Hi all
we've booked on the journey across China and are very much wishin September was already here. Just wandering if anyone who has been or is going has any hints, tips or comments on the trip or country. Thanks
Chris
You can also mail me on screechy@hotmail.com
Re: Journey Across China
Jerry et Comrades
yea I am very impressed with the length of our mail, congrats on message no50! It would be good if they could give our details to the other travellers. I am thinking about doing something on my meagre website in preparation of going away, but I stress only thinking! Now that the world cup involvement is out the way I can do a lot more reading and stuff. Sorry about your car mate, if its any consolation I had to have a new engine in february, not pretty!
I'm pretty happy with the football as a whole, I know they didnt win and it wasnt a great game, but cast your minds back 12 months and ask yourself how happy were you then with the state of English football. We've had a great ride, but I think the heat beat us as much as anything today. It'll be all the sweeter to walk home in four years with the Coupe du Monde under the arms, waving to the German customs as we go.
Re: Journey Across China
Just what happened to that Man U midfield Chris? They were all pretty poor today. Got a text saying that if Beckham scored, they'd drink a pint of Becks, if scholes scored - a pint of Skol, for Mills - a miller lite, they were happy Seaman was in goal! (until the second half!)
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Yea mate, I think a serious case of tiredness and the heat taking it out of them. Brazil will go on to be world champions now. Apparantly Ferguson Has ordered them home for pre-season training so we had to call it a day. It will be all the sweeter to walk out of Germany with the world cup under the arm.
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Incidentally, I not ethat England's first group match for Euro 2004 is on Oct 13 against Slovakia - just how many large screens will the Chinese bars have waiting to show the match remains to be seen!
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In regards to the football I used to get an Asian ESPN out there which did show a host of European football so you never know. However the time difference will probably make it about a 2AM KO in china, we had to stay up till that time in Bali last year to watch the Germany game, but I think the enthusiasm to watch Slovakia may not be the same, not to mention a lack of Big screen Bars in a country where gatherings of more than 12 people was recently illegal!
Re: Journey Across China
I am currently thinking od taking a knife/fork/spoon set with me as I believe that most places will only have chopsticks. Although I do want to be able to use them, I have somewhat failed to date in even retrieving a piece of lettuce, never mind a peanut, from a Chinese restaurant. Perhaps its just as well that we dont pay for the majority of meals - at least it is a good way to lose weight
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Ah, you cant take a knife and fork! Thats Cheating. When confronted with, learn to use sticks or go hungry, its amazing how fast you can pick it up. I'd better brush up before we leave as no doubt I will be under pressure to use the things properly!
I have the TY Mandarin tape/book set, if anyone else is thinking of learning you can get the book and I'll do a copy of the tapes if you want. This doesnt mean that I have been studiously learning!
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Phoned the Bank of China in Chinatown today. Unfortunately, it appears we cannot get Chinese currency from them - so its the airport or hotel I guess.
One other thought is to see if any returning travellers have any currency to sell. I think I will send out a separate message.
Nick
Re: Journey Across China
Cool, Its been a bit quiet here recently. Any news on the rest of the group?? I'm just thinking about applying for the Visa in the next couple of weeks. Probably take that long to fill the forms in! Going to up the reading and stuff in the next week or so as well, now the football ahs finished. Got about three weeks to do all the reading before the season starts.
Re: Journey Across China
Hi Everyone,
I've been in touch with James, ImTrav's online consultant about getting in touch with others on the tour.
As I thought, it all comes down to confidentiality and data protection, so we are kind of stuck if the others on the tour don't vist the forum.
As James pointed out, they can't exactly miss our thread can they. Sometimes size does matter I guess.
...and I wonder how smoothly the visa stuff is going to go. I was thinking of getting my form together this week or next as well. We'll see?!
tatty bye
Re: Journey Across China
Jerry
Hi - how did you get the forms? I know they are on the Embasy website, but couldn't download them
Re: Journey Across China
Please ignore previous comment - the print out has worked. Will pop down to the Embassy soon and joins the queues. Shouldn't be a problem - I live in Wimbledon - so used to queueing for two weeks ayear at least
Re: Journey Across China
Hi Guys,
Sorry for the downtime on this thread.
I changed the forums name to include posts for Japan. However the threads did not update...
You can now post freely.
Again sorry for the hassle.
Marty
[This message has been edited by Marty (edited July 10, 2002).]
Re: Journey Across China
Hello again
Just seen the discussion about visas (somehow sneaked in amongst the football debates!). I've already got my visa and it only took a week by post. Used an agency I've used before and was amazed how quick it was. So it doesn't appear there are any hold-ups at the moment.
What are you doing about vaccinations? I asked in Boots at the weekend and they talked about anti-malaria drugs, as well as the usual Hep A, polio etc. Is anyone planning to take malaria tablets?
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Ah, I thought it was just me not able to post, phew. I was going to post the other day, I have printed my VISA forms off ready to fill in. Does anyone know if you have to turn up in person at the embassy or can someone take the stuff for you. Just trying to avoid their hefty postal fee!
As for injections, I need to check I'm still covered but Hep A and B, Typhoid, and the usual polio tetenus etc. I am not currently planning to take Malaria tablets, unless anyone has specific information otherwise. I did take them last year inmalaria. I would say from my experience, and talking to other is that, Boots will say one thing, your GP/nurse will say another, and the WHO will say another. You decide who to believe. I get info from MASTA who are a division of the WHO.
Still no word on the others in the group??
Chris
Re: Journey Across China
Hi,
I don't think the malaria risk will be too high but I will probably take something.
Last year in SE Asia I was taking doxycycline, which is one of the tetracycline class of antibiotics. It also has anti-malarial properties and is hence used for this as well. If you are on other tetracyclines for existing medical conditions then you need to make sure that you have an equivalent doxycycline dose. I can't remember what that is in mg at present. Advantages are that it is reasonably cheap compared to some other anti-malarials and has very few side effects.
It may however not be recommended for china.
There is a reasonably new drug, Malarone I think it's called (not to be confused with maloprim) which is a mixture of paludrin (proguanil) and something else, and is pretty good in most parts of the world. Disadvantage is that it's rather costly (or at least it was last year).
Basically I shall take the cheapest recommended option and try not to get bitten.
I get my info from my GP's nurse, who goes online for the latest updates - probably the WHO or a subsidiary site.
Good to here that the visa was smooth going, must get that organised.
No idea if you can get someone else to go into the embassy for you. I think I'm going to either get an agency like Liz or do it by post. Either way I'll have to fork out some extra cash.
[This message has been edited by jerry (edited July 11, 2002).]
Re: Journey Across China
I just read the Last few posts again and my last one made not a lot of sense, I took the tablets in Indonesia, rather than an unknown place called inmalaria! I think I'll end up posting or getting an agent to do it aswell.
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How much was the China visa? Just about to apply for a Vietnam one - spend aweek there after the tour - and its
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The vietnamese visa is a bit costly isn't it, I was there last year. The good side though was that it was sent back from the embassy within two weeks. Make sure you send two photos though as some info I had said send only one, and this was wrong.
Last time I looked a chinese visa was 30 quid for us brits (20 for everybody else for some reason) with an extra 20 quid for doing it by post.
All adds up doesn't it !
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Yea, a fifty quid round trip for the China Visa. They say to allow three weeks to get it done.
As for games, I usually settle for a pack of cards. We could co-ordinate some stuff though. We were lookin at holiday stuff at the weekend, and the number of gadgets you can buy these days is amazing, the only problem is, you need about 12 Bags to fit all the gagets in. Catherine is a bit of a sucker for these things. Is anyone taking a short wave radio, I was thinking about it, but then I thought probably not cos anything important will be in the China Daily.
Just thinking about games, can anyone play Ma Jong? I havent a clue but they love it there. I may still have a travel chess set if anyone plays?
Also if anyone is either in the Midlands or London, (sorry Jerry, cant see myself getting up North) shall we meet up before we go for a drink??
Let me know
Chris
Re: Journey Across China
Afraid to admit - I canplay Ma Jong - even have a genuine Chinese set.
Its very similar to rummy in cards - ie you collect runs/suits
Re: Journey Across China
we'll do a deal then, you can teach Majong, and I'll show you how to use the chopsticks. Incidentally, out there you usually get disposable wooden ones, which are a couple of centimetres shorter than ones we get in restaurants over here, and are much easier to control.
Re: Journey Across China
Hi Chris,
Reading your discussions I am only jealous that you will be going on your trip shortly!
If any of you in this group have any questions - I would only be too happy to answer them
The best advice I have is savour every minute of the experience! (and as Im Trav says "Pack your sense of Humour!"
Best regards
Marty.....
Re: Journey Across China
Marty (et all)
Its looking pretty good at the moment, as we have discussed we're kind of at a loss as to getting hold of the rest of the group. This wont be my first visit to the east, although a lot of the places will be new to me. I spent some time in the industrial east. Not a lot for the tourist though where I was. If you can think of anything that would sway my other half from taking less baggage, that would be a help! Other than that, just general up to date advice would be great. I'm sure we'll think of something. Its always good to hear feedback on the company, and all is positive so far. Thanks
Chris
screechy@hotmail.com
Re: Journey Across China
Chris,
USE BACKPACKS!!!! We did and were really pleased because you carry them a lot (on and off trains etc)! Back pack on the back - daypack on the front - useful in a crowd as a weapon! (Im Trav doesn't require you to use packs but you are gonna be happy you did!) One Honeymooning couple on our tour had a huge suitcase and it must have been hell lugging it around!
My Wife and I bought new packs for the trip (a 70litre and a 60 litre) and made a list of stuff to take. We also had a daypack each for cameras, liquids and stuff. We were pretty happy when we got everything in the packs with room to spare and were feeling pretty pleased with ourselves. However it turned out that the daypacks were almost as heavy as the backpacks and we still took TOOOOO MUCH STUFF.
So here's the recommendation: 3 lots of everything (underwear, hiking socks, 2 pr shorts, 1 long pants easy dry, t-shirts or button shirts (not cotton)), and maybe one nice outfit. Wash stuff as you go and wear it till it walks to the sink on it's own to be washed!! You will all be stinky together and no-one cares!
The biggest weight of anything is all those toiletries and make up bags that certain members of the community take!!! They account for half the weight of your stuff!! Take travel size versions of everything and rely on the hotel shampoos and stuff (they were all very well equipped in the hotels we stayed in). YOU DON'T NEED one 600ml bottle of shampoo for every day!!!!
So there it is, let me know if you want more detail
Marty.....
Re: Journey Across China
Hi again Chris,
Some more up to date stuff. The guide book we had was a little out of date on prices but given everything is so cheap anyways you won't get too much of a surprise.
Beer is cheap and goooooood!!!! We paid average 5-10 Yuan (which is around 1 Canadian dollar) for a 600ml bottle of Liquan or other local brew.
We ate mostly with the Tour Leader who knew all the best places - we paid average US$ 2-4 for an evening meal including booze!
Don't worry about money we ended up changing US$200 at a time - mostly at hotels (the rates are pretty standard (8.26 Yuan to the US$). Travellers cheques have a better rate than cash (odd!) and are safer.
Internet was everywhere although all the cafes were closed by the government in Beijing when we were there.
I'll add more when I think about it.
Marty........
Re: Journey Across China
Marty
Thanks for that,the internet is a change, when I was there it wasn't everywhere, and heavily state monitored. I had my email suspended, well the Chinese account, but thats another story. The beer has gone up! We used to pay about 2Y a bottle, local stuff, quite enjoy the chinese beer though. Good to know about the cash as I had had trouble in the past, but I guess I wasnt in a tourist hotel! Also interesting that the exchange rate is about the same from 5 years ago, 8ish to the dollar and 13 to the pound. I am really looking forward to going back now, been too long... Have a nice Rio, I mean weekend,
Chris
Re: Journey Across China
I'd be up for meeting sometime...although free days are already looking abit sparse. Mind you by the time we depart, Chester will have thrashed United in pre-season friendly and Ferguson's face will look like the icon....if it woks
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Just sorted out visa at the embassy - all surprisingly easy - only 30 mins delivery and pick up time ...and for the price of 10 pints of stella artois in London (and hopefully many more pints in China). which reminds me..chop sticks..must get back to the piano
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Good to know that it is all nice and simple. I am going to have to post mine, but hopefully this is the only extra hassle.
Re: Journey Across China
single visa is
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Nick
Can you let me know the address etc of the embassy, save me looking it up. Catherine is going to get ours next week. Did you go there early, and do you have to turn up in person? I'll be in London this weekend, have nothing to do on the Sunday as Catherine is working. I'll be leaving the city about 3-4ish if anyone wants to meet up. Other than that I'll be down on Bank holliday weekend. Will no doubt post another message later cos i'm sure I had another question.
Chris
Re: Journey Across China
address is 31 portland Place - about 5 mins from Oxford Circus tube station.
There are 2 separate entrances - one for applications and another for collection. Abt 30 mins queue times for each. I arrived there about 9 and not too busy. Its quite quick unless you gwt couriers applying for several visa all at once.
I may be around this Sunday pm. Not sure yet. Mobile number is 07870 101167.
Nick
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Chris - actually will be back up iN chester on Sunday, so cant meet up I'm afraid.
Hope planning is going well.
There was an interesting article in one of the papers recently about the suggested location for the mythical place Shangri-La from the Hilton novel. Its supposed too be something 200m north of Kunming - sounded a fantastic place
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Hi again all,
I have just found some interesting info for anyone else who doesn't have the visa thing sorted yet and who can't get to a consulate.
Trailfinders will do it all for you for a cost of 18 quid with an extra 4 for registered postage back to you.
As this postage method is only 2 pounds more than a service which the chinese embassy says themselves that they have problems with, I think this is the way i'm going to go.
Shangri La, now that would be nice.
I will be in Reading, one night only, if anyone happens to be there this Friday. Not quite a mythical location but I'm down South doing the parent thing this weekend.
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Well I think catherine has got our Visa's today, and I reckon i dont need any needles for another year, so we're just about set. Oh and I think we paid! Just five weeks to go now, my efforts to learn the lingo are floundering and with the new season approaching they seem rather slim.
I did see an article about Shangri-la, although the writer seemed rather doubtful that any of the claims were valid. There are a fair number of china stories coming out at the moment, most of them from narrow minded idiots who like to have at the commies- cos its easy. Ny way enuff ranting there. Afraid I will be no where near Reading this weekend. I'll be back down the smoke for Bank holliday weekend, apart from that i'll be in and around the midlands if your in the area,
Hows that ankle lookin Rio??
Chris
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Seems a long time since we last wrote, but just a few weeks to go now. Does anyone know how you go about arranging the pickup at Beijing airport, also, does anyone know if Imtrav send any details or anything, I kind of expected a letter around now. Guess we wont hear from the others until we get there now, dont know if the trips full yet, or how many full is. If I dont hear from you again, see you in the bar area of the Tiantan Hotel, on the Sunday evening, shall we say 7ish. Going to read the posts again to work out who is coming when an all. Apparantly the flag raising is worth a look in the square, that'll be a dawn patrol though, if anyone is up for it. Ta for now
Chris
Re: Journey Across China
Hi Chris and All,
I have just received a set of documents from ImTrav with various vouchers and bits and pieces which have to be handed in on arrival, so hopefully you'll have yours soon.
I just e-mailed to arrange the airport pick-up and am just assuming therefore that it is going to happen.
If you're still up for Sunday afternoon at the Temple of Heaven (sounds like a date doesn't it!) I can aim to be in the bar between midday and 1.00. This should give me time to sort money and get into town as I am supposed to land at 8.30. I guess you can always leave a note for me if I'm late, and I'm sure we'll run into a few of our fellow travellers wanting to do stuff as well.
Just got to pack now, not long to go...
Jerry
Re: Journey Across China
Hey
Yea, I just got a call to say some vouchers an stuff had arrived. I'll read it all over the weekend. Jerry (an anyone else who can make it) we'll see you at about 1 ish on the Sunday, should be a short walk to the temple, we'll have it sussed by then. everyone else about 7 ish in the bar.
Chris
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Sounds like a plan.
On another note, I got the impression from previous postings that currency wasn't available until you got to China - was I getting the wrong end of the stick here ?
It's just that I went into Thomas Cook yesterday and they said they could get it with a couple of days notice.
I'm reading my bits and pieces this weekend as well as there seems to be a lot of stuff to check over with the amount of tickets and bits of paper I seem to have accumulated for the trip and flights. All good fun.
Now, where was that safe place I put them all in ..........
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Thats quite interesting, You sure it was Chinese RMB? I'll try our branch tomorrow. I didnt think you could get it.
Also is anyone taking Malaria tablets or anything? I wasn't going to, but Catherine just had her HepA booster and they said that it may be needed. I was checking a few sites, which are very vague. I'm sure I read somewhere that we needn't bother, so if anyone has any advice, it would be appreciated. As usual there seem to be many opinions on this subject. Yunnan Province seems to be the sticking point, but I read you are at risk in Fujian province, which is total rubbish!
anyway, yup, gonna start gatherine stuff up this weekend, could take a few weeks to find everything, dust off stuff which hasn't been used for a year, etc.
Take it easy
Chris
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On the subject of malaria, it's hard to get information for anywhere, I'm off to Thailand and I trhought the doc would know what I'd need but all I got wasd they needed to know exactly where I was off to, and still haven't had a proper answer from them
Re: Journey Across China
Hi,
Sorry to butt into this thousand mile thread on Journey across China. I'm off on the Beijing to Kathmandu tour on 9/9/02 and - bar the footie fixation - this thread is fascinating.
Martyn - Re: innoculation advice:
You can give the Department of Health a buzz on 0207 2104850 and tell them the countries you'll be visiting for some instant advice.
If you call and talk to a quibbler who whines that there's a booklet at the Post Office called "Health Advice for Travellers" - stick your lower lip out and reply that you pay your taxes and you would like them to advise you NOW.
I also suggest you change your doctor. My surgery had a nurse who specialised in travel innoculations and advice. Gave us all the required jabs, suggested appropriate malaria tablet brands and handed me a wad of informative leaflets about protection from insect bites, dodgy water, the sun and cramped-airline-seat-related thrombosis.
And now back over to the thread marathon...
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Re: Malaria
I am hopelessly baffled by this. Everyone I ask has a very different opinion ranging from 'no, you don't need it', to 'yes, you're going to a high risk area and with all the recent flooding....' . I work in a hospital and the latter was my colleague's advice.
In desperation I am going to see my practice nurse on Monday to see if I can get a conclusive answer and will have to make my mind up then one way or the other. I think I'm verging on deciding to play safe and take something - especially as I got badly bitten by mossies in my garden last weekend!
As for 'vouchers' - what vouchers? My envelope from Im Trav contained my flight tickets, a compliments slip and nothing else. Should I have received anything more?
And Nick - "hello". I've booked the Flightlink bus to bring me down to Heathrow on the Saturday morning. All being well, I should be there just after 10am. Perhaps we need to arrange to prominently display our China guide books and carry red carnations/copies of The Times etc?! Should we speak, or can we swap enough details here?
Not long now!
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Wow what a lot of problems with malaria.
Like Christiana, I have always had a very efficient nurse at my surgery who brings up a medical web site that is passworded for medical persons use only (probably a subset of some government or NHS site. She has always made sure that I have all the correct jabs and pills - this is running into quite a list now.
Anyway,
There are a couple of options depending on where you are going in china. This is due to the relative presence of the two different forms of malaria.
But, we are going all over which makes the best and cheapest overall option against both types - Doxycycline 100mg per day. That's it.
Only real side effects of these are sometimes sunlight sensitivity. Other side effects are rare.
Contraindications are pregnancy or breast feeding (something which I doubt any of us will encounter there on a first hand basis. Doxycycline is safe for conditions such as epilepsy and psoriasis, and also for use at altitude or when scuba diving.
That's what I'm taking. I suffered no effects last year.
Liz, I can't remember what exactly was in the pack, but I'm going to read through it this weekend so I'll let you know next week.
I'm also going to check up again to make sure that it was indeed RMB that Thomas Cook were talking about as i only asked in passing as the girl at the Bureau de Change window wasn't doing anything.
Must dash, it's 5pm, Friday and the beer is getting warm, I can here it calling....
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Just returned from the trip y' all are goin on.... you lucky, lucky people! Don't worry bout bringing a towel- hotels supply them all, take a drop of whisky for Tiger Leapin Gorge- gets chillsome! Gonna be an absolute blast- (tell Ian Ford (probably your Tour Leader)Alex, Andy and the Cheese Pagoda and Chang Crew send respects!! THANKYOU)Safe travels, Gombe!!
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Chang n Tripe,
Well great to hear that it should be good. We've been talking about it for long enough! Will pass on your comments out there. Perhaps you would be so good as to clear up the Malaria issue. Did you take tablets or anything? anything else we need to know, Can't wait to get out there now. Ave it...
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Liz - I aim to be at the airport one hour before I get there. I shall then be rushing around the shops remembering all those things that I've forgotten and sending loads of post and paying bills I forgot to pay during the week. I hope to have my mobile with me - number 07734697783. I'm very happy to speak beforehand or meet at the airport. Daytime number is 0207 717 6432 (Health and Safety Executive).
I've pinched some doxy thingey's from my brother who is in Vietnam (just hope he doesn't realise he's going to run out on day 12) as I'm also going to Vietnam for a week after the China trip. I shall therefore be taking quite a few independent travel stuff for walking and cycling - which I aim to do in V. and China if possible (eg days off). So I shall be the sad one with the cycling tools and pump, etc.
Anyone have a feel for temperatures and humidity whilst we're out there?
I'm still on for the visit to where ever it was we agreed to go to on the Monday. Liz and I are due in on Sun (16.30 ish)...so first beer by 18.00 in the hotel.
Nick
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Liz and all,
Quick note, in a bit of a rush
Here is what is in my pack for reference:
1 airport pick up voucher.
1 extra night hotel voucher.
3 tour vouchers - journey across china, china explored & gateway to southwest.
A letter explaining that I should take the vouchers with me on my trip.
Some advertising leaflets.
2 luggage labels.
That's it as my flights are through someone else.
Hope all is well with your pack Liz.
Jerry
Re: Journey Across China
Jerry, I was about to suggest that you also carry a toothbrush and at least one spare pair of boxers, then I read above and realised that you were talking about your Imag Trav pack. Posted anyway coz I'm all chirpy, buzzy and excited* - just 30 hours to go!!
Oh buggery...who chewed my passport?
Chrissy
(*and this looks like the only thread for chirpy, buzzy, excited people)