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fenkashi
Dibs on Supreme Overlord
Registration Date: 08.12.07
Location: Canada
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Cause this got a little too out of hand to post as a side conversation in the Highlights thread xD
Husky: Haha wow, ok.
So the way my trip was planned, I got in a lot of local interaction. Ate at local families, talked with local guides (the students working part-time... so not as money-mongering ), took overnight sleeper trains, stayed at hotels in neighbourhoods... so with local people as the clientèle and not only tourists.
That was good for getting a better sense of the country. Even with that though, there are so many grand things to see, it was hard to take everything in.
I did that kind of stuff with a small group (8 people) but some of the best parts were wandering around the cities, which are HUGE compared to where I live.
As for your questions... communism is apparent from an outsiders point of view. Lots of Chairman Mao propaganda. People lining up since the break of dawn to see his body EVERYDAY. Regular young people feel very strongly about the benefits of how Chinese society is set up. Funny asking them how they feel about certain past leaders... never had a single person say a bad word about them xD
Though the population is huge so universities and healthcare aren't entirely free... and you have to pay more if you're not a born resident of whatever city you're in. That's a pretty big issue for all those rural people moving to big cities.
Arren is right, the Renminbi (or the Chinese yuan) is still the currency being used. Not as stable as the government would like... and the exchange rate is around 1 to 6 from Canadian/US dollars to RMB. Things aren't as cheap as everyone would have you believe (other than the fake wares markets xD).
Annnd yeah big one indeed. Started in Beijing (amaaazing city). Went to the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, the Olympic Park... umm looked at the neighbourhoods and the markets, the National Library (which is INSANE), one of the universities... and probably some things I'm forgetting. Hightlight: Great Wall (cause duh) and the Summer Palace, which was unbelievably huge.
Then trained to Xi'an... old city lots of history and pickpockets xD I survived without losing any valuables though. Went on top of the 14 km city wall, saw the city ... some super high end malls in Xi'an, apparently. Went to a pretty trendy bar street. Saw the Terra Cotta Warriors museum. Bell and Drum Towers... uhh the Muslim Quarter (some of the best food I had during my visit was there), visited the Great Mosque (which was quite different from what I had in mind... pretty much a traditional Chinese courtyard with a big room for prayers. The walls were amazing though - wood panels, with the Quran carved in tiny print). Highlight: Terra Cotta and Muslim Quarter.
There was Mount Huashan... epic epic epic.
Then there was Suzhou... canal and garden city pretty much. Went to the Garden of the Master of Nets and boated on the canals. This place was nice because it didn't feel very touristy at all. It was just a regular city with people living their lives. The hotel was on a bar street so I saw the average night life in Suzhou. It was a nice little transitional rest from the history and grand old China to my next stop: Shanghai.
Oh man... if you have a lot of money to blow, go to Shanghai. It is such a cool city and so full of life. I loved the downtown with the financial sector buildings (yeah, multiple downtowns). Went up Jinmao and the Shanghai World Financial Center (492m tall). Ofc, it being China... right next to these two giants, they're building an even bigger giant, the Shanghai Tower. Uhh, the Shanghai museum was amazing if you're into museums at all. Lots of interesting Chinese stuff, and a random African exhibit were on display at the time. Also went to the Shanghai Ocean Aquarium... first time I've been to an aquarium. It was cool but I was a bit underwhelmed? Not as big as I thought it'd be. The Bund (look it up) was great to walk along and I enjoyed a night cruise along it. The city lights are pretty amazing. Explored lots of random gardens... the Yuyuan Gardens are one name I remember in particular. SHOPPING. East Nanjing Road, serious shopping to be done there. And then a great number of markets whose names are too hard to remember off the top of my head. Highlight: the whole city? It was awesome.
And probably the one of the most surprisingly fun things I did was get an all night karaoke room with others on the trip. Locals joined in... we actually sang all night. It was great.
Other random good things that stick out in my mind... their public transport is amazing. Best I've seen anywhere. So intuitive, complete lack of Mandarin skills were no issue. Train stations are like airports. Oh, took the Maglev train (430km/hr and you don't feel it at all!). Met some really awesomely helpful strangers. Did not feel scared at any time of night (and I was out at ALL times of night xD) - very safe place as long as you watch for pickpockets.
I'll stop there. Sorry if this got a bit difficult to follow near the end... *tired* xD
Oh and pictures don't really the experience any justice, but I'll upload some if you like ^^
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06.01.2013, 03:43 AM |
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husky51
The Old Guy
Registration Date: 03.17.08
Location: Southern California
Posts: 12803 |
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06.01.2013, 04:25 AM |
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fenkashi
Dibs on Supreme Overlord
Registration Date: 08.12.07
Location: Canada
Posts: 5732 |
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Haha I was pretty intrigued by that fact, actually. I spent a while looking at their faces and they do all look different! Apparently the people who made them, modelled them after themselves... but obviously one person made more than just one. So I'm not sure how that worked out. Slight modifications, perhaps.
That was the good... I'll share some bad stuff (cause nothing's fun like travel complaints xD) and pictures tomorrow. ^^
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06.01.2013, 06:37 AM |
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Saddletank
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 09.28.06
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Posts: 10069 |
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LOL, I thought you were quiet recently Fen. Sounds like you had the experience of a lifetime which is the whole point.
__________________ Isakaya High School Roleplaying Info
"An old man like me stands no chance fighting against a high school girl in her underwear" - Oshino Meme, Nekomonogatari (Kuro)
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06.01.2013, 11:26 AM |
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fenkashi
Dibs on Supreme Overlord
Registration Date: 08.12.07
Location: Canada
Posts: 5732 |
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Hehe yep, finals and then this kept me busy. I've always wanted to see the whole world. This just made me want to more xD
And here are some random pictures off my phone. Not the best quality but these were in the moment pictures. Like "ooh" *snap*, no thought required stuff. Which, imo, make for the best pictures.
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06.02.2013, 03:56 AM |
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Saddletank
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 09.28.06
Location: On your case
Posts: 10069 |
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Thanks but all I get in that link is good old Photobucket telling me its a private album
__________________ Isakaya High School Roleplaying Info
"An old man like me stands no chance fighting against a high school girl in her underwear" - Oshino Meme, Nekomonogatari (Kuro)
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06.02.2013, 07:34 AM |
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fenkashi
Dibs on Supreme Overlord
Registration Date: 08.12.07
Location: Canada
Posts: 5732 |
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Lol sorry, forgot about that.
Try again, password: China2013
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06.02.2013, 08:32 AM |
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San Toelle Ul Shichikokuyama-g
Ohmu
Registration Date: 04.12.12
Location: Right behind you.
Posts: 346 |
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It's still not working for me
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06.02.2013, 10:14 AM |
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fenkashi
Dibs on Supreme Overlord
Registration Date: 08.12.07
Location: Canada
Posts: 5732 |
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06.02.2013, 01:06 PM |
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Saddletank
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 09.28.06
Location: On your case
Posts: 10069 |
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Wow, some lovely images there. Thank you for uploading them.
__________________ Isakaya High School Roleplaying Info
"An old man like me stands no chance fighting against a high school girl in her underwear" - Oshino Meme, Nekomonogatari (Kuro)
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06.02.2013, 02:29 PM |
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San Toelle Ul Shichikokuyama-g
Ohmu
Registration Date: 04.12.12
Location: Right behind you.
Posts: 346 |
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Yeah, thanks!
Did you eat the scorpions? They taste like pure rust...
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06.02.2013, 02:50 PM |
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fenkashi
Dibs on Supreme Overlord
Registration Date: 08.12.07
Location: Canada
Posts: 5732 |
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Thanks, Saddles ^^
San: Didn't taste like anything but crunch and spices =/
The other thing I really wanted to try was shark fin soup... but I couldn't bring myself to order it with the whole controversy around shark killing.
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06.02.2013, 03:01 PM |
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husky51
The Old Guy
Registration Date: 03.17.08
Location: Southern California
Posts: 12803 |
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06.02.2013, 03:08 PM |
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San Toelle Ul Shichikokuyama-g
Ohmu
Registration Date: 04.12.12
Location: Right behind you.
Posts: 346 |
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I have a love/hate relationship with shark fin soup... It's soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo good but I hate the whole "it's made from shark" thing... I'm huge on animal conservation, protecting wildlife and endangered species, but...
*starts salivating*
Post last edited by San Toelle Ul Shichikokuyama-g on 06.02.2013, 03:13 PM.
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06.02.2013, 03:09 PM |
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husky51
The Old Guy
Registration Date: 03.17.08
Location: Southern California
Posts: 12803 |
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06.02.2013, 03:10 PM |
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fenkashi
Dibs on Supreme Overlord
Registration Date: 08.12.07
Location: Canada
Posts: 5732 |
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quote: Originally posted by husky51
#12
the bicycles... are they public transit or rental?
I note that in New York recently, they are trying something similar and the paint color is the same...
They're for rental, very cheap. I saw them everywhere other than Xi'an. It's pretty interesting. They're not locked up or anything. And in some places, they have motorcycles for rent lined up just like that.
quote: #14
the little national flags
was this a coffee shop or ???
That was a bar, on a bar street. They sold coffee too. But yeah, the flag thing was pretty common. Interesting fact, the Chinese national flag can only be sold by authorized vendors.
quote: #21
the things-on-a-stick
Are these tasty treats? or for show? or what? I question the tasty treats thing because I didn't know that starfish could be eaten?
Nope, all for eating. Snake, scorpion, starfish, seahorse, and a bunch of other less strange things.
quote: #25
rocks
What are those rock-like things in the center.
They're naturally occurring porous rocks! Hundreds of years old. Sorry, don't remember the names though =(
quote: #35
steps
those steps have been well used over the years... the Great Wall, right?
Yep. Ofc I was at a section that had been "renovated" and stabilized for tourists walking on the wall... but still. xD
quote:
#38
room
What is this big room?
Ohhh that's the national library in Beijing. It was a really neat place. And I'm guessing it was full of university students preparing for exams. Over here, no one really studies at the public library... there isn't even that much space. But yeah, I really liked that library. Their book collection was crazy impressive as well.
quote:
Thank you for the slideshow, fen... loving it
You're very welcome ^^
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06.03.2013, 11:32 AM |
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husky51
The Old Guy
Registration Date: 03.17.08
Location: Southern California
Posts: 12803 |
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06.03.2013, 01:40 PM |
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fenkashi
Dibs on Supreme Overlord
Registration Date: 08.12.07
Location: Canada
Posts: 5732 |
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If you mean this person, then yeah. That's me Probably not going to leave it up there though.
More pictures are on my camera and I'm so lazy... so yeah, eventually xD
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06.03.2013, 02:40 PM |
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Saddletank
Miyazaki's Best Friend
Registration Date: 09.28.06
Location: On your case
Posts: 10069 |
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I liked the library pic as well, its a great angle you've taken it at and it somehow makes the people look so insignificant next to the vast store of knowledge. It could be sold to one of the stock image library sites, its so good in so many ways.
EDIT: Ah, nice! Its so good to see you at last! Quite a lot how I imagined though you are amazingly lucky to have such full lips!
Can't see the eyes though
__________________ Isakaya High School Roleplaying Info
"An old man like me stands no chance fighting against a high school girl in her underwear" - Oshino Meme, Nekomonogatari (Kuro)
Post last edited by Saddletank on 06.03.2013, 02:45 PM.
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06.03.2013, 02:41 PM |
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fenkashi
Dibs on Supreme Overlord
Registration Date: 08.12.07
Location: Canada
Posts: 5732 |
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K, really quick. Just for Saddles.
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06.03.2013, 02:50 PM |
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