Life in the Far East

Interesting pages or Key Pages...aka my Index Page

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:54:07 PST

Edison Chen makes Paris Hilton look like Einstein - CNET Asia Blogs: Little Red Blog by Rick Martin, China

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 16:04:29 PST

Edison Chen makes Paris Hilton look like Einstein - CNET Asia Blogs: Little Red Blog by Rick Martin, China

Old Story I know... but hero to zero? or Average Pop Star to Porn Star?

Shanghaiist: Spielberg boycotts Beijing (Gebrselassie, too?)

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 01:59:43 PST

Shanghaiist: Spielberg boycotts Beijing (Gebrselassie, too?)

Interesting debate that Spielberg started by pulling out of the Beijing 2008 Olympics...

China take on things
http://www.danwei.org/2008_beijing_olympic_games/spielberg_pc_conscience.php

Chinese New Year madness on Shanghai's Tongren Lu

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:09:22 PST

Setting off Firecrackers in the middle of Tongren Lu.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k5BvzCuqrg

Chinese New Year - the Beast is upon us | Lost Laowai China Blog

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 02:04:27 PST

Chinese New Year - the Beast is upon us | Lost Laowai China Blog

Pretty good link about Chinese New Year

Considerate Chinese People....

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:52:08 PST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s6-QTHzUbn0

Learn English... to not get mugged... youtube clip

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:11:24 PST

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W1VY4b9IQQ

Final Thoughts of a Year Away In China

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:47:20 PST

Well where to start...

First of all, I'm happy I started this blog, without this.. I feel I would had forgotten some of the moments I had this year (2007) ... There just has been so much that has happened, so much I have seen, so much... and to summaries seems almost to cut this all short!

The Humble Beginning...
The Beginning is always hard to look back on, yet as I reflect back... I would have to say I had no clue or other experience that would had prepared me for the shock I would receive in terms of...
- Culture
- Living in China
- Leaning to Speak Chinese
- Getting Around
- Shopping
- How People would treat me
- Humbleness... I was knocked clear off my feet... I thought I knew how the world worked... I really didn't....
- and a million other things....

The Shock for me literally was boarding the plane in London, from the bang go, stepping into the cabin of the plane, Chinese was spoken to me all the way to Beijing, China.

Finding work, was a difficult start... because your overwhelmed with the amount of jobs for English teachers... It is not hard to be a English Teacher in their eyes (in China) as you speak the language is good enough for a lot of people.
However one needs to be careful, So you need to ask yourself these questions....
- What is available?
- Who do you want to teach?
- How many Hours would you like to teach?
- Will you get a chance to learn Chinese?
- How much time do you get to do your Chinese Homework?
- Can you budget on what they pay you? do you need more pay?
- How long do you want your contract to be?
- How far do you want to be from Foreigners...
- Will be nearing Foreigners (english expats) help make friends make you less homesick..?
- Will you end up only speaking english as a result?
- Do you feel making friends with expats easier then making Chinese Friends?

What I decided to do, was to dedicate more time to my Chinese studies, I would teach on weekends via private jobs and pick up a weekly job for an English school as well.
My Speciality ended with my Charge in Language Exchange, with a Big focus on Everyday English.

Shock Shock Shock.... for me was living with a Chinese Family for a while, Stuck to using Chinese everyday as my means to ask, talk and communicate to the family.
- Another part of this was having to share a room with the son of the family,
- Having to be home everyday by 5pm...
- Travel for an hour each day to and fro to...Chinese School... in the Rush Hour!
- Strictly Shanghai Chinese food... No Meat... No rice.

Getting around I was forced many times to use Chinese, countless times I would be asked in the streets or the shops for directions or the time. It scared me a lot @ the start with the amount of questions that would fly at me....
- Where are you from? 你是哪国人?
- Why do you say your english? ... your Chinese 为什么你是英国人?.. 你看中国人
- Why is your 中文 (Chinese) so bad ? 为什么你的中文水平不好?
- Cantonese is not good enough... 汉语 (普通话 mandarin) is!!!!
- Are you sure your an english teacher?
- Where are your parents from? 在那里你的父母? 你的父母是哪国人?
- Where are your ancestors from?

The internet has come a long way... hunting for Chinese schools was very easy.
Really if one hopes to push their chinese a lot more I would advise going to a Chinese University. The one in Shanghai to go to even for foreigners is Jiao Tong University.
My post on the below link will guide you to places to go to....
http://lifeinthefareast.blogspot.com/2007/08/studying-chinese-in-shanghai-china.html

In the end I settled on Mandarin House, after studying for 3-4 months I decided to also pick up
Hanzi 汉字 as well... to read Chinese Characters. It is vital for one's Chinese education as you will be able to read maps, buses and find your way in a Shopping Mall or Department Stores.

If your stuck like me, who learned Cantonese first... you must drop everything you know... people in North China aren't too happy with people speak Cantonese... to them... it just doesn't count or cut it!
My 1st 2 months I was stuck in Cantonese tones, and my chinese Teacher would reap me for stuck in my ways!

The Rest Of It...
After my Chinese barrier was broken down, I wasn't so scared going out with a textbook, or phrase book!
So that left me loads of places to go, by myself granted... and it did take me a while to finally get the balls to drop my fear of making friends in a strange place.

Generally all expats are very friendly, wish to network, hang out with new friends and are very upfront about everything.
As a Oversea's chinese guy I can blend between both worlds, now I can speak a bit, I can talk to both worlds... Obviously to both parties I'm a surprise when I start talking...
Cost of living is so reasonable, I can now understand why so many expats work in China and end up staying sometimes a bit longer then they expect to do so.

What Have I Learned?
- Confidence from somewhere very hidden in me, to face a challenge of a year away and not buckle the pressure and run crying back to London.
- Chinese Culture, History and Way of Life.
- Body language is not the same all over the World.

What Will I Take Away From This?
- China isn't just some strange far away place next to HK to visit... It's a vibrant places with so many changes happening, One can feel embarrassed being left behind!

- I do want to work in China in the future, even for a couple of years!
- Chinese isn't so hard, if you make the time to practice all the time!

Shanghai maglev rail route may detour to avoid residences - People's Daily Online

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 10:27:32 PST

Shanghai maglev rail route may detour to avoid residences - People's Daily Online

Check out the route (possible) for Shanghai to Hangzhou... will include, Hongqiao airport and Expo 2010 for the Maglev Service...

Learn Chinese Through Chinese Pop Music

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:47:35 PST

Another way of learning Chinese songs... Please check out the below link...
Contains all popular Chinese songs with Chinese Hanzi, Pin Yin and English Translation too...

Learn Chinese Through Chinese Pop Music
http://www.learn-chinese-through-music.com/

Comparing the differences....

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 06:01:30 PST

I know this blog is titled Life in the Far East, but I thought I would keep this open for a bit still as I settle back into Life in the UK (London).
*this blog is also syndicated on my facebook notes as well, so I know that my readers there cannot tell this is related to my Life in the Far East blog (www.lifeinthefareast.blogspot.com)

Travelling back from playing Badminton last night (9.30pm), took me nearly over 1 hour and 40 mins to get home (some time after 11pm), I was not pleased... as the journey time should normally only take 35 mins.
I waited on the platform, with an out of service tube @holloway Road. That didn't leave until 10 minutes later... NO announcement made at all... Yet I don't get this... during the daytime, the tube itself makes announcements every 3-4 mins and @ each stop apologising for something or something. (during the daytime the airways on the tube are filled with announcements yet in the evening they are dead!)
Then, took another 10 minutes for the tube I got on to move....

After that, trouble free till reaching Arnos Grove (on the Picadilly Line) stuck outside for 15 minutes to get to the station and told to move it, as the train is out of service....
Heard an explanation from a fellow passenger as she was crying on the phone to her boyfriend that the Picadilly line was going to be closed early due to problems @ Arnos Grove, and had taken her nearly 2 hours to get home from Central London.

So yeah... took me another 20 minutes as well to wait for my bus to come @ Oakwood, till I was able to get home... I was pretty pissed it took so long... and no Annoucements saying WTF was going on!

Then on the bus, 2 boys got on... on the way down to my stop... flashed on the bus, hoping that the driver wouldn't notice they weren't using their travel passes, or would be bothered to stop them...
He stopped them, they spent 5 minutes to reason with him, no money.... blah blah... Oyster card expired... blah blah... and then they ended up pulling money to pay for it... after pleading they were only going 2 stops... (which they didn't... they were going more like 6-8 stops).

You see man, the difference I'm seeing is that... on the subway in China... there wouldn't be a huge delay... but there would not be an announcement either....
On the Bus... the driver if faced with a facety punk would have just kicked them off and slammed the door and ran them over....

*side note... is it my imagination, or am I seeing even more mice and rats on the track in London... I was in Leicester Square on Sat night.... waiting for the tube... and watching a family of 20 mice run all over the tracks... So much so people were leaning over the edge @ the entertainment... which prompted a safety announcement by the platform assistant... to pull back and go London Zoo to look @ snakes and elephants instead... for watching animals.

I'm hating the delays of Transport for London on the buses... and the tubes...
As well as the steep cost of paying for it!

Last note: Please note that I'm just comparing things, I may bitch about things costing a lot, and the delays... but I was doing that long time before I left for China... I still love things here in London in spite of these things...!

我不配 - I'm not worthy...

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 16:47:49 PST

Currently watching this Jay Chou 周杰伦 Song... 我不配 - I'm not worthy...
This is pretty interesting lyrics...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cQyrKQ-xpSI

Translation below...
*Copied from user http://www.youtube.com/user/protogurl
They translated and interpret the below...

This crowded street is filled with many people with untold stories

There is fog on the glass and whose past has been hidden

The look on your face

during the last rain

This alley is too confusing and we can't go back to the original story

Days are no longer as green

We have had our arguments again

What's left behind is an empty big space

The seats in the cinema

Have such a distance in between

If there isn't a on-screen partner, if feels like playing chess by yourself

I don't have time

in detail

to pen down everything about you

describing how much I love you

But your already gone leaving a smile

This feeling is no longer right

I have tried to salvage

Just a little bit more, I should have taken more consideration

This feeling I didn't give

As you were unhappy, the tired wishes you made and the compromise

I've neglected them all you actually just wanted someone by your side

This feeling is no longer right

I finally understood

Page by page, I can't bear to flip the scenes

You are tired

You are silently repeating to yourself, and have shed many tears for me

You look so tired

Yet my heart aches and you suffer

Your something I am not worthy of

Starting to see more of my mates...

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 14:43:13 PST

Day 2 back @work... seeing more of my work colleagues... lots of warm greetings and hugs with all the girls and guys!
So funny... as even the new managers are asking... who's this guy... receiving all the hugs and pats on the back from everyone!

Feel really good to be back, realise how long I've been, and how much I indeed missed people and they in turn missed me...

@ Badminton today was mobbed... by all the guys! But was really all good!
Good mates that I remember and respect a lot! Try not to get more mushy... but I really love being back,

1st day back at work....

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:11:58 PST

Man oh man...

One hell of a long arse day... even though I started late... 12pm-8pm...
Lost myself for 10 mins trying to locate to locker room... Whole brand new corridor made...and lost myself inside the John Lewis Food Hall section as well!
Met everyone... shocks from everyone that I was back... lots of big hand shakes, hugs and smirks from everybody!
Wow... even I'm shocked how much I miss everyone... and they missed me too!

Got back into the swing of things... some things I remember, others I forgot...
So much to remember.. and relearn... I'm getting there...
Also Struggling with my english a bit still... I stutter, I can take up to a minute to try to remember something simple as muffin cases...when trying to ask colleagues where things have moved to... or been removed permanently from stock!

Tis good to be back.. however So hard to always keep telling everyone what I've been doing for the last 10 months, saying same things and being sincere too...
After all it's not there fault, that they asking... or that I'm telling same stories for the 12 time that day!

Day 2 continues tomorrow... Let see how I do...

Thoughts of the Day...

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 16:12:25 PST

- Tube runs on so many delays...
- I really like the adverts on the Tube
- Missed the free newspapers Metro, London Paper and London Lite

- You can fit more people on a train in China... Open carriages... no doors between carriages... But you can't sit down anywhere... Seats on the London Tube are comfortable!
- Tube is bare expensive... What's with the increase between 7am-6pm 2 quid extra just to get into zone 1 ?

Back in UK now... 现在我来英国！

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:39:01 PST

Been back now for 2 days, still Jet lagged!

Things now I'm back seem so different, with really stupid high petrol prices... I'm surprised anyone is still driving on the road!

Initial Thoughts...
- Shocked I'm actually back Home!
- Forgot how things looked, but some what familiar...
- My stupid R's in my sentences when I speak...I seem to roll them unconsciously...
- Still put stupid pauses in my English when I'm struggling to say something simple...
- Have a faint American / International accent crops up unexpectantly sometimes...
- Still know how to get around... Don't get lost another words...
- Loving fast Broadband Internet.. no filtering and full access to all..!
- God I missed real Milk!!! (not the imported stuff from Mongolia in China)
- Cheap Fried Chicken is the shit!!!!!

Further thoughts..
- I'm screwed this weekend if I'm working... Its the big open weekend for John Lewis (my work place) after we finished 60 million pounds worth of refurbishments... and I don't know where anything is!!!
- Stuck now on foot... no car... but I'm not bothered... cost too much to drive anyway!
- I'm still Jet lagged... (waking up as early as 4am for no reason..)
- I feel weird being back! perhaps that feeling I'm lost still?
- Starting to Appreciate and notice the little things how they work in UK

Leaving China... 再见中国

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 04:56:48 PST

On a plane bound for London, stuck watching Mr Bean on holiday, thinking to myself how different is China to UK.

- Line control
- Brits on holiday
- UK + Europe train stations
- Christmas
- Food

Haven't told many people when I will arrive back in UK, as I want some time to myself to re-adjust, sort out bills, sort myself out, get ready to go back to work.
some things i wonder...
- God cant imagine wearing a suit again!
- Going on the tube again
- Playing badminton once again
- Getting back to dragon boat racing
- Time for xmas
- Meetups with mates n telling stories

This year has flashed pass, if it wasn't for this Blog I wouldn't remember so much, My Online Flickr account shows many memories...
So it hasn't all been a dream!

Many of my friends are waiting for meetups from my old skool friends to a mini old skool boy reunion...
I'm looking forward in some ways to see my Friends other halves and also realise at the same time I have an absence of a girl @ my side also.
It only bugs me slightly as I prepare myself for much bigger things!

So what will I miss...?
- Fresh Chinese food on every corner
- Variety of Chinese food
- Tsingtao beer(cheap)
- The busy life and buzz
- Meeting new and exciting people
- My China Friends
- Green Tea lattes

What have I learned?
- Lots about China
- How Chinese people work
- Living in another country and city is all right...
- I can enjoy living by myself
-Mando and Canto
- People are different in other areas of China and the World nothing is stereotyped,
- Harder to read body language of different Chinese people
- Greater understanding of things
- Survival by Myself to Stand Tall Alone
- Able to Go out by myself
- Less defensive
- Understanding of myself

What to look forward to?
- Bigger Better Things
- A Good Job
- Not being so scared anymore

Leaving on a Jet plane.... 我回家英国

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 05:40:50 PST

Beijing Commute to the airport... started first me @the railway station.
Amongst the people trying to con you, to buy shit, get in there taxi, send you in the wrong direction, I manage to locate the airport shuttle / coach, but it was jammed packed with chinks heading to the airport either a shamble of luggage.... fuckers... don't know how to queue and pack their luggage in the main hold, so I had to roll up my sleeves and do it... to top that I had be stopped on the bus to go buy ticket down the road.. (cost is only 16 RMB (1 quid) ...taxi is 100 RMB (8quid +) +!)

Legged it down the Road bought ticket nearly got reassign another bus, explained I left my bag on another Bus, got on Sigh.. got a seat... then decided not to be too greedy and left the seat next to me empty and free.
Big mistake, bus filled up and the hold was full up, so people started to bring their main bags on board!
So when it was ready to get off I was behind a Great Wall of Bags.... people looked at me as I sighed then, grabbing a seat I jumped over the bags and seats... and off the Bus.. (Jackie Chan style).

Beijing airport is shit... its nothing like Shanghai Hong Qiao or Pudong... It's a joke nothing is labelled clearly, departure hall sits behind a customs inspection hall... fortunately I wasn't inspected, cuz I was a honest chink?

Wi-Fi should be free and available like all the other Chinese airport I've been in, Xi'an, Chengdu and Shanghai...
Here you got to have China mobile account to use the net...
Even the Starbucks doesn't have Wi-Fi, bollocks as I was told and been in most Starbucks in China offer it free of charge.

Asides from that my departure was trouble free, I did however get question again by Immigration in the stair passage / gate on the way to the plane, I reckon cuz I was a chink this time, I answered in Chinese, didn't get too much attitude luckily... if i did prob would have answered in English.

Visit to the Underground City

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:09:13 PST

Today I also visited Beijing Underground City 北京地下城.
[To get there go to Chongwenmen Station]

In 1969, USA had landed men on the moon, and this was the time of Nuclear War could be a very real thing. So Chairman Mao decided to prolong China's future and create and Underground City below the streets of Beijing.
This was a feat that took over 10 years to do, and was done all by hand.

This city is capable of holding over 10, 000 people and stretches all the way to Chaoyang???(not sure... forgot), you can access everything in the city, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden Palace and Wangfudajie Steet 王夫大街. The Underground City has apartments, Cinemas, Shops and everything you would need underground, The door at sections are flood proof and gas proof, However from looking at it, it has taken quite a lot of flood damage over the years, and would need a lot of work to bring it back up to liveable levels...
The tour crosses near the entrances to other important places, but obviously for security reasons is not open to the public.

Getting there is a little hard, the lonely planet guide gives an approx indicator, and most of the tourist maps neglect to mark it on their maps as well...
My Direction would be to pop up exit B on the subway, head up to the Taijichuan dajie 太极穿大街. head direction West... 1st road on the right (has police sign for the police station) head straight down... and eventually you will notice it after the shops on the left... says Underground city in English... in chinese... 北京地下城.
I only found it after, a over helpful guy with a bikechair wanted to give me a lift... tosser didn't listen too clearly when I said 10 RMB for the ride... tried to get 50 RMB out of me after he dropped me off... flashed his sign, for his prices... and I cut him off, saying I told him in Chinese that it was 10 RMB I agreed to jump in for his ride... Go figure... I gave him 10 RMB more, as a compromise... and he took it.
[I think I look too much of a tourist if I hold onto my Lonely planet guide and map...]

When you get inside, you aren't allowed to take any pics, also it's a bit intimidating, as the room you enter from the front door, is covered with people in Military combats.
However it turns out after you engage them in Chinese, they are actually guides that will take you down into the tunnels (no extra to pay them... included in 20 RMB entry) to make sure you don't stray off path, give you a tour, and not take any pics either...
My guide was given in both chinese and english... but their english basic, is suffiecient...
Tour does finish in the gift shop before the exit... so be careful, they don't lock you in....
As I was friendly with my guide in Chinese, he didn't leave me in the shop, just walked straight through...

After this I decided to hang out down Wangfudajie Steet 王夫大街, took a walk, bought some souvenirs and took some pics...

The Drop in Clinic... our NHS equivalent walk in centres in China [above pic]
This street you can buy the street food (even the bugs and snakes), and bargain for tiny tourist souvenirs, be aware and bargain hard!

Visit to Dongyue Temple 东岳庙(Taosim temple)

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 04:04:26 PST

Today decided to visit something a bit different...
So I decided to visit the Dongyue Temple 东岳庙, it's in the Lonely Planet guide for Beijing...
Quick definition... of Taosim,
"popular Chinese philosophical system based in teachings of Lao-tzu but characterized by a pantheism of many gods and the practices of alchemy and divination and magic"
Quoted from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Taoism

I will try and come back and define this for you... I'm still not quite sure how it is...
Anyway you go in, pay around 20 元 to get in...

So what makes this different from Buddist temples which you will see all over China (here and there) is that there are different altars for different people. It is the belief that are other people like the monkey god, God of War and beings such as those that watch over us...
Here @ this temple you will find some of those and more....

Have a look in my photos below... there are different Departments that will look after you in this life and the next....

Department of Individual Responsibility...
Department of Reclaiming Life

Dept of Controlling Evil Spirits

Dept of Wandering Ghosts

Final Indictment Department
Resurrection Department

Department of Hell

UnJust Death Department [above]
Interrogation

Dept of Resurrection [above]Dept of upholding Integrity [above]

All photos are on this link... have not linked all photos on here...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/livestrongjon/sets/72157603260946874/

My other visit to a Taosim temple...this year... ( in chinese also known as Daosim)
@ Huangda Xian Temple… 黄大仙寺 @ Xiqiao Hill / Mountain 西樵山.
http://lifeinthefareast.blogspot.com/2007/10/weekend-road-trip-in-guangzhou.html

Karen Chu's 1UP Blog: San Francisco Best Buy Black Friday War Wounds

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 02:15:06 PST

Karen Chu's 1UP Blog: San Francisco Best Buy Black Friday War Wounds
http://www.1up.com/do/blogEntry?bId=7649905&publicUserId=5462536

You guys got to read this one.... It's bloody hilarious... it's about Black Friday Sales in San Francisco, USA.

Basically we all know that people in China don't follow the rules on Lining up! Well the story goes about the 100's of Chinese that showed up for the sale, didn't abide by the clearly led lines.... got kicked out a few times and so on....
but won't ruin the story... I promise it's good...!

*the tip in the story... watch out now who knows chinese now...!

Sorted... flying back early...Olympic Sites... Badminton

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 04:09:25 PST

Sorted... my mate came through today... even drove me all the way to the China Air Office,
So I could speak to them in person and change my ticket...

Ended up rebooking all in Chinese... they really didn't speak any english... so managed to get through it...

Afterwards had a good lunch, caught up with my mate... and he offered to take me to play badminton @ his badminton club...

Really cool, haven't played since I arrived to China... so gave me a flavour of how rusty I am, how much I can't smash... how much my back now aches!!!! keep stretching so it won't ache so much tomorrow... but it's all good... !

Also was treated to a drive by... to quickly snap pictures of the Olympic sites... saw 2-3 buildings... but shit loads are right now being built... everything is security checked before you can enter... and the public are blocked from entry... however doesn't stop loads of people taking pics from the Highway and building sights...
Check out the pics...

National Aquatics Centre
National Aquatics Centre
National Stadium Below
National Stadium Below
National Stadium Below
National Stadium Below
Apologies for the quality of these photos... didn't know I would be visiting, so all I had was my Camera phone on me to take these pics... better then nothing...!
[pics to follow....]

Day of Chilling and a Day of Stress

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Fri, 23 Nov 2007 06:21:28 PST

Today... only had a few things to do,
- Send Gaj to the Airport
- Get my Air Ticket Date Changed
- Get some Rest

1 and 3 were ok, however how much is it a pain in the arse to get people to send Faxes.

Airline demanded that I should send the ticket via fax and not e-mail.
Fair enough n it... as my ticket was paper not electronic ticket. So I have to call this number, dial 4 and then 1 and then press send.
Way too Difficult for the Hostel people I stay @ as well as the Post Office right next door too...(main post office). Load of bloody bollocks.... and so it will be easier for me to go to the airport to sort out a change in date.... this is tomorrow's plan... however a mate may come through for me... and I may not need to travel to the airport... I hope....!!!!

Roast Duck 烤鸭 for dinner ...

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 02:04:50 PST

Took Gaj to a famous Roast Duck Restaurant in Beijing...
Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant 全聚德烤鸭店... it's very touristy and it's listed in the Lonely Planet.
It's @ 9 Shuaifuyuan Hutong. On a Thu evening, it's not too busy, you may have to wait 20 mins for a table around 6-8pm.
However as I don't know my way around Beijing yet... it will do... It's expensive!!! 很贵！
Food is good... but we broke under 300 元 for that meal... pretty pricey for a chinese meal. But Great tasting Duck!!!! 好吃烤鸭
Below pic... is the Golden Street @night

Visited the Summer Palace 颐和园

noreply@blogger.com (Jon. K) — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 09:20:41 PST

Took the Subway upto Xizhimen Station, then took the bus no.375 号 or 106,
We took the no.375号 there...

Bus Fare only cost around 1.50 元 for each person one way... Journey Time takes around 1.5 hours.
So much cheaper then a Coach and again you can do this on your own schedule, but bare in mind things close in the Palace around 3.30pm in winter time... so get there any time before and you can have a long stroll around. Really aim for 0.5 a day.

We got there kind of late... however still had opportunity to walk around see some things before it got too dark...
We paid a general admission fee of 20 元