China - never a dull moment!

[Cruiser Elite]

WOW - check the WeChat activity over CNY.

 

[TheEmu]

WOW - check the WeChat activity over CNY.

I received almost enough in those red we chat e-envelopes to be able to buy you a beer next time you're in NJ

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Our #1 girl in Nanjing decided it was time to do her bit to add to the sparse Chinese population so she went off and had a baby - she sent me some pics of her son - are these not some of the most adorable baby pics you will ever see?



And:



And:



And:

 

[hummel]

How's no 2! What a classic!

Our two main girls just got married during CNY so only a matter of time before we get the news I would say!

 

[Gem56]

Thanks for the pics. Going to China later in the year and I love train travel. So nice to be able to see what the seating is like.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Downtown Beijing:



A new take on fast food - roadside collection without leaving your car:



And from the other direction:



And yep the turtoise was still alive!

 

[Cossie]

Downtown Beijing:



A new take on fast food - roadside collection without leaving your car:



And from the other direction:

And yep the turtoise was still alive!

We need a 'dislike' button.....

 

[moa999]

Still not anywhere like it was.

I remember traveling to Beijing in 1999 and there was a street vendor every 50m out so.

It was middle of December so very cold and popular items included coal bricketts, knitted steering wheel covers and gloves

 

[Rigs]

ALL visitors to China need to be aware taxi drivers with English skills are extremely rare - have your hotel destination clearly written / printed on paper OR have the hotel number programmed into your phone and call hotel then hand phone to driver OR have an App such as Taxi Book installed - better still have ALL 3.

This is so true but still quite optimistic. Even with a translator on your phone many taxi drivers will not talk to them and just yell at you to get out of the car. Taxi drivers in China are the worst I have ever seen (and I've taken one in Pyongyang). It is worse outside of the Tier 1 cities. Better off using Uber, no fuss and less chance of getting scammed.

I have often used the printed paper and if your hotel is upmarket they will almost automatically try and rip you off. If there is a shopping center or landmark across the road, write that down instead.

To be honest you are better off working with your hotel in advance. Especially if its your first time in China.

My advice is:

1. Always get straight into the car if you can. That way its hard for them to drive off when they get impatient.
2. Always have a translator handy you can call.
3. Insist on the meter, at least as a bargaining tool.
4. If all goes wrong and you need to calm them down, take their picture and one of their license... They really hate it.
5. Expect things to be difficult.

 

[lowan74]

Downtown Beijing:

View attachment 67057

A new take on fast food - roadside collection without leaving your car:

View attachment 67058

And from the other direction:

View attachment 67059

And yep the turtoise was still alive!

What a great thread - I have lived in Beijing for 11 months now and just stumbled across it. These pics are just around the corner from my office in Guomao.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

A liquor store just around corner from RBCH in PEK - so which AFF luminary would you consider most likely to frequent this establishment if they were in town? Tommy? Wozza? Steady? Beefy? penegal? AC? Oh shoot - lets lump them ALL in - if the cork fits:



Certainly not bc20, PF or uppy - them lassies way to sophisticated!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So I told this chick 'Don't you even think about taking a break until this entire area is spic and span!'

 

[Isochronous]

So who is in China over Easter?

 

[mushez]

So who is in China over Easter?

I am - landed at Pudong on Thursday to then turn around a few hours later and fly back south to Xiamen, return to Hongqiao tomorrow - and hang in Suzhou area with a dash or two to Ningbo until I fly back on 6th.

Just finished my stash of Easter Eggs I brought with me. Had a dozen or two hot cross buns in the few days before I came.

Here in my hotel on 21st floor, looking down on the smaller town house/apartment buildings (only 16-20 floors high) and the laundry hanging out today drying that wasn't yesterday is quite notable - not photogenic enough to get it all clearly in a single picture to post here.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Security at dep out of PEK at an absolute max yesterday - APEC card got me through immig and into priority security lane in like 5 mins but then the fun started - every piece electrical item totally out and out of covers, laptop, tablets, camera everything - ALL cables out of bags and separated - every battery out of bag even small back up AAAs - then total pat dozen from tip to toe - my bag went through 3 times - even Bose headphones out of cover and cable removed also - delays at security enormous.

 

[mushez]

Security at dep out of PEK at an absolute max yesterday - APEC card got me through immig and into priority security lane in like 5 mins but then the fun started - every piece electrical item totally out and out of covers, laptop, tablets, camera everything - ALL cables out of bags and separated - every battery out of bag even small back up AAAs - then total pat dozen from tip to toe - my bag went through 3 times - even Bose headphones out of cover and cable removed also - delays at security enormous.

Crazy - flying currently JJN-SHA and nothing out of the ordinary - just normal checks and pokes. They are starting to check powerbanks - that they are untampered with and have noted their mAH size and that is under the limit allowed - but then I have seen the posted notices of that new rule of limitations of batteries on flights around enough the past week.

Edit: after one hour delay in boarding flight due to late arrival of flight/aircraft from SHA - we are boarded and ready to roll and captain came on (in English) and told us all we have 2 1/2 hour further delay due to military restrictions, as JJN is primarily a military airport - which is interesting seeing all the maneuvers going on on the runway while waiting.

I just expect delays in China on any flight so is a surprise when there isn't any delays.

Then crew came on and repeated same message in Mandarin, and the carnage from all the PAX was comedic at best.

So 3 1/2 hour delay on a 80 min flight and counting.....

 

[mushez]

Ok, this is getting exciting for the first time ever, I've had delays, but none quite like this. PAX and crew having heated words, and physical altercations.

Just waiting for a door or emergency exit to be opened for a PAX wanting fresh air. Have had PAX deplaned, both on request and against will.

Got 2B, so front (ish) row seat but missing popcorn.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Ok, this is getting exciting for the first time ever, I've had delays, but none quite like this. PAX and crew having heated words, and physical altercations.

Just waiting for a door or emergency exit to be opened for a PAX wanting fresh air. Have had PAX deplaned, both on request and against will.

Got 2B, so front (ish) row seat but missing popcorn. View attachment 67206

Too good. Your delay will fly by with that kind of theatre!

 

[mushez]

Too good. Your delay will fly by with that kind of theatre!

It was very entertaining. Had another lady deplaned after some interesting theatrics - playing catch me if you can around the forward curtain with one of the crew. Almost got a video of it, before she was chased down the areobridge by two crew never to be seen again.

I was informed that most of the issues generated were from Spring Airlines - being a LCC - policy still standing that all PAX had to pay for any food or drinks they wanted throughout the delay and subsequent flight.

Not that it would have stressed me, then it didn't impact me as I was traveling "Spring Plus" so food and drinks were included and dished out with substantial liberation.

 

[Isochronous]

I arrived in PEK on Saturday and am so very grateful that the APEC lane allowed me to avoid the ridiculous queues.