Hanging Coffins-Yangtze River Cruise

Hanging Coffins -You get to see one while on the Yangtze River in China.  You say huh..what exactly is that? Well if you look at the crack in the photo (gourge wall) you can see (barely) the hanging coffin. Now these are about 2000 years old so they thought of getting it up there must have been a challenge. Unfortunately many of the coffins either fell apart or are now underwater. Does this make them floating coffins?



Yangtze River Cruise- If I returned to China I would do this "5" star cruise differently. I would just go to Yishan and take some day trips through the Gorges. This photo show the last day and a half of the beauty of the Gorges even with the water up 100 meters or so. Remember the  "5" star in this country[China] is a bit off than the USA view of "5" star. In China if you get a star it is for always. So a one star will grow to a 5 (maybe 6) star hotel as the years go on, regardless of the lack of maintenance, heat, service, food or cruise!

Basically we had a nice time, poorest food I ate in China, some loud smoking chinese folks who had a great time but made us seem quiet. As many of you know I am not known for being quiet and my very best china buddy also can keep up her own party so the idea of loud Chinese (mostly men on this cruise) is something to ponder.

Do you have any coffins hanging around that you wish to share?

Tibet/Lhasa-?This is part of China?

Tibet/Lhasa

You don't just go to Tibet. You apply to get a guide and permit.  I thought  this was part of the "aren't you special" campaign for this area (notice Obama didn't get to go there). But I was wrong, this is the "let China assign you a sitter to make sure you don't act up or do anything to silly and embarrass"...hey maybe not  to embarrass  Obama, Nah- more likely not to embarrass yourself.

Our guide was a Tibetan and actually one of the nicest people we met in China.  Patient, Calm,Controlled and always ready to talk to us.
Some topics were forbidden, so as not to get our guide in any trouble, we just didn't ask the unmentionable questions...like why can't the Dalia Llama come here? Why can't we even bring a book in about the Dalia Llama? Why do the Chinese military , who are in riot gear and armed to the teeth with scary weapons line the roof and march around like the gestapos in Lhasa? Why does it appear that the Tibetans are treated as second class citizens in there own homeland? Why were we treated differently than in "mainland china", (autonomous area not included)? In main china they treat you very nice and are glad you are seeing there country, In Tibet the Chinese treat you like an intruder who is meant to be yelled at-Yes we got yelled at!

So we just got away from Lhasa and headed to the country side, We ate yak, -yak burgers, yak soup, yak with veggies, Yak curry and many other which we won't yak about. Paul and Sue rode a yak..( We are going to develop that story into a yak race  but this is still in the works)

The glacier area was interesting and we seen enough monasteries to last us a life time. Overall it was one of the most unusual areas I have ever been.

A note about monastry, WATCH OUT FOR VERY RELIGIOUS BUDDHISTS!,while exiting one famous monastriy we were overrun by fanatic religious prayer people who needed to get in so bad the came at us like the hoardes taking the great wall. Pushing me and a little lady aside, Sue saving tiny tibetan women with a child. Our guide yelling (ok talking calmly) to the police to save me. Eventually I was grabbed by security and dragged through the door. Sue saved the small baby and mom! Paul got in panic (save the wife mode)mode and began yelling excuse me as he pushed he religouis folk aside. I think Rc was taking pictures...he was in the back awaiting an opening to catch up with us....adventures with the Arciaga's must include at least one police action (Remember Red Square-the Arciagas get taking by police then have to pay the "mordita"(bribe) to walk free)

The Altitude is an issue, take the pills! Even then we walked slowly to keep our breathing normally.

Oh lastly, they don't have heat in the dining areas, lobbies, corridors and on one occasion our room! It is cold -3C or so take warm clothes if you venture this way.

Lost In Shanghia (part3 0f 3)

This view of a hutong that is now a maze of stores each about the size of your bathroom.

Now I was staying with my Gracious cousin Nancy who was working so I went to this shopping area . Her driver dropped me off and we set up a return time at the same location. I looked around and ventured into this crazy labyrinth of shops. Every few shops was an alley with more shops. Guess what after an 1 1/2 hours you no longer know how to get out, no one speaks English so you spend the next half hour walking to different exit areas thinking "OK, don't know where the driver dropped you off, don't speak the language, don't know the drivers number. don't even have a phone--but I do have Nancy's business card in mandarin(the one smart thing I did) just a panic starts to set in a glimmer of hope and I find the pick up spot. No I didn't recognize it it all looks alike, I just ran out of options! I immediately stayed put at a restaurant nearby and awaited the drivers return.

Shanghia is one of China's nicer cities. At night it is lit up like Vegas-only until 10 pm-they are being green. I went to The Bund which to be honest was like walking in Boston- old bank buildings... well to each his own. Got yelled at "No photo, No photo" when I tried to take a picture of the ornate ceiling in one bank. Go figure you can walk through historical 2-5000 year old buildings and take picture but the 1890's bank is a no photo area.

Last some NQR's the first was posted in the hutong hotel in beijing. It gets you a bit nervous!

The second is a sign in a museum. In order to get your head hit by the escalator you need to bend over the rail on your left about 2 feet and really lean out to crack your head.

Someone must have really smacked there noggin to warrant this sign on all four levels of the escalator.

Thanks for the time. Next trip Yangtse river cruise-Tibet Lhasa.

Summer Palace,Forbidden City or People Palace (part 2 of 3)

Nihoo

The colors in China are bright. They must paint over the red(s) a lot to keep down the oxidization, but it is an eyeful for us visitors. After taking a slow boat in china as opposed to a slow boat to china--We found the local canal run up to the summer palace. It was hot, tiny seats with 4 people in a row for 2 people, change of boats, windows don't open. no air conditioning, and three (locals)pick-up locations we made it to the summer palace. It was actually a good way to go as we ended up at the far end and saw an area that we would never have found going in with the tourist north entrance. Oh yeah (NQR)they just let us off and pointed -no map but we could see the palace on the other side of the lake luckily we guessed the correct direction.

Above is the Temple of Heaven and a bit of Forbidden Palace(they now call it People's palace the don't like the negative image of Forbidden Palace).

The marble pathway was only for the Emperor to be carried over, no else could walk on it. Does this mean the all had to jump over it to go from one side of palace to the other? and if so how did they do that with the gowns they all wore?

We took over 400 photos-No you won't see them all. Beijing, Tianjin are busy busy cities - Oh I forgot- they closed Tianamen square while we were their for a parade practice- the 60th years of communism celebration- the whole area was closed off.It looks like a big concrete area. I guess the history is the best part of seeing it.

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

Cancun-Mayan Riviera-Palace Spa Resort

.....Me gusta la playa.

Paul and I decided that after all the China stuff (rejection) we needed a vacation.

We picked the Palace Spa Resort in the Mayan Riviera. As we live in San Diego and are at the border, the swine flu was not even a care in our planning and it shouldn't be in yours if you plan on going south!

The best thing was the 1500 room resort had 1/8Th capacity. The service was great, the resort was all inclusive which is not normally our style.

The room was nice with an ocean view. If you go ask to be in the 1500- 1600 building(s). The rooms included liquor for those who couldn't get out and order at the pool. We never even cracked the bottles, of course Paul seldom has a drink and I go for wine as a preference. But they keep your refrigerator stocked with juice,soda, beer and water. We asked to remove the everything and just leave soda and water. The water came in handy on or day trips we brought plenty to help with the heat.

The food and tips- Tips were included with everything and you didn't feel pressure from staff,, but we still tipped 20-50 pesos for good service. You can tell the people are worried for their jobs because there are so few room occupied. They has 6 restaurants open, 2 were closed. All the food was fine...I would say like cruise food, some times better than others.

The Pool- they have two area, kids and no kids under 18. The no under 18 was a constant large pool party with more drinking than we cared to be around. The few times we watched the activities the people were having fun doing pretty silly, a bit risque, but other wise harmless stuff. The other pool was empty!!!

The Lagoon- We stayed hear most of the time. We sat in the VIP section which was covered in shade. We never figured out if we were VIP but they didn't toss us out of the nice seats! It was quiet, relaxing and those frosty fu-fu drinks were fun! (No direct ocean , lots of fish in a protected lagoon)

The Spa- great book a package as soon as you arrive and this is not included in all inclusive but great spa and massage!!!!

The trip(s)---UGH!

The Chitzen Itza trip was 2.5 hours of driving in a crowded,no space bus, then forced shopping, a crappy guide, and 2.5 hours of driving back. Do your self a favor pay for a private driver to take you for the day, have the concierge set it up. We had to stop in 4 other resort both coming and going ---other folks had a worse day they had 9 stop before they were back at there resort. Chitzen Itza is worth doing just not on a big bus"""""""!

The Tulum Express is worth doing the guide was on time, very informed. Bring your bathing suit this has a beach rated top in the world.