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pkfops

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  3. What to take with me

    in Communications, Planes, Shipping & Money

    Posted

    OK, having taken all of y'alls input and digested it, here's what I've come up with for my travel.

     

    neck pouch:

    -- passport w/ Chinese tourist visa

    -- boarding passes/reservations

    -- money/credit cards/ID

     

    22" carryon:

    -- 1 pair canvas pants

    -- 1 pair chinos

    -- 2 long sleeved shirts

    -- 2 short sleeved shirts

    -- belt

    -- tie

    -- 4 pair undershorts

    -- 4 pair Coolmax/X-static socks

    -- trail runner shoes

    -- dance shoes

    -- bathroom kit

     

    messenger bag:

    -- ziplock baggie

    -- sleeping kit

    -- modest gift for the young lady

    -- computer gear

    -- photo gear

    -- iPod

    -- electrical adapter

    -- 2 ink pens

    -- a few dozen paper napkins

    -- baby wipes

    -- 2 or 3 new books

    -- extra change of underwear & socks

    -- extra toothbrush

     

    bathroom kit:

    -- american style TP

    -- antidiarrheal

    -- laxative

    -- ibuprofen

    -- ranitidine

    -- ambien

    -- razor

    -- comb

    -- antiperspirant

    -- dental floss

    -- toothbrush

     

    ziplock baggie:

    -- hand sanitizer

    -- toothpaste

    -- shampoo

    -- hair gel

    -- deodorant body wash

    -- facial wash

    -- shave gel

    -- antifungal cream

    -- hydrocortisone

    -- antibiotic cream

    -- sunblock

     

    sleeping kit:

    -- neck pillow

    -- eyemask

    -- ambien

    -- 3 oz Bacardi 150 proof rum

     

    computer gear:

    -- laptop

    -- headset

    -- mouse

    -- power brick

    -- Ethernet cable

    -- sound cables

     

    photo gear:

    -- digicam

    -- UV, CPL and IR filters

    -- extra SD cards

    -- charger & spare battery

     

    clothes to wear on the flight:

    -- hoodie

    -- short sleeved shirt

    -- cargo pants with drawstring

    -- slip on shoes

     

    Before I go:

    -- get vaccinated for HEP A

     

    I have a nice deal in that I can park at my office and take a bus to the airport, so I will leave my cell phone and car keys in my desk.

    Depending on who your cell phone carrier is you may want to take it. One of my biggest fears in China is being seperated from my wife and not being able to find her in the crowd. I unlocked both of our phones before we left and since the wife went ahead of me she picked up GDMA pre paid sim cards for us. I know T-mobile and ATT phones work in China.

     

     

    I know the feeling.

     

    On my first trip we were out at a busy street market in GZ.

     

    My wife stepped to the side to use the phone after being paged and I lost sight of her. All I saw were people with black hair. :D

     

    You've gotten some good advice but I would go light on the tech gear and bathroom items. At best take some kleenex packets. Remember they do have stores there and at a better price. What they don't have is foot powder/spray.

     

    A money belt with enough $100 to cover you while you are there and to buy an air ticket home if needed is a safe bet.

     

    If you have a backpack, secure the zippers with snap swivels. Most thieves don't know how to unlock them.

     

    have fun

  5. Chinese Signs

    in The Middle Kingdom - 中国

    Posted

    As a writer, I am beginning to take more notice of signs and how people communicate in China. I tossed around the idea of writing a book during recent weeks, in which I would discuss the many differences between a High Context Culture like China, versus a Low Context Culture like America.

     

    Americans use words and phrases to convey thoughts. The better you articulate your thoughts with words, the better you can be understood. China on the other hand, is a High Context Culture, where most everything is implied in the culture, which often leaves those who are unfamiliar with the culture at a real loss for understanding.

     

    Most of us have seen funny signs in China, that have been translated into English. The translation process often brings laughs and smiles from Westerners, as many of the cultural aspects of the language simply cannot be translated, or would take several paragraphs to get the real thought across. As I learn more about Chinese culture and language, it is becoming more clear why some of these signs translate the way they do. Chinese people in general, have a hard time being direct in thought and expression compared to their Western counterparts. For us, if we don't want someone to walk on our grass, we may place a sign stating, "Keep Off the Grass."

     

    Not so in China. Here are a few examples of signs I've been capturing lately:

     

    http://i44.tinypic.com/1r4s3a.jpg

    http://i40.tinypic.com/17df9v.jpg

    http://i40.tinypic.com/2zfiyc6.jpg

     

    As you can see, they have gone to great lengths in the Chinese language to convey that the grass is beautiful, and took a lot of work to make it that way. You should therefore be careful to take care of it also, out of respect. Surely my words are unable to convey the exact meaning and cultural aspect, but suffice it to say, the Chinese are much more poetic in their expressions.

     

    Course, you must keep in mind that it's winter now when I took these pictures, so the grass isn't too green right now...

    ;)

     

    One thing I've noticed in may travels to parks, zoos, temples ECT is the absence of powered equipment by the landscapers. All work seems to be done by hand with great care. :)

  6. Hillary Goes to China

    in The Middle Kingdom - 中国

    Posted

    Nice for change for US envoy to go there and not start off harping about human rights. Hope her visit helps secure a stronger relationship.

     

    What bothers me about this is that the US continues to take an arrogant posture toward China; it wants to teach rather than learn. Sort of like having a visitor in your home trying to tell you how to raise your family.

    How do you know the new administration's tone hasn't changed and is still lecturing? Is this what is conveyed by the Chinese media or just your opinion?

     

    It's been widely reported in Chinese news that Chinese officials were extremely upset not only by US posturing on Human rights, but the fact they chose to visit Japan before visiting China. However, they chose NOT to let it get in the way of giving Hillary a warm reception. They are used to hearing the US rhetoric.

     

    It is my OPINION that the US is very unlikely to change it's posture toward China, and given the records of those who support the current president, US posturing will likely worsen rather than improve. Surely I hope it doesn't, but it's my opinion that it will.

     

    They shouldn't make an issue of Japan; after all a USC doesn't need a visa for a stay of 90 days or less. :blink:

  10. Flying on Plastic in China...

    in Communications, Planes, Shipping & Money

    Posted

    Outside of the hop from HK to GZ the only thing I know about domestic tickets is my wife would get on the phone and an "agent" would then knock on the door.

     

    The purchase is made with "uncle Maos". :)

     

    Well she's there now and it sounds like she'll be TRAINing it for the whole trip... :blink: At least I got her to agree to take ONLY soft sleepers...Guangdong-Hunan-Hainan-Yunnan-Hunan-Guangdong... B)

     

    No hard seat, country people trains where one of your seat mates my pass a bag of chicken feet to share with you? :D

     

    I went from GZ to Sanya. The trip across the water is interesting.

     

    Ah so you took the train boat across the strait and then the new line down the west coast of Hainan from Haikou to Sanya...We live on the east coast at Qionghai and that line is being built right now... B)

     

    Yes.

     

    Wife's best friend friend's brother knows the cop who works that train so we rode for free.

     

    They didn't bother to tell me about it until we were on the train. When I asked for the tickets and when we went around the gate and up to the platform I was told not to worry. I worried most of the trip. At the end of the line the cop took us to his cop friends and they let us through the gate. :lol:

     

    I guess that's the Chinese way. :D

  11. Flying on Plastic in China...

    in Communications, Planes, Shipping & Money

    Posted

    Outside of the hop from HK to GZ the only thing I know about domestic tickets is my wife would get on the phone and an "agent" would then knock on the door.

     

    The purchase is made with "uncle Maos". :eatyum:

     

    Well she's there now and it sounds like she'll be TRAINing it for the whole trip... <_< At least I got her to agree to take ONLY soft sleepers...Guangdong-Hunan-Hainan-Yunnan-Hunan-Guangdong... :blink:

     

    No hard seat, country people trains where one of your seat mates my pass a bag of chicken feet to share with you? B)

     

    I went from GZ to Sanya. The trip across the water is interesting.

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