It's a different world.....
- Thread starter alia176
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DanS HJ-45
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I didn't know we had an operation in China. Does the magazine letter from the CEO include the phrase "God Bless?"
Ash: you very nearly described my day yesterday, except replace "Shanghai" with "Columbus, OH." Quick rule of thumb: if it's called the "Concourse Hotel," "Terminal Inn," or includes the word "quality"--it sucks.
Dan
Did you make it home yet, dude?
Good pics and narrative Ali! Appreciate it!
alia176
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- Thread starter
- #67
Yup, I'm back, finally!
Final chapter of the story.
I had a buffet breakfast in the hotel restaurant and it wasn't too bad. Some pics of the hotel room, much different from my previous hotel pics!
Breakfast - not quite sure what I ate but they were tasty.
I forgot to mention this earlier but the wall receptacles in China is very U.S. two prong plug friendly. If your device can handle the 220v/50hz power, then you're in business. Just plug it in and go. The top outlet is good for the U.S. while the bottom outlet is probably good for other nations. My first hotel had 110vac/60hz on the top outlet but this hotel doesn't.
A pic from the hotel window:
Hotel pic
Some of the parking lot stall had this type of antitheft (?) device but they weren't locked.
Lock position:
Unlock position:
Closeup shot of the locking mechanism
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alia176
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- Thread starter
- #68
Journey into the city of Shanghai.......
On Friday, 9/23/11 I dropped the luggage off at the Shanghai Pudong airport locker and started my short adventure into the city of Shanghai. The plan was to take the super fast MagLev train to the end and then transfer to the Subway Train #2 line at the Long Yang station. It looked like getting off at the East Nanjing road is a good way to see the downtown craziness and I wasn't disappointed.
But, before I started my journey into the heart of the city, I needed sustenance. I mean you can't start a journey with your tummy growling and the thought of eating Chinese fast food and more rice was getting less and less appealing. As I was looking around for a cash machine, I came across NIRVANA. Someone is looking out for me after all, <sniff>.
Tears came to my eyes as I entered the holy world of KFC, greasy goodness and they had Pepsi. No rice and no chop sticks, I almost kissed the ground
After watching the process of ordering food, I ordered me a four piece chicken. In the states, I normally go for the two piece meal but I went crazy and ordered the four peace meal that came with french fries and a Pepsi.
Evidently, the chicken in the U.S. must be on steroids 'cause the chicken in China is, well, a tad bit on the smallish size.
The entire trip from start (at the airport) to the end took only eight minutes at a speed of 300 km/hour on MagLev; this translates to about 180 mph
. The train was super smooth and a pleasure to ride on. I've never gone that fast on anything with wheels so I really enjoyed how fast and quiet this train really was. By taking this train, I saved the 50 minutes it would've taken me to get to the same stop using the Subway train from the airport.
A tour group entering the station
The train arrives and we all head downstairs
Like other tourists, we had to take pics of the final speed which is displayed in each car:
A pic of the rails, which looks nothing like normal rail as the train doesn't really ride on them.
I recall the amount of bug splatter on the Landcruiser's windshield while driving through humid Nebraska and Iowa in the past life. So I had to see what kind carnage that is achieved by a train going at 180 mph. Unfortunately, the pic really doesn't do it justice but you get the idea.
Come on, you were wondering the same thing too, don't lie.
To be continued.....
On Friday, 9/23/11 I dropped the luggage off at the Shanghai Pudong airport locker and started my short adventure into the city of Shanghai. The plan was to take the super fast MagLev train to the end and then transfer to the Subway Train #2 line at the Long Yang station. It looked like getting off at the East Nanjing road is a good way to see the downtown craziness and I wasn't disappointed.
But, before I started my journey into the heart of the city, I needed sustenance. I mean you can't start a journey with your tummy growling and the thought of eating Chinese fast food and more rice was getting less and less appealing. As I was looking around for a cash machine, I came across NIRVANA. Someone is looking out for me after all, <sniff>.
Tears came to my eyes as I entered the holy world of KFC, greasy goodness and they had Pepsi. No rice and no chop sticks, I almost kissed the ground
After watching the process of ordering food, I ordered me a four piece chicken. In the states, I normally go for the two piece meal but I went crazy and ordered the four peace meal that came with french fries and a Pepsi.
Evidently, the chicken in the U.S. must be on steroids 'cause the chicken in China is, well, a tad bit on the smallish size.
The entire trip from start (at the airport) to the end took only eight minutes at a speed of 300 km/hour on MagLev; this translates to about 180 mph
. The train was super smooth and a pleasure to ride on. I've never gone that fast on anything with wheels so I really enjoyed how fast and quiet this train really was. By taking this train, I saved the 50 minutes it would've taken me to get to the same stop using the Subway train from the airport.
A tour group entering the station
The train arrives and we all head downstairs
Like other tourists, we had to take pics of the final speed which is displayed in each car:
A pic of the rails, which looks nothing like normal rail as the train doesn't really ride on them.
I recall the amount of bug splatter on the Landcruiser's windshield while driving through humid Nebraska and Iowa in the past life. So I had to see what kind carnage that is achieved by a train going at 180 mph. Unfortunately, the pic really doesn't do it justice but you get the idea.
Come on, you were wondering the same thing too, don't lie.
To be continued.....
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So, are you complaining about some minor set backs that you got travel to the other side of the world on company dime? Glad you made it back and had some new taste of the world.
alia176
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #70
Pic of a public phone booths in the airport
Water in China needs to be boiled. Everyone is usually sipping hot tea or some sort of hot water with some leaves in it. Even the Chinese population has to sterilize the water for drinking. So, lots of places have sterilized water dispensers.
But, I digress... So, I get to the end of the MagLev train route and head into the Subway #2 train station. The ticket dispensers show instructions in many languages but a deaf Chinese opted to help us out for a little donation. Like most subway system, you buy the ticket to either enter or exit the system. You can ride as many trains as you want and how every long you want. This is a good way to get to know the subway system and if you miss a station, no problem, just exit at the next station and get on the train that is going in the opposite direction.
The subway trains are very smooth and quiet. Everyone is glued to their PDA's, texting or looking at movies - just like us in the states.
I exit the subway at the Nanjing station and began to explore the city on foot.
This guy is carrying a wallboard
Water in China needs to be boiled. Everyone is usually sipping hot tea or some sort of hot water with some leaves in it. Even the Chinese population has to sterilize the water for drinking. So, lots of places have sterilized water dispensers.
But, I digress... So, I get to the end of the MagLev train route and head into the Subway #2 train station. The ticket dispensers show instructions in many languages but a deaf Chinese opted to help us out for a little donation. Like most subway system, you buy the ticket to either enter or exit the system. You can ride as many trains as you want and how every long you want. This is a good way to get to know the subway system and if you miss a station, no problem, just exit at the next station and get on the train that is going in the opposite direction.
The subway trains are very smooth and quiet. Everyone is glued to their PDA's, texting or looking at movies - just like us in the states.
I exit the subway at the Nanjing station and began to explore the city on foot.
This guy is carrying a wallboard
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alia176
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- Thread starter
- #71
Like most cities in this part of the world, you besieged by offers of cheap CDs/DVDs,/Clothes/Shoes/Women/"massage", etc. This area is very noisy and full of the usual smells and sounds of a downtown shopping venue.
Took a pic with some random guy who had to be in my pic
UPS van
Live carp
I did find a legitimate place that offered massages of every kind. This place had rooms filled with all sorts of people - young, old, single & married getting foot massages or shoulder/back massages. I've never had a foot massage before and it was fantastic. They let my feet soak in a wooden tub of hot water while they worked on my shoulder. Then I sat down on a comfortable recliner while they worked on my feet and calves for an hour! While I was getting massaged, someone brought in a cup of tea and some fruit. My body was a mess and this helped out quite a bit before I hit the 12 hour flight back home. Not a bad way to end my China trip.
Took a pic with some random guy who had to be in my pic
UPS van
Live carp
I did find a legitimate place that offered massages of every kind. This place had rooms filled with all sorts of people - young, old, single & married getting foot massages or shoulder/back massages. I've never had a foot massage before and it was fantastic. They let my feet soak in a wooden tub of hot water while they worked on my shoulder. Then I sat down on a comfortable recliner while they worked on my feet and calves for an hour! While I was getting massaged, someone brought in a cup of tea and some fruit. My body was a mess and this helped out quite a bit before I hit the 12 hour flight back home. Not a bad way to end my China trip.
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I'm not sure if I would let Mr. Stinko in my pic, let alone, put his hand on my shoulder.
Welcome home.
Welcome home.
Can't let a post with reptiles in it pass by without a comment! Many of those turtles at the market are imported from the US(by the millions). That is big business here (and there). Here is an article on the turtle market for those of you who care.
Keeping U.S. Turtles Out of China - TIME
Also reminds me of all the cool FJ's, BJ's and others we see in Central and South America, if only it was easier to export them.
Keeping U.S. Turtles Out of China - TIME
Also reminds me of all the cool FJ's, BJ's and others we see in Central and South America, if only it was easier to export them.
