As with other Asian cities that we've visited, when you go on a guided tour they want to take you to showrooms to try to sell you things as well as taking you to the tourist sites.
On the guided tour we did one day in Beijing, they took us to a silk showroom and a pearl showroom. We didn't buy anything but most other people on the bus did. This was a big chunk out of the touring day.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Blogger and Picasa
I use Google Blogger for my holiday blogs and Google Picasa for storing photos.
When we were in Beijing, I was unable to get through to either site. I thought that the Google server must have been down.
Eventually Suzy pointed out that it might have been caused by the Chinese government because of their antagonism for Google. I now realise she was probably right.
It seems strange to me that the Chinese government wants to block me from telling people about our holiday and showing people my happy snaps.
I circumvented their paranoia by posting my blogs and photos when we arrived in London.
When we were in Beijing, I was unable to get through to either site. I thought that the Google server must have been down.
Eventually Suzy pointed out that it might have been caused by the Chinese government because of their antagonism for Google. I now realise she was probably right.
It seems strange to me that the Chinese government wants to block me from telling people about our holiday and showing people my happy snaps.
I circumvented their paranoia by posting my blogs and photos when we arrived in London.
English
Most people we encountered in Beijing speak some English. That was a relief because we don't speak Chinese.
Although they were obviously trying very hard to speak English, they sometimes got it wrong. For example, the porter at the hotel one day opened the door and greeted us by saying "good-bye" instead of "hello".
Many of the signs are in English as well as Chinese.
Although they were obviously trying very hard to speak English, they sometimes got it wrong. For example, the porter at the hotel one day opened the door and greeted us by saying "good-bye" instead of "hello".
Many of the signs are in English as well as Chinese.
Top tourist sites
We went to many of the top tourist sites such as:
- Great wall of China
- Tiananmen Square
- Forbidden City
- Temple of Heaven
- Summer Palace
Pollution
We'd heard that pollution in Beijing was pretty bad but when we arrived it didn't seem to be such a big problem.
Then again, we arrived on a Saturday. By the time we left on the following Tuesday we were starting to see why Beijing has a bad reputation for air pollution. It had become quite hazy and Suzy was having some problems with allergies.
Then again, we arrived on a Saturday. By the time we left on the following Tuesday we were starting to see why Beijing has a bad reputation for air pollution. It had become quite hazy and Suzy was having some problems with allergies.
ATMs
On our last day in Beijing, we were running short of cash and so we went to a Bank of China ATM in a building near our hotel.
The Chinese man in front of us managed to withdraw cash but when we tried it, no cash appeared. We got a voucher saying there was a problem and telling us to contact the bank. We thought the man in front of us must have got the last cash in the ATM.
Another Chinese man tried to help us by using the instructions in Chinese but still no cash appeared.
We gave up and watched as the next Chinese man got cash out of the machine without any problems.
We contacted Westpac about the problem when we got to London. They said they would sort it out and refund our money. That didn't happen.
I rang Westpac several times when we got back to Australia and we eventually got a refund.
We won't trust Chinese ATMs in future.
The Chinese man in front of us managed to withdraw cash but when we tried it, no cash appeared. We got a voucher saying there was a problem and telling us to contact the bank. We thought the man in front of us must have got the last cash in the ATM.
Another Chinese man tried to help us by using the instructions in Chinese but still no cash appeared.
We gave up and watched as the next Chinese man got cash out of the machine without any problems.
We contacted Westpac about the problem when we got to London. They said they would sort it out and refund our money. That didn't happen.
I rang Westpac several times when we got back to Australia and we eventually got a refund.
We won't trust Chinese ATMs in future.
Seat belts
Taxis in Beijing have seat belts but they are often impossible to use because they are tucked in behind the seat.
Taxis
The taxi we caught from Beijing airport to our hotel didn't want to drop us at the hotel entrance. Instead he stopped in the street nearby. We thought this was somewhat strange especially because he seemed nervous about it. Some days later we realised why - he'd overcharged us for the journey and didn't want to be sprung by the hotel attendant.
It is much better for the hotel to organise the taxi because the hotel exercises some control over the taxi drivers and what they charge.
Most taxi drivers don't speak much English and so it's hard to tell them where you want to go. It pays to show them the destination written in Chinese.
We found that it was a challenge to hail a taxi at times. You need to stand in the right place - preferably near an intersection.
Check with the driver how much he intends to charge you for the journey because they often want to overcharge you. The hotel will normally give you an indication of how much the fare should be.
It is much better for the hotel to organise the taxi because the hotel exercises some control over the taxi drivers and what they charge.
Most taxi drivers don't speak much English and so it's hard to tell them where you want to go. It pays to show them the destination written in Chinese.
We found that it was a challenge to hail a taxi at times. You need to stand in the right place - preferably near an intersection.
Check with the driver how much he intends to charge you for the journey because they often want to overcharge you. The hotel will normally give you an indication of how much the fare should be.
Pedestrian crossings
Cars seem to think they have right of way at a pedestrian crossing. The driver will slow down but will usually try to push through as if you are expected to walk around them. Perhaps they are just pushy.
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