The Jaimster and I are heading out early Sun. morning. We are flying to Beijing where we will spend a couple of days before heading to Chongqing where we board our river boat for a 6 day cruise down the Yangtze River to Wuhan. We then head to Shanghai for a couple of days of sightseeing plus the World Expo.My sister has a Chinese friend who lives in Xian where we will be spending one night. She promised to show us around so it should be interesting. We have all kinds of electronic gadgetry to keep us occupied on the long flights. We even purchased walkie talkies so we never lose track of each other. We will be gone for 2 weeks. It should be quite the adventure. I still can’t believe the Jaimster’s mother agreed to this trip. If I stumble upon an English speaking computer maybe I will check in. Wishing everyone a great Holiday. See you soon…
The Jaimster and I are heading out early Sun. morning. We are flying to Beijing where we will spend a couple of days before heading to Chongqing where we board our river boat for a 6 day cruise down the Yangtze River to Wuhan. We then head to Shanghai for a couple of days of sightseeing plus the World Expo.My sister has a Chinese friend who lives in Xian where we will be spending one night. She promised to show us around so it should be interesting. We have all kinds of electronic gadgetry to keep us occupied on the long flights. We even purchased walkie talkies so we never lose track of each other. We will be gone for 2 weeks. It should be quite the adventure. I still can’t believe the Jaimster’s mother agreed to this trip. If I stumble upon an English speaking computer maybe I will check in. Wishing everyone a great Holiday. See you soon…
Well we made it home. In retrospect,it was a great, great trip. In my mind it divides into 5 seperate and distict chapters. Time spent in Beijing, Xi'an, the Yangtze River boat, Shanghai and the Expo. The Chinese culture is fascinating and very different than other Asian cultures. Their ancient architecture IMO, is far superior to the ruins in Rome and Greece. Unlike the Roman and Greek civilizations the Chinese civilization is on the rise. It's just a matter of time before they become the worlds leading economy. Right now they need our markets to be able to sell their products but as their middle class develops they will need us less and less. There may be a silver lining in our growing national debt. It may be that we will owe them so much money that we will have become too big for them to allow us to fail. Time will tell. I would recommend a trip to China for anyone who wants to see the future. Deke!!! That was a funny comment about our money. The Chinese will rarely accept American currency. They prefer to be paid in Yuans. There are currently just under 7 yuans to our dollar...
Pic. was taken on the Bund in Shanghai. Many Chinese have never seen Westerners and love to be photographed with us...
Well we made it home. In retrospect,it was a great, great trip. In my mind it divides into 5 seperate and distict chapters. Time spent in Beijing, Xi'an, the Yangtze River boat, Shanghai and the Expo. The Chinese culture is fascinating and very different than other Asian cultures. Their ancient architecture IMO, is far superior to the ruins in Rome and Greece. Unlike the Roman and Greek civilizations the Chinese civilization is on the rise. It's just a matter of time before they become the worlds leading economy. Right now they need our markets to be able to sell their products but as their middle class develops they will need us less and less. There may be a silver lining in our growing national debt. It may be that we will owe them so much money that we will have become too big for them to allow us to fail. Time will tell. I would recommend a trip to China for anyone who wants to see the future. Deke!!! That was a funny comment about our money. The Chinese will rarely accept American currency. They prefer to be paid in Yuans. There are currently just under 7 yuans to our dollar...
Pic. was taken on the Bund in Shanghai. Many Chinese have never seen Westerners and love to be photographed with us...
Here I am sitting in Xian airport as our flight has been delayed. What a neat country China is. Friendly people, spotlessly clean. Makes Disney World look littered. Everyone seems to have a job doing something and they all seem happy regardless of what the job is. The language barrier is gigantic except in the better hotels. We visited the normal tourist stuff in Beijing: the Emperors palaces; both summer and winter, Tiannemann Sq. and the Great Wall. The Jaimster ran all the ways to the top much to the amazement of everyone in the group who didn't fare quite as well. Beijing is an unbelievabl;e contrast of ancient and modern architecture. They are building every where. 16 million people on bikes, in busses and cars all going in a seemingly uncontrolled traffic flow, but nobody seems to run into anyone else. Spent last night in Xian with my sisters friend who is Chinese and lives here. She took us around for almost eight hours and it was the best part of the trip as we saw the real China; from the restaurant where ate to the streets and alleys we walked through. We met a bunch of guys who were playing a game in which the object is to get a wooden top spinning and then keep it spinning by cracking it with a bull whip. A pretty good workout actually. She was a great tour guide and a wonderful host. Today we saw the Terra Cotta Museum and this evening we board the boat if our flight ever leaves. The Jaimster has beome the official photographer and he is doing a great job. We have lots of photos. He has started wearing a a Bruce Lee type outfit and a green cap with a big red star. Makes the locals chuckle. Will check in again when I can. Hope everyone is having a great summer.
Here I am sitting in Xian airport as our flight has been delayed. What a neat country China is. Friendly people, spotlessly clean. Makes Disney World look littered. Everyone seems to have a job doing something and they all seem happy regardless of what the job is. The language barrier is gigantic except in the better hotels. We visited the normal tourist stuff in Beijing: the Emperors palaces; both summer and winter, Tiannemann Sq. and the Great Wall. The Jaimster ran all the ways to the top much to the amazement of everyone in the group who didn't fare quite as well. Beijing is an unbelievabl;e contrast of ancient and modern architecture. They are building every where. 16 million people on bikes, in busses and cars all going in a seemingly uncontrolled traffic flow, but nobody seems to run into anyone else. Spent last night in Xian with my sisters friend who is Chinese and lives here. She took us around for almost eight hours and it was the best part of the trip as we saw the real China; from the restaurant where ate to the streets and alleys we walked through. We met a bunch of guys who were playing a game in which the object is to get a wooden top spinning and then keep it spinning by cracking it with a bull whip. A pretty good workout actually. She was a great tour guide and a wonderful host. Today we saw the Terra Cotta Museum and this evening we board the boat if our flight ever leaves. The Jaimster has beome the official photographer and he is doing a great job. We have lots of photos. He has started wearing a a Bruce Lee type outfit and a green cap with a big red star. Makes the locals chuckle. Will check in again when I can. Hope everyone is having a great summer.
mee too Sass Japan was WAY out there on the culinary front!
Quoting SassnClass
Tink,
I love your comment. A colleague of mine mentioned that while being in Japan, he ate at a restaurant where they served an Octopus with its eyes still moving...I'm open to trying anything at least once, but that just seemed a bit much to me!
Sass
Quoting SassnClass
Tink,
I love your comment. A colleague of mine mentioned that while being in Japan, he ate at a restaurant where they served an Octopus with its eyes still moving...I'm open to trying anything at least once, but that just seemed a bit much to me!
Sass
mee too Sass Japan was WAY out there on the culinary front!
Bill you and the Jaimster always have great times together.I know you will have a blast.Do you plan on scuba diving while in China?If yes where? We would love to hear about it.And don't forget pictures.Rose
Bill you and the Jaimster always have great times together.I know you will have a blast.Do you plan on scuba diving while in China?If yes where? We would love to hear about it.And don't forget pictures.Rose
Thanks all for the fine Bon Voyage wishes and advice. Per the Chinese Embassy there are currently no restrictions on personal electronics upon entering China. At least not with what we are taking. When you think about it; that makes sense since almost everything is manufactured in China to begin with. LOL. We are travelling with top notch tour operators and have deluxe first class accommodations throughout the trip so I don’t anticipate any problems with lodging, food or drink. Our vaccinations are up to date and that’s all that is needed for China. The Jaimster is only 11 but he already has become quite the good little traveler. I trust him to watch my back. I am more concerned about our safety when we scuba dive…
Thanks all for the fine Bon Voyage wishes and advice. Per the Chinese Embassy there are currently no restrictions on personal electronics upon entering China. At least not with what we are taking. When you think about it; that makes sense since almost everything is manufactured in China to begin with. LOL. We are travelling with top notch tour operators and have deluxe first class accommodations throughout the trip so I don’t anticipate any problems with lodging, food or drink. Our vaccinations are up to date and that’s all that is needed for China. The Jaimster is only 11 but he already has become quite the good little traveler. I trust him to watch my back. I am more concerned about our safety when we scuba dive…
Bill, have a wonderful time--as I'm sure you will. And definitely, like everyone else says, bring back pictures for us. Just don't eat anything that's walking, talking, sneezing, wheezing, singing, or running around in circles 2 seconds before it hits your plate. Have a swell time, Bill.... Pat
Bill, have a wonderful time--as I'm sure you will. And definitely, like everyone else says, bring back pictures for us. Just don't eat anything that's walking, talking, sneezing, wheezing, singing, or running around in circles 2 seconds before it hits your plate. Have a swell time, Bill.... Pat
Bill, I love your pic with that lovely kid Jaimster.. The best picture ever. Both so in peace and beautiful relation between both of you ......I'm so touched . You have the best time in Beijing and please bring some more picture for us to enjoy . Have a save trip, J.
Bill, I love your pic with that lovely kid Jaimster.. The best picture ever. Both so in peace and beautiful relation between both of you ......I'm so touched . You have the best time in Beijing and please bring some more picture for us to enjoy . Have a save trip, J.
Bill. You and the Jaimster are going to have a blast! Enjoy and stay safe. Remember... if its moving....dont eat it!
Tink,
I love your comment. A colleague of mine mentioned that while being in Japan, he ate at a restaurant where they served an Octopus with its eyes still moving...I'm open to trying anything at least once, but that just seemed a bit much to me!
Sass
Quoting Tinkerbelle
Bill. You and the Jaimster are going to have a blast! Enjoy and stay safe. Remember... if its moving....dont eat it!
Tink,
I love your comment. A colleague of mine mentioned that while being in Japan, he ate at a restaurant where they served an Octopus with its eyes still moving...I'm open to trying anything at least once, but that just seemed a bit much to me!
Please take pictures and share your experiences when you return! I'm off to the UK in 2 weeks for meetings; not as sexy as China though. Japan and China are on my to do visit list. Lot of movement in the biotechnology space in these countries that I'd like to explore. Also want to see the countryside and enjoy the culture. Sass
Please take pictures and share your experiences when you return! I'm off to the UK in 2 weeks for meetings; not as sexy as China though. Japan and China are on my to do visit list. Lot of movement in the biotechnology space in these countries that I'd like to explore. Also want to see the countryside and enjoy the culture. Sass
HOW GREAT !!! I'm not usually a jealous person, but, I am VERY envious? I've never been to China. Is that jealousy? HAHAHAHAHA ..... ah well .... in a good way. Have a wondrous time, enjoy every minute, and take care (I know you will). M
HOW GREAT !!! I'm not usually a jealous person, but, I am VERY envious? I've never been to China. Is that jealousy? HAHAHAHAHA ..... ah well .... in a good way. Have a wondrous time, enjoy every minute, and take care (I know you will). M
Wow what a fantastic trip and experience for your son! Make sure you take lots of pictures and journal a bit about your impressions of locations. Initial impressions are so important and bring a truer picture to those of us not fortunate enough to go.. that is is you are willing to share a few photos.
Godspeed La~
Hi Bil~
Wow what a fantastic trip and experience for your son! Make sure you take lots of pictures and journal a bit about your impressions of locations. Initial impressions are so important and bring a truer picture to those of us not fortunate enough to go.. that is is you are willing to share a few photos.
