After Japan and Korea, there was some light travelling in Liaoning and Shandong, which I will brief in another occation.
I'm now involved in at least 2 businesses. One of which is my own. The name of my company is 新界集团. Vision is to close in on the product / quality of life / culture gap between China and the rest of the world, via international trade.
新界 is the name of the most remote territory in Hong Kong, the large piece of land closest to Shenzen in the Mainland. It is where I live, it literally means "New Territory" / "New Frontier". In our world, many good things/places are waiting to be explored, protected, treasured, and shared, in that order.
Off the record to myself,
新界, my first company, will promise to be a socially, culturally, and humanly responsible entity. It will promote the goodness of China, and bring good products and culture from outside to within China. From this endevour I will broaden my horizon even more and be closer to enlightenment of both the mind and the body.
Hopefully, in not long I will hv a website, and some clients.
Travelling and blogging? I don't expect it to stop. Will likely do it professionally in fact...... Let's see...
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Saturday night clubbing in Seoul
Tonight, or rather last night, we went clubbing. It's the weekend before Holloween...
First Woobar in W-Hotel, the only 6-star hotel in Korea. Steve's friend played electric violin there and we got in free. Fancy decor but not much action after the live music and dancing ...
Next to a hippop place in the bar/clubbing street beside Hongik University. Jampacked cheap basement club plays pretty good music.
It's been awhile since I visited a club. I had to decorate myself a bit to get into Woobar...
First Woobar in W-Hotel, the only 6-star hotel in Korea. Steve's friend played electric violin there and we got in free. Fancy decor but not much action after the live music and dancing ...
Next to a hippop place in the bar/clubbing street beside Hongik University. Jampacked cheap basement club plays pretty good music.
It's been awhile since I visited a club. I had to decorate myself a bit to get into Woobar...
Saturday, October 28, 2006
First Day in Seoul. 汉城/首尔。
The hostel I'm staying at is between Jongno3ga Subway Station 钟路3街 and Chongdeokgung 昌德宫. It's one of the good ones. I'm in a 4 person room for 16000 Won per night. Clean and simple -- very happy with Steve's choice.
We met up with Simon for lunch near the impressive Central district -- Gwunghwamun 光华门. These most prominent office buildings are backgrounded by an awesome looking mountain and ancient palaces and parks. Near the hustle and bustle were more local streets with local restaurants that serve tasty food. I had some really good Kimchi-Tofu Soup.
In the afternoon I did my homework as a foreigner and went sightseeing. I visited Gyeongbokgung 景福宫, and Chongdeokgung 昌德宫. It was a nice walk in the greens. At night we had some traditional Korean food and then traversed the artsy district of In-Sa-Dong 仁寺洞, and had some Korean rice wine -- that was very tasty.
Then in later hours we visited the famous Namdamun 南大门 -- kind of like Ladies Market 女人街 of Hong Kong or former Xiangyang Street 襄阳路 of Shanghai.
A typical pleasant touristy day in a new country for me.
We met up with Simon for lunch near the impressive Central district -- Gwunghwamun 光华门. These most prominent office buildings are backgrounded by an awesome looking mountain and ancient palaces and parks. Near the hustle and bustle were more local streets with local restaurants that serve tasty food. I had some really good Kimchi-Tofu Soup.
In the afternoon I did my homework as a foreigner and went sightseeing. I visited Gyeongbokgung 景福宫, and Chongdeokgung 昌德宫. It was a nice walk in the greens. At night we had some traditional Korean food and then traversed the artsy district of In-Sa-Dong 仁寺洞, and had some Korean rice wine -- that was very tasty.
Then in later hours we visited the famous Namdamun 南大门 -- kind of like Ladies Market 女人街 of Hong Kong or former Xiangyang Street 襄阳路 of Shanghai.
A typical pleasant touristy day in a new country for me.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
Weather Today.
Weather in Seoul in nearing 10C, compared to 23-29 in HK. Here in Tokyo, air is getting drier.
After getting to Shandong, Taishan, Qingdao, and Dalian are on the list. Haven't been to Dalian in 6 years, and never to Qingdao.
Flying Northworst Airlines tomorrow evening to Seoul. With the combination of Narita's remoteness, and the American plane, I need to start from where I live in Tokyo about 5 hours before takeoff, 2 to get to Narita, and 3 for Northworst to search me -- FIVE hours...
After getting to Shandong, Taishan, Qingdao, and Dalian are on the list. Haven't been to Dalian in 6 years, and never to Qingdao.
Flying Northworst Airlines tomorrow evening to Seoul. With the combination of Narita's remoteness, and the American plane, I need to start from where I live in Tokyo about 5 hours before takeoff, 2 to get to Narita, and 3 for Northworst to search me -- FIVE hours...
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Small World.
Canadians, it's amazing how we manage to find each other in faraway lands. Since first day in Tokyo working, I have acquainted a dispropornate number (with respect to population of Canada, 31 mln ) of Canadians in Tokyo. Even during this 2 weeks stay in Tokyo, there have been at least 4 Canadian connections.
The most amazingly unbelievable of them all: Last Wednesday the 18th, I literally bumped into Salma, a class mate from Junior High, on a street corner in Shinjuku. We used to run track together back in ... Grade 8 -- Hawthorne Hawks!
How strange that we all love Canada, but in the meantime are so far away from Him. Only in the years since I left Him did I fully realize just how valuable my passport is. We get to be in South Korea for 6 months without a visa, the longest of all countries.
Vive le Canada!
The most amazingly unbelievable of them all: Last Wednesday the 18th, I literally bumped into Salma, a class mate from Junior High, on a street corner in Shinjuku. We used to run track together back in ... Grade 8 -- Hawthorne Hawks!
How strange that we all love Canada, but in the meantime are so far away from Him. Only in the years since I left Him did I fully realize just how valuable my passport is. We get to be in South Korea for 6 months without a visa, the longest of all countries.
Vive le Canada!
Ethan, Salma, Daryl's Hands (sorry the cell phone was out of battery)
Definitely respect you guys are trying to do. Hopefully I can make it to Africa.
Monday, October 16, 2006
Japanese Vending Machines.
An amazing phenomenon -- In Japan, for every 23 people there is one vending machine! (according to the Japan Vending Machine Manufacturers Association)
http://www.sonic.net/~anomaly/japan/vending.htm
Click on this link for an anecdote on what's offered in these machines. On this list there are a few I have yet to see: rice, tampon, toilet paper, pornography, fresh milk, and batteries.
Maybe China will move towards this one day. But definitely not today -- cheap labour and theft (petty, serious, or grand) are commonplace. In Shanghai, in shortage of copper, people even steel hydro lines. Street lamps, shopping carts, cars, bikes -- Anything is game. Market economy can be just as extreme as 1950's communism when pots and pans and door knobs contribute to building tanks and planes.
What I'm curious about are the economics on deploying Japanese Meal Ticket Vending Machines in China. Thanks to these things my meals in Japan was that much easier. It could well be the case that in certain developed cities machines maybe cheaper than labour, and the value-added reliability and automation could prove this a worthwhile trade. If these cities have a combine population of over 100 million, say, then, oh, that's almost the size of Japan... In many restaurants, business is just too good, and logistics terrible. A quick search on Alibaba.com yields no such product in the market place. I haven't seen it in my travels in China either.
By the way, if you've not heard of Alibaba, perhaps you'd be interested in taking a look. It's a Chinese phenomon and success that's proving America's Ebay has no place in China. Alibaba will be the 'Ebay' for Ebay Vendors. And Jack Ma the CEO is the idol of all Chinese entrepreneurs around the world.
http://www.sonic.net/~anomaly/japan/vending.htm
Click on this link for an anecdote on what's offered in these machines. On this list there are a few I have yet to see: rice, tampon, toilet paper, pornography, fresh milk, and batteries.
Maybe China will move towards this one day. But definitely not today -- cheap labour and theft (petty, serious, or grand) are commonplace. In Shanghai, in shortage of copper, people even steel hydro lines. Street lamps, shopping carts, cars, bikes -- Anything is game. Market economy can be just as extreme as 1950's communism when pots and pans and door knobs contribute to building tanks and planes.
What I'm curious about are the economics on deploying Japanese Meal Ticket Vending Machines in China. Thanks to these things my meals in Japan was that much easier. It could well be the case that in certain developed cities machines maybe cheaper than labour, and the value-added reliability and automation could prove this a worthwhile trade. If these cities have a combine population of over 100 million, say, then, oh, that's almost the size of Japan... In many restaurants, business is just too good, and logistics terrible. A quick search on Alibaba.com yields no such product in the market place. I haven't seen it in my travels in China either.
By the way, if you've not heard of Alibaba, perhaps you'd be interested in taking a look. It's a Chinese phenomon and success that's proving America's Ebay has no place in China. Alibaba will be the 'Ebay' for Ebay Vendors. And Jack Ma the CEO is the idol of all Chinese entrepreneurs around the world.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Cooking the Mongolian way.
http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?article_class=5&no=320206&rel_no=1An interesting link given by my friend Charity. When I was in Inner Mongolia I didn't get to see this, but I believe mutton I was eating was cooked the same way.
Deals on Foods in Tokyo.
While walking about quasi-purposefully today, I couldn't help but reminisce. I had so many great times here, and so much good food... Along the same line of thought (see my previous blog enty "Japan Survival Guide -- trite scrooge version"), I thought I'd write down something before these memories decay.
Good deals on foods are plentiful despite the apparent high costs to the newcomer. These are some of the places I frequent (almost treating them as my cafeteria) for a grab under 1000 Yen. As a general rule, having a nice big lunch is a good idea, since they are usually at discount. Dinners - ha -- that's not my specialty ... Theme of the day is "Cheap and Tasty".
Sushi -- In increasing order of price.
Tenka Sushi 天下寿司 in Takadanobaba 高田馬場 on the Yamanote Line. Use Waseda Exit 早稲田出口, and you will see a little street right beside the train bridge (栄通り), walk down that street for 1 minute and you will see it. They will offer you English menu. It's Kaiten Sushi but you can order also. 140 Yen per plate. I usually get full after 7-8 plates.
Oedo Mae Sushi 江戸前寿司 in Kanda Station 神田 on the Yamanote Line. Use the West Exit and make a right turn (I thin). In 2 minutes walk, there're at least 4 of them. Ask for Matsu Lunch or Take Lunch for a good deal around 800 Yen for 8-11 nice pieces. Dinner is more expensive. I used to go here for lunch every second day as it's only walking distance from Otemachi (and therefore Tokyo Station).
A famous sushi shop in Roppongi Hills. In the dome like structure in Roppongi Hills, where stores are arranged on a circle. It's on the 2nd or 3rd floor from the bottom. Hard to miss if you care to look. This is premium Kaiten Sushi. Expect to spend 2500 Yen and up. I've been here 2-3 times only ...
Of course there are gazillions of others ...
Ramen -- Use a Ramen Guide Book for details but here're 2 I really like. By the way, this is a Chinese word for 'pulling noodles'. In China, where machines are more expensive, ramen is made on the spot from raw flour. In Japan, the texture is softer due to addition of eggs and technology. Japanese ramen is doing very well in China.
Ippudo 一風堂, a chain. I go to the one half way between Waseda Stn on Tozai Line and Takadanobaba on South side. 900 Yen for great noodles in great decor and great service.
Kyushu Jan Ramen in Harajuku 九州じゃんがら原宿店. A famous one 2 minutes walk from Harajuku Station. It's labelled 'A' on the map in link. Hip store, loads of combos, you can add more noodles if it doesn't fill you ... but it should. If you like ramen and happend to be in Harajuku (fashion shopping on Takeshita-dori 竹下通り for eg.), this is a must.
Japanese Curry -- alledgedly why Indians are sueing Japanese on intellectual property right violation.
Black Curry Pork Rice 黒カツカレー Very nice. Across the street from Kanda's South Exit. 715 Yen for the signature Black curry. A lunch favourite for me. This will mostly likely fill you up real good, no matter where you're from.
BBQ Fish -- One of the key reasons I look forward to coming to Japan. They're all good. Just walk into any Izakaya 居酒屋 (Japanese style bar/restaurant).
The Great Fish Shop-- A tie for lunch favourite with Kanda Sushi but I can't remember the name of the joint. At lunch time, go to the gate of Otemachi Stn's A5 Exit (still underground), and you will see Starbucks. Facing starbucks, take the walkway to the left of it, with out changing direction. In less than 2 minutes you will see a short queue outside a Japanese looking BBQ Fish store just to the right of Deli France, where the street joins another one. This store is in the same orientation as that Starbucks. If you don't know what you want, ask for Lunch of the Day (日替わり -- "Higawari") ... OR ... Unconspicuously (or not) take a little walk around the restaurant and point to the one you like -- This is what I did before my Japanese was good enough to order most foods. 870 Yen for the best fish ever. By the way, I know this because I used A5 Exit to get to work.
Tempura -- I like, then I swim.
Tenya 天丼てんや -- Cheap, good, everywhere. As little as 400 Yen.
The Great Crab Tempura Shop in Shinjuku -- Can't remember name or location except to say it's right beside Shinjuku's East Exit, and for 980 Yen the lunch set is steal of steals. Dinner costs 3 times as much! ... feeling saliva ... going there tomorrow.
Bee-Bim-ba -- Korean rice in stone BBQ bowl.
The Great BBB Store -- Nickname again. Exit Tokyo Stn at Marunouchi North exit 東京駅 丸の内北口 and walk straight, following your right (north bound on side walk). In 2-3 minutes you will see it on your right on the same street. A lunch the queue goes fast so don't get turn off by that. Order 石焼ビビンバ 'Ishiyaki Bee-Bim-Ba' for 400-500 Yen. A steal for both quality and quantity. This restaurant makes money from high turnover, efficiency, and automation.
Other
Bento (Lunch box), Soba, Udon, Tofu, Natto -- Get from any supermarket. Healthy, cheap, fresh, cultural experience. Japanese bread is also great. Japanese desserts are awesome. Gosh we gotta import some of this stuff to China.
Well, if anyone actually follows my advice and ends up with extra Yen per budget, maybe you want to get some Sake at a liquor store or Supermarket (or convenient store). Or, eat more cheap and great food!!!
Enjoy!!!
Good deals on foods are plentiful despite the apparent high costs to the newcomer. These are some of the places I frequent (almost treating them as my cafeteria) for a grab under 1000 Yen. As a general rule, having a nice big lunch is a good idea, since they are usually at discount. Dinners - ha -- that's not my specialty ... Theme of the day is "Cheap and Tasty".
Sushi -- In increasing order of price.
Tenka Sushi 天下寿司 in Takadanobaba 高田馬場 on the Yamanote Line. Use Waseda Exit 早稲田出口, and you will see a little street right beside the train bridge (栄通り), walk down that street for 1 minute and you will see it. They will offer you English menu. It's Kaiten Sushi but you can order also. 140 Yen per plate. I usually get full after 7-8 plates.
Oedo Mae Sushi 江戸前寿司 in Kanda Station 神田 on the Yamanote Line. Use the West Exit and make a right turn (I thin). In 2 minutes walk, there're at least 4 of them. Ask for Matsu Lunch or Take Lunch for a good deal around 800 Yen for 8-11 nice pieces. Dinner is more expensive. I used to go here for lunch every second day as it's only walking distance from Otemachi (and therefore Tokyo Station).
A famous sushi shop in Roppongi Hills. In the dome like structure in Roppongi Hills, where stores are arranged on a circle. It's on the 2nd or 3rd floor from the bottom. Hard to miss if you care to look. This is premium Kaiten Sushi. Expect to spend 2500 Yen and up. I've been here 2-3 times only ...
Of course there are gazillions of others ...
Ramen -- Use a Ramen Guide Book for details but here're 2 I really like. By the way, this is a Chinese word for 'pulling noodles'. In China, where machines are more expensive, ramen is made on the spot from raw flour. In Japan, the texture is softer due to addition of eggs and technology. Japanese ramen is doing very well in China.
Ippudo 一風堂, a chain. I go to the one half way between Waseda Stn on Tozai Line and Takadanobaba on South side. 900 Yen for great noodles in great decor and great service.
Kyushu Jan Ramen in Harajuku 九州じゃんがら原宿店. A famous one 2 minutes walk from Harajuku Station. It's labelled 'A' on the map in link. Hip store, loads of combos, you can add more noodles if it doesn't fill you ... but it should. If you like ramen and happend to be in Harajuku (fashion shopping on Takeshita-dori 竹下通り for eg.), this is a must.
Japanese Curry -- alledgedly why Indians are sueing Japanese on intellectual property right violation.
Black Curry Pork Rice 黒カツカレー Very nice. Across the street from Kanda's South Exit. 715 Yen for the signature Black curry. A lunch favourite for me. This will mostly likely fill you up real good, no matter where you're from.
BBQ Fish -- One of the key reasons I look forward to coming to Japan. They're all good. Just walk into any Izakaya 居酒屋 (Japanese style bar/restaurant).
The Great Fish Shop-- A tie for lunch favourite with Kanda Sushi but I can't remember the name of the joint. At lunch time, go to the gate of Otemachi Stn's A5 Exit (still underground), and you will see Starbucks. Facing starbucks, take the walkway to the left of it, with out changing direction. In less than 2 minutes you will see a short queue outside a Japanese looking BBQ Fish store just to the right of Deli France, where the street joins another one. This store is in the same orientation as that Starbucks. If you don't know what you want, ask for Lunch of the Day (日替わり -- "Higawari") ... OR ... Unconspicuously (or not) take a little walk around the restaurant and point to the one you like -- This is what I did before my Japanese was good enough to order most foods. 870 Yen for the best fish ever. By the way, I know this because I used A5 Exit to get to work.
Tempura -- I like, then I swim.
Tenya 天丼てんや -- Cheap, good, everywhere. As little as 400 Yen.
The Great Crab Tempura Shop in Shinjuku -- Can't remember name or location except to say it's right beside Shinjuku's East Exit, and for 980 Yen the lunch set is steal of steals. Dinner costs 3 times as much! ... feeling saliva ... going there tomorrow.
Bee-Bim-ba -- Korean rice in stone BBQ bowl.
The Great BBB Store -- Nickname again. Exit Tokyo Stn at Marunouchi North exit 東京駅 丸の内北口 and walk straight, following your right (north bound on side walk). In 2-3 minutes you will see it on your right on the same street. A lunch the queue goes fast so don't get turn off by that. Order 石焼ビビンバ 'Ishiyaki Bee-Bim-Ba' for 400-500 Yen. A steal for both quality and quantity. This restaurant makes money from high turnover, efficiency, and automation.
Other
Bento (Lunch box), Soba, Udon, Tofu, Natto -- Get from any supermarket. Healthy, cheap, fresh, cultural experience. Japanese bread is also great. Japanese desserts are awesome. Gosh we gotta import some of this stuff to China.
Well, if anyone actually follows my advice and ends up with extra Yen per budget, maybe you want to get some Sake at a liquor store or Supermarket (or convenient store). Or, eat more cheap and great food!!!
Enjoy!!!
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Today in Tokyo.
Had a wonderful day walking around Yo-tsuya 四つ谷 with Sensei, my Chinese Japanese-teacher. Had a tour of Sophia University and surroundings where she studies. Great Fengshui!
On the way to Internet I got caught my Tokyo police asking for ID. Do I look like a drug dealer? This is not the first time ... My Canadian passport says I'm a good guy.... hehe.
Tokyo ... IS ... a very comfortable place to live. I miss it, and I'm happy to be here.
Thank you, my friends in Tokyo.
Korea, 楽しみに待っています！ I'm coming soon.
On the way to Internet I got caught my Tokyo police asking for ID. Do I look like a drug dealer? This is not the first time ... My Canadian passport says I'm a good guy.... hehe.
Tokyo ... IS ... a very comfortable place to live. I miss it, and I'm happy to be here.
Thank you, my friends in Tokyo.
Korea, 楽しみに待っています！ I'm coming soon.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Japan survival guide -- trite scrooge version.
Most people I know perceive Japan as an expensive place to visit. They're also very curious about Japan. Let me briefly share my thoughts on something very practical: How to get the most for your Yen as a tourist here.
Assumptions:
You want to visit Japan.
You're open minded.
You a lite packer.
You want to Maximize Gen while Minimizing Yen.
Transportation:
Since it's an island, flying is most likey. But if you're in China/Korea, or planning to go there. One may take a 24 hr boat ride from Weihai in Shandong Province to Renchuan (don't know Korean name), which is a sister city of Seoul. Then somehow get to Busan (bus or train). From Busan, a 3 hr ~150 USD jet ferry will take you to Fukuoka in Kyushu. If you plan to go anywhere far outside Tokyo. The 1 week 28300 Yen JR (Japan Rail) Pass is highly recommended. With this pass you can then move you way about Japan on the Shinkansen (bullet train) network (as well as other JR trains, such as Narita Express), and make your way to Tokyo. Of course this would mean either you leave Japan the sameway, or faced with a 1-way air ticket issue. If you're just visiting Tokyo, use the Keisei Skyliner to get from Narita Airport to the city. This costs 1700 Yen as opposed to 3300 via bus or Narita Express.
If you plan to move about alot in the subway network, plan your day and buy a 750 Yen Tokyo metro 1-day pass. But if you're a first time visitor, then probably you won't need this as all the 'downtowns' are on the perimeter as defined by the famous Yamamote Line (light rail), which circles Tokyo frequently in both directions. Both Keisei Skyliner and Narita express end on he Yamamote Line.
Lodging:
Of course this depends on how many of you there are. If many, hotel is not a bad idea. I assume one to 2 here.
Crash at friends -- choice of choices for the lucky one.
Youth Hostel -- an easy one.
Likes of http://www.sakura-house.com , which is English friendly and vary in amneties. Ernest stayed in one of these trouble free, hassle free places during his internship in Tokyo on our trading desk.
LaQua Spa in Korakuen (on the Red Marunouchi Line). -- This is a semi-luxury bathing and onsen (hotspring, real ones) joint in the centre of Tokyo (where the roller coaster and Tokyo Dome is) designed mainly for salarymen. They have overnight facilities. If you're female then there're quieter rooms to sleepin, rather than the main room, where everybody sleeps. Once you're in you can't leaving unless for checkout, so go near bed time. Checkout is 9am. Basic prices is around 3000 Yen/person. I'm not going to explain in more detail, except to say it's worth trying.
Capsule Hotel -- Haha. Try it only if for the experience. Economically you're better of with the other recommendations.
Manga/Internet Cafe -- They vary, but many have flat/flattish surface to sleep on, and with shower. You can do your research (live by the day like me) for the next day here. Free drinks/comics/magazines/dvd/games. Ubiquitous. 24hrs. Price range from 1200-2500Yen overnight. They're many in Shinjuku, like everywhere else. They also charge by the hour.
Sleep some during the day in parks. (I'm not sure about nights). Saves money if you going to a Manga place at night.
Bring a sleeping bag or find some cardboard if you don't want to spend anything.
Storage
Use in conjuntion with your choice of lodging. There're lockers in (almost) every station. Small for 200-600 Yen depending on size. Add ONE to the number of times your stuff passes 2am, multiply by the quoted cost -- That's how much you pay.
Food
Just look around, include convenient stores and supermarkets, and find cheap stuff -- They're there. If you're really thrifty and have thick skin (somewhat like me), then you can fill yourself with free food at selected department stores, where the food section often puts out stuff for shoppers to try. There places are good, for example: (to be filled, please help me...)
Shower
the places in Lodging section, and public swimming pools. There's a public sports centre between Takadanobaba and Shin-Okubo stations on the Yamanote line, a short walk due south of Takadanobaba. That one costs 400 to swim. Some others are cheaper. I'll add more.
Laundry
In Manga/Internet, it's feasible to do it in the shower and hang in your enclosed quarter, but keep a low profile... And of course, coin laundary -- It helps to be able to read Japanese Katagana.
Cell phone
Expensive to rent. If you have a friend you can trouble, ask friendly friend to get a plan from AU/KDDI (this is what I did yesterday). If you're staying for less than a month, all-in cost for 120 mins of talk time within a month (receiving calls are always free in Japan), including signup cancellation everything, is around 10K Yen (100USD). Worth it if you need it.
Fun
Use a guidebook. I'll definitely write more on this subject.
..
The above work for Tokyo, and feasible for big cities like Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, etc. No guarantees tho... Try it! Japanese people are very friendly, so worst case you end up in a Dont-speak-Japanese situation, in which case, find a hotel.
As a denouement: It helps tremdously if you have good travel equipment. Lite Hiking clothes that try quickly. Strong but lite backpacks. Strong but lite umbrellas etc... My favourite brand is www.golite.com
Ask away if you have questions!
Assumptions:
You want to visit Japan.
You're open minded.
You a lite packer.
You want to Maximize Gen while Minimizing Yen.
Transportation:
Since it's an island, flying is most likey. But if you're in China/Korea, or planning to go there. One may take a 24 hr boat ride from Weihai in Shandong Province to Renchuan (don't know Korean name), which is a sister city of Seoul. Then somehow get to Busan (bus or train). From Busan, a 3 hr ~150 USD jet ferry will take you to Fukuoka in Kyushu. If you plan to go anywhere far outside Tokyo. The 1 week 28300 Yen JR (Japan Rail) Pass is highly recommended. With this pass you can then move you way about Japan on the Shinkansen (bullet train) network (as well as other JR trains, such as Narita Express), and make your way to Tokyo. Of course this would mean either you leave Japan the sameway, or faced with a 1-way air ticket issue. If you're just visiting Tokyo, use the Keisei Skyliner to get from Narita Airport to the city. This costs 1700 Yen as opposed to 3300 via bus or Narita Express.
If you plan to move about alot in the subway network, plan your day and buy a 750 Yen Tokyo metro 1-day pass. But if you're a first time visitor, then probably you won't need this as all the 'downtowns' are on the perimeter as defined by the famous Yamamote Line (light rail), which circles Tokyo frequently in both directions. Both Keisei Skyliner and Narita express end on he Yamamote Line.
Lodging:
Of course this depends on how many of you there are. If many, hotel is not a bad idea. I assume one to 2 here.
Crash at friends -- choice of choices for the lucky one.
Youth Hostel -- an easy one.
Likes of http://www.sakura-house.com , which is English friendly and vary in amneties. Ernest stayed in one of these trouble free, hassle free places during his internship in Tokyo on our trading desk.
LaQua Spa in Korakuen (on the Red Marunouchi Line). -- This is a semi-luxury bathing and onsen (hotspring, real ones) joint in the centre of Tokyo (where the roller coaster and Tokyo Dome is) designed mainly for salarymen. They have overnight facilities. If you're female then there're quieter rooms to sleepin, rather than the main room, where everybody sleeps. Once you're in you can't leaving unless for checkout, so go near bed time. Checkout is 9am. Basic prices is around 3000 Yen/person. I'm not going to explain in more detail, except to say it's worth trying.
Capsule Hotel -- Haha. Try it only if for the experience. Economically you're better of with the other recommendations.
Manga/Internet Cafe -- They vary, but many have flat/flattish surface to sleep on, and with shower. You can do your research (live by the day like me) for the next day here. Free drinks/comics/magazines/dvd/games. Ubiquitous. 24hrs. Price range from 1200-2500Yen overnight. They're many in Shinjuku, like everywhere else. They also charge by the hour.
Sleep some during the day in parks. (I'm not sure about nights). Saves money if you going to a Manga place at night.
Bring a sleeping bag or find some cardboard if you don't want to spend anything.
Storage
Use in conjuntion with your choice of lodging. There're lockers in (almost) every station. Small for 200-600 Yen depending on size. Add ONE to the number of times your stuff passes 2am, multiply by the quoted cost -- That's how much you pay.
Food
Just look around, include convenient stores and supermarkets, and find cheap stuff -- They're there. If you're really thrifty and have thick skin (somewhat like me), then you can fill yourself with free food at selected department stores, where the food section often puts out stuff for shoppers to try. There places are good, for example: (to be filled, please help me...)
Shower
the places in Lodging section, and public swimming pools. There's a public sports centre between Takadanobaba and Shin-Okubo stations on the Yamanote line, a short walk due south of Takadanobaba. That one costs 400 to swim. Some others are cheaper. I'll add more.
Laundry
In Manga/Internet, it's feasible to do it in the shower and hang in your enclosed quarter, but keep a low profile... And of course, coin laundary -- It helps to be able to read Japanese Katagana.
Cell phone
Expensive to rent. If you have a friend you can trouble, ask friendly friend to get a plan from AU/KDDI (this is what I did yesterday). If you're staying for less than a month, all-in cost for 120 mins of talk time within a month (receiving calls are always free in Japan), including signup cancellation everything, is around 10K Yen (100USD). Worth it if you need it.
Fun
Use a guidebook. I'll definitely write more on this subject.
..
The above work for Tokyo, and feasible for big cities like Osaka, Kobe, Nagoya, etc. No guarantees tho... Try it! Japanese people are very friendly, so worst case you end up in a Dont-speak-Japanese situation, in which case, find a hotel.
As a denouement: It helps tremdously if you have good travel equipment. Lite Hiking clothes that try quickly. Strong but lite backpacks. Strong but lite umbrellas etc... My favourite brand is www.golite.com
Ask away if you have questions!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
More Japan.
My one word summary of Hiroshima is "peaceful". Lighthearted guitar playing trances between willows, across the canal, and enters the hearts of onseers of memorials in remembrance of the A-bomb event.
Kobe was a very nice city. After waking up to sounds of morning internet cafe-goers, we walked up to Kitano 北野, the site of western style homes. The area carried an aura of nobility, yet the creative shops and the crisp and warm atmosphere were relaxing. We had a nice hike here; Rosanne and Sharon couldn't help themselves at the site of the exquisite merchandise...
Then had Kobe beef...! The most expensive meal in recent memory...
A short ride to Kyoto later, we hopped onto the city's sight seeing bus and went to Kyomizudera 清水寺, a famous temple in Japan -- lots of foreigners here... Then on to Gion 花見小路, the famous Geisha district. Parts of the movie Memories of a Geisha was made here. I even saw a Geisha walking the streets to her duty, just like the movie. The restaurants here do look ancient, and fancy at the same time. Salarymen, being here after sunset must be the highlight of their day -- closure, justification, and epitome of enjoyment ...
Back to Tokyo now, yes, tonight I'm also in an Manga/Internet cafe. Shower time...
A list of manga/internet cafe's in Tokyo:
http://www.cafeman.jp/htm/13101.htm
Kobe was a very nice city. After waking up to sounds of morning internet cafe-goers, we walked up to Kitano 北野, the site of western style homes. The area carried an aura of nobility, yet the creative shops and the crisp and warm atmosphere were relaxing. We had a nice hike here; Rosanne and Sharon couldn't help themselves at the site of the exquisite merchandise...
Then had Kobe beef...! The most expensive meal in recent memory...
A short ride to Kyoto later, we hopped onto the city's sight seeing bus and went to Kyomizudera 清水寺, a famous temple in Japan -- lots of foreigners here... Then on to Gion 花見小路, the famous Geisha district. Parts of the movie Memories of a Geisha was made here. I even saw a Geisha walking the streets to her duty, just like the movie. The restaurants here do look ancient, and fancy at the same time. Salarymen, being here after sunset must be the highlight of their day -- closure, justification, and epitome of enjoyment ...
Back to Tokyo now, yes, tonight I'm also in an Manga/Internet cafe. Shower time...
A list of manga/internet cafe's in Tokyo:
http://www.cafeman.jp/htm/13101.htm
Monday, October 09, 2006
Tokyo, Aizu, Fukuoka, Yanagawa, Hiroshima, Kobe, Kyoto. 東京、会津、福岡、柳川、広島、神戸、京都。
In Kobe at the moment. In fact, in this very room pictured on the right, a cozy Manga (comic/internet cafe) place between Motomachi Eki and Chinatown Kobe. I get 9 hours for 1800 Yen, a formidable deal in this country. They got a shower and other night amenities.
Last few days were eventful. First night we had sushi, shopped around then crashed at LaQua Spa in Korakuen 後楽園. Day 2, Kendall joined us; we took Shinkansen plus JR plus bus to a late near Aizu 会津. Did some hiking in the rain. The view was very nice, but ground muddy. Was going to head to Kiushiu 九州, but a time update tell the we wouldn't have made it in time for check in at our hostel in Fukuoka. So, another night in onsen-happy LaQua. Kendall loved it. For 3000+ Yen, we get to use awesome bath and hotspring facilities and overnight stay on a sofa or a mat. It's a Japanese version of these bath/recreation places I crash in China, a watered down version, with focus on bathing.
Day 3, we early rose to a 6 hour Shinkansen (the famous Japanese bullet train) ride to Fukuoka 福岡 in Kyushu 九州. There they shopped; I waited, and then we we to a famous Ramen Street and had some good food. They seem to sell more Yakisoba (fried noodles) and Yakitori (bbq chicken) than ramen.
Day 4 we met up with Rosanne's friend Atsuko. Thanks to her we had a nice tour of the region, starting with Dazaifu 太宰府, a famous shrine in Japan. Then to Yanagawa 柳川 for a nice walk munching on local cookies. Finally to Atsuko's home, which was with her family for 500 years. They have a room dedicated to Japanese tea ceremony, and we played around with dainty pots and bowls, while Atsuko explained to us each movement. The night ended in a wicked fusion of Japanese and western appetizers, followed by an oversupply of sushi!
The meal was really really good. So, thank you, the Imaizumi Family!
...
As you can see, I chose a 'flatto' -- a nice room for sleeping but not for typing. So I write the rest after I get to Tokyo tomorrow.
Last few days were eventful. First night we had sushi, shopped around then crashed at LaQua Spa in Korakuen 後楽園. Day 2, Kendall joined us; we took Shinkansen plus JR plus bus to a late near Aizu 会津. Did some hiking in the rain. The view was very nice, but ground muddy. Was going to head to Kiushiu 九州, but a time update tell the we wouldn't have made it in time for check in at our hostel in Fukuoka. So, another night in onsen-happy LaQua. Kendall loved it. For 3000+ Yen, we get to use awesome bath and hotspring facilities and overnight stay on a sofa or a mat. It's a Japanese version of these bath/recreation places I crash in China, a watered down version, with focus on bathing.
Day 3, we early rose to a 6 hour Shinkansen (the famous Japanese bullet train) ride to Fukuoka 福岡 in Kyushu 九州. There they shopped; I waited, and then we we to a famous Ramen Street and had some good food. They seem to sell more Yakisoba (fried noodles) and Yakitori (bbq chicken) than ramen.
Day 4 we met up with Rosanne's friend Atsuko. Thanks to her we had a nice tour of the region, starting with Dazaifu 太宰府, a famous shrine in Japan. Then to Yanagawa 柳川 for a nice walk munching on local cookies. Finally to Atsuko's home, which was with her family for 500 years. They have a room dedicated to Japanese tea ceremony, and we played around with dainty pots and bowls, while Atsuko explained to us each movement. The night ended in a wicked fusion of Japanese and western appetizers, followed by an oversupply of sushi!
The meal was really really good. So, thank you, the Imaizumi Family!
...
As you can see, I chose a 'flatto' -- a nice room for sleeping but not for typing. So I write the rest after I get to Tokyo tomorrow.
Friday, October 06, 2006
Japan.
After more than 1 year. I'm back in Tokyo, this time a tourist, with the JR Pass I always wanted (the passport to Japan's expensive rail system).
懐かしい !!!!
After renting cellphones, the next stop was my favouriate Kaiten Sushi (Conveyer Belt) ｊoint in Takadanobaba. Fond memories from days as a salaryman in Tokyo rushed to mind as devours more fish than I should have.
It was a full meal, but I became even fuller after drinks over yet more fish with Chiew. Only true love can call for such demenors. If I ever own a restaurant, it would either serve sushi or BBQ fish ...
Almost 2pm. Going up north too see a lake, then south to Kiushiu, staring early tmr morning ...
懐かしい !!!!
After renting cellphones, the next stop was my favouriate Kaiten Sushi (Conveyer Belt) ｊoint in Takadanobaba. Fond memories from days as a salaryman in Tokyo rushed to mind as devours more fish than I should have.
It was a full meal, but I became even fuller after drinks over yet more fish with Chiew. Only true love can call for such demenors. If I ever own a restaurant, it would either serve sushi or BBQ fish ...
Almost 2pm. Going up north too see a lake, then south to Kiushiu, staring early tmr morning ...
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Laziness. Philippines.
Been lazy recently, therefore not much blogging.
I was in the Philippines with Kwun last week. That country still needs wires, and K's got some. We stayed with his uncle in Manila's Chinatown, a grey market currency trader/broker. That Chinatown doesn't smell too good, but people there are friendly enough. The Chinese community speaks Hokkien (a Fujian dialect, also known as Min-nan dialect, and Taiwanese -- plz correct me if I'm not on track), almost the same language spoken in Taiwan. There are at least three generations of 'Fujiannese' there, and no cultural revolution of the likes, so perhaps wealth carried on.
My first 4 days consisted of following K's Uncle arounds. With sharp timing and strong purpose, he avoided being mugged, at same time took us currency trading the old fashioned way, traversing through Manila's alleys and warehouses, via bikes, buses, Honda 4-wheelers, and horse carriages, making every effort to avoid taxis... I felt like mafia/bodyguard, waiting with K for K's uncle while he does his business in local houses such as Equitable PCI Bank. Well... I was missing a big rifle, like the one Mr. Bank Security was carrying.
We ate 4-5 meals a day, which is also apparetnly consistent with Cantonese/HK culture. (As an anecdote, I learnt a long time ago that the optimal number of meals per day is 17, from a health perspective.)
Last 2 days were spent in Cebu, a renowned vacation spot. There were many Koreans in Cebu, dunno why... Rainly, first night was spent 'uptown'; nextday back to Mactan Island (were the airport was). The beach was was divided, each piece is virtually a private back yard of the hotel in closest proximity. I stayed at Tambuli Beach Club, where the beach was lined with seaweed and rocks. A working lifeguard told me be best beach is this one, as it's the 'most natural' -- others like "White Sands" are artificial.
K and I were more fans of Chinese food, rather than Philippino, to be honest. For us, the local taste seemed to be on the salty and sour side -- far side. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our meals, drinks, singers, and the pool. It was at least a vacation from Manila.
Airport security was super tight. I surrendered my newly purchased duct tape, and K his Armani cologne. We were forced to trash (or drink) liquids at 2ndary security. In Manila, there are 3 airports, and rather confusing for us ...
Will add photos.
I was in the Philippines with Kwun last week. That country still needs wires, and K's got some. We stayed with his uncle in Manila's Chinatown, a grey market currency trader/broker. That Chinatown doesn't smell too good, but people there are friendly enough. The Chinese community speaks Hokkien (a Fujian dialect, also known as Min-nan dialect, and Taiwanese -- plz correct me if I'm not on track), almost the same language spoken in Taiwan. There are at least three generations of 'Fujiannese' there, and no cultural revolution of the likes, so perhaps wealth carried on.
My first 4 days consisted of following K's Uncle arounds. With sharp timing and strong purpose, he avoided being mugged, at same time took us currency trading the old fashioned way, traversing through Manila's alleys and warehouses, via bikes, buses, Honda 4-wheelers, and horse carriages, making every effort to avoid taxis... I felt like mafia/bodyguard, waiting with K for K's uncle while he does his business in local houses such as Equitable PCI Bank. Well... I was missing a big rifle, like the one Mr. Bank Security was carrying.
We ate 4-5 meals a day, which is also apparetnly consistent with Cantonese/HK culture. (As an anecdote, I learnt a long time ago that the optimal number of meals per day is 17, from a health perspective.)
Last 2 days were spent in Cebu, a renowned vacation spot. There were many Koreans in Cebu, dunno why... Rainly, first night was spent 'uptown'; nextday back to Mactan Island (were the airport was). The beach was was divided, each piece is virtually a private back yard of the hotel in closest proximity. I stayed at Tambuli Beach Club, where the beach was lined with seaweed and rocks. A working lifeguard told me be best beach is this one, as it's the 'most natural' -- others like "White Sands" are artificial.
K and I were more fans of Chinese food, rather than Philippino, to be honest. For us, the local taste seemed to be on the salty and sour side -- far side. Nevertheless, we enjoyed our meals, drinks, singers, and the pool. It was at least a vacation from Manila.
Airport security was super tight. I surrendered my newly purchased duct tape, and K his Armani cologne. We were forced to trash (or drink) liquids at 2ndary security. In Manila, there are 3 airports, and rather confusing for us ...
Will add photos.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Thanks.
Thanks for all your kind support. It should not be too long before setting foot again. There are some new photos.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
回顾一下。
周游有三个多月。有些朋友问我达到了什么目的？还是仅仅欲玩地愉快？还要继续多久?其实我也说不清楚，愉快一定要的，其他就随缘。
这次出游由台湾开始，渡过新加坡，回到老家上海，去南京陪出差的女友住了一阵，游玩苏浙皖三省，后来因一系列的变数去到中国的西北和东北，之后经过中原回到香港。我并没有刻意地去仔细感受他乡风土文化，而是以个别景点为目标，东走西跑，不意中也交识了一些朋友，略有了解他们的生活，同时也被其之热情而感染。如果有缘第二次拜访或经过，和朋友们再饮一宿就算是目的。
不论目的，论结果。计划中两年的旅游才刚刚开始，我却受益非浅。路走多了，选择也会多吧。以前认准的那条大道，在新识的地图上，不然显得不那么粗大了。
还是说一些客观的东西。发现3个月用的盘缠比我预计的要多些。可能有时抱着好奇的心态去尝试，手会松一些，外加夏季旅游多方面都比较贵。以后我少买门票，多吃多喝多走路。这也算是我此季度的 resolution 吧。
在这里点评一下：
最美：黄山（身在其中方可知）
最好玩感觉最爽：台湾台东县绿岛（乱开电动车），和黄山（爬山的兴奋和壮观的风景）
印象最深刻的经历：呼伦贝尔草原上放羊（早上睁开眼睛一开门，看到一望无际的大草原，然后找一片自己的绿地尽情工作，然后骑马统领一大群山羊绵羊）
印象最深刻的城市：呼和浩特（友好热情的人），延吉（这里真的是中国吗？）
最好吃：很难评但是我依旧坚持台湾的芋圆和地瓜圆，爱玉仙草豆花冰（想想还是觉得只有这个东西对我来说百吃不厌）。其他好吃难忘的东西有台南的鳝鱼意面和周氏虾卷，花莲的麻署，新加坡的那个螃蟹，西北的手抓羊肉，无锡排骨，等等等等。
最险：华山（自古华山一条路，其之险居五岳之首，相信不虚传。）一年后应该会有把其取代的选手。
最穷：目前为止应该是在宁夏。银川至中卫途中的乡下土房。
住过最豪华的地方：北京的东方凯德华洗浴餐饮有限公司（堕落的幸福生活过了一天半）
最“想去而没去成”：九寨沟（夏季太贵，暂时无缘），台湾屏东县垦丁（发大水）
最想去还没去：新疆，西藏，青海，四川，广西，云南，少林寺，武当山，峨嵋山，泰山。因不了解所以不知道哪个最想去。
下一个目标是广西，然后贵州，云南，和四川。在九月底之前这些地方走多少算多少，也不勉强。之后经山西至山东，由客轮去韩国看看。
在此之前，在香港悠哉游哉，打算这几天写一篇正对内地朋友们的“香港攻略”，介绍一些既省精力又省钱的到港好玩法。
这次出游由台湾开始，渡过新加坡，回到老家上海，去南京陪出差的女友住了一阵，游玩苏浙皖三省，后来因一系列的变数去到中国的西北和东北，之后经过中原回到香港。我并没有刻意地去仔细感受他乡风土文化，而是以个别景点为目标，东走西跑，不意中也交识了一些朋友，略有了解他们的生活，同时也被其之热情而感染。如果有缘第二次拜访或经过，和朋友们再饮一宿就算是目的。
不论目的，论结果。计划中两年的旅游才刚刚开始，我却受益非浅。路走多了，选择也会多吧。以前认准的那条大道，在新识的地图上，不然显得不那么粗大了。
还是说一些客观的东西。发现3个月用的盘缠比我预计的要多些。可能有时抱着好奇的心态去尝试，手会松一些，外加夏季旅游多方面都比较贵。以后我少买门票，多吃多喝多走路。这也算是我此季度的 resolution 吧。
在这里点评一下：
最美：黄山（身在其中方可知）
最好玩感觉最爽：台湾台东县绿岛（乱开电动车），和黄山（爬山的兴奋和壮观的风景）
印象最深刻的经历：呼伦贝尔草原上放羊（早上睁开眼睛一开门，看到一望无际的大草原，然后找一片自己的绿地尽情工作，然后骑马统领一大群山羊绵羊）
印象最深刻的城市：呼和浩特（友好热情的人），延吉（这里真的是中国吗？）
最好吃：很难评但是我依旧坚持台湾的芋圆和地瓜圆，爱玉仙草豆花冰（想想还是觉得只有这个东西对我来说百吃不厌）。其他好吃难忘的东西有台南的鳝鱼意面和周氏虾卷，花莲的麻署，新加坡的那个螃蟹，西北的手抓羊肉，无锡排骨，等等等等。
最险：华山（自古华山一条路，其之险居五岳之首，相信不虚传。）一年后应该会有把其取代的选手。
最穷：目前为止应该是在宁夏。银川至中卫途中的乡下土房。
住过最豪华的地方：北京的东方凯德华洗浴餐饮有限公司（堕落的幸福生活过了一天半）
最“想去而没去成”：九寨沟（夏季太贵，暂时无缘），台湾屏东县垦丁（发大水）
最想去还没去：新疆，西藏，青海，四川，广西，云南，少林寺，武当山，峨嵋山，泰山。因不了解所以不知道哪个最想去。
下一个目标是广西，然后贵州，云南，和四川。在九月底之前这些地方走多少算多少，也不勉强。之后经山西至山东，由客轮去韩国看看。
在此之前，在香港悠哉游哉，打算这几天写一篇正对内地朋友们的“香港攻略”，介绍一些既省精力又省钱的到港好玩法。
Monday, August 14, 2006
Back in Hong Kong.
在长沙呆了2个晚上。湖南人的口音可爱的。下次去湖南要去张家界和凤凰。
做早班的航班来到广州，然后马上做巴士去了中山，和 Ernest 中山地头蛇在市中心晃荡了一个下午，晚上到达深圳，在嘉年华会过夜。觉得中山蛮适合消遣过舒服日子的。
今朝终于经罗湖口岸回到香港，大陆旅程先搞一个段落。在家休息十天八天再出发。
做早班的航班来到广州，然后马上做巴士去了中山，和 Ernest 中山地头蛇在市中心晃荡了一个下午，晚上到达深圳，在嘉年华会过夜。觉得中山蛮适合消遣过舒服日子的。
今朝终于经罗湖口岸回到香港，大陆旅程先搞一个段落。在家休息十天八天再出发。
Friday, August 11, 2006
长沙。Changsha, Hunan.
天气好热，也没风。想去广州，但是只有硬座，不干。买了明天的机票，300多，还好。
也没什么事做，就去岳麓山去走走。看到很多韩国人耶！为什么呢？原来长沙是韩国临时政府旧址。韩国人真的很追根寻源的。 前几天在延边也看到很多韩国人的，把那里的飞机票抄的老高。
一会儿去星沙的芙蓉小区看看朋友家造的房子，听说很有名的。
也没什么事做，就去岳麓山去走走。看到很多韩国人耶！为什么呢？原来长沙是韩国临时政府旧址。韩国人真的很追根寻源的。 前几天在延边也看到很多韩国人的，把那里的飞机票抄的老高。
一会儿去星沙的芙蓉小区看看朋友家造的房子，听说很有名的。
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
九江，庐山，南昌。Jiangxi Province
庐山的真面目就是一个比较秀气的瀑布，流量极小（至少今天是），比普通瀑布非凡些。庐山上有个小镇，因李白的那首诗现在繁荣着。其实“飞流直下三千尺”，因该改成155米。那三叠泉在山下，但为了小镇的繁荣，庐山的设施建设要求游客先上山，再下山。很折腾，也很花钱。一套一套的门票，和车票：从九江开始，要花大概400+块钱，过很颠的山路，下1400+个台阶，才能看到那庐山瀑布。当然，也可以花很多时间和精力取省车钱和缆车钱。三叠泉下有公路，只要把大门的台阶放在那里，就没那么多麻烦了。当然，庐山的人是不会那样做的。三叠泉的骄子生意，以及120rmb的景点线包车生意，好得不得了。
To be fair, 为了赶回香港，我不想逗留在九江附近，所以也没静心去欣赏庐山。今朝到的九江，匆匆赶去庐山，花钱买时间，回到九江马上就跳上去南昌的汽车。今晚在南昌过。
南昌比想象中要繁荣的多。城市发展和南京差不多，可能还快点。
累了，找地方洗澡睡觉。明天去长沙。
To be fair, 为了赶回香港，我不想逗留在九江附近，所以也没静心去欣赏庐山。今朝到的九江，匆匆赶去庐山，花钱买时间，回到九江马上就跳上去南昌的汽车。今晚在南昌过。
南昌比想象中要繁荣的多。城市发展和南京差不多，可能还快点。
累了，找地方洗澡睡觉。明天去长沙。
Monday, August 07, 2006
Shanghai.
Haven't witnessed blue skies like this in Shanghai in recent memory. My city still has hope ...
Yet another long train ride tomorrow. This time to 九江 (Jiu Jiang) in Jiang Xi province. The famous 庐山 (Lu Shan) is around there. Probably heading to 南昌 (Nan Chang) and then 长沙 (Chang Sha) afterwards, working my way back to Pearl River Delta.
Yet another long train ride tomorrow. This time to 九江 (Jiu Jiang) in Jiang Xi province. The famous 庐山 (Lu Shan) is around there. Probably heading to 南昌 (Nan Chang) and then 长沙 (Chang Sha) afterwards, working my way back to Pearl River Delta.
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Via Beijing to Shanghai.
After having enjoyed some luxury at 东方凯德华洗浴有限公司 (Bath and recreation place), and having had a drink with Ernest in 三里屯, I flew to Shanghai.
I would highly recommend travellers to go here (if you speak at least some Chinese). For 88 RMB you get to enjoy their luxious bathing facilities (jacuzzi, hydropool, etc; very clean), buffet breakfast and dinner (there must be over 30 foods dinnertime, including sashimi and peking duck), and overnight stay in a sofa bed. If you spend another 88 on massages, then you can stay in the "Movie Room" where it's a real bed; that's what I did. They got internet, reading room, snooker, gym, guys to scrub your back, etc ... Pretty good deal compared to a hotel room; some people bring their whole family over for some relaxing time.
Beijing is certainly moving very quickly in vamping up for the Olympics. Roads that were unpaved near 三里屯 in my last visit in Dec'05 are now fixed up. The city's taxis teamed up with Hyundai and gave the cab fleet new cars and new looks. For the record, in the old system there were 3 prices, corresponding to 3 different sedan sizes; thus to the Beijing-visitor it felt like arbitrary pricing. Streets are wider than Shanghai's , and speed limits are universally obeyed, thanks to radars everywhere and a strictly enforced 200 RMB speeding fine. They're moving quickly to remodelled "Hutongs" as well.
The sky in Beijing, nevertheless, is not up for a quick fix. It's as gray as ever. In my airport limo ride, the sun looked like the moon...
Service in Beijing seems to be improving but still substandard compared to the South. I guess it takes time to shake off the SOE (State Owned Enterprise) mentality and embrace capitalism with some cordialness towards customers. Fancy new buildings and embellished interiors are a good start though.
I would highly recommend travellers to go here (if you speak at least some Chinese). For 88 RMB you get to enjoy their luxious bathing facilities (jacuzzi, hydropool, etc; very clean), buffet breakfast and dinner (there must be over 30 foods dinnertime, including sashimi and peking duck), and overnight stay in a sofa bed. If you spend another 88 on massages, then you can stay in the "Movie Room" where it's a real bed; that's what I did. They got internet, reading room, snooker, gym, guys to scrub your back, etc ... Pretty good deal compared to a hotel room; some people bring their whole family over for some relaxing time.
Beijing is certainly moving very quickly in vamping up for the Olympics. Roads that were unpaved near 三里屯 in my last visit in Dec'05 are now fixed up. The city's taxis teamed up with Hyundai and gave the cab fleet new cars and new looks. For the record, in the old system there were 3 prices, corresponding to 3 different sedan sizes; thus to the Beijing-visitor it felt like arbitrary pricing. Streets are wider than Shanghai's , and speed limits are universally obeyed, thanks to radars everywhere and a strictly enforced 200 RMB speeding fine. They're moving quickly to remodelled "Hutongs" as well.
The sky in Beijing, nevertheless, is not up for a quick fix. It's as gray as ever. In my airport limo ride, the sun looked like the moon...
Service in Beijing seems to be improving but still substandard compared to the South. I guess it takes time to shake off the SOE (State Owned Enterprise) mentality and embrace capitalism with some cordialness towards customers. Fancy new buildings and embellished interiors are a good start though.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Northeast. 东北：哈尔滨，牡丹江，延边，长白山
After an exhausting 4 day trip in the Northeast. I'm finally resting in a "Bathing Recreation Centre" in Beijing. Where possible I take lodging in this type of place in lieu of hotels. If you've been to one, the reason why is a no-brainer -- they're only getting more and more luxurious, and more competitive. The cost is only fraction of a 3-star hotel room. I'll make a list of ones I've been to in time to come.
Well, after my stint herding 1000 sheep, I took a train to Harbin to meet up with Uncle Yeung (that would be Rosanne's dad), who was on holiday. We, regrettably, bought a 4 day package to the following places. I say regrettably because we could have easily done this one our own, more economically, and in better style.
牡丹江 (Mu Dan Jiang), where I was somewhat ill, and missed out on 2 alledgedly unexciting sights : 底下森林 Underground forest -- basically a forest in a volcanic opening, and, 镜泊湖 Jing Po Lake -- an better than ordinary lake. The food was no good and lodging was crappy -- unclean, hot water and flushing problems.
延边，延吉 (Yan Ji, Bordering North Korea). For me this was very interesting. Yan Ji was the most unique city in my China experience. Han Chinese are definitely outnumbered by the Korean Ethnic Group. All signs are bilingual (Chinese/Korean). Yan Ji is one of the wealthiest places in the Northeast. People here go abroad (S.Korea as a primary destination) to work and like spend the money back home. The CCP subsidizes Korean Ethnics with housing (free house in some cases) so as to appease this people. I had some famous local dog meat and cold noodles. People here are very nice.
长白山 (Chang Bai Mountain). 长白山天池 (Chanbai Shan Volvanic Lake) is the main attraction. Our tour made us spend 80rmb each to ride a Chevy Blazer-like car up to the peak where one can view the volcanic lake. Well, it was cold and windy like hell up there and after 15 minutes of freezing my ass off, I managed to catch a 5 second glimpse of this amazingly beautiful lake. Still, the view was blurred by clouds. Here's picture I stole from the Net. To Koreans (or at least to the many that visit), Chang Bai Shan beholds the origins of their people and is a sacred mountain. The Volcanic Opening would be the most sacred site. I heard that many Koreans cried tears of regret and disappointment when they were unable to see the lake due to heavy clouds (which is common). This is a sharp contrast to the many Chinese visitors who condemn the weather as well as their tour guide for taking them a long way to see some clouds. It is true that Changbaishan is but one of many marvels in China's landscape, perhaps too many to the extend that many Han Chinese don't treasure them. The locals Han in the tourism industry pollute, cheat, evade tax, etc, to cut costs and create more private wealth. For example, my package purposely didn't include some necessary tickets (the 80RMB 4-wheel ride up to the peak for one), and asked us to for more cash to purchase these tickets. In the end, they collected all the tickets (which were also receipts) for tax deduction purposes. They also bought us foam-box lunches (which were no good) to eat in the dusty parking lot at the foot of the mountain, which ended up as the dumping ground.
These sites are a few hundred kilometres apart from each other, but connected by winding and bumpy roads, or slow trains. Thus we spent majority of the time suffering in long train/bus rides, cajoling cheap bus drivers to turn on the A/C once in a while.
People in the Northeast have a very strong sense of brotherhood. This is a deep rooted local tradition that's well known to all Chinese. Businesses, however, are less sophistated than the South; corruption and business malpractices are common. Even in my short 4-day trip, this was apparent in many ways...
It's summer peak season and train tickets are hard to come by -- very hard. This made my impromptu travelling less easy. I decided to cut the chase and fly back to modern civilization. The short 1.5 hr flight from Yan Ji to Beijing costed 1130 RMB!!! -- and this was a midnight flight ...
Think I'll head back to HK in a few more days, and start again when travel discounts kick in, and trains are not so crazily packed. Also I should gain back the lost weight in 3 months of almost non-stop travelling...
Well, after my stint herding 1000 sheep, I took a train to Harbin to meet up with Uncle Yeung (that would be Rosanne's dad), who was on holiday. We, regrettably, bought a 4 day package to the following places. I say regrettably because we could have easily done this one our own, more economically, and in better style.
牡丹江 (Mu Dan Jiang), where I was somewhat ill, and missed out on 2 alledgedly unexciting sights : 底下森林 Underground forest -- basically a forest in a volcanic opening, and, 镜泊湖 Jing Po Lake -- an better than ordinary lake. The food was no good and lodging was crappy -- unclean, hot water and flushing problems.
延边，延吉 (Yan Ji, Bordering North Korea). For me this was very interesting. Yan Ji was the most unique city in my China experience. Han Chinese are definitely outnumbered by the Korean Ethnic Group. All signs are bilingual (Chinese/Korean). Yan Ji is one of the wealthiest places in the Northeast. People here go abroad (S.Korea as a primary destination) to work and like spend the money back home. The CCP subsidizes Korean Ethnics with housing (free house in some cases) so as to appease this people. I had some famous local dog meat and cold noodles. People here are very nice.
长白山 (Chang Bai Mountain). 长白山天池 (Chanbai Shan Volvanic Lake) is the main attraction. Our tour made us spend 80rmb each to ride a Chevy Blazer-like car up to the peak where one can view the volcanic lake. Well, it was cold and windy like hell up there and after 15 minutes of freezing my ass off, I managed to catch a 5 second glimpse of this amazingly beautiful lake. Still, the view was blurred by clouds. Here's picture I stole from the Net. To Koreans (or at least to the many that visit), Chang Bai Shan beholds the origins of their people and is a sacred mountain. The Volcanic Opening would be the most sacred site. I heard that many Koreans cried tears of regret and disappointment when they were unable to see the lake due to heavy clouds (which is common). This is a sharp contrast to the many Chinese visitors who condemn the weather as well as their tour guide for taking them a long way to see some clouds. It is true that Changbaishan is but one of many marvels in China's landscape, perhaps too many to the extend that many Han Chinese don't treasure them. The locals Han in the tourism industry pollute, cheat, evade tax, etc, to cut costs and create more private wealth. For example, my package purposely didn't include some necessary tickets (the 80RMB 4-wheel ride up to the peak for one), and asked us to for more cash to purchase these tickets. In the end, they collected all the tickets (which were also receipts) for tax deduction purposes. They also bought us foam-box lunches (which were no good) to eat in the dusty parking lot at the foot of the mountain, which ended up as the dumping ground.
These sites are a few hundred kilometres apart from each other, but connected by winding and bumpy roads, or slow trains. Thus we spent majority of the time suffering in long train/bus rides, cajoling cheap bus drivers to turn on the A/C once in a while.
People in the Northeast have a very strong sense of brotherhood. This is a deep rooted local tradition that's well known to all Chinese. Businesses, however, are less sophistated than the South; corruption and business malpractices are common. Even in my short 4-day trip, this was apparent in many ways...
It's summer peak season and train tickets are hard to come by -- very hard. This made my impromptu travelling less easy. I decided to cut the chase and fly back to modern civilization. The short 1.5 hr flight from Yan Ji to Beijing costed 1130 RMB!!! -- and this was a midnight flight ...
Think I'll head back to HK in a few more days, and start again when travel discounts kick in, and trains are not so crazily packed. Also I should gain back the lost weight in 3 months of almost non-stop travelling...
Sunday, July 30, 2006
哈达图三八一队，牧羊。Sheep Herding, Hulunbeier, Inner Mongolia.
Spend the last 2 days with a local sheep herder. It was truly an eye-opening experience.
Photos here: http://ethan.fotopic.net/c1037659.html
Photos here: http://ethan.fotopic.net/c1037659.html
金帐汗是来海拉尔游客的必去之处，虽然和其他内蒙古的草原旅游景点大同小异，但因为独自一个，因为公共交通不方便，没有太多的选择余地，我也去了这个离城市最近的景点。
花了150块来到金帐汗。我好奇，看到羊群就淌河过去看。
。。。赶火车去满洲里。。。长话短说。
一位牧羊的大叔邀请我去他家住。我去了，和他一起赶了2天羊。 等明天到了哈尔滨再上传照片。
。。。
来到哈尔滨，在上海滩洗浴俱乐部歇着，缓解一下昨天在火车上因无卧铺而熬夜的经历：旅游旺季在世界第一人口大国真是非同小可。
详叙一下赶羊的经验：
这位好客的大叔叫佟胡吉图，是蒙古族人，说东北口音的普通话（其实这边和黑龙江的人差不多），部队下岗后来海拉尔附近的草原牧羊。见我有意骑马赶羊玩，并圆我心愿。我骑他的马（叫“小不点儿”），他步行。
草原生活真是别有风味！房子是树枝和麻布作的，燃料是羊粪，水是60米深井水，洗澡几天去一次附近的镇里。方便嘛，随地解决。
4:30am 去后山放羊，9:00am 回来。羊睡人也休息。吃过饭1pm再出发去河边给羊饮水，再一路赶至后山直到7pm，圈好羊，拴住马，吃饭，睡觉。婶呢，就在家打点，买菜，喂狗，挤牛奶；下雨前收集羊粪，天热了掀开麻布吹风。
生活充实、朴实、也艰难。市价：一只羊，200-300 RMB；出奶的好牛，1万。大叔的1000只羊有一大半是帮别人赶的，有若干头牛。他对现状乐观，每天骑马赶羊，心情舒畅，身体壮。
这2天的草原牧羊生活极其愉快，即使没洗澡，以及被蚊子咬无数次。。。
Monday, July 24, 2006
Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, onto Hulunbeier. 呼和浩特，呼伦贝尔大草原
The bus from 包头(Baotou) to 呼和浩特 (Hohhot) took 2.5 hrs. It's not much different from any other city, except noticeably, 蒙牛's (Mengniu Dairy Co Ltd, 2319.hk) advertisements are everywhere.
I settled in to a 招待所 (very basic hotel) in 满都海西港. It costs only 30 RMB per night. Going to try to find my way to the nearest prairy.
...
Gonna try my luck and get a 23:13 train ticket to 呼伦贝尔（即海伦尔）.
...
Tomorrow at midnight I'm taking a 37 hr train to Hu Lun Bei Er
http://www.hulunbeiertour.com/, the largest grassland in China.
I really enjoyed my day in Hohhot today. People here are really very nice. The icecream tells the mood.
I settled in to a 招待所 (very basic hotel) in 满都海西港. It costs only 30 RMB per night. Going to try to find my way to the nearest prairy.
...
Gonna try my luck and get a 23:13 train ticket to 呼伦贝尔（即海伦尔）.
...
Tomorrow at midnight I'm taking a 37 hr train to Hu Lun Bei Er
http://www.hulunbeiertour.com/, the largest grassland in China.I really enjoyed my day in Hohhot today. People here are really very nice. The icecream tells the mood.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
内蒙古，包头。 Baotou, Inner Mongolia
Decided to come to Baotou (包头). Looking for somebody to take me out of city to the prairies. The train ride from Ying Chuan to Bao Tou was 8 hours. I learnt from a friend that 硬卧 is the safest type of train cart, 软卧 sometimes gets robbed due to it's enclosed nature.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
宁夏沙坡头，内蒙通湖草原。
回顾一下今天的旅程：早上从中卫做公车出发，4元，过了黄土高原30＋分钟有如洗衣板的土路，来到黄河边的沙漠，人称“沙坡头”。花了50块骑骆驼去腾格里过了把瘾，在沙漠里拍了几张照片，蛮新鲜的，但摆脱不料花钱买商品的感觉。这里还有很多花钱的项目，听起来都蛮吸引人的，例如做羊皮筏子在黄河上漂流。总而言之这里感觉不太自然，成了个游乐场。
吃过羊肉揪面，130元雇佣了6人小面包去了通湖大草原。其实它是个内蒙古南部的小草原，在沙漠边境，现在是个游乐场。我玩了骑马和开越野车去沙漠玩滑沙。那马不合作，离开马棚速度特慢，回去就飞快，明显不喜欢这份工作。越野车感觉不错，但那车很烂，驾驶座位的靠背坏了。滑沙蛮刺激的，在沙漠里有新鲜感，但我觉得小时候在加拿大冬天玩的 toboggan （滑雪橇）更好玩。
一天的总结是：对我而言，花钱玩这些项目不怎么值得，但是和那边的人沟通倒很愉快。西北人直爽，善良，连从事旅游业的人都如此，可想而知...
回到银川，明早去火车站，目的地未知，也许兰州，或成都，或呼和浩特。
很想找个地方上传照片... 大概我应该买个usb读卡机
Friday, July 21, 2006
宁夏。西部影城，沙湖，中卫。
昨天参观了西部影城。这里拍影过蛮多出名影片的:红高梁，黄河绝恋，大话西游等。昨夜在影城附近的华西村过的夜，吃了满肚子的羊肉，爽的。今朝兴高采烈的去了沙湖，后悔了。门票/ 船票80，但里面不怎么好玩。唯一有点兴趣的是骑骆驼，但20块只骑了2分钟，真扫兴。感觉这里是个骗钱的地方。
一小时巴士回银川，再三小时来到先所在的中卫市，明天进军著名的沙破头，然后内蒙的通湖草原，大概明天晚上可以住蒙古包。
宁夏这里的人真的好善良，我们受到的待遇就是游客应该得到的，很满意。城市里比我想象中先进，乡下比想象中落后。刚刚买了些枸杞和枸杞果酒，再逛会儿就回旅店休息。
一小时巴士回银川，再三小时来到先所在的中卫市，明天进军著名的沙破头，然后内蒙的通湖草原，大概明天晚上可以住蒙古包。
宁夏这里的人真的好善良，我们受到的待遇就是游客应该得到的，很满意。城市里比我想象中先进，乡下比想象中落后。刚刚买了些枸杞和枸杞果酒，再逛会儿就回旅店休息。
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Tired from Hua Shan. Yin Chuan Tomorrow. 爬华山精彩但累，明日至宁夏银川。
I've been to all 5 peaks of Hua Shan (东，南，西，北，中峰). The trail is tougher and steeper than Huang Shan, but the latter mountain looks sharper. After many hours of stairs I'm kind of worn out -- need to rest and psych myself up for Ning Xia (宁夏银川) tomorrow.
More Hua Shan pictures:
http://ethan.fotopic.net/c1030968.html
Will have more photos when that USB cable and I meet again. Last night in Xi'An.
....
Just read some other people's blogs on Ning Xia travel. Must say I'm a little uneasy as Charity and I are travelling with some luggage and unprepared for the desert and the wild country, both in knowledge and in equipment. This was a last minute change of plans from the original Jiu Zhai Gou (九寨沟) idea. Price comes with creativity... Le's see how it goes.
More Hua Shan pictures:
http://ethan.fotopic.net/c1030968.html
Will have more photos when that USB cable and I meet again. Last night in Xi'An.
....
Just read some other people's blogs on Ning Xia travel. Must say I'm a little uneasy as Charity and I are travelling with some luggage and unprepared for the desert and the wild country, both in knowledge and in equipment. This was a last minute change of plans from the original Jiu Zhai Gou (九寨沟) idea. Price comes with creativity... Le's see how it goes.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Busy day in Xi'an. Huashan Tomorrow
Got on the tour minibus at 0730 with Charity, about 15 other tourist and a very eloquent mid-aged lady guide.
She wasn't happy about my joining her tour but sitting out the first 3 sites in the bus with a beer.
1. 临潼博物馆, Ling Tong Museum, 24 RMB, where the featured attaction was 4 of the "very first" Terra Cotta Warriors unearthed, and a piece of some shoulder bone of some famous budda. Later I found out that the 4 Soldiers were borrowed from the Terra Cotta site to boost business for the museum. I was right it was a waste of money, but some people buy the budda story
2. 华清池, 65 RMB, hot-spring-bath-themed park for the famous Yang Concubine 杨贵妃, as well as office and home of Chiang Kai-chek, after he was defeated by CCP
3. 秦始皇陵, 2x RMB, the grave site of Qin, the first emperor of China. This would have been a marvel to see except current technology still can't dig up this grave; furthermore, it is expected this will remain the case for 50 years in the horizon. Thus this site is nothing but a huge protrution of mud in the ground. You stand on it and wander what's 10 meters (?) below. Waste of money.
Charity went to the first 2 though.
We ditched the tour group and went to skip to 兵马俑, by ourselves. A local lady driver managed to temporarily convince us that the stuff in 兵马俑 was fake and was manufactured in one of the many factories along side the same main road as all of the above sites, and that if we were to see fake stuff, might as well pay 18RMB instead of 90 to see her friends fake 兵马俑.
So we bought her story and went to this "8 Wonders of the World" site, where the guide tried to convince us that Great Wall and the Leaning Tower wasn't among them. I got a little pissed and left the place then went to the 90RMB real 兵马俑.
I'd have to say it was quite something, but I'm not the type to appreciate it. Afterall, it's soldiers made from dirt, alot of them. I stare at them for about 20 seconds in amazement, then the next 2 hours was more or less boredom. I would have been more interested if the tour guide talked about the different weapons, and how they used them; but instead she spend alot of time talking about this farmer who discovered Terra Cotta, and now is famous and has a great signature designed by a famous caligrapher, and that if we buy this expensive book (which is not available elsewhere), he'd sign it for us.
I got more stuff to say about this but my card time in this computer cafe is running out.
Well, I ended the day with some nice food near 鼓楼 (Gu Lou -- Drum Gate), and bought a Tuo Luo to play with.
She wasn't happy about my joining her tour but sitting out the first 3 sites in the bus with a beer.
1. 临潼博物馆, Ling Tong Museum, 24 RMB, where the featured attaction was 4 of the "very first" Terra Cotta Warriors unearthed, and a piece of some shoulder bone of some famous budda. Later I found out that the 4 Soldiers were borrowed from the Terra Cotta site to boost business for the museum. I was right it was a waste of money, but some people buy the budda story
2. 华清池, 65 RMB, hot-spring-bath-themed park for the famous Yang Concubine 杨贵妃, as well as office and home of Chiang Kai-chek, after he was defeated by CCP
3. 秦始皇陵, 2x RMB, the grave site of Qin, the first emperor of China. This would have been a marvel to see except current technology still can't dig up this grave; furthermore, it is expected this will remain the case for 50 years in the horizon. Thus this site is nothing but a huge protrution of mud in the ground. You stand on it and wander what's 10 meters (?) below. Waste of money.
Charity went to the first 2 though.
We ditched the tour group and went to skip to 兵马俑, by ourselves. A local lady driver managed to temporarily convince us that the stuff in 兵马俑 was fake and was manufactured in one of the many factories along side the same main road as all of the above sites, and that if we were to see fake stuff, might as well pay 18RMB instead of 90 to see her friends fake 兵马俑.
So we bought her story and went to this "8 Wonders of the World" site, where the guide tried to convince us that Great Wall and the Leaning Tower wasn't among them. I got a little pissed and left the place then went to the 90RMB real 兵马俑.
I'd have to say it was quite something, but I'm not the type to appreciate it. Afterall, it's soldiers made from dirt, alot of them. I stare at them for about 20 seconds in amazement, then the next 2 hours was more or less boredom. I would have been more interested if the tour guide talked about the different weapons, and how they used them; but instead she spend alot of time talking about this farmer who discovered Terra Cotta, and now is famous and has a great signature designed by a famous caligrapher, and that if we buy this expensive book (which is not available elsewhere), he'd sign it for us.
I got more stuff to say about this but my card time in this computer cafe is running out.
Well, I ended the day with some nice food near 鼓楼 (Gu Lou -- Drum Gate), and bought a Tuo Luo to play with.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Xi'an
Staying in a hotel near 鼓楼 (Gu Lou). Had a not-so-great noodel for lunch in Gu Lou but dinner was the famous 羊肉泡馍 and some other local dishes, quite good. Still, I'm hoping to taste better noodles in the coming days.
Plan tomorrow is to join some tour and go on a "East Line". It includes the Terracotta Soldiers (兵马俑), Qin's Grave (秦始皇陵) -- real and model versions, since real is too far underground to open up and get in. Another is 华清池 (Qing Hua Pond), where some famous concubine use to bath (alledgedly extravagant). They only charge 45 RMB per person to take to 7 places (door ticket not included), but of course they're hoping I'd buy some useless trinket at a heavy premium. Probably I'm going to Terracotta Soldiers and the Pond and sit out the rest of them.
The day after we're pondering Hua Shan 华山, which is supposed to be even steeper than Huang Shan. I'm looking forward to this one.
Other than that, just took a nap and walked around. People here are nice and simple, but still it's the biggest city in Shan3Xi (as opposed to Shan1Xi, which is a different eastbound province).
This cafe is full of cigarette smell.
Plan tomorrow is to join some tour and go on a "East Line". It includes the Terracotta Soldiers (兵马俑), Qin's Grave (秦始皇陵) -- real and model versions, since real is too far underground to open up and get in. Another is 华清池 (Qing Hua Pond), where some famous concubine use to bath (alledgedly extravagant). They only charge 45 RMB per person to take to 7 places (door ticket not included), but of course they're hoping I'd buy some useless trinket at a heavy premium. Probably I'm going to Terracotta Soldiers and the Pond and sit out the rest of them.
The day after we're pondering Hua Shan 华山, which is supposed to be even steeper than Huang Shan. I'm looking forward to this one.
Other than that, just took a nap and walked around. People here are nice and simple, but still it's the biggest city in Shan3Xi (as opposed to Shan1Xi, which is a different eastbound province).
This cafe is full of cigarette smell.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Westbound
Flying to Xi'an to see Terracotta Soldiers first thing tomorrow with Charity from Taiwan. Hope I recover some tonight, feel kind of beat from too much travel and too little sleep. I'll rest more and blog a little less for the coming week or so.
Weather in HK.
Below is a freeze of a Hong Kong TV programming discussing whether people working in Central should rid of their jacket in the summer heat. HK is a very local place, I bet more HKers care about this than how many died in Palestine that day.
from left: Rosanne, Raymond, Wilson
14th was my birthday, happy birthday to myself
from left: Rosanne, Raymond, Wilson
14th was my birthday, happy birthday to myself
Thursday, July 13, 2006
无锡．Wuxi
It's pronouced "Woo-Hsi", and it's between Suzhou and Nanjing, 1.5 hr due west of Shanghai via fast train. I went there to visit Lixin and taste Wuxi ribs -- it's famous and incredibly tasty (you gotta have this). I was busy feeding myself and so forgot to take a photo to tantalize you all. Here's one from the web:
Thanks to Lixin, Noriko and their 2 great boys, my day trip was super relaxing. It felt like the kind of holiday I would have taken when I was working: nice meal, park, tea, nap, snack, swim, read ...
Wuxi is a modernizing city just like it's sister city Suzhou. Growing with foreign investment and keeping it's great Fengshui intact. The parks here are pretty like Suzhou but not jam-packed with tour groups with loudspeakers.
Boys, see you in Tokyo.
Thanks to Lixin, Noriko and their 2 great boys, my day trip was super relaxing. It felt like the kind of holiday I would have taken when I was working: nice meal, park, tea, nap, snack, swim, read ...
Wuxi is a modernizing city just like it's sister city Suzhou. Growing with foreign investment and keeping it's great Fengshui intact. The parks here are pretty like Suzhou but not jam-packed with tour groups with loudspeakers.
Boys, see you in Tokyo.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Huang Shan (Yellow mountain 黄山)
Yesterday was some day. It began at 2am with watching World Cup finals, which was very dramatic and fun to watch (for the record Zidane was red carded for head budding a likewise retiring Italian guy, and the match ended 5:4 Italy victory in penalty shootout). It ended some time after 5pm，at which time I was scrambling to find a place to watch the Sunrise ...
A lot of fun followed, and I ended my Huangshan trip in high spirit but rather low energy level, which was why I ditched my group headed for Hefei, and went on my own and flew back to Shanghai.
On the ride from Hong Qiao Airport to Pudong, I noticed many new high-end hotels and new serviced apartments in the south west downtown region. I wonder where they would find quality trained staff to service this outburst of luxury accomodation. There must be professional school that produce these members of the new economy, but I'm not sure supply meets demand there. If any one is experience and well-funded in this area, I bet they can make a killing charging tuition teaching the art of serving the 1st world way.
I shouldn't romanize my my breath taking experience on Huang Shan, so I'll work on the pictures first: they're overdue...
Photos finally up...
It was a 4 days, 3 nights trip organized by an agency that does 散客 (ungrouped travellers). I must say the logistics are fairly beefed up: The travel agency schedules for me different partial events of the trip and contracts them to actual service providers, so every whole event of the trip is with a different group.
Day 1 morning was a 6 hour long bus ride from Hefei to Tangkou (汤口), a town at the foot of Huangshan. Praise is that the bus goes fast and makes only necessary stop and the driver uses the break sparingly, which made a 6.5 hr trip only 5.75 hours. Criticism is that the bus is missing a bathroom, and the driver honks profusely, I don't blame the man since many small time villagers still treat state highways as their backyard, and, honking can reduced the need for breaking in many situations. Well it was an uncomfortable, noisy ride.
Day 1 afternoon, I went to 凤凰谷 (Phoenix Valley), and 竹筏漂流 (bamboo raft drifting). The valleys of Huangshan are marvellous but they all looks more or less the same: small streams flowing through special looking rocks, with frequent rapids, falls, backgrounded by hills and mountains. Drifting was a pretty good feeling. In the old days, this is how people moved around in China, very much at one with nature, in a setting behind the inspiration of many poets.Next the driver took us to a free tea tasting session at an affiliated business partner. The girl gave a nice intro on the 10 different types of tea harvested on Huangshan did such a good job that some of us gave in and bought some. They were at a premiun to the market (villagers homes of scenic sites), but I bought some 一叶参, which is good for people who fatigue from thinking. This particular tea look like large pebbles, each scrunched from a single leaf. A one person serving is about 1/3 of a leaf, and can last 8-9 days. This is one of the special teas that can be served overnight (over-week for that matter).
Day 1's events yielded extra income for the agency as the advertised "free afternoon" as promoted became "make more money afternoon". Well, one figures one can't go anywhere by oneself without a car in the middle of somewhere that might as well be nowhere. I spent an unplanned 150 RMB plus the 26 RMB tea.
Day 2 was both visually as well as culturally rewarding. First of two village stops was 宏村 (Hong Cun - Hong Village), a well preserved mountain village special in many ways. I've got some captions that tell the story at http://ethan.fotopic.net/c1019137.html
Hong Cun was truly beautiful. A large cohort of art students almost live here: Heavenly views, flowing lifestyles, in historic technology.
2nd village was 西递 (Xi Di - Xidi Village), which is more or less the same as Hong, but in somewhat different style and Fengshui.
... to be continued.
A lot of fun followed, and I ended my Huangshan trip in high spirit but rather low energy level, which was why I ditched my group headed for Hefei, and went on my own and flew back to Shanghai.
On the ride from Hong Qiao Airport to Pudong, I noticed many new high-end hotels and new serviced apartments in the south west downtown region. I wonder where they would find quality trained staff to service this outburst of luxury accomodation. There must be professional school that produce these members of the new economy, but I'm not sure supply meets demand there. If any one is experience and well-funded in this area, I bet they can make a killing charging tuition teaching the art of serving the 1st world way.
I shouldn't romanize my my breath taking experience on Huang Shan, so I'll work on the pictures first: they're overdue...
Photos finally up...
It was a 4 days, 3 nights trip organized by an agency that does 散客 (ungrouped travellers). I must say the logistics are fairly beefed up: The travel agency schedules for me different partial events of the trip and contracts them to actual service providers, so every whole event of the trip is with a different group.
Day 1 morning was a 6 hour long bus ride from Hefei to Tangkou (汤口), a town at the foot of Huangshan. Praise is that the bus goes fast and makes only necessary stop and the driver uses the break sparingly, which made a 6.5 hr trip only 5.75 hours. Criticism is that the bus is missing a bathroom, and the driver honks profusely, I don't blame the man since many small time villagers still treat state highways as their backyard, and, honking can reduced the need for breaking in many situations. Well it was an uncomfortable, noisy ride.
Day 1 afternoon, I went to 凤凰谷 (Phoenix Valley), and 竹筏漂流 (bamboo raft drifting). The valleys of Huangshan are marvellous but they all looks more or less the same: small streams flowing through special looking rocks, with frequent rapids, falls, backgrounded by hills and mountains. Drifting was a pretty good feeling. In the old days, this is how people moved around in China, very much at one with nature, in a setting behind the inspiration of many poets.Next the driver took us to a free tea tasting session at an affiliated business partner. The girl gave a nice intro on the 10 different types of tea harvested on Huangshan did such a good job that some of us gave in and bought some. They were at a premiun to the market (villagers homes of scenic sites), but I bought some 一叶参, which is good for people who fatigue from thinking. This particular tea look like large pebbles, each scrunched from a single leaf. A one person serving is about 1/3 of a leaf, and can last 8-9 days. This is one of the special teas that can be served overnight (over-week for that matter).
Day 1's events yielded extra income for the agency as the advertised "free afternoon" as promoted became "make more money afternoon". Well, one figures one can't go anywhere by oneself without a car in the middle of somewhere that might as well be nowhere. I spent an unplanned 150 RMB plus the 26 RMB tea.
Day 2 was both visually as well as culturally rewarding. First of two village stops was 宏村 (Hong Cun - Hong Village), a well preserved mountain village special in many ways. I've got some captions that tell the story at http://ethan.fotopic.net/c1019137.html
Hong Cun was truly beautiful. A large cohort of art students almost live here: Heavenly views, flowing lifestyles, in historic technology.
2nd village was 西递 (Xi Di - Xidi Village), which is more or less the same as Hong, but in somewhat different style and Fengshui.
... to be continued.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Yaks on tracks.
Yaks are taking interest in these Qinghai-Tibet tracks.
I hope they solve this problem soon, as I'm hoping to ride it in the near future.
I hope they solve this problem soon, as I'm hoping to ride it in the near future.
Hefei. Cellphones.
Still in Hefei, safe and sound, and looking forward to a 4 day trip with a tour group around Huang Shan (黄山).
In big cities like Shanghai many people are using their third to fourth cell phones. Other than the fact that new models proliferate, their are plenty of other reason why a secondary market for cell phones are developing: The decoupled nature of carrier and the handsets; people's willingness to irrationally overspend on this particular product; and theft are among top reasons, I would imagine.
In streets of Hefei (and probably all over China), there are many one man shops that make this market, that is, a man with a stool and a sign that reads something like 高价收购手机 (Handset Buyback). Today, I've seen more than 10 in the same block. Must be a pretty good business.
Saw this on a 招商加盟网 (merchant/franchise seeking website) today:
How this thing makes money? http://www.myzx365.com/Advertise/u88.aspx
The battleground for existing ideas have room to grow but is getting fierce. It's nice to see something interesting for a change (or is this a rip off from a Korean/Japanese product?).
In big cities like Shanghai many people are using their third to fourth cell phones. Other than the fact that new models proliferate, their are plenty of other reason why a secondary market for cell phones are developing: The decoupled nature of carrier and the handsets; people's willingness to irrationally overspend on this particular product; and theft are among top reasons, I would imagine.
In streets of Hefei (and probably all over China), there are many one man shops that make this market, that is, a man with a stool and a sign that reads something like 高价收购手机 (Handset Buyback). Today, I've seen more than 10 in the same block. Must be a pretty good business.
Saw this on a 招商加盟网 (merchant/franchise seeking website) today:
How this thing makes money? http://www.myzx365.com/Advertise/u88.aspx
The battleground for existing ideas have room to grow but is getting fierce. It's nice to see something interesting for a change (or is this a rip off from a Korean/Japanese product?).
Monday, July 03, 2006
Suzhou weekend. Hefei tomorrow.
Had spend a great weekend in Suzhou, many thanks to Aaron. It has almost become his part time job to host friends visiting Suzhou. But I doubt it's a dull one since Suzhou is beautiful, interesting, and ever-changing.
Besides the famous Suzhou Gardens and stately homes of ancient rulers, we visited newer areas such as 新加坡苏州工业园区. The residential developments here are a sharp contrast to the "City" (as defined by the "River" -- 河内环), where no high rise is allowed, and where for new buildings, roofs are black, and walls white, to be consistent with the existing style.
A night cruise along the encircling river reveals that the Suzhou government had put their rich tax inflow to good use, and resulted in scenery soon to be envied by visitors around the world ("soon" because still not done rebuilding). Ancient city walls and gates were moved to more convenient location for sake of city planning and better viewing; bridges (there were so, so many) and trees decorated with nice lighting -- Clearly this is no small operation.
The tail of the wealth distribution in this city had gotten a lot fatter since my last visit a few years ago. The government's strategy of building highways had paid of in many ways. In terms of land mass, half of greater suzhou seems to be centered around the new modern factories. Japanese, German, American, Singaporean, and, especially, Taiwanese money are all over this place. With cash comes a new generation of expats, and with that fancy bars, clubs, restaurants, resorts, golf courses -- you name it. It seems eminent that the empty space between Shanghai and Suzhou will be filled in not so many years in the horizon.
The weekend escapade ended with a trip to Tongli (同里), where beside the 2 hour long walk in this well preserved ancient village, a more substantive gain presided -- the purchase of famous local pork hocks (状元蹄膀). I pick out a nice looking foot, had it vacuum packaged on the spot. Today, in Nanjing, I had it for lunch. Fat as it was, it was quite tasty.
This afternoon I took a local bus (游1线) to the Presidential Palace of the former Republic of China, of which Nanjing was the capital city, and Sun Yat-sen was the president. And afterward I went to the burial grounds of Mr. Sun (中山陵). Unfortunately I haven't got much insight into these 2 experience due to my scanty knowledge of Chinese history (especially the contemporary complications), except to say that the KMT (Kuo-Ming-Tang, 国民党) flag was cleverly concealed as an inconspicuous existence, presiding over the body of Sun. Another interesting thought is that although Taiwanese hail Sun as the founding father (国父), I wonder if he's ever been to Taiwan.
Tomorrow, I'm going to take a 3 hour bus to Hefei (in Anhui Province) to visit my Aunt. Hopefully I won't get mugged, as in the unsavory tales I've heard.
Besides the famous Suzhou Gardens and stately homes of ancient rulers, we visited newer areas such as 新加坡苏州工业园区. The residential developments here are a sharp contrast to the "City" (as defined by the "River" -- 河内环), where no high rise is allowed, and where for new buildings, roofs are black, and walls white, to be consistent with the existing style.
A night cruise along the encircling river reveals that the Suzhou government had put their rich tax inflow to good use, and resulted in scenery soon to be envied by visitors around the world ("soon" because still not done rebuilding). Ancient city walls and gates were moved to more convenient location for sake of city planning and better viewing; bridges (there were so, so many) and trees decorated with nice lighting -- Clearly this is no small operation.
The tail of the wealth distribution in this city had gotten a lot fatter since my last visit a few years ago. The government's strategy of building highways had paid of in many ways. In terms of land mass, half of greater suzhou seems to be centered around the new modern factories. Japanese, German, American, Singaporean, and, especially, Taiwanese money are all over this place. With cash comes a new generation of expats, and with that fancy bars, clubs, restaurants, resorts, golf courses -- you name it. It seems eminent that the empty space between Shanghai and Suzhou will be filled in not so many years in the horizon.
The weekend escapade ended with a trip to Tongli (同里), where beside the 2 hour long walk in this well preserved ancient village, a more substantive gain presided -- the purchase of famous local pork hocks (状元蹄膀). I pick out a nice looking foot, had it vacuum packaged on the spot. Today, in Nanjing, I had it for lunch. Fat as it was, it was quite tasty.
This afternoon I took a local bus (游1线) to the Presidential Palace of the former Republic of China, of which Nanjing was the capital city, and Sun Yat-sen was the president. And afterward I went to the burial grounds of Mr. Sun (中山陵). Unfortunately I haven't got much insight into these 2 experience due to my scanty knowledge of Chinese history (especially the contemporary complications), except to say that the KMT (Kuo-Ming-Tang, 国民党) flag was cleverly concealed as an inconspicuous existence, presiding over the body of Sun. Another interesting thought is that although Taiwanese hail Sun as the founding father (国父), I wonder if he's ever been to Taiwan.
Tomorrow, I'm going to take a 3 hour bus to Hefei (in Anhui Province) to visit my Aunt. Hopefully I won't get mugged, as in the unsavory tales I've heard.
Friday, June 30, 2006
国以民为本，民以食为乐
我的游记可能要改称食记。近几天没有什么特别的游程，不过吃吃逛逛而已。倒是吃地快乐，逛的开心。
本来因今天气不错，想去中山陵走走。但是在太懒了，打算还是买2斤乒乓葡萄和2只水蜜桃回旅店享受。很久没吃乒乓葡萄了，前几天吃了一些，虽然质量一般，但是很有怀旧的感觉。今天和 Rosanne 用完面餐（还是那一家，我炒刀削面，她汤面），逛了下大卖场，回程上没忍住大乒乓葡萄的诱惑。
说到吃，回顾一下昨天的吃程：
午餐和老网友毛兄第一次餐聚：鸭血粉丝汤，在狮子桥。说实在的我更钟意在高雄吃过的下水汤（也是鸭汤），清许多。
下午懒在床上看 Desperate Housewives，直到 R 下班。因她很是想念前天的梅花糕（上次误述成桂花糕），我们去了马台街夜市回顾一下。好奇的我也要了一个。所谓梅花糕指得是它的五花雪糕铜形状，并无其花，而以糯米和红豆沙为本，上面一层白糖和一些干提干枣而制成。味道不错，门口排队。
本来想去狮子桥吃东北炖的，但既然到了夜市，也就很难不撑着肚子离开了。我们在这里吃了个饱：
徐州张记烤羊肉，对我来说非常好吃，近3两肉没几口就被我干了，但去过乌鲁木齐出差一月的女友却评“新疆的普通水平”。算我老土了。
凉皮，好像没什么特别。
酸梅汤，绿豆汤。很好，但上海亲戚们做的一点不差。
臭豆腐，一般，没绍兴的臭。
离开夜市前看到有趣的罐罐面，不过为了留些胃口给鸡汤包，我们没尝试。来到狮子桥的伊氏汤包，这里虽然有门有面但是卫生环境不太好，但是那小笼包的堂兄鸡汤包确是值得强力推荐之物，确实觉得比那南翔小笼好吃，大概是因为我从小在上海把小笼给吃腻了。其实做法而言两兄弟除了哥哥多有鸡汤为馅，以及光皮无皱之外，没什么区别。介绍不洁癖的朋友来这里享受。
回想一下无意中偷着乐，两人这一餐的消费好像不够在东京买一笼小笼包。
葡萄和桃泡得差不多了，Desperate Housewives 第二季也在等我。
本来因今天气不错，想去中山陵走走。但是在太懒了，打算还是买2斤乒乓葡萄和2只水蜜桃回旅店享受。很久没吃乒乓葡萄了，前几天吃了一些，虽然质量一般，但是很有怀旧的感觉。今天和 Rosanne 用完面餐（还是那一家，我炒刀削面，她汤面），逛了下大卖场，回程上没忍住大乒乓葡萄的诱惑。
说到吃，回顾一下昨天的吃程：
午餐和老网友毛兄第一次餐聚：鸭血粉丝汤，在狮子桥。说实在的我更钟意在高雄吃过的下水汤（也是鸭汤），清许多。
下午懒在床上看 Desperate Housewives，直到 R 下班。因她很是想念前天的梅花糕（上次误述成桂花糕），我们去了马台街夜市回顾一下。好奇的我也要了一个。所谓梅花糕指得是它的五花雪糕铜形状，并无其花，而以糯米和红豆沙为本，上面一层白糖和一些干提干枣而制成。味道不错，门口排队。
本来想去狮子桥吃东北炖的，但既然到了夜市，也就很难不撑着肚子离开了。我们在这里吃了个饱：
徐州张记烤羊肉，对我来说非常好吃，近3两肉没几口就被我干了，但去过乌鲁木齐出差一月的女友却评“新疆的普通水平”。算我老土了。
凉皮，好像没什么特别。
酸梅汤，绿豆汤。很好，但上海亲戚们做的一点不差。
臭豆腐，一般，没绍兴的臭。
离开夜市前看到有趣的罐罐面，不过为了留些胃口给鸡汤包，我们没尝试。来到狮子桥的伊氏汤包，这里虽然有门有面但是卫生环境不太好，但是那小笼包的堂兄鸡汤包确是值得强力推荐之物，确实觉得比那南翔小笼好吃，大概是因为我从小在上海把小笼给吃腻了。其实做法而言两兄弟除了哥哥多有鸡汤为馅，以及光皮无皱之外，没什么区别。介绍不洁癖的朋友来这里享受。
回想一下无意中偷着乐，两人这一餐的消费好像不够在东京买一笼小笼包。
葡萄和桃泡得差不多了，Desperate Housewives 第二季也在等我。
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
拉面。马台街夜市。
来了南京三天,和 Rosanne 一起用过三次晚餐，自己一个人三次中午外出寻食，三次吃的都是拉面。第一次是夫子庙的凉拌面，太油了，咳，旅游景点的东西。第二次是鼓楼公园附近的兰州红烧牛肉拉面，第三次是 Rosanne 这次工作的中信银行楼下的，也是兰州人开的，是红烧凉拌面。
第二三次的又好吃又不油腻，尤其是红烧凉拌面，又肉又凉菜，近来好的汤面吃过不少，但很久没吃过这么好吃的凉拌面了。不过倒是比我预想中的贵一些。大概才不到3年前，上海浦东的街坊兰州面才3块2两，4块3两（再之前是2.3元和3元）。我在南京吃的这2-3两面要5元。不过，自从几乎所有在上海的兰州拉面铺入盟后，价钱涨到6-8元（need double check)，而口味却不如从前。当然其中好处非无，上海滩这类店面确实干净体面了许多。
但是我却更喜欢以前的感觉，也就是南京拉面业现在这样。口味正宗，不干不净，吃了没病的街坊面铺。是否有什么特殊力量使得不能两全其美？希望没有。
南京似乎在改造成市容貌，主干路中山路在脱胎换骨中。昨天玄武区湖南路闲游时经过一个展示城市规划的大楼，有意卖10元门票入内参观，但门卫却告诉我展览到5pm，但前门4pm就绝客，一看时间，4:03pm。也罢，凡是都要先硬件后软件。
。。。
晚上。
带女友再次拜访街坊拉面，好吃，好吃。
然后去湖南路逛，发现了马台街，一个巨大的夜市，大概有2个通化街那么大。不过据说这个夜市不够“夜”，好像11pm出头就打烊了。相信跟着城市的富裕，有更多的夜间消费者会把这个 curfew 推向通化街的2pm。
2人在在马台街从头到尾晃荡了一个多小时，看到几个以前没见过的工艺品和小吃，比如当地特色的冰激凌筒形的桂花糕（一块五，Rosanne说好吃）；椰雕（即用椰子）。有长见识。
第二三次的又好吃又不油腻，尤其是红烧凉拌面，又肉又凉菜，近来好的汤面吃过不少，但很久没吃过这么好吃的凉拌面了。不过倒是比我预想中的贵一些。大概才不到3年前，上海浦东的街坊兰州面才3块2两，4块3两（再之前是2.3元和3元）。我在南京吃的这2-3两面要5元。不过，自从几乎所有在上海的兰州拉面铺入盟后，价钱涨到6-8元（need double check)，而口味却不如从前。当然其中好处非无，上海滩这类店面确实干净体面了许多。
但是我却更喜欢以前的感觉，也就是南京拉面业现在这样。口味正宗，不干不净，吃了没病的街坊面铺。是否有什么特殊力量使得不能两全其美？希望没有。
南京似乎在改造成市容貌，主干路中山路在脱胎换骨中。昨天玄武区湖南路闲游时经过一个展示城市规划的大楼，有意卖10元门票入内参观，但门卫却告诉我展览到5pm，但前门4pm就绝客，一看时间，4:03pm。也罢，凡是都要先硬件后软件。
。。。
晚上。
带女友再次拜访街坊拉面，好吃，好吃。
然后去湖南路逛，发现了马台街，一个巨大的夜市，大概有2个通化街那么大。不过据说这个夜市不够“夜”，好像11pm出头就打烊了。相信跟着城市的富裕，有更多的夜间消费者会把这个 curfew 推向通化街的2pm。
2人在在马台街从头到尾晃荡了一个多小时，看到几个以前没见过的工艺品和小吃，比如当地特色的冰激凌筒形的桂花糕（一块五，Rosanne说好吃）；椰雕（即用椰子）。有长见识。
Monday, June 26, 2006
王爷牌纯香槟榔。充实的一天。
在南京新街口附近报摊买的。
2元1包，5粒装。
配料：海南槟榔果，槟榔用卤水，甜蜜素，糖精钠，脱氢乙酸，食用香精香料。
厂址：湘潭市车站路119号
今天过得够充实：
看了2集 Desperate Housewives （绝望的主妇）。
帮做电线的好友阿群查了一下，学到什么是电线制造中的 lay ratio。
2pm,快饿荒。赶去夫子庙吃凉面，然后在那里逛了3个小时。这里应该大过上海的城隍庙和襄阳路，容易讲价，买了个10元包包。再补上昨天没看到的江南贡院（即举考处）。古人的考场如同监狱，每人给1.5方米的小茅房还要在里面9天8夜，还没有 SONY PSP 玩。惨！
然后公车加步行先后去了总统府和明故宫。有点失望：前者我到时已经关了，后者名存实亡，早已经变成打羽毛球和太极拳的市内休闲小公园，一元门票买闹中取静。不过里面埋了些昔日不可一世的人物（没心留意谁）。
7点赶回旅店和 Rosanne rendez-vous，去新街口的“锅比盆大”吃火锅，对她一日在商场加官场的辛苦工作做了协调。味道好，服务好，不过不便宜，150块有酒有肉。
散步回旅店途中看到海南长的槟榔，吃法以及味道和台湾完全不同，一粒一粒的独立真空包装，加了上述调料，把一周的保存期延到60天，没了新鲜味多了甜味。不过也只有这样才能有如此“报摊式”的 distribution network。台湾的奇迹成了大陆的蜜饯。
再看会儿 Desperate Housewives (very legally obtained DVD, 1 disc for each season) 就是不错的一天。
2元1包，5粒装。
配料：海南槟榔果，槟榔用卤水，甜蜜素，糖精钠，脱氢乙酸，食用香精香料。
厂址：湘潭市车站路119号
今天过得够充实：
看了2集 Desperate Housewives （绝望的主妇）。
帮做电线的好友阿群查了一下，学到什么是电线制造中的 lay ratio。
2pm,快饿荒。赶去夫子庙吃凉面，然后在那里逛了3个小时。这里应该大过上海的城隍庙和襄阳路，容易讲价，买了个10元包包。再补上昨天没看到的江南贡院（即举考处）。古人的考场如同监狱，每人给1.5方米的小茅房还要在里面9天8夜，还没有 SONY PSP 玩。惨！
然后公车加步行先后去了总统府和明故宫。有点失望：前者我到时已经关了，后者名存实亡，早已经变成打羽毛球和太极拳的市内休闲小公园，一元门票买闹中取静。不过里面埋了些昔日不可一世的人物（没心留意谁）。
7点赶回旅店和 Rosanne rendez-vous，去新街口的“锅比盆大”吃火锅，对她一日在商场加官场的辛苦工作做了协调。味道好，服务好，不过不便宜，150块有酒有肉。
散步回旅店途中看到海南长的槟榔，吃法以及味道和台湾完全不同，一粒一粒的独立真空包装，加了上述调料，把一周的保存期延到60天，没了新鲜味多了甜味。不过也只有这样才能有如此“报摊式”的 distribution network。台湾的奇迹成了大陆的蜜饯。
再看会儿 Desperate Housewives (very legally obtained DVD, 1 disc for each season) 就是不错的一天。
Sunday, June 25, 2006
南京。粉泡芋圆。
出国十几年，回过上海十几次，这次第一次丢失东西（即手机）。今天早上小心翼翼地作了三个半小时的火车来到南京“投奔”女友。她在这里公干三周。
Rosanne 已经期待多时。到了中山路的旅馆，放下背囊，就去向不远的新街口。这里是南京最热闹的地方，在附近大娘水饺用了餐后，Rosanne 建议到“雨花台风景区”悠哉游哉。
雨花台乃普通公园。树木秀丽，但并不非凡。这里倒是建立了许多墓碑，纪念碑。其最显著是纪念南京1949年4月23日的解放。爬上雨花阁，能看到南京城全景。从风景区的植物看来，这里是一个风水不错的地方，但经过千年的沧桑和摧残，南京城不免逊色于近年来新开发的一些城市。
离开雨花台，接下来是夫子庙。我们有点惫，所以只是走马观花的兜游了一些商店便走了。但在明代，夫子庙作为国子监科举的考场。在这从从商店的某个角落，应该可以通往考场景点。待下次去参观。
这一天接触的南京人，给我的印象不错，感觉比上海的友好。好像人在不太穷也不太富的地方生活心态比较容易平衡。
晚上用餐后逛新街口地下商场发现了台商开的冰店，叫 okpie，有卖芋圆，还有地瓜圆，和“胡萝卜圆”；卖法是衬红豆刨冰，和热狗一起上餐牌。但种种提示告诉我这里的芋圆是次品，明显是粉泡出的，和台北通化街夜市里左边摆摊的做法一样。而我酷爱的冰店，“爱玉之梦游仙草”，则应它的功夫芋圆（当然还有爱玉和仙草）在若干年前畅销火爆而脱夜市而出，在通化街的优质地段有了自己的店面。
这位来古都找钱的台商，能找到吗？
Rosanne 已经期待多时。到了中山路的旅馆，放下背囊，就去向不远的新街口。这里是南京最热闹的地方，在附近大娘水饺用了餐后，Rosanne 建议到“雨花台风景区”悠哉游哉。
雨花台乃普通公园。树木秀丽，但并不非凡。这里倒是建立了许多墓碑，纪念碑。其最显著是纪念南京1949年4月23日的解放。爬上雨花阁，能看到南京城全景。从风景区的植物看来，这里是一个风水不错的地方，但经过千年的沧桑和摧残，南京城不免逊色于近年来新开发的一些城市。
离开雨花台，接下来是夫子庙。我们有点惫，所以只是走马观花的兜游了一些商店便走了。但在明代，夫子庙作为国子监科举的考场。在这从从商店的某个角落，应该可以通往考场景点。待下次去参观。
这一天接触的南京人，给我的印象不错，感觉比上海的友好。好像人在不太穷也不太富的地方生活心态比较容易平衡。
晚上用餐后逛新街口地下商场发现了台商开的冰店，叫 okpie，有卖芋圆，还有地瓜圆，和“胡萝卜圆”；卖法是衬红豆刨冰，和热狗一起上餐牌。但种种提示告诉我这里的芋圆是次品，明显是粉泡出的，和台北通化街夜市里左边摆摊的做法一样。而我酷爱的冰店，“爱玉之梦游仙草”，则应它的功夫芋圆（当然还有爱玉和仙草）在若干年前畅销火爆而脱夜市而出，在通化街的优质地段有了自己的店面。
这位来古都找钱的台商，能找到吗？
Friday, June 23, 2006
仙草出现在乳山路
上海浦东的乳山路，爷爷家楼下，童年住处。
有2家。一家用的是“汤师傅”的包装仙草粉，安徽人；卖法是小块杯装，加桃汁，冰/热水，和其他东东（白沙糖，白木耳，草莓jelly，其他jelly，苟几，等）。味道一般，仙草块过硬，全是桃汁味。2元。
第2家据说是自己做的，用老家四川种的仙草，大块较嫩，小甜，和台湾的有7分相似。老板娘还卖龟磷膏，西瓜味jelly，还有一个忘了。除了仙草3元一小碗，其他均2元。我都试了，味道不错。
生意如何？2位企业家摆的推车摊大概5pm开盘，到9:15我尝试时当日的货基本卖完。
乳山路靠地铁有夜市倾向。
有2家。一家用的是“汤师傅”的包装仙草粉，安徽人；卖法是小块杯装，加桃汁，冰/热水，和其他东东（白沙糖，白木耳，草莓jelly，其他jelly，苟几，等）。味道一般，仙草块过硬，全是桃汁味。2元。
第2家据说是自己做的，用老家四川种的仙草，大块较嫩，小甜，和台湾的有7分相似。老板娘还卖龟磷膏，西瓜味jelly，还有一个忘了。除了仙草3元一小碗，其他均2元。我都试了，味道不错。
生意如何？2位企业家摆的推车摊大概5pm开盘，到9:15我尝试时当日的货基本卖完。
乳山路靠地铁有夜市倾向。
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Shanghai. Cell phone, in it the rest of my photos
Gone, about 1 hour after getting off Shanghai Train Station. Photos of last few days in Taiwan, and of the weekend trip to Singapore with Haidong are gone.
A big challenge facing travelling in China is protecting one's belongings, and life.
Just bought a new one, of identical model. Will guard it well this time.
Apparently the Chinese government forbids access to username.blogspot.com, but allows www.blogger.com ... So I can still post sans fuss.
A big challenge facing travelling in China is protecting one's belongings, and life.
Just bought a new one, of identical model. Will guard it well this time.
Apparently the Chinese government forbids access to username.blogspot.com, but allows www.blogger.com ... So I can still post sans fuss.
Monday, June 12, 2006
My favourite photographer
Amature, but great.
And, one of my favourite pictures.
This is what the real thing looks like ... Food before all thoughts.
欲仙欲死，令人不可自拔之物。When will I see you again ... ?
Trip to Kenting 垦丁
Cancelled due to heavy rainfall. This was disappointing as I had high expectation for this place. I'm tagging Kenting for the next visit (maybe next month) .
Now back in Taipei living the life of a city rat, schedule for return to HK on Wed, June 14th.
There will be many additional photos in the coming day or 2.
Now back in Taipei living the life of a city rat, schedule for return to HK on Wed, June 14th.
There will be many additional photos in the coming day or 2.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Green Island, Tai-Tung. 绿岛，台东县。
Green Island is about a 50 min boat right east of Tai-Tung (台东). First impression: It is a double edged sword. One side is candy; the other is gukkk.
What do I mean? Biggest mistake since a long time:
This morning I had goat milk, gyoza (fried dumplings Japanese style) in Ping Dong. Vicky drove me then to the train station. I got myself to Tai Tung and tried their famous Ikeue Bento (池上便当) with some yogurt.
A super friendly lady at the Tourist Information Centre at Tai Tung Traing Station explained to me the logistics of Green Island, then personally drove me to the docks where boats leave for the island!!! She happen to be going off-duty and heading that way ... but still, I didn't get this kind of treatment since days in Canada.
So I made a super deal with one of the service providers there whereby I pay 1500NT for a 2-way boat ride, accomodation (not fancy but decent), a scooter, and breakfast. I was very happy given the 2-way tix cost 800 by itself. I help myself to some watermelon juice and bought 2 pills for motion sickness (this was a rip off: 20NT a piece). The guy told me they don't sell this on the island so that's why I bought 2. Well, they do sell it on the island.
Anyways, I get on this jet boat with some students in high spirits. For the first 15 minutes they enjoy themselves outside being splashed by waves ....
Ok. Cut to the chase. There's a young sailor on the boat, and his primary task on this particular trip seemed to be collecting vomit from us and replenishing fresh vomit bags. Well, this gentleman got real busy about 25 minutes into the ride. From me, he got 2 loads.
Holy cow I hadn't thrown up this much in recent memory. -- Sorry for taking so long to make my point.
Advice: Don't eat that much before taking this ride to green Island. These "Pacific" waves ain't pacific at all!!!
On the island I take the locals' good advice of sleeping the pain off until 5pm, before which I better fill my scooter with gas or else the gas station closes (turns out there are shops that sell gas around the clock). Here I had a problem.
I kind of know how to ride a scooter, thanks to my ex-boss in Japan, who lent me his for a week during his vacation. (Thanks Ken!) The problem was for the life of me I couldn't remember how to start one.... Daan! I was pushing close to 5pm. Passer-bys are all on scooters going pretty quick so I couldn't stop one to ask. I didn't want to ask the hotel because that puts them in a difficult position, given one is supposed to have a license to drive this thing (Well, the emporor is far away -- 天高皇帝远). So asked this hotel cleaning lady. This nice looking local girl showed by how to start and run a scooter ...
Green island is awesome. The feature attraction is an "underwater" hotspring. Supposely one of only 3 in the world. The other 2 are in Hokkaido, Japan, and Italy. So called "underwater" because I guess the spring comes from an underwater volcano? I know from this mornings ride with that nice lady that this part of Taiwan lies on 2 different tectonic plates. One connecting to the Phillippines and the other the rest of Taiwan.
I didn't bring my camera with me because I heard there weren't storate facilities at the beaches. So, in my swimmers and a shirt I happily jolt off in my old sticky (with salt water) scooter and headed of to the hot spring. Along the way I take mental note of landmarks and restaurant menus. It took a good half hour before getting to the site. Of couse I had no helmet so was only riding at 1/3 the speed of what would actually turn me on =) , and, along the way I stoped by Guang Yin Dong (a buddist "cave", 观音洞) and prayed for my existence. I'm finding that this give me faith in what I'm doing and makes me feel a bit safer venturing on.
I get to the springs. The only scooters parked there belonged to people climbing to the top of some hill -- nobody soaking the spring water. Well, nobody except me. It wasn't the greatest hotspring - more salt than sulphur, and enclosure was cheap cement, the one I went to in Dong Pu was much better. But the surroundings made me feel like taking a bath in the ocean. Overall score: Pretty good feeling.
Feeling a bit lonely and weird after awhile, I also climbed that hill before dark, and started to head back before the moon takes over completely. The night ride was a happy one, just like the day ride. It feels so free. I Yahooed and Woohaaed my way back to where the restaurants were and tried some local stuff -- BBQ dear, more "ice". But I mostly filled myself with porridge due to the unfortunate puking that fragiled my stomach. Then I bought some nice gifts for friends and headed back to hotel to unstick myself.
Guess you know what happened next.... Given I'm writing this story in Green Island. Yes, Cybercafe.
It's almost midnight. Tomorrow I'm waking up at 5 to catch the sunrise, while bathing in "underwater" hotspring. I'll try to take some nice photos then. Ciao!
Next Morning
Woke up late at 8:30. Oh well, it was heavy overcast with some raindrops -- wouldn't hv seen any sunrise anyway. I took my scooter and made another tour of the island. I have to say this scootering around part has been the most fun part of my visit to Taiwan so far. The view here is short of spectacular but very natural and scenic -- Pacific Ocean, volcanic rocks, nice forest. Best part is I got to cruise around in it, kind of like Tarzan, but faster and no tree-climbing.
The setup on this island is perfect; it's developed to just the right extent. People get off the boat, get a room, the scooter around, then hotspring and BBQ their way to blissful oblivion, all on budget. This ain't Bali nor Phuket, but great for students and families looking for good fun in the ocean.
This was my overnight experience on Green Island. I would recommend it to people who speak Mandarin, and not afraid of getting salty.
What do I mean? Biggest mistake since a long time:
This morning I had goat milk, gyoza (fried dumplings Japanese style) in Ping Dong. Vicky drove me then to the train station. I got myself to Tai Tung and tried their famous Ikeue Bento (池上便当) with some yogurt.
A super friendly lady at the Tourist Information Centre at Tai Tung Traing Station explained to me the logistics of Green Island, then personally drove me to the docks where boats leave for the island!!! She happen to be going off-duty and heading that way ... but still, I didn't get this kind of treatment since days in Canada.
So I made a super deal with one of the service providers there whereby I pay 1500NT for a 2-way boat ride, accomodation (not fancy but decent), a scooter, and breakfast. I was very happy given the 2-way tix cost 800 by itself. I help myself to some watermelon juice and bought 2 pills for motion sickness (this was a rip off: 20NT a piece). The guy told me they don't sell this on the island so that's why I bought 2. Well, they do sell it on the island.
Anyways, I get on this jet boat with some students in high spirits. For the first 15 minutes they enjoy themselves outside being splashed by waves ....
Ok. Cut to the chase. There's a young sailor on the boat, and his primary task on this particular trip seemed to be collecting vomit from us and replenishing fresh vomit bags. Well, this gentleman got real busy about 25 minutes into the ride. From me, he got 2 loads.
Holy cow I hadn't thrown up this much in recent memory. -- Sorry for taking so long to make my point.
Advice: Don't eat that much before taking this ride to green Island. These "Pacific" waves ain't pacific at all!!!
On the island I take the locals' good advice of sleeping the pain off until 5pm, before which I better fill my scooter with gas or else the gas station closes (turns out there are shops that sell gas around the clock). Here I had a problem.
I kind of know how to ride a scooter, thanks to my ex-boss in Japan, who lent me his for a week during his vacation. (Thanks Ken!) The problem was for the life of me I couldn't remember how to start one.... Daan! I was pushing close to 5pm. Passer-bys are all on scooters going pretty quick so I couldn't stop one to ask. I didn't want to ask the hotel because that puts them in a difficult position, given one is supposed to have a license to drive this thing (Well, the emporor is far away -- 天高皇帝远). So asked this hotel cleaning lady. This nice looking local girl showed by how to start and run a scooter ...
Green island is awesome. The feature attraction is an "underwater" hotspring. Supposely one of only 3 in the world. The other 2 are in Hokkaido, Japan, and Italy. So called "underwater" because I guess the spring comes from an underwater volcano? I know from this mornings ride with that nice lady that this part of Taiwan lies on 2 different tectonic plates. One connecting to the Phillippines and the other the rest of Taiwan.
I didn't bring my camera with me because I heard there weren't storate facilities at the beaches. So, in my swimmers and a shirt I happily jolt off in my old sticky (with salt water) scooter and headed of to the hot spring. Along the way I take mental note of landmarks and restaurant menus. It took a good half hour before getting to the site. Of couse I had no helmet so was only riding at 1/3 the speed of what would actually turn me on =) , and, along the way I stoped by Guang Yin Dong (a buddist "cave", 观音洞) and prayed for my existence. I'm finding that this give me faith in what I'm doing and makes me feel a bit safer venturing on.
I get to the springs. The only scooters parked there belonged to people climbing to the top of some hill -- nobody soaking the spring water. Well, nobody except me. It wasn't the greatest hotspring - more salt than sulphur, and enclosure was cheap cement, the one I went to in Dong Pu was much better. But the surroundings made me feel like taking a bath in the ocean. Overall score: Pretty good feeling.
Feeling a bit lonely and weird after awhile, I also climbed that hill before dark, and started to head back before the moon takes over completely. The night ride was a happy one, just like the day ride. It feels so free. I Yahooed and Woohaaed my way back to where the restaurants were and tried some local stuff -- BBQ dear, more "ice". But I mostly filled myself with porridge due to the unfortunate puking that fragiled my stomach. Then I bought some nice gifts for friends and headed back to hotel to unstick myself.
Guess you know what happened next.... Given I'm writing this story in Green Island. Yes, Cybercafe.
It's almost midnight. Tomorrow I'm waking up at 5 to catch the sunrise, while bathing in "underwater" hotspring. I'll try to take some nice photos then. Ciao!
Next Morning
Woke up late at 8:30. Oh well, it was heavy overcast with some raindrops -- wouldn't hv seen any sunrise anyway. I took my scooter and made another tour of the island. I have to say this scootering around part has been the most fun part of my visit to Taiwan so far. The view here is short of spectacular but very natural and scenic -- Pacific Ocean, volcanic rocks, nice forest. Best part is I got to cruise around in it, kind of like Tarzan, but faster and no tree-climbing.
The setup on this island is perfect; it's developed to just the right extent. People get off the boat, get a room, the scooter around, then hotspring and BBQ their way to blissful oblivion, all on budget. This ain't Bali nor Phuket, but great for students and families looking for good fun in the ocean.
This was my overnight experience on Green Island. I would recommend it to people who speak Mandarin, and not afraid of getting salty.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Living in a Kindergarden 幼稚园
I spend the last 3 days (and the next day) living in a kindergarden -- literally inside one. My friend Vicky (also a Canadian) and her family live in a nice cozy house in the suburb town of Wan Dan (万丹), nearby Ping Dong City (屏东市), in Ping Dong County (屏东县). They are the mastermind behind these seriously playful grounds, home to some hundreds of pre-school kids and their midget play things, as well as a sizeable farm area where kids are taught to grow vegies and fruits (corns, mango, etc). Rabbits, frogs, geckos, also have their homes here.
I had eaten so much here! Look at all these dishes! Vicky's family sure treats their guest well! Taiwanese vegetables are incredibly tasty. In fact I never knew Bambooo shoots (竹笋) and baby asparagus can taste like that. Especially those bamboo shoots -- the texture is more like very soft radish, but slightly sweet and with a touch of bamboo taste. Only in Taiwan have I tasted bamboo this tender.
So these days at Vicky's house my life resembles that of a pig -- eat-sleep-repeat -- except I also blog, get massages, watch movies. After work each day Vicky drives me arount to try local delicacies. Like this local version of (1 of 1 million versions of) Taiwanese "Ice". A so called "Cold-Hot-Ice", where ice crubs cover an inside core of hot soft, round thingies -- Taiwanese are especially good at making things of this shape and texture!
One particularly interesting experience is Vicky's taking me to her grandparents Bing Lang (槟榔) farm. We went there to take all the left over food (too much food due to my presence) to feed their dogs.
Ok what is Bing Lang (槟榔)? I suspect it doesn't grow in many places, if any, outside Taiwan. It's a tiny little fruit/seed like thing (likes of a lotus sead) with green enclosing, and green leaves. The way they prepare it is spread some magic white spread (supposely slightly alcoholic) on the leaf, fold the leaf, then wrap the "fruit". How does one consume such a thing? Well, interestingly enough, you bite of the head then chew it. Yes, like chewing gum. The locals often explain it as Taiwanese chewing gum. Don't forget to spit out the first mouthful of juices 'cause that has some strong "effects".
This Bing Lang is known as one of the "miracles" of Taiwan. Truckers and construction workers who work the mountains especially love it: It's very light in weight; stimulates saliva (thereby relieving thirst); it's a stimulant; and, of course, somewhat addictive.
What I like most about Bing Lang is the very interesting fact that the juice from the "fruit" mixes with human saliva and creates a red substance. So in case you see a Taiwanese local spitting blood, chances are they're chewing "gum".
Chewing Bing Lang will make you feel warm. Kind of like alcohol. People tell me in the winter this is an awesome sensation, especially before jumping on you scooter in the moist coolness of January.
So anyways, Vicky grandpa and uncles grow this stuff -- lots of it. They even have big machines to sort and process them. Vicky tells Uncle that I'm curious about Bing Lang, and Uncle teaches me the know-hows. Ok... Then I pretend to be a vampire and took this photo.
Afterward I had a good chat with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma tells me to be careful wondering around like this ... I bid them farewell in a short while, leaving Uncle and the dogs to guard the crops from thieves overnight.
I want to thank Vicky and her family for a wonderful 4 days in the country side with the kids, especially with her 5-year-old little brother, who is so hyper even (actually, especially) after mid night, and always begs me to play with him. What does he want to play? It's usually either, "Let's fight!", or "Race to the kitchen" or, "Wrap me up in a blanket and move me somewhere else". Haha... Chi-An: I'll be back to play with you more soon.
And Vicky, thank you!!!
And, Happy Birthday!!!
And, let me show you around HK, Macau, and Mainland.
Heading off tomorrow morning to Taitung (台东), then journeying on to Green Island (绿岛)!
I had eaten so much here! Look at all these dishes! Vicky's family sure treats their guest well! Taiwanese vegetables are incredibly tasty. In fact I never knew Bambooo shoots (竹笋) and baby asparagus can taste like that. Especially those bamboo shoots -- the texture is more like very soft radish, but slightly sweet and with a touch of bamboo taste. Only in Taiwan have I tasted bamboo this tender.
So these days at Vicky's house my life resembles that of a pig -- eat-sleep-repeat -- except I also blog, get massages, watch movies. After work each day Vicky drives me arount to try local delicacies. Like this local version of (1 of 1 million versions of) Taiwanese "Ice". A so called "Cold-Hot-Ice", where ice crubs cover an inside core of hot soft, round thingies -- Taiwanese are especially good at making things of this shape and texture!
One particularly interesting experience is Vicky's taking me to her grandparents Bing Lang (槟榔) farm. We went there to take all the left over food (too much food due to my presence) to feed their dogs.
Ok what is Bing Lang (槟榔)? I suspect it doesn't grow in many places, if any, outside Taiwan. It's a tiny little fruit/seed like thing (likes of a lotus sead) with green enclosing, and green leaves. The way they prepare it is spread some magic white spread (supposely slightly alcoholic) on the leaf, fold the leaf, then wrap the "fruit". How does one consume such a thing? Well, interestingly enough, you bite of the head then chew it. Yes, like chewing gum. The locals often explain it as Taiwanese chewing gum. Don't forget to spit out the first mouthful of juices 'cause that has some strong "effects".
This Bing Lang is known as one of the "miracles" of Taiwan. Truckers and construction workers who work the mountains especially love it: It's very light in weight; stimulates saliva (thereby relieving thirst); it's a stimulant; and, of course, somewhat addictive.
What I like most about Bing Lang is the very interesting fact that the juice from the "fruit" mixes with human saliva and creates a red substance. So in case you see a Taiwanese local spitting blood, chances are they're chewing "gum".
Chewing Bing Lang will make you feel warm. Kind of like alcohol. People tell me in the winter this is an awesome sensation, especially before jumping on you scooter in the moist coolness of January.
So anyways, Vicky grandpa and uncles grow this stuff -- lots of it. They even have big machines to sort and process them. Vicky tells Uncle that I'm curious about Bing Lang, and Uncle teaches me the know-hows. Ok... Then I pretend to be a vampire and took this photo.
Afterward I had a good chat with Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma tells me to be careful wondering around like this ... I bid them farewell in a short while, leaving Uncle and the dogs to guard the crops from thieves overnight.
I want to thank Vicky and her family for a wonderful 4 days in the country side with the kids, especially with her 5-year-old little brother, who is so hyper even (actually, especially) after mid night, and always begs me to play with him. What does he want to play? It's usually either, "Let's fight!", or "Race to the kitchen" or, "Wrap me up in a blanket and move me somewhere else". Haha... Chi-An: I'll be back to play with you more soon.
And Vicky, thank you!!!
And, Happy Birthday!!!
And, let me show you around HK, Macau, and Mainland.
Heading off tomorrow morning to Taitung (台东), then journeying on to Green Island (绿岛)!
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Taipei Walker
Today has been a full day of walking around in Taipei. And we found new treasures on "Treasure Island", a common praise for Taiwan.
Around 1-2am, right after Rosanne and I had left a fancy netcafe at 忠孝复兴 station, we were at an unusual place in the very centre of Taipei -- Cheng Pin Bookstore (诚品书店). This incredible bookstore, where a line of taxi wait outside even at 3 o'clock in the morning, welcomes the intellictually curious Taiwanese 24 hours a day. What I like most about it is that it has a grand collection of titles by Taiwanese authors in a full spectrum of topics.
After some browsing I found that I could learn about very "Chinese" subjects such as buddism, or Chinese philosophy in a much less painful way than the one force upon Mainlanders in the old school way of education. Taiwan styled literature is probably more modern, more scientific; but I don't know for sure.
Another thing I liked about this bookstore is the great number of books and magazines (especially magazines) either in Japanese, or about Japan. I bought a book explaining elementary Japanese grammar in a pictoral setting -- The book I used to use (标准日本语) doesn't agree with me after many years of education in Canadian school, where our textbooks had more margin space and pictures than words. Not to my surprise, the best selling and feature titles were about how to make money in China as a Taiwanese businessman.
Rosanne loves this bookstore and had to visit it before leaving Taipei
At 3:30am we walked back to Tonghua St. (通化街) to get some food. Here's a picture of 通化街 at 3:30am -- Incredible! This particular restaurant is full of people! Neighbouring ones were doing pretty good, too!
I had a 排骨庚面 (Rib-noodle soup) with 猪耳 (pig ears) as appetizer.
台湾的街头小吃极其厉害。来台之后我几乎没去过所谓“正规”饭店，而且小吃的分量小，我很少一餐把自己喂饱，唯恐到时候看到更好吃的没了食欲。其后果是，我每天都要很多餐。堕落。
... I was just saying the street food in Taiwan is so great I've been to actual restaurants only a couple of times.
Ok. Full now after those pig ears. Next, slept to 2pm -- Today was another day where I missed lunch.
We woke up to Rosanne's craving for some 仙草 (Xiancao - Heavenly Grass). We went and got some. I got 爱玉 (Aiyu - Love Jade). Topping? Of course 芋圆 and 地瓜圆, the purple stuff and the yellow stuff. This thing is so good I use a "medium" sized picture to honour it -- on the left is Love Jade, and right Heavenly Grass. This reminds me of a verse I wrote recently:
Next we went to a famous Xiao Long Bao place called Ding Tai Feng (鼎泰丰) near 忠孝敦化口. Since I had had as much of these buns as a typical western kid had eaten cereals and pancakes, I didn't find any extraordinary new sensation in their version of the Xiao Long Bao -- but it was still good.
Journeying on, Rosanne wanted to get some bakery at au bon pain near 101. I gasped, "Really!". Hadn't had that stuff in ages! Bakeries in Asia are short of muffins, bagels, bagette, and the likes.
Well, we taxied to 101. Cab driver did some non-kosher maneuvers en route and told us there were no police on the streets of Taipei that day because of a big protest urging Chen Shui Bian to step down as leader of Taiwan.
We didn't find that au bon pain but did buy some trifflings for our new home a Taiwanese version of one of my favourite stores, Muji. The Taiwanese store is called 生活工场. I think the 生活工场 is a good deal for the price, about 1/2 of Muji. Qualitywise, Muji still wins. Creativity, getting there.
After seeing Rosanne off on the Airport limosine, I revisited Taipei 101 and its neighbour "New York New York". I didn't do it justice the first time I reviewed as that visit tainted by too much rain. Well, NYNY was great! A motley assortment of trendy and strong branded franchises make up this modern shopping complex. Along the walks are many patios filled with happy, relaxed shoppers and cafe-goers.
Here's a shot of the scooter lot near by. For every 3 Taiwanese, there is 1 scooter.
Rosanne tells me there is au bon pain at the airport. Good place for business travellers.
I'm planning to go to Ping Dong (屏东) to visit Vicky tomorrow. I haven't seen her in years. More Japanese horror movies on 5 star bus rides ...
If anyone wonders why I'm writing more than before it's because I can no longer find that channel that broadcasts Starcraft games exclusively. I'm now watching mostly Warcraft and Counterstrike -- less of a fan there.
Around 1-2am, right after Rosanne and I had left a fancy netcafe at 忠孝复兴 station, we were at an unusual place in the very centre of Taipei -- Cheng Pin Bookstore (诚品书店). This incredible bookstore, where a line of taxi wait outside even at 3 o'clock in the morning, welcomes the intellictually curious Taiwanese 24 hours a day. What I like most about it is that it has a grand collection of titles by Taiwanese authors in a full spectrum of topics.
After some browsing I found that I could learn about very "Chinese" subjects such as buddism, or Chinese philosophy in a much less painful way than the one force upon Mainlanders in the old school way of education. Taiwan styled literature is probably more modern, more scientific; but I don't know for sure.
Another thing I liked about this bookstore is the great number of books and magazines (especially magazines) either in Japanese, or about Japan. I bought a book explaining elementary Japanese grammar in a pictoral setting -- The book I used to use (标准日本语) doesn't agree with me after many years of education in Canadian school, where our textbooks had more margin space and pictures than words. Not to my surprise, the best selling and feature titles were about how to make money in China as a Taiwanese businessman.
Rosanne loves this bookstore and had to visit it before leaving Taipei
At 3:30am we walked back to Tonghua St. (通化街) to get some food. Here's a picture of 通化街 at 3:30am -- Incredible! This particular restaurant is full of people! Neighbouring ones were doing pretty good, too!
I had a 排骨庚面 (Rib-noodle soup) with 猪耳 (pig ears) as appetizer.
台湾的街头小吃极其厉害。来台之后我几乎没去过所谓“正规”饭店，而且小吃的分量小，我很少一餐把自己喂饱，唯恐到时候看到更好吃的没了食欲。其后果是，我每天都要很多餐。堕落。
... I was just saying the street food in Taiwan is so great I've been to actual restaurants only a couple of times.
Ok. Full now after those pig ears. Next, slept to 2pm -- Today was another day where I missed lunch.
We woke up to Rosanne's craving for some 仙草 (Xiancao - Heavenly Grass). We went and got some. I got 爱玉 (Aiyu - Love Jade). Topping? Of course 芋圆 and 地瓜圆, the purple stuff and the yellow stuff. This thing is so good I use a "medium" sized picture to honour it -- on the left is Love Jade, and right Heavenly Grass. This reminds me of a verse I wrote recently:
问世间何谓仙草，
真教人欲仙欲死！
真教人欲仙欲死！
Next we went to a famous Xiao Long Bao place called Ding Tai Feng (鼎泰丰) near 忠孝敦化口. Since I had had as much of these buns as a typical western kid had eaten cereals and pancakes, I didn't find any extraordinary new sensation in their version of the Xiao Long Bao -- but it was still good.
Journeying on, Rosanne wanted to get some bakery at au bon pain near 101. I gasped, "Really!". Hadn't had that stuff in ages! Bakeries in Asia are short of muffins, bagels, bagette, and the likes.
Well, we taxied to 101. Cab driver did some non-kosher maneuvers en route and told us there were no police on the streets of Taipei that day because of a big protest urging Chen Shui Bian to step down as leader of Taiwan.
We didn't find that au bon pain but did buy some trifflings for our new home a Taiwanese version of one of my favourite stores, Muji. The Taiwanese store is called 生活工场. I think the 生活工场 is a good deal for the price, about 1/2 of Muji. Qualitywise, Muji still wins. Creativity, getting there.
After seeing Rosanne off on the Airport limosine, I revisited Taipei 101 and its neighbour "New York New York". I didn't do it justice the first time I reviewed as that visit tainted by too much rain. Well, NYNY was great! A motley assortment of trendy and strong branded franchises make up this modern shopping complex. Along the walks are many patios filled with happy, relaxed shoppers and cafe-goers.
Here's a shot of the scooter lot near by. For every 3 Taiwanese, there is 1 scooter.
Rosanne tells me there is au bon pain at the airport. Good place for business travellers.
I'm planning to go to Ping Dong (屏东) to visit Vicky tomorrow. I haven't seen her in years. More Japanese horror movies on 5 star bus rides ...
If anyone wonders why I'm writing more than before it's because I can no longer find that channel that broadcasts Starcraft games exclusively. I'm now watching mostly Warcraft and Counterstrike -- less of a fan there.
花莲 -- 江山多娇，人多情。Hua-lien
优美的名字，形容峻丽的山水。说山水，其实今朝去的“太鲁阁”山多过水。不过是很美的山 -- 山在虚无缥缈中。
花莲人的心情异常良好，从下车到上车，感觉到这里居民心态平静坦然。昨天与女友两人在台北车站的地下商场走马观花了许久，夜里乘火车达花莲市。旅游服务中心的大姐语言很酷，不啰嗦，但态度很是好，给了各方各面的指点，并亲自打电话帮我们找到车站附近又便宜又舒适的住宿。
谢过这位热心人，我们用一杯茶的时间到了旅店的房间。麻雀虽小，五脏俱全，房间简单，但清洁，透风。我们问柜台老伯要了个蚊香，放下行李。便往花莲市的另一方，南滨公园里的夜市走去。
一路走一路吃和逛，过了一个多小时才到那南滨公园。其实那夜市比起在台北和台南见识过的小许多。我二人可是见过大世面的，在此逗留不久。那步行后半段其实了无人烟，除了卖水果和槟榔的，就少数街头饭店外加 KTV 而已。
不过那路途的花莲市主干路中山路亦是热闹。我们吃了当地有名的“扁食”，即上海的“大馄饨”，和“肉糟饭”，与鲁肉饭相似的小吃。味道还可以，那扁食做的够嫩够结实，皮也不烂，但那汤不够上海的馄饨鲜美，原因没放虾米，榨菜，紫菜，和蛋皮。肉糟饭不如鲁肉饭 -- 那花莲是以风景为名。吃，不如他处。
但是！花莲的麻署非常好吃！女友说比香港的糯米糍好吃。皮入口即化，馅清香而不太甜，多吃不腻。我也觉得比起上海吃过的类似东东略胜一筹。其实，次日我们在太鲁阁的“天祥”景点又发现了麻署名店《曾记麻署》，很是欢喜，吃了许多个。我喜欢芝麻口味，她则钟情紫米味。
这里特地说明：此推荐非同小可，可是我那吃尽天下甜品无敌手的女友 Rosanne 所喜爱之物。再又她承认香港本土对手的糯米糍甘拜下风。敬请朋友们来台湾观光时勿忘验试一下花莲出产的麻署。
Of course, after this we went to a cybercafe (yes, again) and I caught up on my blog and watched more Starcraft games. Darn, because of GTV I'm always behind my writing.
Next day was a rainy one. We took a 9:30 bus to Tianxiang (天祥), which is an important waypoint in Taroko National Park, where there are restaurants, a fancy resort, some shops, post office, and youth hostel. It took just over an hour. After grabbing lunch it was still pouring, so we decided to abandon the original plan suggested by tourist information centre to follow the bus route down the mountain (supposedly we could have done this and hitch hiked any returning bus back to town). It was the right decision as that suggested route was rather trecherous, not to mention very very long.
Tianxiang was not just a way point. It beholds an incredible view of the mountains, creaks, clouds, along with a tower and a buddist temple. After trekking to and fro the temple, where I briefly prayed for safe and fruitful adventures in the coming years, we decided to take a more venturous route called 白杨步道. To test faith, it takes a brisk walk up along a road to get to the start of this trail.
We got there in no time, only to find a "No Entry" sign due to recent prevalent landslides. This didn't stop us. We began the walk in a dark, wet tunnel, where I used my Sony Erisson K750i's flashlight to guide the way. The other end of the tunnel was a close up view of the creek, the rocks, and those making a livelihood here. And that is the reason why we stopped our hike on 白杨步道 a few minutes after passing the 100m dark tunnel -- a sign reads "Beware of Poisonous Bees". Looking up does reveal some behives high up in the trees...
Hmm... I wonder if there was any reward for anyone who venture beyond this point. I'm no hiking expert, but does this park expect visitors to wear "bee-friendly" equipment? Oh well, at least we got to walk that dark tunnel twice...
It was still raining. We were content enough with the good air and excellent view, and decided to head back -- head back to Taipei. On the way back to Hualien we took a closer look at the incredible landscape for which we weren't able to stop and admire. Taroko is definitely worth another visit, in a better ride than Hualien county bus.
花莲人的心情异常良好，从下车到上车，感觉到这里居民心态平静坦然。昨天与女友两人在台北车站的地下商场走马观花了许久，夜里乘火车达花莲市。旅游服务中心的大姐语言很酷，不啰嗦，但态度很是好，给了各方各面的指点，并亲自打电话帮我们找到车站附近又便宜又舒适的住宿。
谢过这位热心人，我们用一杯茶的时间到了旅店的房间。麻雀虽小，五脏俱全，房间简单，但清洁，透风。我们问柜台老伯要了个蚊香，放下行李。便往花莲市的另一方，南滨公园里的夜市走去。
一路走一路吃和逛，过了一个多小时才到那南滨公园。其实那夜市比起在台北和台南见识过的小许多。我二人可是见过大世面的，在此逗留不久。那步行后半段其实了无人烟，除了卖水果和槟榔的，就少数街头饭店外加 KTV 而已。
不过那路途的花莲市主干路中山路亦是热闹。我们吃了当地有名的“扁食”，即上海的“大馄饨”，和“肉糟饭”，与鲁肉饭相似的小吃。味道还可以，那扁食做的够嫩够结实，皮也不烂，但那汤不够上海的馄饨鲜美，原因没放虾米，榨菜，紫菜，和蛋皮。肉糟饭不如鲁肉饭 -- 那花莲是以风景为名。吃，不如他处。
但是！花莲的麻署非常好吃！女友说比香港的糯米糍好吃。皮入口即化，馅清香而不太甜，多吃不腻。我也觉得比起上海吃过的类似东东略胜一筹。其实，次日我们在太鲁阁的“天祥”景点又发现了麻署名店《曾记麻署》，很是欢喜，吃了许多个。我喜欢芝麻口味，她则钟情紫米味。
这里特地说明：此推荐非同小可，可是我那吃尽天下甜品无敌手的女友 Rosanne 所喜爱之物。再又她承认香港本土对手的糯米糍甘拜下风。敬请朋友们来台湾观光时勿忘验试一下花莲出产的麻署。
Of course, after this we went to a cybercafe (yes, again) and I caught up on my blog and watched more Starcraft games. Darn, because of GTV I'm always behind my writing.
Next day was a rainy one. We took a 9:30 bus to Tianxiang (天祥), which is an important waypoint in Taroko National Park, where there are restaurants, a fancy resort, some shops, post office, and youth hostel. It took just over an hour. After grabbing lunch it was still pouring, so we decided to abandon the original plan suggested by tourist information centre to follow the bus route down the mountain (supposedly we could have done this and hitch hiked any returning bus back to town). It was the right decision as that suggested route was rather trecherous, not to mention very very long.
Tianxiang was not just a way point. It beholds an incredible view of the mountains, creaks, clouds, along with a tower and a buddist temple. After trekking to and fro the temple, where I briefly prayed for safe and fruitful adventures in the coming years, we decided to take a more venturous route called 白杨步道. To test faith, it takes a brisk walk up along a road to get to the start of this trail.
We got there in no time, only to find a "No Entry" sign due to recent prevalent landslides. This didn't stop us. We began the walk in a dark, wet tunnel, where I used my Sony Erisson K750i's flashlight to guide the way. The other end of the tunnel was a close up view of the creek, the rocks, and those making a livelihood here. And that is the reason why we stopped our hike on 白杨步道 a few minutes after passing the 100m dark tunnel -- a sign reads "Beware of Poisonous Bees". Looking up does reveal some behives high up in the trees...
Hmm... I wonder if there was any reward for anyone who venture beyond this point. I'm no hiking expert, but does this park expect visitors to wear "bee-friendly" equipment? Oh well, at least we got to walk that dark tunnel twice...
It was still raining. We were content enough with the good air and excellent view, and decided to head back -- head back to Taipei. On the way back to Hualien we took a closer look at the incredible landscape for which we weren't able to stop and admire. Taroko is definitely worth another visit, in a better ride than Hualien county bus.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
仙草？豆花，脚底按摩。Beancurd and Foot-massage
神仙吃草
-- 婪牛做事厂
问世间何谓仙草，
真教人欲仙欲死！
These are two traditional Chinese arts which glorious pasts, and present. It's interesting to explore different flavours thereof in different parts of Greater China.
豆花，是豆系列的美食之一：豆浆，豆花，豆腐，豆干，臭豆腐，香豆腐，等。其基本原材料是黄豆和石膏粉，其后者多之则制成豆腐，少则成豆花。
台湾的豆花特别嫩滑，但不会碎，据说其原因是加了“米苔目”。和“仙草”，“爱玉”，和众多有趣可口的食品一样，米苔目是台湾的发明。而米苔目，这个老台东的发明，是一个制作过程复杂的东东，只用到台湾当地上好的米。
这次来台，吃过不少豆花以及豆腐。觉得口感极好。希望有朝一日米苔目能发扬光大，前迁至神州各地。与此同时，可以研究一下如何在口感好的前提下，增加黄豆的原味。
脚底按摩，又名“足底反射治疗”，是在中国各大小城市铺天盖地的服务项目。居说其来源是江苏扬州。而扬州附近最大的城市是上海。上海开业的师傅们以及其徒弟们，则是把这样传统艺术传之世界各地的主角。
台湾不列外。与大陆不同的是：在台湾，这一行大概没有泛滥，保持着一丝不苟的质量。有一次，和我一起做脚底的华侨太太论到，大陆做脚的质量不如台湾。我不由自主地辩护，说中国做这行得太多了，的确许多泛泛之辈玷污了祖先的传统，下次去做好叫朋友推荐一个好的。
Open communication -- very important.
-- 婪牛做事厂
问世间何谓仙草，
真教人欲仙欲死！
These are two traditional Chinese arts which glorious pasts, and present. It's interesting to explore different flavours thereof in different parts of Greater China.
豆花，是豆系列的美食之一：豆浆，豆花，豆腐，豆干，臭豆腐，香豆腐，等。其基本原材料是黄豆和石膏粉，其后者多之则制成豆腐，少则成豆花。
台湾的豆花特别嫩滑，但不会碎，据说其原因是加了“米苔目”。和“仙草”，“爱玉”，和众多有趣可口的食品一样，米苔目是台湾的发明。而米苔目，这个老台东的发明，是一个制作过程复杂的东东，只用到台湾当地上好的米。
这次来台，吃过不少豆花以及豆腐。觉得口感极好。希望有朝一日米苔目能发扬光大，前迁至神州各地。与此同时，可以研究一下如何在口感好的前提下，增加黄豆的原味。
脚底按摩，又名“足底反射治疗”，是在中国各大小城市铺天盖地的服务项目。居说其来源是江苏扬州。而扬州附近最大的城市是上海。上海开业的师傅们以及其徒弟们，则是把这样传统艺术传之世界各地的主角。
台湾不列外。与大陆不同的是：在台湾，这一行大概没有泛滥，保持着一丝不苟的质量。有一次，和我一起做脚底的华侨太太论到，大陆做脚的质量不如台湾。我不由自主地辩护，说中国做这行得太多了，的确许多泛泛之辈玷污了祖先的传统，下次去做好叫朋友推荐一个好的。
Open communication -- very important.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
175 HK -- Geely Automobile Holding Limited
The main theme of this blog is about my travels. But, whatever ...
I had put quite a proportion of my meager savings into this stock before I left for travelling and made good return (about 30% in 2 months). This was but a short tag in the bigger climb - in my view. Of course, this was no secret to those in close contact with me during the bullish months. I was not wrong, as Geely hit 1.10 HKD before settling into a more "reasonable" level. I had sold everthing around 87c, and bought myself this trip to Taiwan and some furniture for our new home in Tsing Yi (HKSAR). The hot money came a day after I had sold, on a piece of news 4 days old. That day, I was not sad, but not thrilled either, as the mark shot past my 87 and ended above 1 HKD in the next 48 hours. Oh well, Geelys cars are still crap, and I was hoping some farmer would drived it into the woods in some long distance ride he never should have taken and cause commotion before the next earnings report came in. Timing, timing, timing ...
Efficient market hypothesis? More like, when are they going to read that paper? Or hold that meeting? Or, how about, why don't fund managers use Google Alert instead of Bloomberg. Ehhhhnywayz. Not a blue chip, no analyst, can't have everything.
At least since recently, South African's, Malaysians, and I bet others are getting more nervous about Geely's cars, or Chinese cars in general. I, am very proud of this fact. Regardless of the dialogues suffixing the insurgence of China Cars in the global auto industry. As a Chinese, I got no benefit from the millions of compasses nor the billions of bullets cooked up in the last 200 years. There's no shame in miniturizing cars into a Made-in-China product for the good of our poor citizens. I do sincerely hope SAs and Malaysians end up as beneficiaries as well.
Well, I stop the anecdote here before somebody calls it bigotry.
One more thing ... go Geely go!!!
btw, what do you guys think about Beijing Airport?
I'm going downstairs for a foot massage. 1 block south of 通化信义口.
I had put quite a proportion of my meager savings into this stock before I left for travelling and made good return (about 30% in 2 months). This was but a short tag in the bigger climb - in my view. Of course, this was no secret to those in close contact with me during the bullish months. I was not wrong, as Geely hit 1.10 HKD before settling into a more "reasonable" level. I had sold everthing around 87c, and bought myself this trip to Taiwan and some furniture for our new home in Tsing Yi (HKSAR). The hot money came a day after I had sold, on a piece of news 4 days old. That day, I was not sad, but not thrilled either, as the mark shot past my 87 and ended above 1 HKD in the next 48 hours. Oh well, Geelys cars are still crap, and I was hoping some farmer would drived it into the woods in some long distance ride he never should have taken and cause commotion before the next earnings report came in. Timing, timing, timing ...
Efficient market hypothesis? More like, when are they going to read that paper? Or hold that meeting? Or, how about, why don't fund managers use Google Alert instead of Bloomberg. Ehhhhnywayz. Not a blue chip, no analyst, can't have everything.
At least since recently, South African's, Malaysians, and I bet others are getting more nervous about Geely's cars, or Chinese cars in general. I, am very proud of this fact. Regardless of the dialogues suffixing the insurgence of China Cars in the global auto industry. As a Chinese, I got no benefit from the millions of compasses nor the billions of bullets cooked up in the last 200 years. There's no shame in miniturizing cars into a Made-in-China product for the good of our poor citizens. I do sincerely hope SAs and Malaysians end up as beneficiaries as well.
Well, I stop the anecdote here before somebody calls it bigotry.
One more thing ... go Geely go!!!
btw, what do you guys think about Beijing Airport?
I'm going downstairs for a foot massage. 1 block south of 通化信义口.
Short Stay in Kao-hsiung, back to Taipei, back on a massage chair.
My adventure in Kao-hsiung consisted of too much time in netcafe (again), and a delicious food called 鸭肉饭/下水汤 (which is basically rice and soup, but which different parts of a duck in each).
However, the ride back to Taipei was incredible! -- I decided to head back to Taipei to recuperate some and greet Rosanne, who is visiting tonight from HK for 4 days. I don't mean to rub it in but ... yeah ... I'm taking holiday from my holiday.
How incredible? Click on the title to see the provider Ubus. Here's my take:
This is an adjustable leather massage chair. There are about 15-17 of them on this huge bus. The lower deck is for luggage and bathroom, which can be entered from inside the bus.
Other Amenities: AV station with VOD movies from Hollywood, China, Japan, Korea, video gaming, and more; Some GPS thing; Wet towel and water; Newspaper and Magazines.
You can bring you own champagne or whatever to max out the expereince.
The ride took 5 hours in medium rain and had about 4 stops at major cities. Cost: 710NT. Question: Where can we export this thing? China? China? or China? Maybe not, with the oil tax and the new railways. Or maybe yes, with all the new highways and a steepening propensity to try news things. Not to mention the lingering curiousity of how a “华人“ is different from, well, a “中国人”. Well, it's good bus; driving is tiring; and, quite simply, China's big, and big.
My email is in my profiles page.
宝岛就是宝岛。
However, the ride back to Taipei was incredible! -- I decided to head back to Taipei to recuperate some and greet Rosanne, who is visiting tonight from HK for 4 days. I don't mean to rub it in but ... yeah ... I'm taking holiday from my holiday.
How incredible? Click on the title to see the provider Ubus. Here's my take:
This is an adjustable leather massage chair. There are about 15-17 of them on this huge bus. The lower deck is for luggage and bathroom, which can be entered from inside the bus.Other Amenities: AV station with VOD movies from Hollywood, China, Japan, Korea, video gaming, and more; Some GPS thing; Wet towel and water; Newspaper and Magazines.
You can bring you own champagne or whatever to max out the expereince.
The ride took 5 hours in medium rain and had about 4 stops at major cities. Cost: 710NT. Question: Where can we export this thing? China? China? or China? Maybe not, with the oil tax and the new railways. Or maybe yes, with all the new highways and a steepening propensity to try news things. Not to mention the lingering curiousity of how a “华人“ is different from, well, a “中国人”. Well, it's good bus; driving is tiring; and, quite simply, China's big, and big.
My email is in my profiles page.
宝岛就是宝岛。
Monday, May 29, 2006
一夜一市
一夜一市-- 婪牛做事厂
玩家囊中馅，
老板心中愿。
夜市打烊前，
超级变变变！
The axes of Evil: credit, Tainan food, alcohol, and, majeong ... woosaa
Game TV
A TV station broadcasting computer game matches -- I wonder how much potential there is in this? I bet alot. If you knew the demongraphics of today's China, maybe you'd be inclined to agree. Games, are they anything more than games? Can playing computer games spawn an economy as big as making them? Europeans play soccer. Americans play poker. Japanese play Pachinko. Chinese play ... Starcraft? Sounds like a very efficient business. We all have television. Plenty of volunteers in China to start and maintain this thing. Not to mention sponsors. It's already happening.
I used to be a just a curious casual player but the commentators (kids now in their 20s, clearly got the oratory skills) this incredible network kept me watching a few starcraft games for the last 2 hours. Watching this on pplive while writing blog in a net cafe is an enjoyment that stimulates senses in the new frontier. Dear Mary Magdalene, what's next? If only I had routed some cash to my discount broker before I left, then in 10 hours I can be in the same place trading equities and commodities around the clock in tandem... Or it that toooo much? Internet is the invention of inventions!
Watch out the rest of the world -- the red army is coming!!! How fast and how forceful?
Just a thought in today's 2nd hour. Back to hotel.
I used to be a just a curious casual player but the commentators (kids now in their 20s, clearly got the oratory skills) this incredible network kept me watching a few starcraft games for the last 2 hours. Watching this on pplive while writing blog in a net cafe is an enjoyment that stimulates senses in the new frontier. Dear Mary Magdalene, what's next? If only I had routed some cash to my discount broker before I left, then in 10 hours I can be in the same place trading equities and commodities around the clock in tandem... Or it that toooo much? Internet is the invention of inventions!
Watch out the rest of the world -- the red army is coming!!! How fast and how forceful?
Just a thought in today's 2nd hour. Back to hotel.
假豹谋逮聚着，18667 (一爬溜溜ぎ)，到了高雄。 Signing in Kao-Hsiung
像瘪三一样，拉着有潮气衣服，头上一根烟，嘴里再一根，从新掘江兜到在六合夜市。途中买了小份的“香豆腐”（30NT），一斤荔枝（80NT，是季节）和一碗爱玉冰（15NT）。夜市大同小异，再说有些倦，没仔细看就先附近落了户。600 NT。好鬼dai2！这里算是市中心。差不多在南方新掘江和北面火车站中间。
出来逛逛，看到网吧先进来把白天被 Google 吃掉的字补回。发现已经有50多位朋友看过新 Blog，亦是欢喜。今天周日，朋友们早些休息，明天頑張って！
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Tainan， 不太难。高雄，高密度雄激素。
Conventional Wisdom
-- 懒牛做事厂
去香港，小心累死；
去上海，小心气死；
去东京，小心迷死；
来台南这地方，小心吃撑死！
I like Tainan. No. I love it. Take yesterday for example: In the morning I took 30 mins exploring the trains stn and vicinity. I learnt that I can deposit my backpack for only 17 NT (New Taiwan Dollar, 1 USD ~=33 TWD. I like the abbr NT). Hours are 8 to 8. Then I checked out all the local buses: Amazing! These Greyhound (North American) / 大巴（中国）sized buses seat but only 17 people, in 17 sofas (some of the companies use leather massage sofas) .... and, personal LCDTV with a wide range of channels ("wide" is my imagination but I bet it's true). The best part - swallow this - a 4.5 hr non-stop bus ride on this mammoth sofa to Taipei costs 600 NT (20 bucks, 145 HKD, 150 RMB). I was interested in the 45 mins due south sister city Kao-hsiung (高雄) -- 135 NT, runs every 40 mins around the clock. Kul! No problems. On I go with breakfast at a nearby bakery called 85C (Is this a special temperature for bread?) . The bread here was more to my liking than those in Tokyo, and definitely better than HK. No wonder the Taiwanese are taking over the bakery scene in Shanghai (Interested parties: this is a good business with enormous potential. Shanghaiese want more bread and are buying more pastries; yet 99% haven't tasted bagel nor baguette. Another story has to do with sugary stuff but I'll save it for another day.) 85C was also a mid-high end, clean , well managed, Japanese style service (This means treated-like-royalty for those who haven't had the chance to visit the Rising Sun). Price? about 30 NT for something creative, tasty, and filling. Clearly culture is a big factor in business. Trade the hardware at the right price, then use software to upsize flow. I spend an hour here on the bakery sidewalk patio reading Business Weekly Taiwan Edition (got some inspiration here for a different blog), and watching the locals eat their bread, drink their tea, do their thing, put on their helmet, then vroom off on their scooter. It's a bug's life here. People are friendly but unpretentious. Like.
I digress. Complete the picture: I put my bag in the station. Convinced there are motels everywhere. Conclusion: Travelling on this island, planning ahead is suboptimal. Was hot so I went to this cafe to create my blog, carrying with me only a travel waist-pouch.
S
ix hours later, after too many movies (legally obtained, of course) and too much typing, and way too much tea, (btw I spent about 200NT here), I reluctantly left the cybercafe, yawning. Heading for Wusheng Night Market (武盛夜市), I was feeling a bit drowsy, so stopby this motel and asked for a room. Only 10pm, I could not haggle up to far their pants. On I go.I kind know where Wusheng is, but in Taiwan -- the friendly place it is -- I had gotten into the habit of asking directions whenever I had half a shadow of doubt. Three girls on 2 scooters were very helpful: "我们也正好去武盛，那你现在就要去吗？“ I rode of the back of a scooter for the next 3-4 blocks, feeling good about myself. I thanked them again for their kindness after hopping of at the entrance of Wusheng.
Feeling hungry, I spotted my first hunt of the night. A place called 古味豆花 (beancurd store) on a mainstreet just outside the nightmarket. It was good. Let me to elaborate. The most famous 豆花 in Tainan is 安平豆花 in 安平区 to the west of the train, closeby was where I had the incredible 周式虾卷 (interested parties: ten ten ten) -- It was so incredible that I ordered a second serving immediately after my first bite (I'm not ditsy-- the store was about to close). I'm going back there for the rest of their menu... Back to 豆花. I may be generalizing from but one experience, but the beencurb here in Tainan has a texture much to my liking. How so? It's slippery, soft, and doesn't break easily. The exterior is tough but very thin. Incredible! The stuff we buy in Shanghai and Ottawa were very fragile; one had to steam/boil it some to make it tougher. But this thickens the skin and changes the texture inside as well.
凄い！素敵！微妙！本とに美味しいかった！
After the beencurd I bought some wet knapkins from 7-11 (39NT for a 10入-2-pack, JnJ, quite a bit cheaper than HK), and heading to where the noise was.
I've got 3 interjections here:
Firstly, this trip was brought to me by 2 great inventions: the wet knapkin, and the disposible underwear. These 2 products both fit into my little pouch and are light enough to be almost unnoticeable. Yet the untility...! The latter can be in paper or cotton form. I highly encourage export/importers to expand this market. Travellers far and wide would benefit. Especailly ther paper underwear, it's just a knapkin for your bottom, friendly enough for the environment.
Secondly, Tainan is small. A 2.5km radius covers bulk of the city. Guys from back home Canada: this is but a stroll in some park -- Not even enough space for me to warm up on my blades before I start my backflip and triple axle routine (obviously I'm kidding). Well, it was good for me that Tainan was small. I was able to cover much ground as a relaxed pedestrian.
Lastly, 3 markets? 4?
Ok. End of Interjections.
Food. mJ. Food. Mj. KTV. Motel.
, brief passage through 台中 and 嘉义, and arrival in 台南.
List and pictures of food are also coming..... Ciao!
}
damn it i just lost about 2000 words on some stupid script error in blogger. plz fix this!!!
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Taipei to Tainan, 宝岛之旅，始め！
あんた、どんな様？
-- 览牛做事厂
也许有获者，
或者也许多 …
此者何其人，
"华人"，是也！
Alas! 'Tas been almost 2 weeks since I arrived in Taiwan, the first leg of my "Asian Invasion".
Recent days were a unique experience for me. I haven't been more relaxed and unpremeditated for a long time -- perhaps a long long time. The Plan, is to backpack my way across the Asia Pacific for the next couple of years. The Precursor, was my putting a pause on a career in the financial industry. I'll save a proper preface for another day, because at the moment, I've got another eye and half a mind on another application playing Bruce Li's Classic Fury of the Dragon (猛龙过江), in this all but too common Cybercafe in Tainan, the former mecca-city in southern Taiwan -- now still a centre of commerce, culture and magnet for travellers like myself.
Enough purple dialogue ...
My god! It's already my fifth hour in this cafe today. Tainan mosquitos and today's 30C temperature are keeping me indoors, until night markets open in Hai'an Street (海安路).
Tautology Number Zero:
I left HK for Taipei on May 16th, 2006, and met up with Chan-san, my buddy in Taipei. Thankfully, he and his family are my kind hosts.
Week 1:
Time Modifier: May 16 - May 22
Place: Taipei and abouts
What I did: Slept alot. Browsed night markets. Early hour scotch (Ballantine) with Chan-san, over food from 通化街 and Soul Calibur match on PS2 -- felt good!
And... Touristy stuff.
Taipei 101: Modern, Pricey. Very. In case you didn't know, it's (was?) the tallest building in Asia with, yes, 101 floors under the pointy roof. I had a good time here looking at prices, enjoying friendly service, and marvelling the archetecture; but this place doesn't really have much merchandise I can't see everywhere in HK, if not Tokyo. Well, here are banks, investment banks, gourmet, showrooms (Bose, Sony), you name it. But, I learnt later from Chan-san that a little food stand (not restaurant in any right) in the night market (通化夜市) whereabouts he lives on that sells 米粉 (Taiwan styled Vermecelli) has an offspring branch in this building. Interesting ... [ntspic]
故宫博物馆： 昔日与女友访台时慕名而去，可惜未有福一览，原因是当时维修。这次，笔人虽有幸入馆，但看到的多数锅碗瓢盆类，并没有如愿我赏画之心。 原来，只开放了部分展览。离去时得知失望的非我一人。车换车来时花了小许久，只有门前香肠对付一下，没看到画，就别去了，亦是有所不爽。微笑着的前柜姐姐告诉我：“过几天就会有的，不好意思！”。听后感觉 ~okay。。。回港前再来过，是対です！问别去哪里? -- 预算当晚与詹餐聚西门町，那还不去西门町的邻居--龙山寺。 [ntspic]
龙山寺： 这里是江湖，有吃（没试），有卖（一般便宜），有蛇，有龟，有按摩（咸淡柬有）。我一身虽低调但哪里逃得过噢卡桑法眼，谢绝后向西门町步去。
西门町：好友詹子庆这里上班。他就是 Chan-san。为甚么我这样称呼他？原来詹是女友一年前留学日本的同学，我等三人当时居东京，是促进日文学习，是入乡随俗，还是自然而然的这样称呼对方？--“O-san, Yo-san, Chan-san" 均为王，杨，詹；我，女友 Rosanne Yeung，和子庆三人。
My Budda!! Make that the 6th hour. Save some for tomorrow. Off to the night market.
再说回西门町。 Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku -- this place has got genes from all 3. I could go on for hours about this joint for the young and fresh 'cause there's just too much here. Next time you're in Taipei, this is a must see. Moving on.
永和市，永和豆浆：小地方。本来我想去看看怎么回事。赫赫有名的永和豆浆是这里诞生的。台北附近的小城市，地铁可到。卖豆浆的 5pm to 12am，我去早了。
基隆市：比永和好玩。101号巴士从火车站接我去了和平岛。岛上有沙滩，岩石，小山。可以钓鱼，抓小螃蟹，玩碰碰船等。海景不错 (photo on right)。 找了块躺椅型的岩石，拿出 Ipod，睡了一会儿。天没黑就会了台北，因为当晚有K-聚。
钱柜，台北卡拉OK：上海的朋友们，无论你去钱柜还是好乐迪，收钱的都是台湾人。但是我们可以骄傲的是：上海的 KTV 比台北的好。歌多，设备先进，点歌方便，超市经营，现在有多了超好的服务。台湾的朋友：但是他们要排队，有时排得很厉害 -- 10 个人在侯 K 区打扑克。
夜市 (Night Markets) ：What are they you ask? They're stores, stands, and the like getting together to form an off-hour trading floor -- typically 7pm-1am. Merchandise? From food to underwear, to ...... other stuff. I go almost every night. Got my Nike sandles in 通化夜市, downstairs where Chan-san lives -- preparation for wetter weather in higher ground the next week.
Week 2:
May 23
Pickout 6-7 pounds of most useful gear and caught the 9am train from Taipei to Chia-i (嘉义). Plan was to catch the 13:30 twice-a-day train up to Alishan (阿里山). This train, amazingly enough, traverses through trees and rocks up this 2000+ metre mountain. It was built originally by the Japanese to help harvest wood here. How uncomfortable was it? I don't know. Because I found a driver with a van. The train was void of seats when I arrived at Chia-yi station at 12:45. I bought a sweat shirt nearby (don't do this when you go, because you can buy it cheaper on the mountain). There were 6+driver in the van. I was the only loner. Up we went.
It took 2.x hours, inclusive of Mr. Xu, driver of the Volkswagen 10-seater, stopping for diesel, stopping for a spare tire, a teapee break, and his lunch break (bread only).
Actually I had already booked a 600NT room (a 6-share) at the youth hostel one stop from the top (二万里). But since Mr. Xu gave me a deal on a 800NT room on Alishan stop, plus the Youth Hostel was "privatized" and tried to sell me a 1600NT room, then tried to cheat me of my deserved free breakfast when I specifically asked for their cheapest room.
Turns out I made the right choice. It was a little town up there. More like a resort. Well organized. I took a little hike while most others (notably those who came in tour buses) where taken to restaurants with some light entertainment from local Alishan women. If you're Chinese you could imagine this: “大家这边看，这位就是我们阿里山的姑娘！” No trip to Alishan would be self-respecting without fulfulling the need to turn lyrics from the song into some sort of reality. Espcially since it costs 120,000NT for each Mainlander to visit Taiwan. They can come in only groups of 10, so far. I, too, I admit, knew Alishan only from this song before this day.
“高山青，澗水藍。阿里山的姑娘美如水，阿里山的 少年壯如山。。。”
Tautology Number One:
Here, of course, few cared to see the that "youth, strong and stout like the mountain".
May 24
Hours of sleep: 11pm-3am.
Train to Zhu Shan (祝山): 4:30 - 5am. This is a convenient spot for viewing the famous sunrise.
Estimated time of sunrise: 5:20am
Actual time of sunrise: #N/A -- Everyone was disappointed.
I made a couple of friends on this leg. Lucent from Bay Area and Angie from Taipei.
To Lucent from Cisco:
Sorry Lucent =P I guess you're used to it but I've always wanted to make that joke. I'm waiting for that picture you took of me. And, after we parted, I hiked down the mountain with a retired English AstraZeneca chemist. Then I tried to sleep a bit before going back to Chia-i with Mr. Xu. Then I got woken up by Mr. Xu with a message that the family who hired his van no longer want to go to Chia-i, but back up north through the mountains and enjoy Nantou County (南投县). That's when I met the Yan's, and began my tree-hugging, nature loving, oh-way-too-much H2O two-day escapade in the mountains, where grounds covered included 东浦温泉, 彩虹瀑布, 水里, 溪头森林(!!!), 日月潭.
Left: 彩虹瀑布
Right: 大学池, 溪头森林
More Photos: ethan.fotopic.net/c976358.html
I hope you made it to Tainan safe and sound, and had as much fun in Tainan as I did. Give me a call if you're still in Taiwan (0930140246). If not, best regards, and we shall try that sunrise again another morning -- another mountain?
Sun Moon Lake to Tai'chung (台中) was our last ride together. I thanked and goodbyed the Yans at their hotel in Tai'chung, where a near relative was to be married the next day.
Mr. Xu has both property in Chia-i and on Alishan. That night he was to live in Chia-i. Perfect. This connected me to the western rail tracks real quick. I got on a train (电车, 非自强号火车) to Tainan and quickly shopped for lodging.
Rest is what I need for the next day my gastric forces need to battle Tainan food ...
-- 览牛做事厂
也许有获者，
或者也许多 …
此者何其人，
"华人"，是也！
Alas! 'Tas been almost 2 weeks since I arrived in Taiwan, the first leg of my "Asian Invasion".
Recent days were a unique experience for me. I haven't been more relaxed and unpremeditated for a long time -- perhaps a long long time. The Plan, is to backpack my way across the Asia Pacific for the next couple of years. The Precursor, was my putting a pause on a career in the financial industry. I'll save a proper preface for another day, because at the moment, I've got another eye and half a mind on another application playing Bruce Li's Classic Fury of the Dragon (猛龙过江), in this all but too common Cybercafe in Tainan, the former mecca-city in southern Taiwan -- now still a centre of commerce, culture and magnet for travellers like myself.
Enough purple dialogue ...
My god! It's already my fifth hour in this cafe today. Tainan mosquitos and today's 30C temperature are keeping me indoors, until night markets open in Hai'an Street (海安路).
Tautology Number Zero:
I left HK for Taipei on May 16th, 2006, and met up with Chan-san, my buddy in Taipei. Thankfully, he and his family are my kind hosts.
Week 1:
Time Modifier: May 16 - May 22
Place: Taipei and abouts
What I did: Slept alot. Browsed night markets. Early hour scotch (Ballantine) with Chan-san, over food from 通化街 and Soul Calibur match on PS2 -- felt good!
And... Touristy stuff.
Taipei 101: Modern, Pricey. Very. In case you didn't know, it's (was?) the tallest building in Asia with, yes, 101 floors under the pointy roof. I had a good time here looking at prices, enjoying friendly service, and marvelling the archetecture; but this place doesn't really have much merchandise I can't see everywhere in HK, if not Tokyo. Well, here are banks, investment banks, gourmet, showrooms (Bose, Sony), you name it. But, I learnt later from Chan-san that a little food stand (not restaurant in any right) in the night market (通化夜市) whereabouts he lives on that sells 米粉 (Taiwan styled Vermecelli) has an offspring branch in this building. Interesting ... [ntspic]
故宫博物馆： 昔日与女友访台时慕名而去，可惜未有福一览，原因是当时维修。这次，笔人虽有幸入馆，但看到的多数锅碗瓢盆类，并没有如愿我赏画之心。 原来，只开放了部分展览。离去时得知失望的非我一人。车换车来时花了小许久，只有门前香肠对付一下，没看到画，就别去了，亦是有所不爽。微笑着的前柜姐姐告诉我：“过几天就会有的，不好意思！”。听后感觉 ~okay。。。回港前再来过，是対です！问别去哪里? -- 预算当晚与詹餐聚西门町，那还不去西门町的邻居--龙山寺。 [ntspic]
龙山寺： 这里是江湖，有吃（没试），有卖（一般便宜），有蛇，有龟，有按摩（咸淡柬有）。我一身虽低调但哪里逃得过噢卡桑法眼，谢绝后向西门町步去。
西门町：好友詹子庆这里上班。他就是 Chan-san。为甚么我这样称呼他？原来詹是女友一年前留学日本的同学，我等三人当时居东京，是促进日文学习，是入乡随俗，还是自然而然的这样称呼对方？--“O-san, Yo-san, Chan-san" 均为王，杨，詹；我，女友 Rosanne Yeung，和子庆三人。
My Budda!! Make that the 6th hour. Save some for tomorrow. Off to the night market.
再说回西门町。 Shinjuku, Shibuya, Harajuku -- this place has got genes from all 3. I could go on for hours about this joint for the young and fresh 'cause there's just too much here. Next time you're in Taipei, this is a must see. Moving on.
永和市，永和豆浆：小地方。本来我想去看看怎么回事。赫赫有名的永和豆浆是这里诞生的。台北附近的小城市，地铁可到。卖豆浆的 5pm to 12am，我去早了。
基隆市：比永和好玩。101号巴士从火车站接我去了和平岛。岛上有沙滩，岩石，小山。可以钓鱼，抓小螃蟹，玩碰碰船等。海景不错 (photo on right)。 找了块躺椅型的岩石，拿出 Ipod，睡了一会儿。天没黑就会了台北，因为当晚有K-聚。
钱柜，台北卡拉OK：上海的朋友们，无论你去钱柜还是好乐迪，收钱的都是台湾人。但是我们可以骄傲的是：上海的 KTV 比台北的好。歌多，设备先进，点歌方便，超市经营，现在有多了超好的服务。台湾的朋友：但是他们要排队，有时排得很厉害 -- 10 个人在侯 K 区打扑克。
夜市 (Night Markets) ：What are they you ask? They're stores, stands, and the like getting together to form an off-hour trading floor -- typically 7pm-1am. Merchandise? From food to underwear, to ...... other stuff. I go almost every night. Got my Nike sandles in 通化夜市, downstairs where Chan-san lives -- preparation for wetter weather in higher ground the next week.
Week 2:
May 23
Pickout 6-7 pounds of most useful gear and caught the 9am train from Taipei to Chia-i (嘉义). Plan was to catch the 13:30 twice-a-day train up to Alishan (阿里山). This train, amazingly enough, traverses through trees and rocks up this 2000+ metre mountain. It was built originally by the Japanese to help harvest wood here. How uncomfortable was it? I don't know. Because I found a driver with a van. The train was void of seats when I arrived at Chia-yi station at 12:45. I bought a sweat shirt nearby (don't do this when you go, because you can buy it cheaper on the mountain). There were 6+driver in the van. I was the only loner. Up we went.
It took 2.x hours, inclusive of Mr. Xu, driver of the Volkswagen 10-seater, stopping for diesel, stopping for a spare tire, a teapee break, and his lunch break (bread only).
Actually I had already booked a 600NT room (a 6-share) at the youth hostel one stop from the top (二万里). But since Mr. Xu gave me a deal on a 800NT room on Alishan stop, plus the Youth Hostel was "privatized" and tried to sell me a 1600NT room, then tried to cheat me of my deserved free breakfast when I specifically asked for their cheapest room.
Turns out I made the right choice. It was a little town up there. More like a resort. Well organized. I took a little hike while most others (notably those who came in tour buses) where taken to restaurants with some light entertainment from local Alishan women. If you're Chinese you could imagine this: “大家这边看，这位就是我们阿里山的姑娘！” No trip to Alishan would be self-respecting without fulfulling the need to turn lyrics from the song into some sort of reality. Espcially since it costs 120,000NT for each Mainlander to visit Taiwan. They can come in only groups of 10, so far. I, too, I admit, knew Alishan only from this song before this day.
“高山青，澗水藍。阿里山的姑娘美如水，阿里山的 少年壯如山。。。”
Tautology Number One:
Here, of course, few cared to see the that "youth, strong and stout like the mountain".
May 24
Hours of sleep: 11pm-3am.
Train to Zhu Shan (祝山): 4:30 - 5am. This is a convenient spot for viewing the famous sunrise.
Estimated time of sunrise: 5:20am
Actual time of sunrise: #N/A -- Everyone was disappointed.
I made a couple of friends on this leg. Lucent from Bay Area and Angie from Taipei.
To Lucent from Cisco:
Sorry Lucent =P I guess you're used to it but I've always wanted to make that joke. I'm waiting for that picture you took of me. And, after we parted, I hiked down the mountain with a retired English AstraZeneca chemist. Then I tried to sleep a bit before going back to Chia-i with Mr. Xu. Then I got woken up by Mr. Xu with a message that the family who hired his van no longer want to go to Chia-i, but back up north through the mountains and enjoy Nantou County (南投县). That's when I met the Yan's, and began my tree-hugging, nature loving, oh-way-too-much H2O two-day escapade in the mountains, where grounds covered included 东浦温泉, 彩虹瀑布, 水里, 溪头森林(!!!), 日月潭.
Left: 彩虹瀑布
Right: 大学池, 溪头森林
More Photos: ethan.fotopic.net/c976358.html
I hope you made it to Tainan safe and sound, and had as much fun in Tainan as I did. Give me a call if you're still in Taiwan (0930140246). If not, best regards, and we shall try that sunrise again another morning -- another mountain?
Sun Moon Lake to Tai'chung (台中) was our last ride together. I thanked and goodbyed the Yans at their hotel in Tai'chung, where a near relative was to be married the next day.
Mr. Xu has both property in Chia-i and on Alishan. That night he was to live in Chia-i. Perfect. This connected me to the western rail tracks real quick. I got on a train (电车, 非自强号火车) to Tainan and quickly shopped for lodging.
Rest is what I need for the next day my gastric forces need to battle Tainan food ...
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