Apr 22, 2013 - Smog & bullets

I had decided to escape Beijing today and head off for a second attempt at getting to Tianjin. Yes, I did remember my passport and ticket purchase was straight forward as was finding my numbered seat once we were allowed on to the platform, about ten minutes before the train was due to leave. It was nearly full. The train, part of China's 20 year old bullet service, was comfortable, with masses of leg room. Annoucements were made in Mandarin and English, and people like me were referred to as 'Dear Customer'. There was also plenty of...

Mar 15, 2013 - Tianjin (Beijing), China

Tianjin, China is the gateway port to Beijing as well as some well preserved sections of the Great Wall. After a 2 ½ hour bus ride we arrived at the Hangyaguan section of the northern section of the great wall. The ride as through some of the most rural and rustic areas you will find in China in contrast to the massive urban centers we experienced in Shanghai and Hong Kong. This section of the wall, unfortunately, is some of the steepest and “rustic” of the sections open to the public to visit and walk. Cheryl decided it was a good idea and...

Mar 14, 2013 - Dalian, China

Dalian China is the trading and financial center of northeastern Asia and has earned the nickname of “the Hong Kong of Northern China”. Russian and Japan had occupied this area off and on for the last 100 years or so and their influence is obvious in the architecture and the culture. We had a great visit to a local farmers market to see basically everything that swims in the ocean and crawls on land! This market was much cleaner and organized than the ones we experience in Cambodia and Vietnam. Amazing assortment of live seafood in tanks...

Sep 17, 2011 - Tianjin

Travelled to Tianjin in a packed warm 737 for 3 hours! On the way to the hotel experienced a hair raising drive weaving in and out of traffic (cars, bikes, motorbikes, trucks, 3 wheel vehicles, buses, etc) tooting and near missing all the way and the driver drove down the wrong side of the road to get to the hotel. Went out for a Chinese banquet with Max’s colleagues where there were many courses I had never seen before. We each received a local artwork from the university. Next day at shopping centre Malcolm managed to communicate the need...

May 2, 2010 - DIAMOND PRINCESS

DIAMOND PRINCESS ITINERARY: Fri 4/30 Xingang Port ‘Diamond Princess’ Embarkation after: 2:00PM Sail 6:00PM Sat 5/01 Dalian, China On own: ‘Polar Aquarium’ Tiger Beach Pk Bus #30/712 (Zsq) Sun 5/02 Qingdao China: Tsingtao Brewery? Walk German Town on own Mon 5/03 at Sea Tue 5/04 Busan, So. Korea DJW tour inc Military Cemetery; NW taxi to shop Wed 5/05 at Sea Th 5/06 Vladivostok, Russia Tours: DJW-Dance Recital + Home visit; NW-Walk Tour Fri 5/07 at Sea Sat 5/08 Muroran for Sapporo, JP Trans to Odori Park, Independent day Fri/Fri...

Dec 11, 2009 - Tianjin

Met weemoed verlaten we dinsdag Beijing, en nemen de snelste intercity ter wereld naar Tianjin. Met 335 km/ uur razen we door China. Het is gek om met zo'n supermoderne trein door een landschap te rijden waar je hutjes (zonder wc en stromend water) ziet waarin de mensen leven... We zijn de afgelopen dagen al een aantal keer op de foto geweest, de lichte ogen en haar en de piercing zijn voor de mensen hier een bezienswaardigheid. We worden dan ook vaak nagestaard. In Tianjin rustig aan gedaan want de indrukken van de afgelopen weken zijn...

Mar 25, 2009 - About Chinese Food

The type of food in the region of China I went to is really nothing like the “Chinese food” we have in restaurants here at home. Currently, there are ten main regional cuisines in China, each served in different parts of the country. The area I visited had a style of food preparation closest to that of Beijing cuisine; however, being a port city, Tianjin makes use of its abundance of available seafood. I would have to say I am probably a more adventurous eater than most, but I’m no Andrew Zimmern. The top 3 strangest foods I came across...

Oct 1, 2007 - Beijing, China

If you went to Washington DC on the 4th of July to visit the Washington Monument and watch the fireworks, you would expect crowds and bad traffic. So when we heard that we would be visiting Beijing on their national day, we expected crowds and bad traffic. We wanted to see the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall and perhaps do a little shopping. Regrettably, the port of Xiangang, which our captain fondly refered to as "zin, gang, walla walla bing bang," was three hours drive from the central city and the Great Wall so we...

Jun 14, 2006 - Beijing

Danny had to take a week out of writing updates on the web page to go back to the UK for a weeks work. On the way he discovered the main reason why the Finnish have the highest rate of suicide in the world. Deciding it would be a great idea for him to book a flight back with Fin Air to save fifty dollars, Danny's trip went via Helsinki and then direct to Manchester (not that bad I hear you say). Unfortunately for Danny this was the night after Helen's surprise birthday night out in Shanghai, where more wine had been consumed than was...

Aug 18, 2005 - The Great Wall Of China

Day four of the itinerary stated "An invirogating walk across one of the remotest parts of the Great Wall of China. Fitness level required is moderate, be prepared to raise your heartbeat..." Secretly I was dreading this, not least because 'outdoorsy' has never found its way onto the hobbies and interests part of my CV, but also because the humidity level was nearly 100% making breathing difficult let alone moving. However, when we woke up on Thursday the rain from the night before has washed away the sauna effect leaving fresh clear...

May 22, 2005 - Beijing, China

People here are surprisingly friendly! I learned 8 words of Chinese that I like to think helped... Lots of construction and traffic, but after we found our way into the 'hutongs' (old neighborhoods), we enjoyed great food and stayed at an awesome guesthouse. Jen gets a lot of stares, and people are treating her like a moviestar... wanting to have their picture taken with her! We visited the Forbidden Palace and Tiananman Square. I wonder what Mao would think of all the people 'selling' souvenirs with his likeness!? Riding bikes across town...