Monday 5 March 2012

Vacations, Vacations Everywhere.

I'm not sure what it is with my Dad but he's always taking us on vacations whenever possible. To be honest, I'm not certain if it's because he likes traveling or if it's because he found an amazing deal on airplane tickets. I mean he clearly likes the time spent with us but I know he gets a certain joy out of getting good deals.

A specific example comes to mind which goes like this:

Dad: Hey, I found cheap tickets to Tokyo, who wants to go to Tokyo for a week?
Us: Uh, this is rather sudden.
Dad: Come on, who knows how long these tickets are going to be available.
Us: Um, oka-
Dad: We're going to Tokyo.

And for years I personally have been hoping for another "good deal" to Tokyo.

The reason why I'm bringing this up is because my Dad is trying his hardest to have another trip to China. I'll be honest, we went there for a month last year so going back so soon is a bit sudden for me. We were on tours mostly and allow me to summarize my trip for you.

Beijing:

Dirty, grungy area. Locals litter everywhere and relieve themselves in the streets. Historical buildings are everywhere but it doesn't matter. They'll crap in the middle of the Forbidden City or leave cigarette butts on the Great Wall if they want. Don't bother coming here unless you're into seeing dirty historical monuments.

Xian:

I loved this place. Easily my favorite city in the entire trip. Nice, urbanized area. Lots of Asian shopping malls and stores. Also, the Terra Cotta warrior exhibit here is amazing. The pictures you see online or in books? Doesn't even compare. This is something you need to see in person to appreciate.

I want to see some Asian hick try and take a dump in there...

Yangtze River:

The "cruise" down this river was the longest three days of my life. We sat in our cabin for most of the time with nothing to do. And we were supposedly on the largest boat on the river too. I can only imagine how boring it be on the smaller boats.

Shanghai:

Like Beijing except way cleaner, much more urbanized and no historical monuments. If you don't care about history, come here instead of going to Beijing. I will forever refer to Shanghai as the Improved Version of Beijing.

Hong Kong:

My Mother was born and raised here and we have relatives so there's some sentimental value to this city. It's like, a mix of Asian and Western culture. If you're scared of being overwhelmed by Chinese culture and products I'd recommend stopping here for a bit to ease your transition into the rest of China.

I would also recommend NOT coming here in the summer. I nearly got heatstroke multiple times. The relatively close 7-11's saved me. I have never been more grateful for air conditioning in my life.

My inner thoughts in Hong Kong.

A few general notes. Food and clothes are really, really cheap there. I was buying fairly nice dress shirts (because all I wear are dress shirts) for like, $10 Canadian. My brother would go to McDonalds and order a chicken burger meal with fries and a drink PLUS 20 chicken McNuggets for $8 Canadian. You spend $2+ for a vending machine drink here, I spent less than half of that over in China. The prices are crazy. Oh, and there are ways around the Great Firewall. I was on Facebook the entire time updating my statuses and making photo albums.

But even with 1 month, you can only see so much. Hence my Dad's excitement to go again. It all hinges on whether the jobs my sister and I get. Assuming I get a job...

If there's enough interest I can go into further detail of any singular part of my trip. Leave a comment and feel free to ask anything.

And repeated again for those who only look at pictures.

71 comments:

  1. So... where are you going?

    At first I thought you were going to Japan, then I realised that it was just a hypothetical situation. The I thought you were going to China, then you talked at length about Hong Kong.

    So are you leaning towards a tour of mainland China or just staying around the coastal areas?

    "certain joy out of getting good deals" Just like my parents. Asians gonna asian

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  2. My grandmother did the Yangtze River cruise thing too - I think it suited her better lol... or, maybe she just wouldn't admit to being bored when it was her choice to go!

    No luck in suggesting a different destination to your dad? There are so many places to visit...

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  3. I've never been to China. Stopped by at Hong Kong on the way to Nagoya last year. It was a pretty nice airport, at least...

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  4. I would love to go to China and see the Terracotta soldiers and such. I would need a way around that firewall though that's for sure. If I had to ask anything it would be did you go to the Great Wall? What did you think about it?

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  5. That's awesome that you've traveled so much!!! I wish my father was spontaneous as yours :) I think you should carry on that tradition when you have a family of your own someday.

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  6. Wow. I'm kinda disappointed to hear that Beijing is such a dump :/ Isn't that where the Olympics were held?

    I hope you get to go to China!!

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  7. i've only ever been to Beijing. i had random chinese families coming to me speaking in their language which i dont understand and before i could manage anything, they'd place themselves next to me and take photos.
    it was like that in many places i went.

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  8. Aw that's pretty cool! My friend spent a lot of time in China - she actually went to the olympics in Bejing...you know, where they had the temporarily driving laws to reduce pollution. Ick.

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  9. Japan is worth it... I've been to 3 different areas, and they are all clean.

    A pity about Beijing, though... I love historical monuments, but I don't think I'd enjoy seeing people taking a dump in public.

    I've heard interesting stuff about doorless public toilets in China. How did you handle it?

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  10. I totally agree to your opinions!

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  11. Wow, I would love to go to Tokyo! I was checking out prices on packages like a month ago, and it's kinda expensive!

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  12. I wish my parents did any sort of vacations. Currently I've only been in 3 states.

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  13. Never new Beijing was such a nasty place, my ocd would have a coniption fit there. Those prices are nice and cheap too, be nice if Canada was that cheap, but won't ever happen.

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  14. Instead of going more in-depth into this one, why not talk about the others you went to?
    But sounds like your dad sure loves traveling! Awesome! Only real "far-away" countries I've been are Italy and Sweden, which aren't even that far considering I live in the Netherlands. ):

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  15. I've always wanted to visit China...but thanks for the warning about the Yangtze River cruise...I'll skip that! Great summary of your visit~

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  16. I would so go on a whim if I could, even all your China trip. traveling alone on the rough is so much more fun than a structured way with parents. it would be a different experience. I saw the Terra Cotta warrior this summer at the Fine Arts museum, well a traveling exhibit. Would love to see the real deal.

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  17. I have always been thinking that China is a very environmentally progressive place. It's a surprise for me! But yet, it seems to be fun:)

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  18. that's a pretty sweet trip. I'd rather go to Japan than China, but that's just me.

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  19. Interesting description of your trip to China man, I'd love to hear you go into more detail myself! I'd like to visit China some day so this stuff is very interesting to me, hope you do get that trip at some point in the future too buddy.

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  20. I would love to go to Hong Kong, I have heard a lot about it is relevant to my interests.

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  21. go to tokyo, slam 4 foot tall bitches. amirite?!

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  22. Vacations for cheap sound awesome. Surprised at the description of Beijing although guess it makes sense considering the # of people.

    Had heard that they'd done some serious cleanup for the olympics.

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  23. I kinda don't know what to ask, you've told me more than I would've thought to ask already. I think it's kinda sad how Beijing is treated, but I'm also glad you talked about Shanghai. If I ever go, I'll visit Shanghai. And Hong Kong of course.

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  24. Thanks for the virtual tour! We would love to plan a vacation to China and do the touristy stuff. Hong Kong is on our list too. Wifey would love to shop there!

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  25. I SOO want to see the terra cotta warriors! Hong Kong was my first Chinese experience, at the tender age of 10. I remember the smell of fish, the green tea, yummy noodles, and Tiger Balm Gardens.

    Later, we lived in Taiwan, and I was exposed to iced-coffee vending machines...before the beverage had even caught on in the States!

    Never been to the mainland. If I get there, I think I'll avoid Beijing. Thanks for the warning!

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  26. At least you get to travel to many different places! That sounds fun, even though I'm sure some areas suck. I've never even been out of the country...unless you count the stop we made in Bahamas on a cruise...but I was so young I hardly even remember that. I haven't been on a vacation in a while, would probably be nice if you want to take your mind of anything.

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  27. Whaat?! You're lucky! I want to go to Tokyo too.

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  28. It sounds like it would be awesome to be in your family. My dad's idea of vacation was going camping 10 miles from our house. We went to the same place every year.

    I love seeing the world and do it every chance I get as an adult.

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  29. I want to get out of the US, but I heard from a friend that there are some dirty parts in China. She said it was still worth it though.

    I'd like to hear more about Shanghai, it sounds nice and modern hah.

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  30. I'm actually going to Beijing and Shanghai this summer. I've never been to Xian and would love to go!

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  31. That's cool that you get to travel like that. I wish I could go to China! Take some pics for us next time.

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  32. Huh... yeah... not sure I'd want to go to China. I'd love to visit Tokyo on the other hand.

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  33. Did you go to the Shanghai Museum of Natural History?

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  34. Nice to have gone their once let alone twice, is there much difference between the rich and poor that you saw and is their a lot of military or police around?

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  35. My grandfather always loved getting a good deal on trips, but he loved road trips. Yes, I have seen every crazy, kitschy monument from here to California.

    I heard the same thing about Beijing from a friend who went last year. I love your description of Hong Kong heat. ;)

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  36. So weird, someone at work told me about his trip down the Y-river. Similar recount. Guess I'm not missing much. haha

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  37. Although I absolutely love Chinese cuisine; I have a hard time seeing the BBQ ducks with heads still on at the Chinese groceries here.

    Is it worse there?

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  38. Awaiting to come to south america.

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  39. Your family wouldn't be in the market for an extra daughter, would they? I'm house trained and college educated, and I know how to cook and I'm good at laundry, and EPIC at cleaning because of the OCD!! TAKE ME ON VACATION PLEASE. ;)

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  40. for my next vacation im going to AMSTERDAM ! its gonna be legen... wait for it.... DARY!!!

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  41. get a new gf, one that u can take boating :)

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  42. Your a lucky person, traveling a lot. I've flown by Hong Kong, awesome buildings. The architecture there is mind blowing.

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  43. you are toying with my fantasies of traveling to asia and beyond. someday...
    sounds like a fun dad:)

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  44. I would LOVE to see the terracotta warriors in person. You dad sounds like a riot and very spontaneous.

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  45. I wish I could travel that much. I've never been to Asia, so that would be cool.

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  46. I wish I had money to travel. :/

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  47. Awesome! I hope that you do get to go again soon! There's so much to learn and see.

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  48. no way....i'd kill to travel around as often as this. Even if it's to dirty historical sites behind firewall propaganda countries. ha

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  49. that's amazing, Demian, my father never took me to a single trip, so you are extremely lucky, don't take it for granted!

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  50. I would love to see the smaller cities in China... would be interesting.

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  51. Shit dude I'm pretty envious. :/ not everyone gets to travel all the time. Cmon over to Malaysia one day!

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  52. I've never been to China and would love to do a tour, and see the terracotta soldiers in Xian. The last time I went to Asia was in 1989, we had a layover in Tokyo and then flew to Taiwan to visit family. Enjoy your trip!

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  53. Oh wow that sounds awesome, actually bit of a coincidence my dad offered to fly me and my brother to australia for a week or two for a holiday since he is getting married soon, been years since iv been there really looking forward to it.

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  54. I was born and adopted from Hong Kong, though I don't remember it at all. It was fascinating to read your post about China!

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  55. "We're going to Tokyo." Said with much determination, just like declaring that "we're going to the supermarket and there's nuthin' you can say to argue against that!"

    -Barb the French Bean

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  56. I would be far more excited to visit Tokyo than China even though I think China would be way cool.

    Jay

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  57. try you go to Hong Kong for vacation

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  58. Probably not the most appropriate question, but I've always been very curious about the lack of physical contact in lots of places in China. Is this a strong cultural thing or?

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  59. We make fun of women and their shopping, but give a man a steal of a deal on a big and/or useless purchase, and we're just as bad.

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  60. very interesting! wish i could go to all those cities!

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  61. This is a great post. You're always en fuego!

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  62. Personally, I would love to go to Tokyo. All my family lives there. Sigh, I'm jealous.

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  63. I spent a bit of time in Hong Kong over the years but have never really fancied Beijing - especially now after reading that. I don't know why but I assumed Beijing would be a very modern re-developed city... interesting post

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  64. Wow. Loved having this perspective on China and whatnot. Thanks!!

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  65. Vacations relieve stress!

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  66. If you must go again you should appreciate it for the people that don't go on vacation often or haven't gotten to visit China (namely, me lol)

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  67. Damn! I envy you right now. I wish my dad would bring us to Tokyo at least once in my life to watch Hatsune Miku's concert. Oh well, impossible dreams are the best kind.

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  68. sounds like Shanghai and Hong Kong the place to visit

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  69. I've always wanted to go to Hong kong, looks amazing! My goodness you did well to stay for a month. After a week I get homesick. we once went to saudi arabia for 2 weeks and then staght after to pakistan for 3 weeks to stay with my dads family. I cried so much, and i was 19 :/ but seriously, i get so homesick!!

    Very informative about China, If I ever go, i'll know where to avoid!

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