Who's the guy from the forum that lives in China?

[Jake Capps]

I think we have a member who is a student there.


This is also the "best thread ever".

[Kees_L]

Best thread ever? Dang, methinks I'm underdressed for such atm.
But the title is promising, I'll give you that. (And here's an emoticon: :cool:)

You aren't thinking of Mikolaj, are you? Cuz he went home for all I know.
Then there is Shonokin, which sounds sort of Asian, also having a general ring of: 'Hide the children',
but I believe that person is Anglo-something in origin both as location.
Does that help?

[Gary_B]

I think we have a member who is a student there.

Maybe.

This is also the "best thread ever".

Please explain.

[Jake Capps]

Please explain.

I was being sarcastic Gary.

I'm trying to get in touch with that member.

[Gary_B]

I was being sarcastic Gary.

In that case: Wow, this really is the best thread ever!

[Jake Capps]

Yeah I'm going to China next week, and wanted some travel tips.

[shonokin]

* don't wear images of the Dalai Lama. You'll get arrested.
* don't wear images of Phil Silvers because apparently he looks like the Dalai Lama to the Chinese police.
* don't drink the water, just like in Mexico... unless it's sterilized. What I did was at the hotels I stayed at, they leave a thermos of hot water for tea at your door every night. I would take that and stick it in the fridge so I had some cold water to drink in the morning.
* don't eat stuff like lettuce... it's washed in the same water that will make you sick.
* always smile and be humble.
* have you had your travel shots?
* keep money on hand for the airports, there's lot's of hidden fees they don't tell you about when you get your tickets. Like "gate fees".
* don't have a heart attack by the way the taxi drivers drive, they might look like they'll run over the bicyclers, but they won't.
* there are signs posted where NOT to spit. Usually in the subway.
* boiled frog is nasty, just say "no".
* most the "kids" know some English, most the older folks don't.
* don't take porn on the plane, they'll arrest you for that too. That happened to some guy the first time I flew to Beijing. And no it wasn't me.

[Crowforge]

Well that sucks all around.

[Gary_B]

* don't drink the water, just like in Mexico... unless it's sterilized. What I did was at the hotels I stayed at, they leave a thermos of hot water for tea at your door every night. I would take that and stick it in the fridge so I had some cold water to drink in the morning.
* don't eat stuff like lettuce... it's washed in the same water that will make you sick.

This is good advice. It may seem a little obvious, but you never know. A friend of mine travelled to the tropics and was very careful about his water sources but still got quite sick. It was the ice cubes that got him.

[Ontarah]

I've also been told that pointing at people and showing the bottoms of your feet in public (or resting your feet on furniture-even the base of a table or the rung of a chair) is considered rude. Pointing at someone is basically like shooting someone the bird. At least, this was the case for me in India and I think it's that way across much of Asia.

[hellboyone]

* don't wear images of the Dalai Lama. You'll get arrested.
* don't wear images of Phil Silvers because apparently he looks like the Dalai Lama to the Chinese police.
* don't drink the water, just like in Mexico... unless it's sterilized. What I did was at the hotels I stayed at, they leave a thermos of hot water for tea at your door every night. I would take that and stick it in the fridge so I had some cold water to drink in the morning.
* don't eat stuff like lettuce... it's washed in the same water that will make you sick.
* always smile and be humble.
* have you had your travel shots?
* keep money on hand for the airports, there's lot's of hidden fees they don't tell you about when you get your tickets. Like "gate fees".
* don't have a heart attack by the way the taxi drivers drive, they might look like they'll run over the bicyclers, but they won't.
* there are signs posted where NOT to spit. Usually in the subway.
* boiled frog is nasty, just say "no".
* most the "kids" know some English, most the older folks don't.
* don't take porn on the plane, they'll arrest you for that too. That happened to some guy the first time I flew to Beijing. And no it wasn't me.

And be on the look out for KUNG FU ASSASSINS!!!!!!!

[Kees_L]

And be on the look out for KUNG FU ASSASSINS!!!!!!!

Also red ninja's. They can get spicy!!!

[black eyeliner]

.best.thread.ever.bump. :tongue:

[crystak]

So you mean there's only one member on the forum who loves in China? :o

[Kees_L]

So you mean there's only one member on the forum who loves in China? :o

Looks that way almost :redface: (no pun intended).
And he was only there for a short while, on an international study program (if indeed Mikolaj is the one).
Where are you based, crystak? And welcome :smile:.

[Mikolaj]

I've lived in china for 2 months, last summer. I'm also on track with current events in china, as it's a part of my job.. oh and i do speak a fair bit of mandarin. Let me know what kind insight you're intereted in, Jake - I'll be glad to help.

[shonokin]

I worked in Beijing, Tianjin and Shanghai in the mid-90s. The culture is fairly different in each place. Tianjin is an industrial city a few hours drive from Beijing and there's not many Westerners there. If you are fair skinned or have blond hair you will really be the center of attention there.

Beijing is obviously more metropolitan and worldly. Great nightclubs, like big as an aircraft hanger type places jammed with people. One night this one place had a danceparty mix of the theme from Airwolf playing for 30 minutes straight.

Shanghai is a wacky mix of China and Europe. I think even moreso than Hong Kong.

Chinese people, like all people everywhere on this globe, are down to earth, fun and interesting. The people themselves are not their government. Stay humble and you'll make a ton of friends there.