Three Village Locations in Kaiping and Taishan

[kiwi]

Hi
We are planning to visit our parents ancestral village early Jan 08 for the very first time and am seeking this forums advice. As none of us are unable to read nor write Chinese I would appreciate this forums help in locating the following:

The Tom 譚 clan village Sun Lung Lay 新龍里, Ng Bo Heung 五堡鄉

The Yee 余 clan village Fung Lok 豐樂, Sam Wai三圍, Dik Hoi 荻海

The Chin 陳 clan village Wing Shing 永盛, Sam Hop 三合

From Henry's post Re: Travelling to Kaiping « Reply #10 on Apr 27, 2007, 4:15pm » siyigenealogy.proboards28.com/index.cgi?board=maps&action=display&thread=1177618215, I am able to locate Ng Bo 五堡 and Sam Wai三圍. Also Sam Hop 三合 from Re: Gongxi (area 2) « Reply #3 on Jul 7, 2007, 11:54am » siyigenealogy.proboards28.com/index.cgi?board=maps&action=display&thread=1183742372&page=1.


Are there more detailed maps of these areas showing the villages? Have anyone any experience in using GPS receivers/GPS maps of the Kaiping area? We have a PDA with GPS software Oziexplorer CE installed, and a GPS receiver - I have downloaded Google satellite images of the Kaiping to Sanhe area together with the Google GPS calibration - we plan to take our GPS with us?

Our plans are to catch the catamaran from Hong Kong to Sanbu, Stay at either Ever Joint Hotel or Sanbu Hotel - any suggestions/experiences on whether we should book via the internet or via local (Melbourne Australia) travel agent, or Hong Kong travel agent? Hire a mini bus (for approx 10 passengers) to take us around - any suggestions/recommendations/experiences/referrals on drivers?



Thanks in anticipation.

[Henry]

Hi Kiwi,

Looks like you've done your homework.

I suggest you call or FAX the Everjoint hotel directly for room availability & rates - and also for the guide/van rates:

Tanjiang Peninsular ( Everjoint ) Hotel
2 Zhong Yin Road, Kaiping City
Guangdong 529300
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]

It seems that Air Gorilla & Travelocity websites keep coming up with rooms unavailable - probably because they have already sold the allocated discounted rooms from the hotel. The hotel has 290 plus rooms - so, I would think there is availability. I think you may have to pay around $50 or $60 per night, but, it is a very nice hotel and seems to have all the Western type amenities that you would want for a very decent cost. I only had lunch in this very nice hotel - it is really about a 4 star hotel according to Western standards.

You need to turn on your GPS unit for at least 30 minutes - so it can re-calibrate itself to the series of satellites that orbit around HKG / Kaiping - switch over to the WGS-84 datum.

Check your GPS in Tsim Sha Tsui/Hong Kong : decimal degrees 22.3 N, 114.1666 E or 22° 18' N, 114° 10' E

In Kaiping: decimal degrees 22.3833 N, 112.6833 E or 22° 23' N, 112° 41' E


In HKG, use your GPS in open areas - the tall buildings can interfere with your readings, in China - use your GPS cautiously, if asked - just tell people it is a cell phone. In earlier years, people had to declare they were bringing in GPS units into the China - especially survey grade units. Just do not get crazy flashing the GPS unit around and you should not have any problems. Oh, please do not be lazy like me and not take the time to identify your way points. After I returned from Taishan this past December - I had a tough time identifying the location of my way points.

There is another person, " tyuti1668" on this Forum that can provide you with detailed maps of bus routes to your ancestral villages.

If you need a Kaiping map or detailed topographic maps of your ancestral village or English speaking guide - contact me on [e-mail]

If you need general info on Chinese genealogy, Tan genealogy - check my website:

mysite.verizon.net/vzepzaui/index.html

Henry

[kiwi]

Hi Henry Many thanks for your advice and suggestions

[kiwi]

Hi tyuti1668 - sorry for delay - I've been away on business in Sydney - thanks for your maps and transport info - much appreciated. Photos of bus will be very useful.

Found this web site which may be of interest to readers:

52ditu.googlepages.com/english.htm

it synchronizes Chinese map website www.ditu123.com with google earth satellite.

[helen]

Hi Kiwi - Where in NZ are you? Auckland? Did you go to the bananas conference?

[kiwi]

Hi Helen
I am a NZBC moved to Australia over 8 years ago.

[helen]

Hi Kiwei - I'm NZBC too - where did you grow up in NZ? I'm from Taranaki. Where in Australia are you now?

Here's a message Board for NZBCs

nzchinese.proboards54.com