At the Wall

by Steve Reiss (Dalmdad Landscape Photography - www.dalmdad.com and https://www.facebook.com/Dalmdad.)

Probably in China for less than two hours...

Mutianyu Great Wall

Mutianyu Great Wall

Badaling Great Wall

Xi'an to Hong Kong By Plane and Marco Polo Confusion

by Steve Reiss (Dalmdad Landscape Photography - www.dalmdad.com and https://www.facebook.com/Dalmdad.)

October 29, 2014: Hong Kong: After a gloomy, long and draining, but interesting day in Xi'an and a nice night overlooking the Xi'an bell, the next morning it was time to head to Hong Kong.

View of Xi'an Bell Tower from our Hotel Room

A couple of interesting things were observed on this travel day...

We arrived pretty early at Xi'an airport and had to wait for the airline counter to open.  Ahead of us on line were an older couple, I think from Australia, and they had not filled out their departure cards.  So, we were bumped in front of them.  I am not a big world traveler, but I have learned to always have your arrival and departure cards filled out and ready to be handed in.

We got out boarding passes, made it through security and customs, and headed down to the gate area to wait.  The gate was at ground level as this was an older-style airport where a bus (squeezed to the max with passengers and their bags) takes the passengers out to the plane, which was parked on the tarmac. 

Down in the gate area, it looked like the security guards were having their morning staff meeting as they were all sitting in a corner being lectured by apparently a senior guard.

The Xi'an to HK flight was uneventful, though Joanie was not really happy with the pushing and shoving on the bus, eventhough I have warned here that is just the way it is over here and the pushing and shoving is not considered rude.  I received this very lecture from Raymond when we were in Wuhan and about to push our way off an overfilled Wuhan city bus.

When we arrived in Hong Kong, at customs, we again, wound up behind that Australian couple I mentioned above.  Sure as sh*t, they had again failed to fill out their arrival cards and were pushed to the side so we can continue.  You would think they would have learned the procedure.

***

We left the HK terminal and it was far warmer outside in HK than either Xi'an or Beijing.  We grabbed a cab to take us to Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon in HK and specifically the Marco Polo Hotel.  The driver asked us which Marco Polo Hotel we meant, because there are several of them in TST area.  We showed him our confirmation and it read 3 Canton Road, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.  He pullled away from the curb and the drive across Lantau Island and its huge bridges began with little fan fair.

When we then arrived in TST, the driver again started asking us which Marco Polo Hotel we meant and I kept showing him the address of 3 Canton Road.  Maybe my Mandarin accent (not) confused this Cantonese speaker, but he seemed to not be able to figure out where we were going.  Its not like it was a scam, as he took us right to the 3 Canton Road property; which was our ultimate goal.  We got out and checked in to the hotel. 

***

Beijing to Xi'an By Train

by Steve Reiss (Dalmdad Landscape Photography - www.dalmdad.com and https://www.facebook.com/Dalmdad.)

All my native Chinese friends were very impressed when I told them that Joanie and I were taking the overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an, a trip of about 750 miles.  This train takes over 12 hours as compared to the bullet train, which takes about 5-7 hours depending upon which one you take.  I have pleasant memories of riding the bullet train on my last trip to China (2012), when I went from Guangzhou to Wuhan.

For whatever reason, we got to wait for the train in the VIP waiting area.  I am not so sure what was VIP about it as all the fast food dining was located outside this secure area, the area was packed with people, and the VIP area men's room had to be one of the worst toilets I have ever experienced, anywhere.

Who knows what she is doing?

Huge Crowd

Joanie was a little worried we would have some trouble making our train.  There was not many announcements in English at the railway station as compared to the airport.  You also need to find your entry door (gate), train platform, and then the rail car that matched your ticket.  We waited about three hours at the railway station.

Our ticket was for a double sleeper, so it would only be the two of us.  The price was fairly cheap as is most stuff in China (to people not from China).  Since it was so cheap, there was no reason to risk what type of persons we would be mixed in with if we had a four sleeper.

We were told that considering the price of the double sleepers, it would be likely that there would mainly be non-Asians in the train car.  Indeed, what we were told was true and when I took a quick walk up and down the car to explore, I mainly saw white folks, with some German speakers over here and some from who-knows-where over there.

Hall Way

Our sleeper unit was tiny, but acceptable.  Reminded us of our tiny motel room in Valdez, Alaska.

Motel Room - Valdez, Alaska

Railway Sleeper

 Each bunk had its own TV and the room had its own toilet.

Ahhh...Sterlized For Your Protection!!

There was a large window, but it was already evening and we could not really see anything.  After chowing down some DOTS and Sweethearts and some local Oreo's and Chips Ahoy, with my usual Coke, and putting in my ear buds, the next thing I knew we were being awaken by the arrival of our coffee service (coffee was awful) and our excitement over our visit to see the Xi'an Terra Cotta Army (coming soon!).

Dinner of: Dots, Sweettarts, Oreos, and Chips Ahoy!

***

Actors? at the Imperial Summer Palace/Beijing

by Steve Reiss (Dalmdad Landscape Photography - www.dalmdad.com and https://www.facebook.com/Dalmdad.)

October 28, 2014; Beijing, China:  Today, we visited the imperial Summer Palace in northern Beijing. 

Steve and Joanie with Part of Summer Palace in Background

A single picture taken in the haze of a typical Beijing day can in no way substitute for an actual visit to the Palace and the opportunity to stand on the edge of man-made Kunming Lake and take in a true fall breeze (yeah, it is still summer in SoCal).

This location reminded me of East Lake in Wuhan, China (see trip report here).
While exploring the grounds. we saw these brightly dressed ladies collecting in the entrance way to one of the buildings.  We guessed that there was going to be some kind of Manchurian yoga demonstration.

However, we would soon be told by our personal (yes personal) tour guide Herbie (more on that in the future) that these interestingly-styled ladies were not Chinese versions of what we would call colonial Williamsburg re-enactors.  These people were actual Manchurians, not actors acting Manchurian.

***

Heigl Hysteria Huh?

by Steve Reiss (Dalmdad Landscape Photography - www.dalmdad.com and https://www.facebook.com/Dalmdad.)

October 20-22, 2014: Shezhen, PRC - Shenzhen is a relatively new city in the PRC.  It is located just over the international border from Hong Kong.  Most of my work is in Shezhen and that is where I spend most of my work time.  However, I usually do a few back and forth trips between HK and PRC.

On this particular trip, I was put up by my client at supposedly one of the best hotels in Shenzhen.  The hotel was so nice that you could rightfully forget you were in Shenzhen.  Nothing I had ever seen in Shenzhen was this nice.  This was far nicer than the Treasure Hotel, in Long Hua, where I had been put up last time.  It was the porter at the Treasure Hotel who offered to supply me with female prostitutes.

Well, despite the number of stars this best hotel in Shenzhen had and the enormous size of the LED flat-screen television, the room TVs still offered only 2 English language TV channels.  One English channel was CNN from nearby Hong Kong.  However, because of the Occupy Hong Kong Protests, CNN was intermittently blocked and allowed.  The only other English language channel was some movie channel (e.g. HBO-like).

I was at this hotel for three nights. 

For the first night, the movie was Under Siege 2.  Under Siege 2 is not a bad movie, but not as good as its predecessor, Under Siege. Under Siege 2 has a famous scene in which Katherine Heigl sprays what she thinks is mace in the lead villain's face; only for him to then spray it in his mouth saying it was pepper spray and that it "clears the sinuses."

Heigl in Under Seige 2 - Age 17

For the next night, the movie was one of those rom-coms that I had no clue what was its title nor am I aware of any catchy dialogue (Assuming it has some).  However, I did recognize Katherine Heigl again. This movie was The Ugly Truth.

Heigl in The Ugly Truth - Aged 31

***

Two nights in Shenzhen, two nights of the actress Katherine Heigl.  I guess she is popular in Shenzhen.

***

No Room at the Inn...at least for the moment?

by Steve Reiss (Dalmdad Landscape Photography - www.dalmdad.com and https://www.facebook.com/Dalmdad.)

April 1, 2012; Wuhan, China:  It had been an incredibly long day.  We had left Longhua early in the morning, spent six hours on the bullet train, walked up six flights of steps, had dinnerwith Sandy and Squirrel, walked down six flights of steps, walked through the rolling mountains and cracking stairs of Wuhan University and then spent some time roaming up and down the jam packed Wuhan night market.

The day was supposed to be over and we were finally taking a cab from the night market to our motel.  The cab ride was actually a nice drive, first giving us the opportunity of seeing the Yellow Crane tower all lit up and sitting on Sheshan (Snake) Hill and then driving along the historic Yangtze River. 

We finally got out of our cab around 9 or 10 pm, at this time I cannot recall.  Raymond said our motel was down the alley off the main street.  Raymond probably knew me well enough from the time we had spent together to assume that I was about to conclude we were staying at some kind of dump and then I would freak out.  He said that the motel was not as bad as the walk down the alley might lead me to conclude.  I would reserve judgment for when I actually saw the motel.

We reached the motel’s reception desk and Raymond told the clerk our names and that we had reservations.  Suddenly, there was a lot of Mandarin chatter between Raymond, Sandy, Squirrel, and the motel desk clerk.  When a translation reached me (the translation always comes midway through the conversation), I was dumbfounded.  Our rooms had not been reserved for late arrival with a credit card and since it was after 9pm, our rooms were gone. I couldn’t believe it.  How could Raymond have not guaranteed late arrival or made sure we checked in before 9pm? 

We walked back down the alley towards the main avenue, where there was another motel.  The Mandarin speaking contingent of our group (i.e., everyone but me) swarmed the desk clerk asking if the motel had any available rooms.  They did not.  Did any of the chain’s other Wuhan properties (wherever they may actually be) have vacancies?  No…after all, it was Mei and Cherry Blossom seasons and a national holiday weekend.

I think this a time where, if you are not knowledgeable in the ways of China, you are allowed to or even expected to have a panic attack, but remarkably I did not go that far.  I was too embarrassed after I slid down the slippery handicap ramp in the front of the motel on the main avenue, looking like an idiot.

Someone in our group decided we should go back to our original motel down the alley and see if they had any available rooms.  I did not really understand this; 5 minutes ago they did not have any vacancies.  But, when in China and you cannot read or speak Mandarin, its do as your guides tell you.  Well, to bring this crazy story to an end…it seems like magically two rooms became available.  I don’t know how.  I could have asked for an explanation from Raymond on how –and indeed he might have told me and I no longer remember.  And how was the hotel hidden down the narrow and messy alley?  It was nice, and even though it had only three floors, it had an elevator!!

***

Views from My Hotel Room

The Room

Visiting Wuhan University - Still No Elevators in China?? (Part 3 of 4)

by Steve Reiss (Dalmdad Landscape Photography - www.dalmdad.com and https://www.facebook.com/Dalmdad.)

April 1, 2012: Wuhan, China: After dinner, Sandy and her husband, known as “Squirrel”, for reasons I have never been told, wanted to show Raymond and me Wuhan University.  Not only had S&S met there, but at this time of year cherry blossom trees were blooming around campus.  I could have taken or left this side trip, but going was a sign of respect; and, really… I had no choice. 

We took a cab from S&S’s apartment across Wuhan, even though you may recall that I mentioned how S&S had a car.  Well, I was later told, Squirrel has a license, etc., but just did not feel comfortable enough to drive.  Most Chinese have less than five years experience driving cars.

One of The Bridges Crossing the Yangtze River (as seen from the cab)

When the taxi dropped us off at WU, the sun was setting. The campus is set on Luojia Hill and we walked up and down the rolling hills making up the campus with Squirrel pointing out the various buildings.  By the time we reached the cherry blossom grove, it had become pretty much completely dark out.  So getting any view of the cherry blossoms or taking pictures of them was a non-starter.  Despite the darkness, there were still hundreds of college-age girls and guys taking flash photos under and in front of the trees in the complete dark.  Many of the girls were wearing cherry blossom tiaras/crowns. 

There was also a lot of public displays of affection going on. I have noticed that in the big Chinese cities (ok, I have not been to any small villages), public displays of friendship are very common.  You are more likely to see two girls holding hands as friends walking down the street than you would ever see in even large US cities, where such girls holding hands would be whispered about.  Boy-girl kissing is also very common on city sidewalks.  I am told these PDA’s are a reaction to the freedom Chine kids feel when they are away from their rigid, more traditional, country (rural) home lives.

**

The cherry blossom grove had been a pretty far walk from where the taxi dropped us off.  Being lazy and not exactly in the best of physical conditioning, I asked if we had to walk back the same way we came.  The answer was no; but that was not as good as it sounded.

It was around this time that we were in the area of the old library with its traditional pagoda-style architecture and view of the hills on which campus was built.

Pagoda Style Architecture at Wuhan University

The campus hills were still there, but now there were steep sets of old concrete stairs, some cracked and generally lacking hand railings.  So, there was plenty of opportunity for me to potentially embarrass myself in two ways; falling up or down the steps (i.e., klutz) or passing out by not being able to handle all the steps (i.e., way out of shape).  But, alas, I uneventfully made it to the street level and we then started the long walk to find a bus to take us to the Wuhan Night Market.

Night Market: and another Non-Chinese person?? (Part 4 of 4)

by Steve Reiss (Dalmdad Landscape Photography - www.dalmdad.com and https://www.facebook.com/Dalmdad.)

April 1, 2012: Wuhan, China: So, after our trip to Wuhan University, we made it to the night market.  The night market was probably just what an American might picture it as.  A long, very narrow alley off of the main street, stuffed to the gills with people and food being cooked in tiny stands on portable propane stoves.  I did not see any exotic foods (e.g., bugs) and many of the stands had the same basic offerings. 

I was really in a bind at the market.  Sandy and Squirrel kept offering to buy me things to eat.  Local pride, coupled with the common and previously true assumption that my large size meant I eat a lot, kept the offers coming.  However, I had to repeatedly turn them down.  After having my lap band surgery, there are just some things I can no longer eat.  Many of these things include some very basic and common Chinese and Hubie cuisine, e.g., dense, dry foods, such as steamed rice balls or buns and bean curd; all very common to the night market.  I asked Raymond if Sandy and her husband thought I was being rude.  He told me no, but they did not understand why I would not try anything besides fresh watermelon juice.

I tried to vaguely and generally describe that there were just some things I could not eat.  I was not going to try to get into a conversation about the nature of my surgery since it would be difficult, considering the language problems.

We reached a place where we could sit down without being trampled and I kept thanking S&S for their offers of food.  But then Sandy’s husband handed me a white bag containing a couple of very spicy (dry rub) skewers of chicken that he was craving.  He also offered Raymond some other Wuhan specialty and some donut like item (both of whose names I cannot recall at this time); but both were very dry and not for me.  I took a tiny bite, smiled, and when no one was looking spit it out into the garbage.

Trying to Eat Whatever Offered

                                                                    ***

It was at the Night Market that I saw for the first time in the PRC, another non-Asian.  I had seen and spoke with some non-Asian gents from Texas when I was in Taipei, at my hotel and the nearby  7-11, but this non-Asian was very different. 

                                                                   ***

The Taipei 7-11 incident was interesting.  First, Chinese/Taiwanese 7-11’s do not smell like American 7’11’s.  In the US, you get the aroma of cardboard pizza and burnt hot dogs.  In CN/TW, the 7-11’s smell from steaming rice buns of all types and the stores have cauldrons filled with boiling eggs.  It was within this strange environment that I bought my very American Coke and the guy from Texas bought his pack of very American Marlboros.  I am not known for talking to strangers, but have to admit, seeing a non-Asian American drew me to initiate a conversation.  Quite coincidentally (or maybe not so coincidentally) he and I worked for different parts of the same Taiwanese corporation.

                                                                   **

Getting Back to the non-Asian at the Night Market.

First, the non-Asian was a she – and at least to me, really stood out.  She was a white girl, probably early 20s.  I noticed her across the alley, as my roaming eyes are oft to do,  but she was too far from me for me to hear her voice to see what nationality she was.  For some strange reason I pictured her as Australian, yet I had no basis for this conclusion.  She had that straight long blonde hair reminiscent of Jan Brady, pale skin to go with the light hair, was wearing a spaghetti-strap white with blue-print sun dress, and had a chunky build.  She must have had a really strong body image to be comfortable showing so much skin and so boldly standing out against the tightly packed, more conservatively dressed, Chinese crowd.  I know I certainly felt the eyes following me and I am nothing to write home about.  The vibe this young girl put out was very impressive.

                                                                 **

More Bad Mandarin-to-English Translations

by Steve Reiss (Dalmdad Landscape Photography - www.dalmdad.com and https://www.facebook.com/Dalmdad.)

Back in 2012, we posted about the terrible state of Mandarin-to-English sign translations in China.

Well, here is a chance to see the situation has not approved at all.

Visit.Hilarious Chinese Translation Fails (safe for work)

***