toy_rn65

Ok, here is an update from my last trip to China. For the use of dish washer, there is Cascade (family size) for sale in the Friendship Store in BJ. I would assume it would be availiable in other Friendship Store also but ya'll know what "assume" stands for. I even saw pakages of Jet Dry in a couple of the large supermarkets in BJ. There must be a demand for these items, otherwise they wouldn't have them on the shelves. For the use of clothes dryers, there is Bounce dryer sheets in the Friendship Store in BJ and they were even the regular size pakages. As for the price of these item, I can't recall but they didn't jump out at me at the time as being too high compare to the price in the US.

There is another dilemma with both forms of written Chinese. In a nut shell, the traditional Chinese was evolved from a picture, a scene, the look or form of an object that particular word is describing; the simplified Chinese is so simplified to a point that a lot of the simple words were used in different places for just having the same pronunciation instead of using the correct word. Having said that, a person grew up using simplified Chinese will not understand most traditional Chinese writings because they have not actually learnt so many words. On the other hand, a person grew up using traditional Chinese will understand most simplified Chinese because they have a better understanding of how the language is formed and became the current form. Just my 2 cents. PM me if you have any more question, I do read both forms of Chinese and speak both Cantonese and Mandarin. Having been in the US for over 20 years, I think I have a pretty good handle on the English language too but I don't claim to be any kind of expert. Hope this help.

Man Tom, this write UP must have taken UP a lot of your time to look UP! If I were to saw this write UP in my ESL class 23 years ago, I would have given UP on learning English and said "UP yours"!!! I like that last one too!

Yeah Haier is popular and Siemens also... Well guys, here is a link to the Haier site with dishwashers that is the closest to the ones we use here in the US. http://www.ehaier.com/static/category-XW/list-XW03.jsp And here is the best translation I can do of the specifications for each corresponding type 12 model: (I couldn't load the pics onto here so everyone just have to click the above link to see what they look like) WQP12-PFESS List price:RMB 9900, Member price:RMB 9240 Capacity (sets):12, Wash time (min):102 Clean factor (%):98, Dimension (mm):600x600x850 depth,width,height Energy consumption (kWh):1.05, Water consumption (L):10 Power source:220v~50Hz High efficiency in washing and drying dishes. Low energy consumption and meets Europe's 3A standerd. Designed to operate under 49db noise level. All stainless steel exterior construction with 2 bright LCD control panel and display panel. Upper and lower rack with individual pulse-jet wash spray. Employ "FUZZY LOGIC" with dirt sensor to automatically adjust wash cycle. WQP12-AFM2 List price:RMB 5980, Member price:RMB 5164 Capacity (sets):12, Wash time (min):96 Clean factor (%):93, Dimension (mm):600x600x850 depth,width,height Energy consumption (kWh):1.3, Water consumption (L):18 Power source:220v~50Hz Stand-alone installation. Simple 1 dial and 2 button control panel. Built water heater and water softening function for cleaner dishes. Slide out racks for easy loading. WQP12-CBE List price:RMB 6580, Member price:RMB 5909 Capacity (sets):12, Wash time (min):102 Clean factor (%):98, Dimension (mm):570x600x820 depth,width,height Energy consumption (kWh):1.05, Water consumption (L):20 Power source:220v~50Hz Under counter installation with changable face panel. Built-in water heater and water softening function for cleaner dishes. Internal condensation system for a faster drying process approaching 99% dryness. Internal heating element to increase heat-up by over 30%. Has built-in timer to start wash cycle during off-peak power usage. Pheeeeew , that's all the translation for now. Hope this info help!

I never pay too much attention to the USD bills that I took with me to China, but they do examine them like performing an autopsy. Last time there, I had trouble with 2 $100 bills being not crisp enough. I had them soaked overnight in hot water at the hotel and then iron them dry in the morning. Then I went to a different bank and it worked like a charm.

When I first attended high school here in the US after immigrating here many moons ago, I once asked my classmate if I can borrow his "rubber"(eraser)? The whole class was rolling on the floor!

Do a search with the key word "China Visa". You will find a lot of agents that handle that but it will cost you some money. Here is one that I would trust: U. S. China Travel Service Inc. ( Main Office ) Address L/F, 575 Sutter Street, L/F San Francisco CA 94102,U. S. A. Telephone ( 1-415 ) 398-6627 ( 1-800 ) 899-8618 Fax ( 1-415 ) 398-6669 E-mail ctsusa@aol.com Website http://www.chinatravelservice.com U. S. China Travel Service Inc. ( Los Angeles Office ) Address U. S. CTS Building,119 S. Atlantic Blvd. Suite 303, Monterey Park, CA 91754,U. S. A. Telephone (1-626) 457-8668 Fax (1-626) 457-8955,2826129 E-mail e-mail:usctsla@aol.com Website http://www.chinatravelservice.com If time doesn't permit, your last resort will have to make a stop in Hong Kong before going to BJ. China Travel Services (HK) Ltd. have same day service in which you drop off your passport at thier office first thing in the morning and your visa will be ready for pickup that afternoon and it is half the cost of getting it in the US using a travel agency. They can also book your flight from HK to BJ. I have used them before and they are the only Chinese state owned agency operates in HK that handle travel needs for foreigners. http://www.ctshk.com/english/useful/chinesevisa.htm If you are first traveling to Hong Kong, you can entrust the visa application at a branch office of China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited. The most convenient is located near to the Star Ferry on the Kowloon side because they are open 7 days a week and they can arrange for a visa in just a few hours, if necessary. The address is at 1/F.,Alpha House,27-33 Nathan Rd., Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel : 852-2315 7188 Fax : 852-2315 7292 E-mail:ctsdmd@ctshk.com Category of Visa Processing Time Handling Fee(HKD)(Valid from Mon-Fri only) Single Entry Visa Ordinary 3 working days $210 Express 2 working days $360 One-day Pickup 1 working day $480 Double Entry Visa Ordinary 3 working days $350 Express 2 working days $500 One-day Pickup 1 working day $620 Half Year Multiple Entry Visa Ordinary 3 working days $850 Express 2 working days $1150 One-day Pickup 1 working day $1400 Documents for visa applications 1. Valid passport or documents for travel in origin files; 2. One photo for visa application; 3. Fill in the Visa Application Form with applicant's signature attached whereon; 4. For those who immigrate by HKID, please bring along with HKID for application. Remarks: The above charge is not applicable for following 21 countries, please call for further information. (Tel: 852-2315 7188) 1. U.S.A. 2. Brazil 3. Belarus 4. Ukraine 5. Uzbekistan 6. Kazakhstan 7. Armenia 8. Moldova 9. Ecuador 10. Angola 11. Ethiopia 12. Gabon 13. Cameroon 14. United Kingdom 15. Panama 16. Chile 17. Bolivia 18. Republic of Congo 19. Iran 20. The Republic of Cote D'ivoire 21. Venezuela The air fare of flying from US-HK, BJ-US would be the same as if flying US-BJ-US. AT least it was my experiance with UAL. You just have to arrange your transportation from HK to BJ. I did that every time before I go see my SO since I have relatives in HK. You can bypass the middle man by going straight to the China Visa Service in WanChai when you get to HK. Consular Department Office of the Commissioner Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Chinese Visa Office 7th Floor, Lower Block, China Resources Building 26 Harbour Road Wanchai, Hong Kong Tel: 852-3413-2424 It's only a 10 minutes walk from the WanChai MTR(subway) station, A1 exit. Get there before they open at 0900, get in line to get through security (don't carry anything on you that you shouldn't have as if you were getting on an airplane), go to 7th floot (I think!), take a number, hand in your application and passport and photo, get a receipt for your passport, go have brunch (dimsum) at a nearby tea house, pick up your visa and passport around 1300 (make sure you have enough HKD$ to pay the fee, about USD$750), do some shopping for your SO in the afternoon and catch a flight to see your SO in BJ that evening. All these will only cost you is one night in HK and the flight to BJ and of cause all the shoppings.

Bahamas requires China PRC citizens to have a visa. You'll want to check with them directly (I suggest by phone) whether they will accept the CR1 visa without the green card. Canada doesn't. Re-entry to the US is not a problem. Whoa! be careful here. Entering Canada and re-entering the USA is no problem as long as she has a green card. A stamp in her passport for a CR-1 or IR-1 will not likely suffice. She will most likely need a Canadian visa. Exactly. My post should be read as Canada doesn't accept the CR1 visa without the green card. I don't know if Bahamas does but I doubt it. We are talking about a person with a visa and no green card. A CR-1 visa is only good for one time entering the US without a green card. Most other countries she goes would require a visas from those countries. You could try to get her a visa from Bahamas and and spend your honeymoon there BEFORE you bring her to the US. Better yet, use Hawaii as her POE and then onward to the US mainland. Just my 2 cents...

Bill Lets U.S. Citizens Be Held as Enemy Combatants Former White House lawyer Bradford Berenson says the new detainee bill is consistent with what courts have said about the president's right to imprison U.S. citizens as enemy combatants. Michael Ratner, president of the Center for Constitutional Rights, says the legislation offers U.S. citizens little protection beyond the ability to challenge their appeal. Under the bill, he says, "This administration can simply pick up American citizens and hold them." Maybe it's time for a quiz. Name the countries who arrest and detain their citizens indefinitely without a trial. IMHO, I think this quiz can be best answered by our SOs who have spent the last 30-40 years in China!

Thank you, This is exactly what I told her. I think I have her convinced to go ahead and get it as soon as her National ID renews in December, currently it is expired. I guess I don't understand the system, if everyone needs this ID, why is there a wait when renewing the National ID? Of course maybe it's a technolgy thing, when we went to cash travelers cheques we needed a photocopy of my passport for the banks records. We had to leave the bank and find a photocopier because the Bank of China branch in Nanning didn't have a copier of their own. B) Sheesh, my 79 year old mother has a fax machine and photocopier in her home. Hi everyone, I'm new here. Just signed up a couple of days ago so be easy on me! I would have to agree with Rakkasan here. There are so many things in China that don't make sense, even to me, a Chinese American. I have been to China many times in the last few years. An observation I have made is that, one can throw logic out the window as soon as you get off the plane when you arrive in China. pkfops was correct, the system is so corrupt that by throwing in some $, you can accomplish the impossible, almost. A perfect example is booking China inland flights. If you want to buy discounted tickets, you better wait til the last minutes. Buying ticket early means you pay full pop. Explain that one to me!!! BTW, I will post a topic on how we (USC) can buy China domestic flight wirh e-ticket online and pay for it online using our credit cards. Very simple, esay and fast. Just like jumping on UNITED.COM buying tickets. I have used them and NO NO NO, this is not an ad!!! Another topic I will post is an easier way to bring money with you when you visit anywhere in China and exchange USD to RMB without having to pay a service charge. Has these topic been posted b4? There have been many posts here regarding getting money to China the least expensive way. Personally, I prefer the paypal debit card method which only costs me a $1 fee each time I access money from an ATM machine with no exchange fee. My wife has a card so She can withdraw money any time she needs too. I have just come home from a 3 week visit in China and used many ATM's in different cities (Zhanjiang, Guilin, Xi'an, Beijing, Shanghai & Jinan) and different banks (Bank of China, China Construction Bank & CITIC Industrial Bank). Using the ATM's are a little tricky, sometimes requiring me to re-submit my request trying different accounts (default, checking or savings) and even once using chinese language instead of english, but I always managed to get money! I am unsure if the topic regarding purchasing China domestic flights has been discussed, but more than likely it has - do a search to see - I have always just had my wife make the purchase of any domestic flights - of course she had to pay cash (yuan) . Well, it seems like the cost of using Paypal debit card is a bit cheaper than the American Express Traveler's Card. I will have to try that next time. Thanks. As far as booking domestic flights in China, I like to plan the whole trip b4 I leave home so I know there won't be any hang up (seems like there is never enough time in China). I used YOEE.COM last time. They have both Chinese and English version but I only used the Chinese one so I don't know if the English version work the same way. I purchased my flight from Beijing to Jinan on e-ticket and paid for it in one shot using my Chase Visa. I was even able to get a 40% off on the fare. The best part was just presenting my passport at the airline counter for my boarding pass, no more paper work or having to pay cash for it. Buying ticket this way is also great when you pay a suprise visit to her out of the blue. That's what I did last time and it was awesome to see her reaction when she opened the door.

Thank you, This is exactly what I told her. I think I have her convinced to go ahead and get it as soon as her National ID renews in December, currently it is expired. I guess I don't understand the system, if everyone needs this ID, why is there a wait when renewing the National ID? Of course maybe it's a technolgy thing, when we went to cash travelers cheques we needed a photocopy of my passport for the banks records. We had to leave the bank and find a photocopier because the Bank of China branch in Nanning didn't have a copier of their own. Sheesh, my 79 year old mother has a fax machine and photocopier in her home. Hi everyone, I'm new here. Just signed up a couple of days ago so be easy on me! I would have to agree with Rakkasan here. There are so many things in China that don't make sense, even to me, a Chinese American. I have been to China many times in the last few years. An observation I have made is that, one can throw logic out the window as soon as you get off the plane when you arrive in China. pkfops was correct, the system is so corrupt that by throwing in some $, you can accomplish the impossible, almost. B) A perfect example is booking China inland flights. If you want to buy discounted tickets, you better wait til the last minutes. Buying ticket early means you pay full pop. Explain that one to me!!! BTW, I will post a topic on how we (USC) can buy China domestic flight wirh e-ticket online and pay for it online using our credit cards. Very simple, esay and fast. Just like jumping on UNITED.COM buying tickets. I have used them and NO NO NO, this is not an ad!!! Another topic I will post is an easier way to bring money with you when you visit anywhere in China and exchange USD to RMB without having to pay a service charge. Has these topic been posted b4?