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
Boxers, I knew there was something I should have packed. Ah well, looks like I'll be Arnie this trip then.
Dunno what I'm gonna do on the internet when this hollidays over, have to start a post trip thread eh!
Re: Journey Across China
Hey Chrissy,
Wow, if I could get away with only taking a set of papers that would be amazing. I am thinking of travelling light, but maybe not that light, although i'm sure wearing boxers in the shower would mean taking less pairs !
You're off pretty soon I see. Keep up the chirpy buzzy thing. The trip you're on looks pretty good fun to me, as does ours of course.
Here's to China and other places, enjoy.
....and put that passport down...I saw you nibbling the corner.
Jerry
Re: Journey Across China
That's not fair - I wanted the 100th one. That's it - I'm taking my ball back.
If its going to be as humid as I think it wil be and as much a shortage of washung places as I expect, then I think I'll take 100 pairs of boxers to compenesate for the humidity. of course, I guess we can buy them out there although I suspect that I am not the same size as the average Chinese man (I'm talking waist!).
Liz - one thought. Are we able to arrange adjacent seats even if we check in separately.
If so, my full name is Nicholas O'Donnell if you need to ask for a seat next to mine. I will try and do similar. What is your surname?
Nick
Re: Journey Across China
Don't worry about the Malaria issue--couple of med students showed our tour leader their tablets and he laughed at them and ripped the piss! Don't worry about it!
Re: Journey Across China
Jerry - Many thanks for the list of vouchers etc. Turns out some fairly vital things were missing and hopefully they are now in the post.
Nick - My full name is Elisabeth Reeson, but I'll give you a ring before the 21st so we can swap details of colour of rucksacks etc and see if we can meet before we check in.
As for malaria, I've stopped worrying now. My local pharmacy is ordering something called Malarone and I shall take it whether people laugh at me or not!
Re: Journey Across China
Liz,
Good you sorted the pack. Would have been a bit of a disaster to get all the way there and not have the paper stuff.
I don't care if people laugh at malaria pills either. There is a risk in some parts of china and I've seen what malarial type diseases can do.
Malarone is one of the newer drugs (actually it's a mixture of two but I won't bother with the medical verse this time) and is therefore one of the most effective. It also has very few side effects. BUT, it can be very expensive, watch out on that one if you've got it on private prescription. This is why I'm taking doxycycline - about a quarter of the price, plus I had a load left from last year.
It's a shame we can't post up photos so we can find each other. Although I guess it might be best not to get scared off going. Who knows what sort of rabble we'll look like.....
Re: Journey Across China
How much Tcs are people taking?
and, anyone know where you can get Commission free cheques?
Many thanks
Nick
Re: Journey Across China
Oh my this post goes on forever!
Went to China in June myself - not with imtrav but did a very similar tour.
Don't worry about malaria tablets. I think only one couple out of a group of 23 took them. Didn't even come across many mozzies apart from by the lakes in Hangzhou and Suzhou.
You're going at a great time of year as it won't be quite so hot - although probably will be fairly busy.
Good plan to spend longer in Beijing. I felt very rushed around and could have spent a lot longer at most of the sights.
If you're looking for postcards you'll find that they're only sold in packs. You'll get hassled majorly in Tianenmen Square, but as soon as the police appear they'll all disappear. Bargain like mad for the postcards as well.
Oh and camera film is really cheap so if you're snap happy like me don't worry about running out and not being able to get any!
As for currency - that's a weird one. I was always told you couldn't get it here, but a few people on my tour had some. If you can get it here, makes life so much easier when you get there. And the best thing about China is that the exchange rate is the same wherever you change your money so you don't have to worry about shopping around for the best deal all the time and wasting time.
Enjoy the beer as its great and soooo cheap!
I've finally got round to sorting out my photos and I still can't believe how much I saw.
Hope you all have a great trip.
Re: Journey Across China
Hey All,
Jo - thanks for the chat.
Here's my progress on cash and what i'm doing
The bank said they couldn't get RMB, so, I went back to Thomas Cook to get the lowdown again from them making sure I said RMB.
Well, they CAN get it.
It takes 2 to 3 days to order and we can take up to 6000 into the country. This is about 480 quid.
What I'm doing therefore is ordering 400 quid in RMB cash.
I'm also taking a credit card, as well as 60 quid and 100 dollars in cheques as back-up, because these are the cheques I have left over from previous trips basically.
Talking to two friends who were on 'china explored' last year, they said that they basically used cash the whole time and took out reasonably large amounts each time they found a bank machine connected to the outside world. That saved them the effort of trying to be around a bank when it was open.
Now all I have to do is get on that plane !
Jerry
Re: Journey Across China
Jo - thanks for all the very helpful advice. I'm going to throw in a few questions and see where they land.
Electrical plugs - what type do they have and do we need adaptors?
laundry as opposed to money laundering. Is ist easy to get clothes washed or it a case of taking it into the shower with me?
Like jerry - I've ordered some Chinese currency from Thomas Cook. American Express can also provide RMB.
Liz - if you see somewhere tall, dark and handsome at the airport then that wont be me as I look nothing like that (well talk and dark anyway). International calls from China are approx
Re: Journey Across China
Well I guess this is almost it then.
Chris and Catherine are probably on the way or in a mad last minute packing frenzy panic thing - I'm starting mine tonight!
Currency came through fine from Thomas Cook the other day which saves on the hassle of runninng the airport gauntlet. Although I must say it's kind of plain looking - it'll probably still pass through my hands like water though.
Nick/Liz,
I'll be monitoring this forum until friday afternoon for any last minute stuff.
See you all in the bar !!
Jerry
Re: Journey Across China
Final Pre-posting
Well until tonight I expect. Yes we are in a final predeparture panic. Not least cos I had to be in London for two days and Catherine in York. I'm now in Brum and she back in London. We're off first thing tomorrow morning from birmingham. We got some RMB from Thomas Cook, so no airport queuing for us.
As for phoning, Nick, we used to by 100Y cards, but its pretty expensive. Internet is the way forward. I dont think I will take a mobile. Really dont want to but may change my mind. Any dual band will work over there.
We'll try and suss out whats going on, on Friday and Saturday. Not sure about bein a tour guide though! I guess your all looking forwadr to it as much as we are, but as usual there is so much to do before we can relax. I spoke to Chinese friend yesterday who thinks that Lijiang is probably the most beautiful place in China, so I was pleased to hear that as we're going!
The plugs will work as two round pins, or three this angled rectangular pins. A general world adaptor should be OK.
If you think the notes are plain, a lot of the coins feel like tacky plastic.
Can't really say about the laundry, we always do our own, so not sure. Guess you can get it done. We just take a tube of the travel wash stuff.
I think thats about it for now. The final rush is nearly over. Looking forward to meeting you all.
If your in the hotel, I'm about 6'2. Short brown hair (freshly butchered), rectangular glasses and a short beard. Catherine is about 5'6, brown hair just past her shoulders and a (fading) northern accent, not that you can see an accent. She shaved her beard off last week. You may find a picture of some sort on www.chris.mccartney.btinternet.co.uk go to the travel section and theres some pics in there.
See you over the weekend
Chris
Re: Journey Across China
hi from yangshuo. Couldn't let the opportunity to keep the thread going pass me by.
Having afantastic trip - great crowd and craic.
Nick
Re: Journey Across China
Oh no! I'm back home in the wet and cold - Wish I was back in china that's for sure, and I only took 15 rolls of film!
Hope you're enjoying vietnam Nick, it's just raining here in Aberdeen, yuk.
Here's planning for next year then.......
Re: Journey Across China
Indeed, returned we have, or most of us. No news yet of Liz, obviously ran off with the Japanese ambassador. Birmingham is in glorious sunshine today, its just that the sunshine is just above the grey drizzling clouds. Will catch up with you soon.
Chris
Re: Journey Across China
A note to all you guys who built up this great thread. Where are the holiday stories and snaps? Tell us how it was and show us where you've been. Charlie
Re: Journey Across China
Well apologies all round for the lack of feedback. It was indeed a great trip, can we get pictures on this site, I dont think we can, so at somepoint I'll try and get them onto a website. In the meantime, I can supply them by email. I think everybody on the trip enjoyed different parts. For me it was the South West, a very welcome and refreshing change from the cities of the North.
As for stories, you can get em all, pursuading people to eat ducks brains, snakes blood, and dogs. The overnight train with the kid who wouldn't stop pissing over the floor of the compartment, the dead chap floating down the Yangtse, the Kareoke porn lounge on the cruise boat, the fantastic scenery of the South West, the fantastic contrast of the country.
Hopefully the rest of the group will log on and add some to this, Perhaps we should lobby the Imtrav site to set up a travellers picture page. I think the Pictures say far more than any amount of crap I could write
;-)
You can request mine at screechy@hotmail.com
Chris
Re: Journey Across China
additional
To anyone who wanted to read an article on the 3 Gorges, Vol.192, No3 September 1997, of the National Geographic has its feature article. Fengdu is pictured along with early pictures of the dam construction and Chongqing. Quite different to what is in place now.
Chris
Re: Journey Across China
Hi Chris (and all the others from the Journey across China trip!)
I've been following your thread for a long time now with keen interest, as I'm taking an Imaginative Traveller trip in China next year. Looking forward to seeing your photos soon - and anyone else's!
Ben
Re: Journey Across China
Ben
Well the others are sorting their pictures up. I'm not sure if I'll be able to get mine onto this site on Sunday or not, but will hope to get them up soon. Its a great trip, and you'll see such a variation in scenery and people, its great.
Re: Journey Across China
Can't get all my images working at this site at the moment, But you can find the current crop of Chinese ones in www.chris.mccartney.btinternet.co.uk/travel.ntm
I'll try one more here, but dont think its working,
[/IMG]http://www.chris.mccartney.btinternet.co.uk/TigLeapUsmin.jpg[/IMG]
Should be me and Catherine, just follow the links, probably easier!
Re: Journey Across China
http://www.chris.mccartney.btinternet.co.uk/Travel.htm
is the link not ntm! Sorry
Chris