One of the challenges I face when traveling is dealing with local currency. On some Asian trips I need Japanese Yen, Hong Kong Dollars, Chinese Yuan, Korean Wan, and US Dollars. At home, I use a credit card 99% of the time. In Asia, that won’t work. China, in particular, runs on cash. My hotel takes credit, but I pay cash for all my meals, transportation, & entertainment. So the question is, how do you keep up with all that? (more…)
Archive for the ‘China’ Category
Splendid China
2010
02.10
02.10
We finished our meetings in Shenzhen early, so I had some time to do some sight seeing before my red-eye flight out. Our local representative was kind enough to send a lady from their staff to show me around, and we visited Splendid China (click here). This place can best be described as a “theme park” about China. I have to admit that when I first heard about it, I thought I’d be bored out of my mind. But I went out of respect for our rep, who wanted to share this with me. As it turns out, it was pretty cool. Not Disney World cool, but cool nonetheless. I got to see all kinds of regional architectural themes, and discover a lot about their culture. Here are some of the things I saw.
Dragons are a big part of Chinese culture, and they use them a lot.
Travel Tip – Use Official Taxis
2010
01.24
01.24
Apparently my red beard is screaming “I’m a foreigner, please rip me off” louder than usual today.
I crossed the border from Hong Kong to Shenzhen, and managed to come out a different door than I usually do. I think they may have re-arranged a bit since my last visit. So anyway, I’m looking for the taxi stand an don’t see any signs. There’s a cop standing a few feet away, so I asked him where it was. He asked where I was going, and when I told him he said “wait right here”. My antenna immediately went up, but hey…it’s a cop, right? So this guy comes running over and says “this way” and reaches for my bag.
I follow him around the corner, then into a parking garage to some shuttle buses. I figure maybe the guy drives a bigger shuttle but doesn’t have a client. Nope, we walk out the other side of the garage onto a nearly empty side street. At this point I pull out my trusty translator and said “wait, how much?” He asks where I’m going and types into his cell phone 250 RMB. I hit the stratosphere. I literally shouted at him “WHAT?!?” I knew I was less than a mile from the hotel, and that was an outrageous number. He was obviously shocked that I was so outraged, and asked me how much I wanted to pay. I just took my bag back and walked away. He ended-up following me back to the station and pointing me towards the taxi stand. I’m not sure if he felt remorse, or was afraid I might turn him in to somebody. In any case, I waited in line for a “real” taxi, and made it safely to my hotel for 13 RMB. Yea, this punk (in cahoots with the cop) was trying to take me for 19x the proper rate. What a scam.
I should never have gone with the guy in the first place, but I’m very glad I confronted him about the price before we got to his “taxi”. Unless you really know what you’re doing, stick with government approved taxis, and be sure they use the meter. That’s true whether you’re around the corner from your house, or around the world.
PS On my way to the taxi stand, I stop to buy a Coke at the 7/11. The guy rings it up at 4 RMB, just like the shelf said. I hand him 4 RMB, he kinda rolls the change back in his hand and gestures with his other hand that I owe him more money. I looked at him very confused, pointed to the 4 RMB on the register, pointed to his hand which he opened and I spread out the four 1 RMB coins. Sheesh.
Upcoming Asia Itinerary
2010
01.11
01.11
Flights and hotels are booked, and I’m finally starting to move past the stress of planning and into the calm before the storm. Here’s how the itinerary stacks up so far.