China - never a dull moment!

[TheEmu]

Sometimes the attempt to avoid trademarks leads to unintended consequences. (No, it is a cafe...)


Other times...


"This door merely sopply to the exigence must keep it very expedite."
I was tempted to cross out "urgent" and write "dancing" but resisted.

 

[TheEmu]

Wanted: Air conditioner repairman - must not have fear of heights. Or falling...

 

[TheEmu]

Check the length of the trailer and the width of the top deck- doubles!
Plus 2 piles of crumbly bricks in case the stands fail.
I'll park my little red wagon just there and hope 18 brand new BMWs don't come crashing down on it (this is right outside the VW factory...)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Chinese Govt. can rationalise anything: Chinese government: smog has at least five benefits

 

[Foreigner]

Among articles prohibited to entering and exiting China:

Passengers carrying those things listed among the List of articles prohibited from entering and leaving China, will have such articles confiscated or be forced to take back such articles. Otherwise, such articles will have to be destroyed under the supervision of the Customs. If the case is serious, the passenger shall be prosecuted for his/her criminal liability.

Articles prohibited from leaving China:

AMONG OTHERS:

3. Prints, roll films, photos, disc, movies, tapes, video tape, computer storage media and other articles that impair the politics, economics, culture, and morals of China.

6. Fresh fruits, eggplant vegetables, living animals (dogs and cats excluded)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Received email from Ctrip yesterday - some great deals - Business Travelers Exclusive: 50% off First Class flights, APPs for business in China, and Top Business Hotel Deals

Heading to SH on 18th - I booked non-ref Junior Suite at Le Meridien on Sat for RMB,1200+ - then I see Waldorf Astoria at RMB1,400+ - Hilton Plat would have gotten me a great room - D'Oh!

 

[hummel]

Received email from Ctrip yesterday - some great deals - Business Travelers Exclusive: 50% off First Class flights, APPs for business in China, and Top Business Hotel Deals

Heading to SH on 18th - I booked non-ref Junior Suite at Le Meridien on Sat for RMB,1200+ - then I see Waldorf Astoria at RMB1,400+ - Hilton Plat would have gotten me a great room - D'Oh!

I noticed this in the email:

Some people are so awesome they are constantly in demand. We’ve noticed that you seem to be one of these people.

Couldn't help but laugh!

 

[TheEmu]

Received email from Ctrip yesterday - some great deals - Business Travelers Exclusive: 50% off First Class flights, APPs for business in China, and Top Business Hotel Deals

Heading to SH on 18th - I booked non-ref Junior Suite at Le Meridien on Sat for RMB,1200+ - then I see Waldorf Astoria at RMB1,400+ - Hilton Plat would have gotten me a great room - D'Oh!

Both look like good deals, CE. Stayed at Le Meridien in Jan - booked a standard Deluxe room for 900RMB/night (+taxes, etc) and got a Junior Suite upgrade courtesy of SPG. It was the week before CNY and surprisingly easy to get a deal.
MrsTheEmu & No.1 son managed to double the original cost of the room with in-house dining, room service, etc, etc… :shock:
Managed a similar deal at Westin Bund Centre a few days later but with the Exec Club included and the suite upgrade, it worked out a fair bit cheaper.
I'm back in NKG on the 16th (if I can organise to get from SIN that day which I haven't done yet!)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

I'm back in NKG on the 16th (if I can organise to get from SIN that day which I haven't done yet!)

How long in NKG - I will be trhere 2 nts Feb 19 and 20? Where do you stay there? I will let you know what rate I get at IC next day or so.

 

[TheEmu]

How long in NKG - I will be trhere 2 nts Feb 19 and 20? Where do you stay there? I will let you know what rate I get at IC next day or so.

I will be in NKG the rest of Feb. from the 16th/17th.
I have an apartment in MingGuGong (3 metro stops from XinJieKou)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Oh ok - have you eaten at Ciao Italian as yet?

 

[TheEmu]

Oh ok - have you eaten at Ciao Italian as yet?

Yes I have thanks Cruiser, twice, and will be going back again soon . I did mention it in the OTT (#30200)

 

[TheEmu]

Great to meet Cruiser Elite for the first NKG AFF Meet for 2014 (maybe/prolly first ever) this week.
Ciao Italia is now the official NKG venue for NKG AFF Meets, as decided on Wednesday night.
Good food, friendly service from Giuseppe and great company - a very enjoyable evening and looking forward to the next one.
Thanks CE.

 

[TheEmu]

On a footpath beside a bus stop outside a big hospital on a major road in PuDong. :shock:
I don't think the sign is meant for bilingual dogs...

 

[Flying Fox]

View attachment 25251

On a footpath beside a bus stop outside a big hospital on a major road in PuDong. :shock:
I don't think the sign is meant for bilingual dogs...

I really think that this is a sign applicable for all of life !!!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So I had to go visit factory of one of our component suppliers to explain to him that the cr*p he supplied for last shipment would never be tolerated again.

Last time we went to their factory we took train from Beijing to Tianjin (30 mins at 300kmh) then hire a car and drive 1.5hrs to factory. This time the rocket scientist who masquerades as the GM of the trading company who facilitates most of our purchases makes the startling discovery that if we take same high speed train BJ to TJ but get off half way there at a small station called WuQing then factory owner can collect us there and drive us 5 mins to the factory which previously spent 1.5hrs driving to - UFB.

Anyways when we get off at WuQing and walk outside here is this overhead bridge spanning the road directly outside station:



Now I am thinking to myself cough when they build an overhead bridge here they do it in a very serious manner. So we are met by factory owner and we have to cross over this bridge to meet our 'chauffer' who is going to drive us to factory - as we are walking across bridge factory owner points out the huge complex of buildings across road from station - I mean like complex stretched for a mile to the north and a mile to the south - turns out we are looking at the WuQing Flotentia Village Outlet Complex - just like the big outlet malls in the states but prolly 3 or 4 times bigger just by external view. YES this is Beijing outlet mall - apparently literally 1,000s of outlet stores - Chinese and International brands - all selling at very low duty free prices.

Now I did not go inside - but this info supplied by factory owner and later verified by a number of Beijing residents. I did not go to check but will definitely do so late March when I am next in BJ. So if anybody wants to go check - you need to buy ticket at Beijing South to WuQing - 20mins by high speed train - just get off and walk outside across bridge and you are there - you could not get lost. If you do not speak Chinese I would however buy return ticket to BJ before I left BJ as there is only small ticket selling area at WuQing and I guarantee they will not speak English - also you might need to wait for train as it is on main TJ-BJ line so if all tix sold in TJ prior to dep might be bit difficult getting a seat - don't really know that for a fact but personally would not chance it.

I'll get a series of pics when I visit next and try to get info on pricing at the outlets but it certainly sounds like an experience.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And whilst discussing 'shopping' have you ever seen a more accurate sign than this?



Taken at Silk Market which you can find here:



And the taxi card:



Silk Market underwent total transformation year or so back from basic 'fake market' to 'Up Market Market' - but clearly that experiment failed cause it has now gone down market again - the simple oversized bin type stalls were replaced by glass fronted mini shop type stalls sellimng upmarket or genuine second tier brands but many have returned to just 'fake' known brand merchandise ie Armani / Boss / Diesel etc etc - again Silk Market or Ya Show at Sunlitan will give you some great deals and a whole bunch of fun haggling.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Chinese OH & S Reaches New High!

First you have the power outlet:



Then there is the extension cable - either the red wire or the green and yellow wire is carrying 220V - the boys were not sure which was which but no biggie:



Then there is the power board:



But at the end of the day it's all about the happy little bods using the tools right?



All in a days work - you 'Round Eyes' just too over-regulated!

 

[TheEmu]

Best place for a 220 volt power outlet to run the 1.5kW water heater?
5 inches from the shower head of course!

 

[jetlagger]

Best place for a 220 volt power outlet to run the 1.5kW water heater?
5 inches from the shower head of course!
View attachment 26384

Dodgy! :shock: