August 10th, 2005
Wondering…
I’m about to leave for China, and there are some questions that keep popping in my head when thinking about what it’s going to be like there. My imagination keeps comparing China to Taiwan, but I’ve heard they’re both so different from each other.
One thing I know for sure is that the standards of living are not the same, and that in westernized cities such as Shanghai and Beijing I’ll be able to get anything I want (if I even go there), but other things I’ve been wondering about the rest of China are:
-Will China have tea stands everywhere, like Taiwan does?
-Do the Chinese like to inform you that you’re fat, like the Taiwanese do?
-You don’t need to bargain in Taiwan, but you do in China. When bargaining, will it be friendly and funny like it is in SE Asia, or serious?
-Will China have yummy bakeries everywhere, like Taiwan does?
-Will the Pinyin often be written on signs at businesses (such as menus at restaurants), or just simplified Chinese?
-Can I charge my various electronic devices on long-haul trains and other places?
-Will my website be blocked?
-Do they have cheap hair washing/massage places like Taiwan does?
-Are the 7-11s as plentiful in China as they are in Taiwan?
-Will there be any buddhist vegetarian restaurants or hawker stands?
-Can I mention the fact that I lived in and like Taiwan? Even if I call it a province of China?
I guess I’ll find out in a few days!
August 10th, 2005 at 4:26 am
Good set of questions; if you have the presence of mind, you might make a point of answering each of them for the rest of us if you get the chance :)
Have a wonderful trip - I’m totally envious; I’d like to make a trip there and travel by bus and train to Xinjiang and on to see the Uighurs and nomads… just such a varied country. Look after yourselves!
August 10th, 2005 at 11:58 am
-Will China have tea stands everywhere, like Taiwan does?
No. But there’ll be plenty of food stands, most of which I think are better than those in Taiwan.
-Do the Chinese like to inform you that you’re fat, like the Taiwanese do?
I’m not a girl who is bigger than 5′1″ 90 pounds, so I don’t know about that one.
-You don’t need to bargain in Taiwan, but you do in China. When bargaining, will it be friendly and funny like it is in SE Asia, or serious?
You can be good-natured about it, but that doesn’t mena you should give up too much ground. Ideally, you should aim for a third of the asking price if you’re at a touristy market and just knocking off a bit for hotel rooms and rides.
-Will the Pinyin often be written on signs at businesses (such as menus at restaurants), or just simplified Chinese?
The only place you’ll really see pinyin is on roadsigns. Menus definitely won’t have pinyin. My suggestion is to ask “you shenme hao chi de” (What do you have that’s good to eat) and go with whatever they say.
-Can I charge my various electronic devices on long-haul trains and other places?
At least not on the hard sleepers. I never had a problem charging my camera and iPod at the hotel rooms.
-Do they have cheap hair washing/massage places like Taiwan does?
Yes, and they’re much cheaper than in Taiwan. I went for massages all the time.
-Are the 7-11s as plentiful in China as they are in Taiwan?
Not at all. You’ll still have plenty of general stores in the big cities.
-Will my website be blocked?
I don’t know. But a lot of politically sensitive English-language blogs aren’t blocked so I don’t think you’d have to worry about that.
-Can I mention the fact that I lived in and like Taiwan? Even if I call it a province of China?
When I was travelling, I found it much easier to say I was just from the States. The few times that I’ve let slip that I was both American and had lived in Taiwan, people have wanted to get into big political discussions about it. I’m not afraid of those, but if I just want to go along my way, it’s annoying.
August 11th, 2005 at 12:18 am
You should bring an adapter so u can plug ur electrical stuff into the wall outlets there. And for the most part, u shouldn’t bargain because dude, u r making like 100x’s their freakin salary.
August 13th, 2005 at 10:23 am
TEll them in no uncertain terms that Taiwan is a separate sovereign country and you are proud of the democratic accomplishments of the Taiwanese people, and that you hope China can someday follow in Taiwan’s footsteps and become an open, free, democratic province of Taiwan! SMILE
Yes, tell them the truth. Don’t be shy. They NEED to hear the truth. So YOU go girl!
August 13th, 2005 at 6:48 pm
Going to get your hair washed in China is a wonderful and cheap luxury.
Don’t hesitate to tell them the truth about Taiwan. It is interesting to see their reactions. Don’t expect them to really listen to or believe you though.
August 14th, 2005 at 12:40 am
Standing amongst the ruins of a Tibetan monasrty in Tingri, a small village on the road to Lhasa, watching the sun setting and waiting for the clouds to move so I could see Mt Everest, all I felt was anger towards the Chinese. Tibet had 6400 temples/monasteries - 6000 were destroyed.
But then in Lhasa, which, at the time, was roughly 50% Tibetan/50% Chinese. And I realised that my anger towards the Chinese had to be turned inro compassion. Why? Because almost all of the Chinese who were there, were not there by choice. Most of the soldiers who were there, were there because it was either 1)a good career move (hardship posting) or 2) a punishment (remote out of the way place).
And I found that my anger could not be directed towards the PSB who were there. In almost all cases, they were there for reasons beyond their control.
At one security check, the pulled out all the Americans, and the one Nepalese guy, and subjected them to a bag search. I was kinda nervous, as I was with one of the Americans at the time - and I had a gram of hash in my bag. This was 5 days after 911. Our group was the last to get into Tibet from Nepal - they closed the border the next day.
But I digress. Your average Chinese person, believes that Tibet/Taiwan are a part of China. Because that’s what they’re taught. They’re taught, in schools, that both Tibet and Taiwan are a part of China. When neither is the case. Straight after 911, the Chinese govt were portraying the Dalai Lama as a terrorist. They were grouping him with Osama bin Laden. I’ve met, and shaken hands with the Dalai Lama. He’ not a terrorist. But the people in mainland China are told that he is. And, unfortunatly, a lot of them believe it.
So, tell the truth when you can. The worst they will do is deport you.
August 14th, 2005 at 1:02 pm
well, my website is blocked. Talk about a pain in the butt. I can see most of my site through anonymouse.org, but I can’t get into my admin to post things. My brother in law, Dale, is going to help me make postings. Thanks Dale!
Thanks everyone for the notes. I’m in Yangshuo, possibly the most touristy place in all of china, so I havent really gotten a feel for the country yet.
August 16th, 2005 at 5:14 am
Bummer about the blocked site! I hope you can still update us with your progress. Have a great time in China!
August 17th, 2005 at 2:08 am
> well, my website is blocked.
Not too surprising given the majority of the discussion on the blog. You should change all occurrences of Taiwan to “The Peoples Republic of China” and maybe it will get unblocked in a couple months ;).
But it’s lame anyway.