China - never a dull moment!

[jetlagger]

Those business class seats look pretty swish.

I've done the train Guangzhou>Shenzen a few times, on time, reliable no problems... until the family brings in their steaming bowls of pork noodles and sit's next to you!!

You surprisingly omitted that they then proceed to stink out the whole carriage & a slurp the bugger down.. With the required medley of the mobile ring tunes in the back drop...then evidently burp & fart for the remainder of the 20 mins from Dongguan.. Yep I know that experience only too well...:shock:

 

[hummel]

You surprisingly omitted that they then proceed to stink out the whole carriage & a slurp the bugger down.. With the required medley of the mobile ring tunes in the back drop...then evidently burp & fart for the remainder of the 20 mins from Dongguan.. Yep I know that experience only too well...:shock:

Oh I thought that was obvious?

Last time I was there I was having an important conversation with our colleague in the car out to a client, next second... the driver is shouting in chinese and making all kinds of noise...

I had failed to see his little bluetooth ear piece...

 

[TheEmu]

You surprisingly omitted that they then proceed to stink out the whole carriage & a slurp the bugger down.. With the required medley of the mobile ring tunes in the back drop...then evidently burp & fart for the remainder of the 20 mins from Dongguan.. Yep I know that experience only too well...:shock:

Oh I thought that was obvious?

Last time I was there I was having an important conversation with our colleague in the car out to a client, next second... the driver is shouting in chinese and making all kinds of noise...

I had failed to see his little bluetooth ear piece...

:shock: So true!

 

[TheEmu]

Now this building on the 3rd Ring Rd in Chaoyang just makes me giggle every time I see it - clearly designed by a group of architects after a coupla long lunches:

View attachment 15603

Think thats enough for now - better rest up - I have 2 or 3 or 4 bottles of Krug awaiting me later in the day - I want to prepare physically and emotionally for the onslaught.

That building under construction - 2007.
(Sorry about the filthy window and the picture quality - phone cameras have come a long way in 5/6 years)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Am currently sitting in SKL J in SIN on way back to Oz after another 5 days in the 'Giant Ant Farm' - was pretty busy but still got a few pics to share that thought might be of interest.

Firstly a message to the Frogs - you Frenchies need to watch out - the Chinese Wine Industry has your market dominence in certain sectors squarely in their sights - below sighted at an out of the way supermarket on outskirts of Nanjing:



Close up of that label:



Now any of you guys who have sampled the premium Chinese labels such as 'Great Wall' or 'Dynasty' or 'Golden Seal' or whatever will be over the moon with this push.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And good to see OH & S taking great leaps forward also:



And:



And:



And:



I don't know - 20 or 30mtrs off ground - absolutely ZERO harness or other safety / security devices - these little bods just up there scampering to and fro along this structure - UFB or what?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And of course the obligatory dinner out at some swisho Chinese eating establishment with our senior partners - man did we ever enjoy a feast - just check some of the menu offerings:



And:



And:



Sure makes the Flower Drum look so hum hum don't you think?

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Now I have been meaning to buy some real eye glasses in China for some time - not the 20rmb fakes from the markets - but real glasses. I am kinda sick of paying OPSM $500 to $800/pr. So off I trudge to Beijing Eyeglass Centre where there are 100 different shops selling / producing prescription glasses all in one building over 3 floors and all within 30mins of ordering. I bought 4pr in total - ave cost $58pr - quality surprisingly surprisingly good - not quite same quality as OPSM - but certainly way better than the Specsavers of our world.

This is sample of one of the frames I was looking to acquire - but not quite sure the 'Brand' fits my youthful image:



And a close-up of that 'Brand':



Just be careful what you say serfty and TH - I know where you guys live!

 

[sinophile888]

I remember seeing rost dack and important beer on the menu in Beijing a few years ago.

 

[jetlagger]

Thanks for sharing Cruiser Elite.. Certainly added some humour to the evening..

 

[Pushka]

Eggs with legs?

Really dry and witty thread. Thanks!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Oh forgot to mention the powers that be in PEK are on a power bender again - bars not permitted open on board until after take off - that pre-push back Krug / Dom or Bolly now not possible - these dudes change their minds more often than they change their underpants.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Can any regular / recent visitors flying intl into NKG advise if baggage is being xrayed prior to exit from baggage collection hall?

PEK and PVG mainly are now if arriving bw 8 or 9am and 8 or 9pm - but outside those hours customs are asleep.

I need take some faulty components back to NKG and would rather take in luggage rather than pay courier - but Chinese Customs have started taking dim view of such actions.

Any advice on recent experience very much appreciated.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

And just in case any AFFer is in PEK and wants some cheap glasses - YES they can read English scripts - here is the place to go to:

Pan Jia Yuan Glasses City : 潘家园眼镜城

 

[TheEmu]

Can any regular / recent visitors flying intl into NKG advise if baggage is being xrayed prior to exit from baggage collection hall?

PEK and PVG mainly are now if arriving bw 8 or 9am and 8 or 9pm - but outside those hours customs are asleep.

I need take some faulty components back to NKG and would rather take in luggage rather than pay courier - but Chinese Customs have started taking dim view of such actions.

Any advice on recent experience very much appreciated.

Arrived NKG on KA862 from HKG 28/8/13 at 23:50 (scheduled arrival: 21:20). Straight out - no x-ray operating.
As always here, YMMV.

 

[TheEmu]

And just in case any AFFer is in PEK and wants some cheap glasses - YES they can read English scripts - here is the place to go to:

Pan Jia Yuan Glasses City : 潘家园眼镜城

Yup, also brought a new script with me - from my Chinese optometrist in TSV.

 

[TheEmu]

Intellectual property laws in China necer cease to amaze. Not sure how aare you guys are but the Laws relating to Intellectual Property are basically on a "first to file basis". No pre-existing righta at all - if you miss the bus - you miss the bus.
Anyway most Chinese companies just figure easier to just change a letter or 2 and that will be close enough - forget IP laws.

Spotted these 15m long posters (one each side) in XinJieKou metro station (centre of town - largest, busiest station in NKG) and sent the photos to a wine industry contact in Oz. A week or so later a crew were strategically placing stickers on parts of the posters to blank out the naughty bits. Most of the stickers only lasted a few days. High turnover ad-placement area - the posters were gone after about 4 weeks.

 

[marki]

Lovely to see Australian produce overseas ! Cheaper?

 

[TheEmu]

Some interesting brand names.

 

[Foreigner]

And just in case any AFFer is in PEK and wants some cheap glasses - YES they can read English scripts - here is the place to go to:

Pan Jia Yuan Glasses City : 潘家园眼镜城

Do they make them quickly like suits in BKK?