Dear Mimi & Jhum,
I have come to Jakarta on 20th last month after traveling in parts of China for ten days. However small may be the part of China we visited, I think today the country is open and safe; people appear to be happy, healthy and hopeful. Roads in (600 year old) Beijing and else where we visited are much wider than ours and well illuminated; Beijing has 7 or 8 ‘ring’ roads with many lanes (separate ones for cycle in some), added with vast network of flyovers and subways; and vacuum cleaner are used. Cycles are popular here; motorcycles are not. Beijing public transport include three ‘metro’ routes, bus and trolley bus, enough A/C taxis, and even a very few four seated motor cycle cabs. There are three sets of ‘metros’.
China has several categories of train (the best, ‘Z’ class, have TV and head phone also for each berth). All trains are better maintained than ours, and slippers are provided in all ‘sleeper’ compartments. Bags and baggage are X-rayed at entrance, passengers only are allowed inside, and so in absence of vendors and porters the platforms are clean.
Chinese foods are sold the world over; but those served here (with chopstick without exception) are different. Mainly non-vegetarian, that too more pork and beef preparations are consumed. Diners pick up food from common bowls/plates with their chopsticks on to small quarter plates for each. Among the specialties we have tried is ‘Peking duck roast’ at a restaurant, renowned for serving this item since 1864, close to Tiananmen squire.
The Chinese have taken to western numerals; and men and women – old and young alike, all have changed over to western attire. Now English is being introduced at primary level in school. Mandarin, as you know, is the official language, but as many as five styles of calligraphy are being used since 213 B.C.
Chinese contribution to mankind are many; silk, tea, vase, umbrella, ice cream, are a few of those. They use Bronze since 1100 B. C. Interestingly, shoes need not be taken off at Daoist (Taoist) / Buddhist temples. Beijing is the place for shopping; but mind you, they love bargaining. Even in the ‘Friendship Stores’ and other Govt. promoted manufacturing centers showed during conducted tours, souvenirs can be bought at 40/50% of initially quoted prices. A pleasant experience may be mentioned here; whereas on returning from Daton, we were asked by a middleman to pay Yuan 80 as taxi hire charges from one of Beijing railway stations to hotel, the lady cab driver voluntarily reduced the charges to Yuan 50 only as she agreed that the distance was short.
To be continued…
BABA
I have come to Jakarta on 20th last month after traveling in parts of China for ten days. However small may be the part of China we visited, I think today the country is open and safe; people appear to be happy, healthy and hopeful. Roads in (600 year old) Beijing and else where we visited are much wider than ours and well illuminated; Beijing has 7 or 8 ‘ring’ roads with many lanes (separate ones for cycle in some), added with vast network of flyovers and subways; and vacuum cleaner are used. Cycles are popular here; motorcycles are not. Beijing public transport include three ‘metro’ routes, bus and trolley bus, enough A/C taxis, and even a very few four seated motor cycle cabs. There are three sets of ‘metros’.
China has several categories of train (the best, ‘Z’ class, have TV and head phone also for each berth). All trains are better maintained than ours, and slippers are provided in all ‘sleeper’ compartments. Bags and baggage are X-rayed at entrance, passengers only are allowed inside, and so in absence of vendors and porters the platforms are clean.
Chinese foods are sold the world over; but those served here (with chopstick without exception) are different. Mainly non-vegetarian, that too more pork and beef preparations are consumed. Diners pick up food from common bowls/plates with their chopsticks on to small quarter plates for each. Among the specialties we have tried is ‘Peking duck roast’ at a restaurant, renowned for serving this item since 1864, close to Tiananmen squire.
The Chinese have taken to western numerals; and men and women – old and young alike, all have changed over to western attire. Now English is being introduced at primary level in school. Mandarin, as you know, is the official language, but as many as five styles of calligraphy are being used since 213 B.C.
Chinese contribution to mankind are many; silk, tea, vase, umbrella, ice cream, are a few of those. They use Bronze since 1100 B. C. Interestingly, shoes need not be taken off at Daoist (Taoist) / Buddhist temples. Beijing is the place for shopping; but mind you, they love bargaining. Even in the ‘Friendship Stores’ and other Govt. promoted manufacturing centers showed during conducted tours, souvenirs can be bought at 40/50% of initially quoted prices. A pleasant experience may be mentioned here; whereas on returning from Daton, we were asked by a middleman to pay Yuan 80 as taxi hire charges from one of Beijing railway stations to hotel, the lady cab driver voluntarily reduced the charges to Yuan 50 only as she agreed that the distance was short.
To be continued…
BABA
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