Blogs from Tianjin, China, Asia
June 11th 2011
Yesterday I went on my first train adventure, which can only be preparation for the upcoming train journeys in the months ahead! So we decided to go to Tianjin, I have no idea why since we actually had no idea what was there, we pretty much rocked up to the city and were like, "well, now what?" We got out of the train station and luckily the architecture pretty much jumps out and slaps you in the face. So we went for a wander along the river and took lots of photos. The architecture was really European and really modern in style so it was very interesting. It was really ridiculously hot though so we didn't really make it very far. We then met up with one of Ralph's friends who is studying there and went ... read more
April 27th 2011
We have had a few problems accessing the TravelBlog site lately and they have just upgraded to a new version. I worked in the software industry for years and know how this can cause some excitement. I have finally been able to complete the Tianjin blog while taking a break on our Hong Kong/Macau trip. Tianjin - the city Tianjin is one of the four municipal areas in China that are so big they are like provinces. Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing are the others. It is directly west of Dalian, about an hour by air. You can’t get there directly as the Bohai Sea is in the way. The Tianjin municipality is between Beijing and the sea and historically was the gateway to the Capital. It was the home to many foreign concessions after the Opium ... read more
March 22nd 2011
19 March 2011 Qingdao (pronounced Chengdow) Arrived alongside Qingdao wharf at approximately 7:00am this morning to be greeted by lion dancers (not the Billy Ray Cyrus type as Barrie had thought!) and a Chinese drum and brass band. It is not as cold as it has been, so we were looking forward to going ashore on the German Heritage Tour. Qingdao is still emerging as a tourist destination and is touted as “a dynamic city on the east coast of China’s Shandong Province”. I think they have a long way to go to live up to such a statement as my first impressions were not enhanced during our tour of the city. Everything was shabby verging on the ramshackle and a thin layer of dust blanketed everything including cars, buildings and trees. Every now and then, ... read more
January 23rd 2011
These days, it only takes 120 mins to get from our apartment building to a hotel in Tianjin. Only 30 mins of that is spent on the intercity train - 71% of the time is used up from getting to our house to the 'local' train station. Anyway, all in all, a great excuse for a weekend away! Tianjin presented us with freezing cold weather and a strange mix of China, Europe and antiques. And a Mario castle. After asking random colleagues and friends, we had a Tianjin to-do list. 1. Goubuli baozi This brand is famous in Tianjin. They make baozi and beer. Unfortunately, the baozi were the most expensive we've ever eaten, and frankly, were a disappointment. (1.3 ducks for 1 small serve: yikes!). We're not quite sure what all the fuss was about. ... read more
July 6th 2010
Incheon to Tanggu English below Die Fähre von Südkorea nach China war die einfachste und gemuetlichste Option . Auf der Faehre traf ich Monica und Philip innerhalb weniger Minuten, da wir die Einzigen aus dem Westen waren. Spaeter traffen wir ein paar Koreaner mit denen wir einen schoenen Abend verbracht haben. Bis um Mitternacht haben wir Bier getrunken, chinesisches Barbeque gegessen und die beliebteste koreanische Unterhaltungstätigkeit, Karaoke, genossen. Obwohl die Fähre 25hours dauerte, war es der billigste und bequemste Weg um nach China zu gelangen. The ferry option from South Korea to China was so easy and really classy (may be exaggerating on the latter). I met Monica and Philip straight away. It was quiet easy to figure out that all three of us were back-packing. It was a real laugh to meet some Koreans a ... read more
June 6th 2010
As the title suggests...a party on an aircraft carrier. Now who wouldn't want to check this out?! I found out about the event via word of mouth from other travelers, and although pricey by Asian standards, a few of us got together and decided to go for it. It was a two hour ride to nearby Tianjin, another Chinese super-city and the voyage was eventful. We all stocked up on some booze before boarding because it was gonna cost a fortune at the venue. Our group was all from Leo Hostel. It was Dale from Arizona, the Israeli Dude, a couple of British guys and of course myself. We got loaded up and met some others on the bus. Obviously we had to take a couple of piss breaks along the way. It was hilarious seeing ... read more
June 4th 2010
Last night here. I can't believe it's over, and I wonder what the homesickness was all about anyhow. I won't deny it's a combination of relief and nostalgia though. Three weeks was one heck of a trip for me. Heading to Guangzhou tomorrow to visit my grandma and some relatives. I haven't seen them in five years, and I am so, so, so very excited. They will pick everything about me to pieces and then proceed to spoil me to death after I had my self esteem completely crushed by their criticism. It's the Asian way. We made our final presentations today and I did mine on Tobacco in China. Back to the roots of my smoking cessation days. I can't even begin to describe how much I've learned about this country, it's pros and cons, ... read more
June 3rd 2010
My roommate Aye and I have been working on our presentations until early this morning. Around 2:30 am we got hungry. So we walked to KFC. Because you can't go wrong with 24 hour American restaurants in China right? Surprisingly, the server figured out immediately that we actually didn't speak any Chinese. He let us point. Bless his heart. The only major communication error? I asked for orange soda. Which they serve WARM. So I asked them if they had ice because it was too hot. The guy looked at me funny and told me to wait for it to cool down. Apparently it's not just hot tea here...it's hot soda too. I had no idea. But the french fries were delicious. ... read more
June 2nd 2010
We went to visit the Motorola Factory today. That place was CLEAN. I would have licked the floors. If I had an infectious disease, I would have asked to be transported to that factory instead of a hospital. It was that clean. And they had western toilets and the newest cell phones on display. I really liked it. I liked how they had a cafeteria for their employees, how they had a clinic for employees needing health services. I was impressed. Not sure if this is because Nankai University wants to put their best food forward and show us the best parts of China. I'm sure there are terrible working conditions and good working conditions (just like in the USA). But I'm glad that there is progress, and a place like this existed. Then our group ... read more
May 31st 2010
We had a lecturer who discussed the rapid urbanization and pollution and China today. Having the actual figures put in front of me made me want to run home and breathe in some fresh US air. And eat food from good US soil. And drink water from good US water sources. Zephyrhills!! Please?!! ... read more
