciate that you took the photos for me.
Hi Laohuaqiao,
Are you living in Taicheng (Taishan City) these days? I believe you are talking about "Jimmy Tsang"?
I suggest that anybody visiting the Taicheng or Kaiping area - check out the "Overseas Historical Relic Exhibition Hall of Taishan" and also the Kaiping Watchtowers: The Kaiping Watchtowers (Diaolou) were added to the UNESCO's World Heritage List on June 28th, 2007.
Henry
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Post by Ah Gin on Jun 24, 2008 15:19:52 GMT -5
Henry,
Good you are being entertained in the exciting city of KL. I miss the curry fish had as well. I digress. This is not a Food Forum. Sorry. I have been very busy indeed, what with minding the next generation. The real cool thing is, in SF, I finally found my sister and many other relatives as well -- all by chance. We agreed to build our family tree, complete with pictures. Also we agreed to return to our ancestral home, say in 2009, as a family. So my Nov 08 trip is a bit of a recognisance / planning trip as well. It's heartening to be able to do that, making connections, tracing roots, celebrating the opeing of the Clan Memorial Hall.
I will send the Hom Asociations photos to you asap, and if I got it wrong, which is entirely possible, I will re photograph in August.
Enjoy the local fruits as well -- such as durian.
Regards, Ah Gin
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Post by Henry on Jun 24, 2008 17:53:26 GMT -5
Ah Gin,
I have been to KL several times and the food is always good. Wow, it is really wonderful that you found your sister and relatives. Please let me know if you need to locate your ancestral village and need some advice about traveling to Kaiping.
Henry
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Post by laohuaqiao on Jun 24, 2008 18:14:29 GMT -5
Henry, I'm in NYC, but I've just gotten back from a visit to Taishan City a few weeks ago. I believe Jimmy Tsang is/was responsible for the taishan.com website, and he is back in New York ( I probably got this info from his now defunct bulletin board). This is another Jimmy, Jimmy Li, that I'm referring to. The Taishan Library is right next to the Taishan History Museum, btw.
While I'm at it, I stayed in Plaza Hotel, near the town center, at a discount for $25-30/night, afer meeting someone affiliated with the hotel at the English Corner.
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Post by Henry on Jun 24, 2008 20:20:54 GMT -5
Hi Laohuaqiao,
I was born and grew up in NYC and everybody in my family except for me and my kids and my younger brother and his family live there. I drive up to NYC from Frederick, Maryland at least a dozen times a year. Let me know if you want to do dim sum when I come up:
Tomclan@Gmail.com
Yes, I traded emails with Jimmy Tsang and he indicated that he was back in NYC. I have not met Jimmy Li.
Al Chinn & I stay at the Plaza Hotel for about $35 for a night. We went across the street in the morning to the Mee Lai Wah Hotel to have dim sum on the 4th floor. In the Fall, 2006, they were building a 5 star hotel next to the Plaza Hotel - finished yet?
Henry
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Post by Ah Gin on Jun 24, 2008 22:41:08 GMT -5
Henry,
Many thanks for your kind offer. I will be flying to HK from Melbourne, and then take a coach from the airport to Kaiping. Or I may travel to by ferry from HK to Zhungshan first to visit my relatives, and then proceed by car to Kaiping. Travel within PRC is certainly much simpler than 20 odd years ago (of course).
Thanks to you & Laohuaqiao regarding Jimmy of TC, places to stay there and cheap dimsum. I am looking forward to the journey and adventure.
Regards, Ah Gin
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Post by laohuaqiao on Jun 27, 2008 11:10:13 GMT -5
Henry, I would love to have dimsum with you whenever you come up to NYC, I think we can have a lot to talk about. I'll email you my contact information.
The exterior to that 5-star hotel is complete. A mobile phone store and a People's Pharmacy have recently opened on the ground level, but interior of the hotel is probably not finished. I heard that at some point during constructon building was stopped and some portion was redesigned due to some fengshui problems, there must have been some incidents and interesting stories behind that.
Ahgin, I'm a big fan of the ferries, going to Zhongshan consider taking the ferry from HK Airport to Zhuhai and then a bus from Zhuhai to Zhongshan.
The huge ambitious project on the table is construction of a bridge-tunnel connection among Zhuhai, Macau and Hong Kong Airport.
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Post by Ah Gin on Jun 27, 2008 17:30:44 GMT -5
laohuaqiao,
I too enjoy the ferry -- so much more interesting to see the progress of the region, from the river. It's a pity that the ferry between HK/Kowloon and Sanbu is no longer in service. Ah well, it's progress.
Regards, Ah Gin
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Post by tyuti1668 on Jun 28, 2008 9:33:56 GMT -5
laohuaqiao, I too enjoy the ferry -- so much more interesting to see the progress of the region, from the river. It's a pity that the ferry between HK/Kowloon and Sanbu is no longer in service. Ah well, it's progress. Regards, Ah Gin Direct HK/Kowloon>Sanbu ferry is DEAD, but 08:30 OR 16:00 ferry to Zhonshan+ KP bus from pier "package" is still alive. Sold by CKSP.
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