Boon Mee's Trip To China & Beyond

**Boon Mee** · 12-12-2012, 03:17 PM

For one reason or another 90 % of the pictures we took when in China had people in them so this thread won't be as extensive picture-wise some posted on here.

We started out in Beijing and on up to Xi'an the same day. Toured the City Wall & Terra Cotta Soldier complex which consisted of three separate excavation sites. Our guide told us there were no further plans for more digs as ground-penetrating radar has failed to find any evidence of more.

The soldiers in the area behind the ones standing below haven't been unearthed yet.

After one day in Xi'an it was back to Beijing where we visited the obligatory Forbidden Palace, Red Square/People's Hall & the Great Wall. The Chinese Central Committee were holding elections while we were there but the police/army presence in Tiamen Square was minimal which surprised me. In fact, throughout China the presence of the police and the army seemed to be less than we see here in Thailand.

Next was Zhangjaijie and the Tiamen Arch in Hunan Province. We stayed at the Sunshine Hotel there in Zhangjaijie which is a Government-built/owned 5 star complex. I was impressed! Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperating and after taking the world's longest cable car ride within 999 steps of the top of Mt. Tiamen rain & fog stopped us. Going back again though.

If you recall the movie Avatar there were many scenes taken by James Cameron of the National Forest there in Zhangjaijie - the floating mountians etc. that were used in the making of the movie.

To be continued...

**reinvented** · 12-12-2012, 03:22 PM

went to zhianjaijie and wulingyuan last year; fantastic place
well worth a visit

**Cujo** · 12-12-2012, 03:32 PM

So don't forget to call me when you get down south for some southern hospitality, OK.
I will be offended otherwise.

(I must add, there won't be any worldclass tourist attractions on the agenda, just some real China backstreet action.)

**Boon Mee** · 12-12-2012, 03:41 PM

Originally Posted by Koojo

So don't forget to call me when you get down south for some southern hospitality, OK.
I will be offended otherwise.

No problem, Cuj.

After 6 days in Xi'an/Beijing & Zhangjaijiie we jumped on a cruise ship out of the port there south of Beijing. Never been on a cruise before and was not too sure what to expect but it was mostly OK. Food was terrific.

First stop was Busan, S. Korea and there really wasn't much to see there other than this giant fish market. We ate at a typical Korean restaurant specializing in seafood. Good but real expensive. I believe all of S. Korea is like 'paeng maak'!

pics next:

**Cujo** · 12-12-2012, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Originally Posted by Koojo

So don't forget to call me when you get down south for some southern hospitality, OK.
I will be offended otherwise.

No problem, Cuj.

After 6 days in Xi'an/Beijing & Zhangjaijiie we jumped on a cruise ship out of the port there south of Beijing. Never been on a cruise before and was not too sure what to expect but it was mostly OK. Food was terrific.

First stop was Busan, S. Korea and there really wasn't much to see there other than this giant fish market. We ate at a typical Korean restaurant specializing in seafood. Good but real expensive. I believe all of S. Korea is like 'paeng maak'!

pics next:

Yeah well fuck you.

Hope it was good.

Next time sop off in Macau for a bit.

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 03:04 AM

Had plans to pop over to Macau but had just few hours in Hong Kong and what with the immigration crap going over and coming back before the ship sailed - no time. The missus goes up to Macau with her girlfriends from time to time - not too impressed with the casinos there from what I gather. If it's not Marina Bay Sands...

Anyhow, back to Busan. 4 of us had a meal and it came to $150.00 USD & no booze. Don't believe we'll eat there again:

Scallops, Abalone, Oysters, Eel etc and it was pretty good. Not too fond of eel though.

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 05:20 AM

After Busan we stopped in Shanghai. Toured Old Town & The Bund. Here's a shot looking across the Wangpo River:

A few years ago, the near side of the river was farmland. Amazing. If China can convert to a Consumer driven economy with no 'bumps in the road' they are on the path to overtake the US by 2018.

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 05:30 AM

Following Shanghai we were supposed to pull into Nagasaki, Japan but bad weather cancelled that stop so next was Hong Kong:

No place like it. Cantonese Food was appreciated after some of the restaurants in Zhangjaijie for example. The famine they had back in the 60's must have shell-shocked the central Chinese and they make do with what they have.

Only in port <12 hours but got over to the island and Victoria Peak. I had been there before but it was the first time the Missus had gone up there.

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 06:06 AM

Next stop was Nha Trang, Vietnam.

Nha Trang has a beautiful beach which reminds me of what Pattaya looked like back circa 1975 only even less infrastructure. Prices are catching up to hotel rates in Thailand but food is very affordable. Saw a lot of European tourists there.

Keeping a watchful eye on who goes back onboard:

Nice accommodations but really too many people aboard to suit either one of us. Total complement with staff was something around 3K people on a 290m long ship

**Rural Surin** · 13-12-2012, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

After Busan we stopped in Shanghai. Toured Old Town & The Bund. Here's a shot looking across the Wangpo River:

A few years ago, the far side of the river was farmland. Amazing. If China can convert to a Consumer driven economy with no 'bumps in the road' they are on the path to overtake the US by 2018.

It is truly amazing how fast Shanghai has transformed itself.

Nice pics and report, Booners.

Well done!

**OhOh** · 13-12-2012, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

A few years ago, the far side of the river was farmland.

Shouldn't that be "near side"?

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 07:00 AM

Originally Posted by OhOh

Originally Posted by "Boon Mee"

A few years ago, the far side of the river was farmland.

Shouldn't that be "near side"?

You're right - thanks for the correction.

**terry57** · 13-12-2012, 07:04 AM

Nice pics, Cheers Bra.

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 08:09 AM

^
Thanks, Terry

Next we sailed down the Mekong to Phu My which is the port closest to the Cu Chi Tunnel complex just outside Saigon. BTW, nobody we met (Vietnamese) calls it Ho Chi Minh City. It's universally referred to as Saigon around there.

Here we see Charles' son (or maybe grandson) entering one of the tunnels:

They let you go down in the tunnels if you wish but I declined.

Mock-ups (very real looking) of Charlie making weapons from bombshell casings throughout the Museum area:

You can buy some 7.62 shells and rent an AK47 or M16 too if you wish:

**Mr Earl** · 13-12-2012, 08:31 AM

Good stuff, that seafood place looks great, yummy!

**sabang** · 13-12-2012, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

the National Forest there in Zhangjaijie

There are a shitload of cool natural & man made wonders to see in China, most of which are not much known about outside of China. Yunnan Province alone (the Petrified Forest, etc) could keep a traveller occupied for months.

Great stuff booner- were you on one of those Star Cruises jobs? I've been tempted to try them, but never have.

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 08:33 AM

It was foggy the morning we pulled into Singapore.

My wife's favorite destination in Singapore:

After a 12 hour port call the ship sailed for Laem Chabang which took two days. I was ready to get off!

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by sabang

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

the National Forest there in Zhangjaijie

There are a shitload of cool natural & man made wonders to see in China, most of which are not much known about outside of China. Yunnan Province alone (the Petrified Forest, etc) could keep a traveller occupied for months.

Great stuff booner- were you on one of those Star Cruises jobs? I've been tempted to try them, but never have.

This was a Princess Cruise and the ship was the Diamond Princess. About 8 years old and in good shape. I believe if me & the missus go on another cruise we'll opt for a smaller vessel.

We're going back up to the Zhangjaijie area in April and check out the National Park there that was the source for some of David Cameron's scenes in Avatar. Heard there are tour operators in Bangkok that put together groups of Thais and get a charter going. Better that than having to transit thru Shanghai or Beijing.

**crocman** · 13-12-2012, 12:39 PM

Great pics Boon,looks like a good trip.Shanghai is getting so big it makes just about every other city in the world look like a village.Dragon Lady and I are yet to try a cruise.Can I ask if it feels a little bit like your travel movements are a bit restricted?

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by crocman

Great pics Boon,looks like a good trip.Shanghai is getting so big it makes just about every other city in the world look like a village.Dragon Lady and I are yet to try a cruise.Can I ask if it feels a little bit like your travel movements are a bit restricted?

Travel movements (aboard the ship) being restricted wasn't a problem as the ship we were on was so huge there was plenty of space. They had 1/2 dozen specialty restaurants plus the buffett dining areas. Full gym, spa, four pools etc. The feeling of 'restriction' if you want to call it that were the times going ashore and they could last longer than one cares for due to the sheer numbers of people trying to disembark.

**misskit** · 13-12-2012, 01:14 PM

Nice trip, Boon Mee, especially the terra cotta soldiers. The tunnels in Vietnam look interesting. Very nice photos, too.

How many days were you on the cruise? Kind of nice to relax and be catered to while traveling, isn't it?

One of my travel wishes it to arrive in Hong Kong harbor by ship at night. Did you get to see that? There is a Holland-America two week cruise I've had my eye on a while, from Singapore to Hong Kong with most stops in Vietnam. However, from what I hear Holland-America cruises are not as nice as Princess.

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 01:26 PM

Originally Posted by misskit

Nice trip, Boon Mee, especially the terra cotta soldiers. The tunnels in Vietnam look interesting. Very nice photos, too.

How many days were you on the cruise? Kind of nice to relax and be catered to while traveling, isn't it?

One of my travel wishes it to arrive in Hong Kong harbor by ship at night. Did you get to see that? There is a Holland-America two week cruise I've had my eye on a while, from Singapore to Hong Kong with most stops in Vietnam. However, from what I hear Holland-America cruises are not as nice as Princess.

Those shots of HK I put up were taken as the ship was departing Victoria Harbor (between Kowloon & the Island). Very impressive as there was a light show going on at the same time from lasers on top floors of buildings all around the harbor.

We were on the cruise 17 days and funny enough, there were some people we met who were criticizing the food saying Holland-America is better. Who knows. It's nice to be catered to but after 16 evenings of "Fine Dining" I was ready for a nice bowl of Kway Teeow Laat Naat!

**misskit** · 13-12-2012, 01:35 PM

^ Oh, I got that confused. I thought those were photos of Shanghai.

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 01:39 PM

Originally Posted by misskit

^ Oh, I got that confused. I thought those were photos of Shanghai.

My cryptic text was probably to blame. Should be more clear and verbose I guess.

**Boon Mee** · 13-12-2012, 01:48 PM

Here's Princess' pricing for the period we went:

Outside cabin with private balcony 2895.00 per person cruise fare
Outside cabin with window 2795.00 per person cruise fare
Inside cabin no window 1695.00 per person cruise fare.

A 'Suite' goes for another $500.00 USD and I think we'd opt for that if we had to do it all over again. We chose the outside cabin w/balcony option and it was a bit tight moving around. Balcony was big

Thread: Boon Mee's Trip To China & Beyond

Thread Tools

Display

Boon Mee's Trip To China & Beyond

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Posting Permissions