China (part 1)

China

(Part 1)

I finally made it to China! It is just to much to tell in one sitting!

The biggest thing about China-the people, there are soooo many people. They are friendly and helpful. You ask they really try to help. Really try being the key phrase because language is an issue!

Tianjin was my first stop. It is a small city of about 10-12 million. Paul worked, I went out on my own. It is very safe. My first venture by myself- I found "Hearty Coffee" great it is in English! Its 2:00pm and I go in for an iced coffee. The place is busy and I sit at the coffee bar. I get the English menu and the staff is clearly confused as to why a blond "mei gou ren" green eye lady has showed up in there restaurant. I order the Icy Icy Coffee and a honey cake. THIS SEEMED LIKE A SAFE EASY ORDER-- I get a mint alcohol iced coffee and a large round waffle with honey on the side. Now I am so embarrassed that I laugh and eat a few bites of waffle and drink my Icy Icy, pay and leave.

Trains, Planes and Taxi's- all are very clean. Taxi's and ALL drivers are crazy! The red light is treated as a "suggestion" rather than a stop now. The Tianjin/Beijing bullet train is better than any train in the USA. The seating is assigned the efficiency is amazing- 200mph and you get to Beijing in 27 minutes. Similar is San Diego to LA in distance. The airports are all new and even have some regular toilets.

What I could live without----the spitting and air pollution. Although we had some clear weather most days started white grey and ended white grey.

Ancient Cultural Street which is actually "newly" built. [Side note: This is an example of NQR(not quite right) many example of this can be found in China. The literal translation of things from Chinese to English will make you laugh.] This is the cleaner safer version of " tourist shopping in Tijuana", lots of dickering. I bought some old coins the price started at 3800 rmb. I purchased them for 100 rmb. OK so it is not quite Tijuana, no one speaks English, spanglish or Spanish but bartering is bartering. The barter battle was on!

People stare and say "Hello" which is the only english word they know but hey they are trying.

You begin to feel like "the bear in the mall" people find you interesting but wonder if you are dangerous and also what the heck is that "bear" doing in the mall.

write your comments on your odd experiences below.

See you next post-China (part II) Shanghai-following China part III -Beijing