I'm feeling tragic, like I'm Marlon Brando

[fancycwabs]

We just booked the tickets. It appears that I'll be flying from Memphis to Hong Kong on December 3, and from Beijing to Memphis on December 13. In the meantime we'll hit Guangzhou and Shanghai.

Does anyone need anything? Any messages to scrawl on the Great Wall? Know anywhere to get good Chinese food?

Comments

unasked for advice for YOU

[rabswom.livejournal.com]

Go to Suzcho (I cannot spell today) too. It's a nice little day trip from Shanghai. The Venice of the East! How can you miss it!

Also, if you're looking for a non-touristy experience that involves Public Transit ADVENTURE -- don't go to the most common parts of the Wall. I went to a part called Gaping Jaw or something like that and it was amazingly cool.

And you're gonna spend a lot of time in trains, my friend. 24 hours from Hong Kong to Shanghai (unless the trains are faster these days) and I recall the Shanghai to Beijing ride being quite long too. But you meet interesting people on the trains and you can get anything you want at the stations -- people sell you things through the window of the train. I recommend the beansicles.

Also, if you can go soft sleeper, it's totally worth it.

If you've been to China a bajillion times, ignore the above. Just my 2 cents. I had a great time in China -- I was there for 6 weeks about 6 years ago.

Re: unasked for advice for YOU

[fancycwabs.livejournal.com]

We're probably catching a flight from Guangzhou to Shanghai, but there's the possibility of taking a train from Shanghai to Beijing. Unfortunately the trip is business, so day trips are also probably out, but I might be able to sneak away on another trip later.

And keep up with the unsolicited advice! I know nothing about China.

Re: unasked for advice for YOU

[rabswom.livejournal.com]

I shall try to think up some good advice.

Mainly, eat as much foood as you can fit in your tum while you're in Guangzhou -- Schezhwan (jesus christ I cannot spell chinese things) food is fucking amazing. And if you brought me back some hot sauce from Schezhwan Province, I would worship you. Forever. MMMMMM.

Also, in Hong Kong, I will never forgive you if you don't get dim-sum. It's where dim sum is from!

I loved the Shanghai. Don't bother going up into the tower [Pearl Tower or something] if you're not really excited about high up views -- it's bizarre being up in some giant pink thing. I'm sure that work decides where you stay, but if you could stay one night at the Peace Hotel, it's worth it. The Peace Hotel is the renamed "Cathay Hotel" and it's this old fabulous imperialist's wet dream. I stayed there for a night when we had very little money (I think that we booked online for about $100 for a double? which isn't very expensive but was for us then) and it was awesome. TV in the bathroom. Amazing old hotel. At least go for drinks if you can.

Walking along the Bund in Shanghai is also nice, though I found I got stalked by young Chinese guys.

There were some really amazing old Imperial Gardens in Shanghai. I have no recollection of their name (sorry, it's been a long time). Try to get to one of them -- they're quite beautiful.

Beijing is just a cool big city. You can get clothing made there really cheap, if that's your kind of thing (I got a couple of shirts made). Um, the big tousity things are in Beijing -- Tienimann Square, Mao's body (totally amusing), etc. The Wall is a Day Trip, you know that, right? It's very worth it though.

I'll try to get some restaurant advice in Beijing from my friend who lives there.

[roman-mclaze.livejournal.com]

Please bring me...stuff.

And if you're in the scrawling mood, scrawling anything on the southern side of the wall will have enough irony to make me happy.

[rabswom.livejournal.com]

Also, if you don't eat Beijing Duck about three times while you are in Beijing, I will beat you when you get home.

YUM.

Steal the plum sauce. Slather it on anything that doesn't move and eat it. MMMM.

:)

[rabswom.livejournal.com]

Oh! I also went to see the Beijing Opera while I was there. Um, the costumes were fab, but I can't reallly retain interest in things which I don't understand. They had some awesome choreographed fights though. Really cool.

I also went to see Chinese Acrobats. Very cool. They do some amazing non-porn things with bicycles and chairs.

[rabswom.livejournal.com]

This should be my last spamming of your LJ, but if you send me an email at christinedbaker (at) gmail (dot) come, I shall forward you on to my friend Randy who lives in Beijing and can offer restaurant recommendations and the like.

[rabswom.livejournal.com]

damn. that's dot.com, not dot.come

[mschilepepper.livejournal.com]

If you happen upon any cool-looking beads or other jewelry components real cheaplike, I'll happily reimburse you for them, up to %50 worth, I guess. Jade is always cool, especially in any color besides standard jade. Anything with spirals would rock my socks. Most of the world's beadmaking and stone processing is done in China (probably by nimble-fingered six-year-olds, but I try not to think about that part of the equation).

[mschilepepper.livejournal.com]

$50 worth, that is.

[bigbrownhound.livejournal.com]

Your phone konked out while we were talking last evening--mid sentence. Don't know much about China except for some about the Hailongshong (sp?) Province that I learned from Amy and Vincent while working at Avley International (the Chinese art gallery). I know Dr. Song (scroll painter who accompanied the Black Dragon Exhibit of ancient scrolls from the Province to Atlanta) and Kun Yung Chui (member of the Chinese Mafia) and some of their friends, but wouldn't know what message to send...I think it may be best if I keep a low profile. Enjoy your trip!