OT...Just got back from CHINA
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: New Zealand
OT...Just got back from CHINA
.......no Corvettes....but I did see a Cadillac :)
......I spent 5 days in Suzhou, a small hamlet of 5.7 million people :) ....
.......China is a country of contrast.....the public trash cans seperate organic and inorganic rubbish, then just around the corner you see someone dumping a 100 rotten eggs in the street......the traffic is organised chaos....honking the horn is a friendly warning and nobody seems to get angry when they're cut off......which happens all the time....
BEWARE OF SAFETY......not that you have to worry about the people, they are polite and friendly, and perhaps a little shocked to see a Westerner........but in China, you never know what's around the corner....
.....all in all it was a very WOW experience...... :thumbs:
......I spent 5 days in Suzhou, a small hamlet of 5.7 million people :) ....
.......China is a country of contrast.....the public trash cans seperate organic and inorganic rubbish, then just around the corner you see someone dumping a 100 rotten eggs in the street......the traffic is organised chaos....honking the horn is a friendly warning and nobody seems to get angry when they're cut off......which happens all the time....
BEWARE OF SAFETY......not that you have to worry about the people, they are polite and friendly, and perhaps a little shocked to see a Westerner........but in China, you never know what's around the corner....
.....all in all it was a very WOW experience...... :thumbs:
Racer
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 368
Likes: 1
From: Lititz PA
Re: OT...Just got back from CHINA (standup)
I agree, what contrasts. I spent six weeks in Beijing a few years ago. Wonderful country/culture, great beauty and history. Crammed full of people, smoke, spit, cars, donkeys, smog, pollution etc etc. Don't even think about driving over there.
I remember almost dying on the highway returning to Beijing, we were flying down the road in a chinese made jeep cherokee, being serenaded by my driver (Celine Dions My love will go on) at 8am. The suspension was shot so we were all over the highway, suddenly out of the fog/smog/pollution appears a steam powered farm tractor- coming right at us!!! On our side of the divider. I was so tired from working 14 hour nights for weeks that I didnt really care. Wonderful place/people. I miss it, in an odd way.
I was born British, am now an American :D . It took that six weeks in China to realize and cherish our liberties and freedoms.
I remember almost dying on the highway returning to Beijing, we were flying down the road in a chinese made jeep cherokee, being serenaded by my driver (Celine Dions My love will go on) at 8am. The suspension was shot so we were all over the highway, suddenly out of the fog/smog/pollution appears a steam powered farm tractor- coming right at us!!! On our side of the divider. I was so tired from working 14 hour nights for weeks that I didnt really care. Wonderful place/people. I miss it, in an odd way.
I was born British, am now an American :D . It took that six weeks in China to realize and cherish our liberties and freedoms.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 174
Likes: 3
From: Ann Arbor MI
Re: OT...Just got back from CHINA (pik)
Beware of safety! :lol: :lol:
I was there two years ago and saw a lot of English translations on signs are hilarious. We took a lot of pictures of them, too. Its kinda nice they provide that, though. Not many Chinese translations on American signs.
I'm hoping to get back there sometime - great experience & lots of really friendly people.
I was there two years ago and saw a lot of English translations on signs are hilarious. We took a lot of pictures of them, too. Its kinda nice they provide that, though. Not many Chinese translations on American signs.
I'm hoping to get back there sometime - great experience & lots of really friendly people.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 690
Likes: 1
From: near Memphis TN
Re: OT...Just got back from CHINA (A2Shark)
You description fits third world country, anywhere. You want developed in China you go to Hong Kong. You want developed in Asia you go to Singapore - probably more modern, definetly cleaner, than anyplace in the world.
I've been to Hong Kong and Taiwan but not the rest of mainland China. I am considering a vacation there (seriously) but I understand it is very expensive there for tourists (and still innaccesable for the "go it alone" type tourism that I like). Let us know about the prices (hotels, tours, etc).
I've been to Hong Kong and Taiwan but not the rest of mainland China. I am considering a vacation there (seriously) but I understand it is very expensive there for tourists (and still innaccesable for the "go it alone" type tourism that I like). Let us know about the prices (hotels, tours, etc).
Racer
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 368
Likes: 1
From: Lititz PA
Re: OT...Just got back from CHINA (standup)
Spare parts!, thats a laugh. During the plant start-up that I worked out there, we seriously considered putting someone on a plane to Germany to get the parts we needed.
As for vacationing, I thought Beijing was quite cheap.
As for vacationing, I thought Beijing was quite cheap.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,218
Likes: 2
From: Plainfield IL
Re: OT...Just got back from CHINA (pik)
I visited Shanghai and Shenzen on business last year. China is a very interesting place. No vette parts, but I did get some bootleg DVDs and NBA jerseys for the kids.
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Racer
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 368
Likes: 1
From: Lititz PA
Re: OT...Just got back from CHINA (standup)
Demonsvette.
The sign means to think about your safety in absolute terms. If you act based upon western standards of safety to you would be hurt/killed crossing the street. Concepts of rights of way, yielding, merging etc are all different. It is not that un-common to be getting on the highway and see trucks backing up off the on ramp to avoid tolls. It is a little funny in translation, but I think the intent to make you take NOTHING for granted.
The sign means to think about your safety in absolute terms. If you act based upon western standards of safety to you would be hurt/killed crossing the street. Concepts of rights of way, yielding, merging etc are all different. It is not that un-common to be getting on the highway and see trucks backing up off the on ramp to avoid tolls. It is a little funny in translation, but I think the intent to make you take NOTHING for granted.
Team Owner
Joined: Dec 2000
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Re: OT...Just got back from CHINA (standup)
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: New Zealand
Re: OT...Just got back from CHINA (SnoDrgn)
......You'll have a great trip......Whitehorse has you covered with the info he's given........
I was awestruck most of the time, in a good way.....the language barrier didn't bother me, but I was only there for 5 days.....if I lived there it would be necessary to try to learn the language......
......I felt pretty safe......the only dangerous thing I ran into were the shopkeepers......they will hound you into buying something....and if you do buy something, they'll keep after you for the add on sale......if you go into the shop, be prepared to barter your way out :) ........
........Have fun :cheers:
I was awestruck most of the time, in a good way.....the language barrier didn't bother me, but I was only there for 5 days.....if I lived there it would be necessary to try to learn the language......
......I felt pretty safe......the only dangerous thing I ran into were the shopkeepers......they will hound you into buying something....and if you do buy something, they'll keep after you for the add on sale......if you go into the shop, be prepared to barter your way out :) ........
........Have fun :cheers:
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 2
From: New Zealand
Re: OT...Just got back from CHINA (SpyderD)
....but I understand it is very expensive there for tourists....
:cheers:
