tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47595913681840999812023-11-15T06:32:30.410-08:00TravelJameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-34828966404075258782010-09-25T20:26:00.000-07:002011-11-08T22:05:49.605-08:00Day 15 - Beijing/Home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3EuIOpTMkrA/TJ_nhWRJRHI/AAAAAAAAGVM/69k1tzq0S3I/s1600/DSC01500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3EuIOpTMkrA/TJ_nhWRJRHI/AAAAAAAAGVM/69k1tzq0S3I/s320/DSC01500.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">Well, it’s been a fun trip, but we’re going home today. Since our flight doesn’t leave until this evening, there are still more sights we can go see or things to do: Tian’An Men Square, Forbidden Palace, Wu Dan Historical District (Old Beijing), and shopping. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MzJbIIj1LI0/TJ_noeJ-QeI/AAAAAAAAGVM/CvPx76rf5jY/s1600/DSC01512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MzJbIIj1LI0/TJ_noeJ-QeI/AAAAAAAAGVM/CvPx76rf5jY/s320/DSC01512.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_IiulLSZ1Lk/TJ_npEIvXII/AAAAAAAAGVM/Bv1R2KG14fw/s1600/DSC01513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_IiulLSZ1Lk/TJ_npEIvXII/AAAAAAAAGVM/Bv1R2KG14fw/s320/DSC01513.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NnqWVXd9iBo/TJ_npvgypXI/AAAAAAAAGVM/2qaOTxsnemM/s1600/DSC01514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NnqWVXd9iBo/TJ_npvgypXI/AAAAAAAAGVM/2qaOTxsnemM/s320/DSC01514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G51ydZOxebE/TJ_nk1FTlWI/AAAAAAAAGVM/lFmYKmg_t78/s1600/DSC01506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G51ydZOxebE/TJ_nk1FTlWI/AAAAAAAAGVM/lFmYKmg_t78/s320/DSC01506.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2bSFwliGBE/TJ_nl9QE1ZI/AAAAAAAAGVM/OofVCyLAuEU/s1600/DSC01509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k2bSFwliGBE/TJ_nl9QE1ZI/AAAAAAAAGVM/OofVCyLAuEU/s320/DSC01509.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SFgMsHqRwTM/TJ_nqLcZOZI/AAAAAAAAGVM/sV1yZDVD0DE/s1600/DSC01515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SFgMsHqRwTM/TJ_nqLcZOZI/AAAAAAAAGVM/sV1yZDVD0DE/s320/DSC01515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LD4mbGNAItc/TJ_nlcFF2DI/AAAAAAAAGVM/bhEi4LdEzJI/s1600/DSC01507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LD4mbGNAItc/TJ_nlcFF2DI/AAAAAAAAGVM/bhEi4LdEzJI/s320/DSC01507.JPG" width="240" /></a>The day began at Tian An Men Square. We were warned not to talk about anything political or that would be considered bad by the government. They have plain clothes cops wandering about who can read lips. Whether or not they can read English speakers, I have no idea, so why take the risk. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">The Square is immense and there is security that you have to go through. They basically just check your bags, if you have any. In the square is the Mao Ze Dong Memorial Hall. There is a three-hour wait to get in and see Mao in a crystal coffin. I never thought they would subscribe to worshiping a leader since the Communist or Socialist Philosophy is about the people, not the leaders. What was neat was seeing the People’s Memorial. It is a obelisk in the center of the square that has various reliefs inscribed at the base. The reliefs show the historic events and uprisings throughout China’s history. Unfortunately, they don’t let you get close enough to really see them. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">After Tian An Men, we walked to the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City was impressive in its scale. The courtyards were made purely from stone bricks and it is 13 bricks deep. Apparently, the emperor was afraid of someone digging a tunnel to get in and assassinate him. The number of buildings in the complex was amazing and it is easy to see how someone could get lost in there. The buildings started in the front as government buildings and as you made it toward the back of the complex it gradually became living quarters. Behind the living quarters were the gardens. Unfortunately, because of the lack of time at this point, we did not get a chance to really go through the gardens or explore. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C0K4wWmvnE4/TJ_n2micWfI/AAAAAAAAGVM/lVZztgYYKck/s1600/DSC01533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C0K4wWmvnE4/TJ_n2micWfI/AAAAAAAAGVM/lVZztgYYKck/s320/DSC01533.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hoCThDYVYnU/TJ_n5wpOJNI/AAAAAAAAGVM/yLXoQ_-pycc/s1600/DSC01535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hoCThDYVYnU/TJ_n5wpOJNI/AAAAAAAAGVM/yLXoQ_-pycc/s320/DSC01535.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_cbBM-soCk/TJ_n8vwJocI/AAAAAAAAGVM/lDGvHULUXpM/s1600/DSC01539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9_cbBM-soCk/TJ_n8vwJocI/AAAAAAAAGVM/lDGvHULUXpM/s320/DSC01539.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KQEHpU92vhc/TJ_nycwr1MI/AAAAAAAAGVM/MB-gOyl7Gfw/s1600/DSC01526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KQEHpU92vhc/TJ_nycwr1MI/AAAAAAAAGVM/MB-gOyl7Gfw/s320/DSC01526.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sKKz_8_19-o/TJ_oGLwIAgI/AAAAAAAAGVM/Qt1dFaBnrPI/s1600/DSC01550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sKKz_8_19-o/TJ_oGLwIAgI/AAAAAAAAGVM/Qt1dFaBnrPI/s320/DSC01550.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YhLbHYsMzd8/TJ_oHJZoJeI/AAAAAAAAGVM/sX_yoA_nDbU/s1600/DSC01551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YhLbHYsMzd8/TJ_oHJZoJeI/AAAAAAAAGVM/sX_yoA_nDbU/s320/DSC01551.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xFRlXTMMX_4/TJ_oMpyVXuI/AAAAAAAAGVM/7IxR51GHdAM/s1600/DSC01559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xFRlXTMMX_4/TJ_oMpyVXuI/AAAAAAAAGVM/7IxR51GHdAM/s320/DSC01559.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vpzfXkcVnLk/TJ_oWzJpJzI/AAAAAAAAGVM/weZfzwnN1Wo/s1600/DSC01571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vpzfXkcVnLk/TJ_oWzJpJzI/AAAAAAAAGVM/weZfzwnN1Wo/s320/DSC01571.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7NGwoKKsGg/TJ_oXlWF7GI/AAAAAAAAGVM/R-k0LAiKTeY/s1600/DSC01572.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O7NGwoKKsGg/TJ_oXlWF7GI/AAAAAAAAGVM/R-k0LAiKTeY/s320/DSC01572.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bGIV1d90LaE/TJ_oo3mpyAI/AAAAAAAAGVM/b1k3sxSmDmE/s1600/DSC01591.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bGIV1d90LaE/TJ_oo3mpyAI/AAAAAAAAGVM/b1k3sxSmDmE/s320/DSC01591.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3F-RRjrI2js/TJ_oIeyTWgI/AAAAAAAAGVM/-Myrt6ZM_L8/s1600/DSC01552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3F-RRjrI2js/TJ_oIeyTWgI/AAAAAAAAGVM/-Myrt6ZM_L8/s320/DSC01552.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYERyr10Nxg/TJ_ovZ-YMhI/AAAAAAAAGVM/2akGZ2oVa4g/s1600/DSC01598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYERyr10Nxg/TJ_ovZ-YMhI/AAAAAAAAGVM/2akGZ2oVa4g/s320/DSC01598.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">After the Forbidden City, we went to Wu Dan (old Beijing) and took rickshaws to have lunch at a local family’s house for some authentic local cuisine. The food was cooked for us by a woman who was 75 years old, but didn't look a day over 50. She told us that this is how she made her living and throughout her career had hosted people from over 150 countries.<br />
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After lunch we did some last minute shopping and then went to the airport. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Overall, we had a good trip. I will definitely come back at some point in the future. </div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-92101159799407793982010-09-25T20:21:00.000-07:002011-06-05T18:20:25.093-07:00Day 14 - Beijing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QL-hrt6WEk0/TJ_zsE5vERI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/u9gCY5h6qO4/s1600/DSC01234.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QL-hrt6WEk0/TJ_zsE5vERI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/u9gCY5h6qO4/s320/DSC01234.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">We’re going to the Great Wall! We’re going to the Great Wall!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, I’m excited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But first things first. We are going to see the panda. Awesome creatures. Here’s a joke: What are a panda bears two wishes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1. To get some sleep so they can get rid of the rings around their eyes. 2. To take a color picture. Haha. Lame, I know, but cute. The panda is an extraordinary creature. They only live in isolated places in China, and that’s it. The U.S. received it’s first pandas, as a gift, from the Qing Dynasty in the early 1900s, but couldn’t take care of them, and they died. Sad. But now we lease them from the Chinese government. And….the babies are owned by the Chinese too. Yep, that’s right. Panda bears cannot have any anchor babies. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJweY3Pes0U/TJ_z3NYzQ1I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/JRmTIU0uW4Y/s1600/DSC01251.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HJweY3Pes0U/TJ_z3NYzQ1I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/JRmTIU0uW4Y/s320/DSC01251.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NXRh0pIEcBI/TJ_zwume26I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/E2zHVPt7KmU/s1600/DSC01241.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NXRh0pIEcBI/TJ_zwume26I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/E2zHVPt7KmU/s320/DSC01241.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FS2h8Lg1N3o/TJ_z2bM6c0I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/4h8YEycNNrs/s1600/DSC01250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FS2h8Lg1N3o/TJ_z2bM6c0I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/4h8YEycNNrs/s320/DSC01250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KoY7fnND9nQ/TJ_z5k-rLpI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/LKlT4IZ7zoA/s1600/DSC01255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KoY7fnND9nQ/TJ_z5k-rLpI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/LKlT4IZ7zoA/s320/DSC01255.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Next stop, Ming Tombs<br />
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The Ming Tombs are located outside of Beijing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the third Ming Emperor who created them, and it was from there that they began. The first Ming Emperor had established a tomb in Nanjing (southern capital), and the second Emperor is missing. The reason for this is this: Traditionally, the first son of the emperor ascends the throne when the father passes away. However, at this point, the eldest son had already died, when the first emperor died. There were still 3 other sons, but because of the tradition, the throne fell to the eldest son of the eldest son. Subsequently, the kid went missing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the youngest son of the first emperor ascended the throne, none of the officials would recognize his position, and he had to move the capital to Beijing, with new officials and council. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r7yrfmsBg4c/TJ_0UtKhHNI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/x1FYKq6f2R0/s1600/DSC01299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r7yrfmsBg4c/TJ_0UtKhHNI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/x1FYKq6f2R0/s320/DSC01299.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9zYyVSLErI/TJ_0OYG28WI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/_eZmg7XQKgA/s1600/DSC01292.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I9zYyVSLErI/TJ_0OYG28WI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/_eZmg7XQKgA/s320/DSC01292.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mkf2ongBB6I/TJ_0ZtuKAHI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/kc79e2DweEQ/s1600/DSC01305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mkf2ongBB6I/TJ_0ZtuKAHI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/kc79e2DweEQ/s320/DSC01305.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>When he was in Beijing, he began construction of the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, and the Ming Tombs up in the hills. Since then, there is an elaborate network of tombs up in the hills about 1 hour away (driving).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the third emperor’s reign, he not only began construction of numerous buildings, but had also sent out the famous Eunuch Captain Zheng He. In the tombs, there have been drawings of maps of the travels of Zheng He. The whole tomb was a very interesting historical perspective of the way the dynasty tried to help their kingdoms prosper.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">Last stop: Great Wall!!!!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">A structure that has been around for nearly 2,000 years and can be seen from space, it was not completed, actually, until the 1300’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Chinese name for it is Chang Cheng, or long City. It was originally built as a fortification against the Hun or Mongol invasions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At some points it is wide enough for a horse to walk, and at others not so much. The part of the wall we went to was not wide enough for a horse to walk up and down on. Especially with the steps, it would have been very treacherous for the horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The top was 888 meters high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are not able to hike at all locations on the wall, since some of it has eroded away and has become fairly unstable, but our location, we could. 19 of us made it to the top. I’ll let the videos speak for themselves. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mc_hGq6O7zQ/TJ_1TDLOWEI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/97mHq7oEW0k/s1600/DSC01401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mc_hGq6O7zQ/TJ_1TDLOWEI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/97mHq7oEW0k/s320/DSC01401.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UB1hGggk8aQ/TJ_1Pzo2t2I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/YwAlR3CrOVA/s1600/DSC01397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UB1hGggk8aQ/TJ_1Pzo2t2I/AAAAAAAAGVQ/YwAlR3CrOVA/s320/DSC01397.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p0dw1gmoc-Q/TJ_1IvJDdiI/AAAAAAAAGVQ/LjF65prjzyw/s1600/DSC01385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-76251621897443056222010-09-25T20:16:00.000-07:002011-11-08T22:15:05.205-08:00Day 13 - Beijing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPwD9fRedtQ/TJ_hYDmKX6I/AAAAAAAAGVw/Pjqj4LSU3FY/s1600/DSC01144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPwD9fRedtQ/TJ_hYDmKX6I/AAAAAAAAGVw/Pjqj4LSU3FY/s320/DSC01144.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">Today was factory day. We went to Jiya (langfang) Electronic Co. Ltd. They are manufacturer of monochromatic LCD displays. The company specializes in only monochromatic and after some explanation, I realized that there really is a strong market for things like this. They make displays for things such as Motorola products, timex watches, and other products where there is no need for color displays. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">I never knew the complexity of the process to make LCD displays. Even monochromatic requires a fairly sterile or dust free environment. It makes sense now, but I would never have thought it. All the workers wear white lab suits, including hair covering and a face mask. All the work is painstakingly done unit-by-unit. There was no mass production assembly line that we saw, but there were a lot of workers checking every item. Inspecting it front and back, forwards and backwards to make sure everything matches perfectly. During lunch, the business owners and the professors went into a special room, where they drank and drank. Another example of how “honoring” specific people and drinking with them is conducive to a negotiation. You really have to know how to drink around here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2SQYcrmenrU/TJ_hgq_tpVI/AAAAAAAAGVw/NIxFHglw3sM/s1600/DSC01156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2SQYcrmenrU/TJ_hgq_tpVI/AAAAAAAAGVw/NIxFHglw3sM/s320/DSC01156.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDOYjBoT-8s/TJ_hdtPZcEI/AAAAAAAAGVw/KVz-nGa0mLE/s1600/DSC01151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qDOYjBoT-8s/TJ_hdtPZcEI/AAAAAAAAGVw/KVz-nGa0mLE/s320/DSC01151.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DWNHgaQIbas/TJ_himzJWDI/AAAAAAAAGVw/3XbGvYRUG2c/s1600/DSC01160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DWNHgaQIbas/TJ_himzJWDI/AAAAAAAAGVw/3XbGvYRUG2c/s200/DSC01160.JPG" width="200" /></a><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-m0s1n2RT1G8/TJ_hhdDRyPI/AAAAAAAAGVw/upvK_4LhnaI/s200/DSC01157.JPG" width="200" /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qy8RywLCIxc/TJ_hhv3CXDI/AAAAAAAAGVw/WZaTWawRAQ8/s1600/DSC01158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qy8RywLCIxc/TJ_hhv3CXDI/AAAAAAAAGVw/WZaTWawRAQ8/s320/DSC01158.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;">Afterwards, we went to the Temple of Heaven. This temple was built nearly 600 years ago in 1420, during the Qing Dynasty. It was a temple to worship the jade gods. The ruler would come here during special times of the year, such as the equinoxes or solstices and would conduct a report to the jade god. There was one area that was merely a circle. In the middle of the circle was a small rock on which you could stand. If you stood on the center of that spot, you could hear your voice rebounding off the railings because the rock is so hard. This is what gave the emperor the impression that he was able to communicate with the gods. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"><div style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sg3EWP_GXS4/TJ_htoNkDFI/AAAAAAAAGVw/eeMcYLbSZRU/s1600/DSC01180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sg3EWP_GXS4/TJ_htoNkDFI/AAAAAAAAGVw/eeMcYLbSZRU/s320/DSC01180.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wY9PBrE7XUw/TJ_hnRRNciI/AAAAAAAAGVw/EAqWkfm1a8c/s1600/DSC01170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wY9PBrE7XUw/TJ_hnRRNciI/AAAAAAAAGVw/EAqWkfm1a8c/s320/DSC01170.JPG" width="240" /></a><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VfrtOndVNQ4/TJ_hrEQlpYI/AAAAAAAAGVw/67ioZ9rll54/s320/DSC01177.JPG" width="320" /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iwm0gzGWW0Q/TJ_h7fqWiFI/AAAAAAAAGVw/We_2XZ2DpaE/s1600/DSC01202.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iwm0gzGWW0Q/TJ_h7fqWiFI/AAAAAAAAGVw/We_2XZ2DpaE/s320/DSC01202.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8D1gyYiYhw/TJ_h_-bxAmI/AAAAAAAAGVw/ANCvoJTXXAM/s1600/DSC01209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t8D1gyYiYhw/TJ_h_-bxAmI/AAAAAAAAGVw/ANCvoJTXXAM/s320/DSC01209.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBc72YcaE5s/TJ_iI-YNk3I/AAAAAAAAGVw/cH80IwQJ3FI/s1600/DSC01225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BBc72YcaE5s/TJ_iI-YNk3I/AAAAAAAAGVw/cH80IwQJ3FI/s320/DSC01225.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Today was mostly a commuting day, so that’s about it </div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-33966036861873596512010-09-25T20:13:00.000-07:002011-11-08T22:33:46.457-08:00Day 12 - Beijing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hlJS1KDX07g/TJ_kAlFkdvI/AAAAAAAAGWA/95SJdm4CkDI/s1600/DSC00992.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hlJS1KDX07g/TJ_kAlFkdvI/AAAAAAAAGWA/95SJdm4CkDI/s320/DSC00992.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border: currentColor;"> It’s going to be a busy day. Our first stop is the Beijing equity market. This is where the government is privatizing their assets. Assets, including the Olympic drums and facilities and various businesses. We received a warm welcome from the organization, including having a welcome message directed at the CSU College of Business scrolling across their main board.</div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qXKG2gusieE/TJ_kFvtgCoI/AAAAAAAAGWA/MitT2Nlg4SQ/s1600/DSC01001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qXKG2gusieE/TJ_kFvtgCoI/AAAAAAAAGWA/MitT2Nlg4SQ/s320/DSC01001.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jGM5iQqetrs/TJ_j8WF9DlI/AAAAAAAAGWA/Nr_g6grCp58/s1600/DSC00988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jGM5iQqetrs/TJ_j8WF9DlI/AAAAAAAAGWA/Nr_g6grCp58/s320/DSC00988.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rzGAERjZ2QI/TJ_kIW9ffsI/AAAAAAAAGWA/2GZZUFs4Y5E/s1600/DSC01004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rzGAERjZ2QI/TJ_kIW9ffsI/AAAAAAAAGWA/2GZZUFs4Y5E/s320/DSC01004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n0cBh78tTGw/TJ_kG2SFYdI/AAAAAAAAGWA/s3TGW-nKG6A/s1600/DSC01002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-n0cBh78tTGw/TJ_kG2SFYdI/AAAAAAAAGWA/s3TGW-nKG6A/s320/DSC01002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;">According to the president of the company, the government has to designate special economic zones in order to qualify the businesses for the equity exchange. These economic zones are designated by governments, such as the central government, one of the four municipalities or provinces (although I’m not quite clear on the conditions under which the government selects these zones). The company was founded because the government mandated an exchange market institution and is was founded under the direction of the Beijing Municipality.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;">The market operates on a mostly transparent forum, allowing people to bid on various enterprises or assets on an electronic platform. The beauty of the system, though, is that it also facilitates the use of Chinese cultural customs of helping your friends acquire markets, but not at a substantial burden or loss to the government. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHcHWEq-in8/TJ_kNJJ0p5I/AAAAAAAAGWA/S5Ha5JPbttY/s1600/DSC01010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fHcHWEq-in8/TJ_kNJJ0p5I/AAAAAAAAGWA/S5Ha5JPbttY/s320/DSC01010.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;">Lunch was held in an elegant restaurant that was in the building of the financial center of the City. Within the building was a small oasis of bamboo trees that helped keep a sense of calm and tranquility. Afterwards, we went to Beijing University, to visit a California State professor and get a tour of campus. However, it was a little tough to get through security as they only allow students, professors and other officials on campus. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uP9Yujday2Y/TJ_kTBbInhI/AAAAAAAAGWA/cXpMBXBllNo/s1600/DSC01018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uP9Yujday2Y/TJ_kTBbInhI/AAAAAAAAGWA/cXpMBXBllNo/s320/DSC01018.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>The campus was beautiful with a huge lake in the middle and a water tower at one end of the lake that was at least 12 stories high. There was a student-artist selling his CD of guitar music and a chance to take a peaceful stroll through a small forest. On the back side, they had their athletic area, where they had a climbing wall, a soccer field and tennis courts. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;">The official day ended with dinner a kind of cooky, but fun, restaurant that had a live band with a shadow puppet show serving as intermission. After dinner, several of us went to the night market, where they had several interesting items on a stick. Snake on a stick, crickets on a stick, scorpions on a stick, and they even had some type of cephalopod that I did not recognize on a stick. The best part was they were serving fried star fish. Yum, yum, yum. I think.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nV8Pr5m_kzg/TJ_lmeI7XqI/AAAAAAAAGWA/0KowkaWlpQU/s1600/DSC01129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nV8Pr5m_kzg/TJ_lmeI7XqI/AAAAAAAAGWA/0KowkaWlpQU/s200/DSC01129.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQAFl0oRmXk/TJ_kc0AoklI/AAAAAAAAGWA/FsQjMp7FKVo/s1600/DSC01029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iQAFl0oRmXk/TJ_kc0AoklI/AAAAAAAAGWA/FsQjMp7FKVo/s320/DSC01029.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I2q3rDn6rxo/TJ_lmzxnuEI/AAAAAAAAGWA/ZKCR5M1S8e8/s1600/DSC01131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I2q3rDn6rxo/TJ_lmzxnuEI/AAAAAAAAGWA/ZKCR5M1S8e8/s320/DSC01131.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WmILJqTomWI/TJ_lrlVFa_I/AAAAAAAAGWA/5FvbBO_zyEE/s1600/DSC01140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WmILJqTomWI/TJ_lrlVFa_I/AAAAAAAAGWA/5FvbBO_zyEE/s320/DSC01140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-287838826911934012010-09-25T20:05:00.000-07:002011-11-08T22:40:56.038-08:00Day 11 - Beijing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v76c40jiIjo/TJ9uom0z0RI/AAAAAAAAEMs/pL1suKg0l1E/s1600/DSC00922.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v76c40jiIjo/TJ9uom0z0RI/AAAAAAAAEMs/pL1suKg0l1E/s320/DSC00922.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">Our first full day in Beijing and we’re starting it off with a visit to the Beijing Wandong Medical Equipment Company, a subsidiary of a pharmaceutical company. This company manufactures medical equipment such as X-rays and MRI’s. They have a niche market in bottom line X-rays and also top of the line MRI machines. They do not manufacture anything in between. Because of the specialized products they manufacture, they do not have an assembly line. They build each one in a separate room to minimize contamination of the parts. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNrlJB3lTLw/TJ9uvWT5OHI/AAAAAAAAEMs/xzUt4sXEr08/s1600/DSC00936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sNrlJB3lTLw/TJ9uvWT5OHI/AAAAAAAAEMs/xzUt4sXEr08/s320/DSC00936.JPG" width="320" /></a><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ArE5MYpidc0/TJ9uyoZMmMI/AAAAAAAAEMs/sMRy6mW7iCw/s320/DSC00943.JPG" width="240" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qc5ksFaJQYk/TJ9uyViIL4I/AAAAAAAAEMs/TgsNsZGfqT8/s1600/DSC00942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qc5ksFaJQYk/TJ9uyViIL4I/AAAAAAAAEMs/TgsNsZGfqT8/s320/DSC00942.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">Their production basis is job-specific manufacturing. They do not manufacture anything without a customer order. After seeing all manufacturing they took us to their showroom, showing us all the products they have made in the past. There was some pretty impressive equipment there. They had X-rays that could be positioned to the most appropriate place, instead of having you positioned appropriately. A couple of their X-rays were body movers. It would take you from a standing position to a lying down position. And then there was an MRI machine that had a rotating arm. I have never seen equipment like that before, and it makes more of a mark on me that technology keeps getting better and this equipment keeps getting smaller. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">After lunch, takeout from Yoshinoya, we went down to the market and again practiced our bargaining skills. That time, I didn’t really want anything so I only bought a wallet. But the sales people were very aggressive and kept insisting I buy their products at their prices. Sometimes, it helps to just say no. =) </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VOvjOV_IQYs/TJ9u3lBz8RI/AAAAAAAAEMs/SXKc_eL9Bwc/s1600/DSC00954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VOvjOV_IQYs/TJ9u3lBz8RI/AAAAAAAAEMs/SXKc_eL9Bwc/s320/DSC00954.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjQeM7nV_us/TJ9u5N3mZ4I/AAAAAAAAEMs/aJcjNW5Gh5o/s1600/DSC00960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VjQeM7nV_us/TJ9u5N3mZ4I/AAAAAAAAEMs/aJcjNW5Gh5o/s320/DSC00960.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We then went to the stadium and played the company’s basketball team. They were very good. Their youngest player, 14, received training in the steel industry and was 6’9”. He was very very tall. After the game (yes, we lost), we had a banquet held by the secretary and the president of the company. This is where I learned that any type of banquet or business transaction going on, they loved to drink. And you were pretty much expected to drink with them. I think quite a few people got very toasted. I just hope the locals didn’t drive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mWaWfsCF3Ys/TJ9u6_qgZTI/AAAAAAAAEMs/nYwWQ4YFINU/s1600/DSC00965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mWaWfsCF3Ys/TJ9u6_qgZTI/AAAAAAAAEMs/nYwWQ4YFINU/s320/DSC00965.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsi2AZJ-cdg/TJ9u8R5SqwI/AAAAAAAAEMs/da__nlSxXqI/s1600/DSC00969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fsi2AZJ-cdg/TJ9u8R5SqwI/AAAAAAAAEMs/da__nlSxXqI/s320/DSC00969.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZ6Wpq4T1lY/TJ9u9gDi-dI/AAAAAAAAEMs/1VnicFecquY/s1600/DSC00971.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iZ6Wpq4T1lY/TJ9u9gDi-dI/AAAAAAAAEMs/1VnicFecquY/s320/DSC00971.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-28257309714507104252010-09-25T18:52:00.000-07:002011-11-08T22:42:52.039-08:00Day 10 - Shanghai/Beijing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;">It’s travel day. 1<sup>st</sup> stop, Shanghai Museum, 2<sup>nd</sup> stop Shanghai airport. That’s right. We’re off to Beijing to spend the remainder of our vacation. The day started off as usual. People running behind and making it worse off for everyone else. Because of the lateness, we only got an hour at the Shanghai museum (which included time to wait in line). I had nearly 30 minutes to run through the various exhibits and take as many photos as I could. </div><div class="separator" style="border: currentColor; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border: currentColor;"><br />
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First off was the jade exhibit. It seems as jade is the most precious material to the Chinese culture. Understandably so because it’s so beautiful. There were jade statues and incense censors. One piece of jade had a house in the mountains, next to a river, intricately carved in it. There was a man, that seemed to be of particular importance, but I did not have time to figure out why. Next stop was the calligraphy exhibit, where they had some of the original copies of various poems and other literary works on display. The handwriting is perfect, as the Chinese take great care in their creations. Finally, I had time to stop at the Buddha statue exhibit. To see so many statues in one place, I couldn’t help but wonder what the story of each one was and how they impacted culture individually and helped advance their society. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zOTeH8ajwuM/TJ_g9FUE01I/AAAAAAAAGWg/9tuDG9bzV6E/s1600/DSC00890.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zOTeH8ajwuM/TJ_g9FUE01I/AAAAAAAAGWg/9tuDG9bzV6E/s320/DSC00890.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Now, welcome to Beijing. Since it took us a while, I merely enjoyed the view and we went to dinner. The one thing that struck me was the amount of pollution in the air. Despite the number of trees and greenery around the City, it seems that the middle class is indeed growing. The traffic was bad, and took twice as long as it should have to get to the hotel. Also, the tour guide told us they have policies in place to reduce pollution, such as not allowing cars with a certain last number of their license plate to drive on certain days. For example, license plates ending in 2 or 7 can not drive on Tuesdays. This exception, like all exceptions, has an exception of its own that I noticed. It does not include taxi cabs or other types of mass transportation, such as our tour bus. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkTZfWvzWM0/TJ_hJdxxV_I/AAAAAAAAGWg/4lzamT3Oar8/s1600/DSC00909.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mkTZfWvzWM0/TJ_hJdxxV_I/AAAAAAAAGWg/4lzamT3Oar8/s320/DSC00909.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P-1DVn6iyH8/TJ_hFs65AJI/AAAAAAAAGWg/VBa15dtqSKs/s1600/DSC00903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P-1DVn6iyH8/TJ_hFs65AJI/AAAAAAAAGWg/VBa15dtqSKs/s320/DSC00903.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wOR12C8pSVc/TJ_hLF3FVEI/AAAAAAAAGWg/iABikr_ad7I/s1600/DSC00910.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wOR12C8pSVc/TJ_hLF3FVEI/AAAAAAAAGWg/iABikr_ad7I/s320/DSC00910.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-89330913994705727382010-09-25T18:45:00.000-07:002011-11-08T22:44:47.635-08:00Day 9 - Shanghai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5-0sDHjnI/AAAAAAAABdY/cXwTGA-NszI/s1600/DSC00716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5-0sDHjnI/AAAAAAAABdY/cXwTGA-NszI/s320/DSC00716.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5-6g8dVsI/AAAAAAAABeo/k98VGhzHPFQ/s1600/DSC00725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5-6g8dVsI/AAAAAAAABeo/k98VGhzHPFQ/s320/DSC00725.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;">No one likes Mondays, except if they’re on vacation. I feel like I’m on vacation, so I don’t mind. Today we had a lecture on the Chinese culture. We learned today that “No” does not necessarily mean “No.” Sometimes it means yes, but they’re just too polite to say yes. The major theme of the lecture was to show us different ways to cre<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5-_398xOI/AAAAAAAABfk/4_SN7OFv3E4/s1600/DSC00732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; height: 223px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; width: 295px;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5-_398xOI/AAAAAAAABfk/4_SN7OFv3E4/s200/DSC00732.JPG" width="200" /></a>ate guanxi (<span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: SimSun;">关系</span>), or relations. This is one of the most important elements in the Chinese business culture. Without it, you can have any relations whatsoever and with no relations, no business deals. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_EAGF9lI/AAAAAAAABgc/Iagc2Cbs13I/s1600/DSC00742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_EAGF9lI/AAAAAAAABgc/Iagc2Cbs13I/s200/DSC00742.JPG" width="200" /></a><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">Afterwards, we went to the Volkswagen factory. They produce 9 or 10 different models of cars there, to serve the Chinese people. Unfortunately, we were unable to take any pictures of the inside of the factory and I could barely understand the girl giving the tour because there was so much noise, but just watching the process was interesting enough. All inventory items are created at different stages and in different areas. The most fascinating part, though, was the assembly of the various components. Although over 70% of the plant is automated, the actual putting together of the pieces was done primarily by hand. A better description is by machine guided by hands. Overall, it was a magnificent example of an assembly line. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5-7dF7HLI/AAAAAAAABew/YZOHeXyU-5c/s1600/DSC00726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5-7dF7HLI/AAAAAAAABew/YZOHeXyU-5c/s320/DSC00726.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;">We ended the night with a dinner at a restaurant that would have been very romantic, if I weren’t with a whole bunch of other people. One would suffice. Again, the food was stupendous. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5-_J2UKgI/AAAAAAAABfc/iKRgGbwMLJo/s1600/DSC00731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5-_J2UKgI/AAAAAAAABfc/iKRgGbwMLJo/s200/DSC00731.JPG" width="200" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lesson learned</b>: Relations are the backbone of business not only in Asia, but elsewhere. The connections I am making with not only the Chinese students, but with my fellow travelers will be a huge benefit in the future. I must maintain all my business (and personal) connections throughout the rest of my career and life. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_m5V6luI/AAAAAAAABoE/BVkAsW4lpIE/s1600/DSC00844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_m5V6luI/AAAAAAAABoE/BVkAsW4lpIE/s320/DSC00844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_gyHxmaI/AAAAAAAABnA/UL7r2u4MGYM/s1600/DSC00830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_gyHxmaI/AAAAAAAABnA/UL7r2u4MGYM/s320/DSC00830.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_cNRkl8I/AAAAAAAABl4/WNYbi4WgOFw/s1600/DSC00815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_cNRkl8I/AAAAAAAABl4/WNYbi4WgOFw/s320/DSC00815.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_OzJTrRI/AAAAAAAABi4/VBcn-SCa4A8/s1600/DSC00775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_OzJTrRI/AAAAAAAABi4/VBcn-SCa4A8/s200/DSC00775.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_Sy1UnfI/AAAAAAAABjw/Aum3B4Es_CE/s1600/DSC00786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_Sy1UnfI/AAAAAAAABjw/Aum3B4Es_CE/s320/DSC00786.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_Z7D0tJI/AAAAAAAABlY/wxwJSx1rCZc/s1600/DSC00808.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_Z7D0tJI/AAAAAAAABlY/wxwJSx1rCZc/s320/DSC00808.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_j_ceQOI/AAAAAAAABnk/9wN6DO-qm9I/s1600/DSC00836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_j_ceQOI/AAAAAAAABnk/9wN6DO-qm9I/s320/DSC00836.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_KFgw4vI/AAAAAAAABh0/M79wVpQQrhs/s1600/DSC00754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_KFgw4vI/AAAAAAAABh0/M79wVpQQrhs/s320/DSC00754.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_MHGDo-I/AAAAAAAABiU/p9BYnYedYsM/s1600/DSC00764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_MHGDo-I/AAAAAAAABiU/p9BYnYedYsM/s320/DSC00764.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 159px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1291px; visibility: hidden;" width="72" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_MHGDo-I/AAAAAAAABiU/p9BYnYedYsM/s1600/DSC00764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_MHGDo-I/AAAAAAAABiU/p9BYnYedYsM/s320/DSC00764.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_PxWz_aI/AAAAAAAABjI/9i6CI26IAxM/s1600/DSC00779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_PxWz_aI/AAAAAAAABjI/9i6CI26IAxM/s320/DSC00779.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_KmtwWwI/AAAAAAAABh8/3EmbtlGJAnA/s1600/DSC00757.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_KmtwWwI/AAAAAAAABh8/3EmbtlGJAnA/s320/DSC00757.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_M0j_c4I/AAAAAAAABic/95mJPdTMklU/s1600/DSC00765.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_M0j_c4I/AAAAAAAABic/95mJPdTMklU/s320/DSC00765.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_WioYI8I/AAAAAAAABkg/QUYxO67T0M8/s1600/DSC00794.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_WioYI8I/AAAAAAAABkg/QUYxO67T0M8/s320/DSC00794.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-17583705326360570322010-09-25T18:34:00.000-07:002011-11-09T06:23:04.380-08:00Day 8 - Shanghai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ58zb7gErI/AAAAAAAABCs/qVTu_Tx8zds/s1600/DSC00643.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ58zb7gErI/AAAAAAAABCs/qVTu_Tx8zds/s320/DSC00643.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">Today we went to the Shanghai Expo that goes through the month of October. The day started off with an overcast sky and a gaggle of eager MBA/MSA students wanting to get a flavor of the Chinese vision at the Expo. I, for one, was excited to see where the Chinese were going and possibly see a plan for the future. A future that I could possibly be a part of bringing about through various business relations would be the best. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ589C7dFjI/AAAAAAAABEU/YyKjj2XfTrI/s1600/DSC00674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ589C7dFjI/AAAAAAAABEU/YyKjj2XfTrI/s320/DSC00674.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ59F7nPB4I/AAAAAAAABGI/UJED-6H-_7I/s1600/DSC00692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ59F7nPB4I/AAAAAAAABGI/UJED-6H-_7I/s320/DSC00692.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ59KZart_I/AAAAAAAABG4/hUGdT4T7yNc/s1600/DSC00698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ59KZart_I/AAAAAAAABG4/hUGdT4T7yNc/s320/DSC00698.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">There were lines on to the horizon. The line to China expo was 1 hour long for travel gro<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ59IutEFXI/AAAAAAAABGo/0OlNhCrYg4g/s1600/DSC00696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ59IutEFXI/AAAAAAAABGo/0OlNhCrYg4g/s320/DSC00696.JPG" width="320" /></a>ups with reservations. The line was actually longer than one could perceive. It wove in and out of itself, creating patterns that only the birds could really see. Finally, we arrived at the entrance to elevator upstairs and were treated to a room that was at least 2 stories high. Various hanging pillars that stopped 15 feet above our heads displayed images of China’s past and present. We then saw a 15 minute movie titled “A Story of Spring”. This movie was amazing in that it showed the images of construction that China is going through. Cranes on top of every building and a beautiful city, covered in greenery such as moss and other flora and fauna to help create a more sustaining and natural city. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">The movie also showed the ability of the Chinese to adapt to any situation. Pictures and footage from the earthquake in Chengdu (I think) showed how the country pulled together to build a new City close to the original, but more stable. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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</div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-90888646778917885792010-09-25T18:31:00.000-07:002011-11-09T06:26:45.061-08:00Day 7 - Shanghai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">Today is a day of play. First stop. Shanghai’s famous bund. This is where, after the opium war in the beginning of last century, the French, German, British, American, and Spanish all set up buildings here to work as embassies. One of the concessions the Chinese were forced to make were tax free imports in 5 different ports. I don’t remember all of them, but Shanghai was a main port at the time. After the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty by the Nationalist and the end of the World Wars, the Communists took over under Mao Ze Dong. After his time, and the Cultural Revolution, the City began to be built up. After Mao passed away, Deng Xiao Ping, took the reigns of the Communist Party and began to truly develop Shanghai. In 20 years, they managed to build the other side of the bund to its spectacular view that we all know about today. The view is definitely postcard material and I did take those kinds of photos. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1O_JM7uMtKw/TJ_l2zAaj1I/AAAAAAAAGWw/WCPEKTKCPxw/s1600/DSC00476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1O_JM7uMtKw/TJ_l2zAaj1I/AAAAAAAAGWw/WCPEKTKCPxw/s320/DSC00476.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gp2OZ9JI1LA/TJ_l4iTif5I/AAAAAAAAGWw/BekGPc2lLuc/s1600/DSC00478.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gp2OZ9JI1LA/TJ_l4iTif5I/AAAAAAAAGWw/BekGPc2lLuc/s320/DSC00478.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Purr38cPpY/TJ_l77daMqI/AAAAAAAAGWw/JXRk-ydAGfI/s1600/DSC00482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8Purr38cPpY/TJ_l77daMqI/AAAAAAAAGWw/JXRk-ydAGfI/s320/DSC00482.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">After the bund, we went to the Yu Yuan garden and market. The Garden was stunning. It was surrounded by old Chinese architectural styled buildings and was so green. There was one area in which they created the image of a vase by carving a door frame in the shape of a vase and putting landscaping behind it. Additionally, there were several rocks that helped make the garden famous. Unfortunately, it poured rain like no one’s business at one point. People were slipping all over the place, one even scrapped his elbow he hit the ground so hard. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">In the market, Mauricio, Pablo and I went to find some of the best deals. This was a true test of not only my Chinese, but my bargaining skills. I think I made out ok; I purchased quite a few things for myself as well as co-workers. Landscape Paintings, a tea set, and several other miscellaneous things. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border: currentColor; margin: auto 0in;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7RZ6GWuQwyg/TJ_nQn3T0yI/AAAAAAAAGWw/TiFhox282Ic/s1600/DSC00617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7RZ6GWuQwyg/TJ_nQn3T0yI/AAAAAAAAGWw/TiFhox282Ic/s320/DSC00617.JPG" width="320" /></a>We were supposed to go to 2 other shopping areas; however the rain put a damper on that. The ran would come down with monsoonal strength at different intervals. Instead, the group came back to the hotel for the rest of the night. I walked around the block to the Jing’An temple to take some picture and offer up some prayers to the Buddha. They had a 40-foot statue of Shakyamuni Buddha as well as 3 other types. The patron Budhha was covered in gold, and a silk scarf. That concluded my cultural day in Shanghai. Hopefully I can take the bargaining skills and use them in the future, and I just hope that my Chinese is getting better. Sometimes I feel like I’m making a complete fool of myself but that's the best teacher sometimes. =)</div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;">Good morning. Not really. I had to wake up at 6:30 this morning and I couldn’t find the coffee in the cafeteria. But that’s where the bad stuff stops. Today we went to one of the major universities to visit them. The lecture was on the Asian climate of business, with a more specific emphasis (of course) on China. Learning the Chinese mindset is of course going to be very important for us if we are to do business with them in the future. We should also be learning the mindset of the Indians. (They are, after all, one of our major supporters). Afterwards we went to a manufacturing plant called Omron. It is a Japanese company that manufactures various controlling hardware for equipment such as Medical Equipment, cars, etc. The factory process was really interesting. I don’t have many pictures because they didn’t allow us to take any, but I’ll do my best to explain some of it. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;">First they introduced us to the structure of the factory. They told us about stuff such as who is who in the company and how to identify certain positions on the factory floor. The factory process at the beginning is automatic, but when the assembling happens they utilize a cell format assembly line. 3-5 people to a cell and the products go through each person (the lead person twice) to have a specific element added. Then it goes through quality checks by people and various scanning equipment before it is actually sent off to their customer. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;">The whole process was really interesting, but several questions came to mind. The product is followed entirely by paper. Why would a company the size this, with a world-wide distribution net, have a paper traced and manually inputted manufacturing process? How would their accounting system be able to truly trace what is raw materials, work-in-process and finished goods? What inventory system do they use? What is their manufacturing overhead rate? How is it applied? Unfortunately, I was unable to get any answers to these questions, but c’est la vie. Now I know a little bit more of what to look for if I have to do some manufacturing consulting work in the future. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6ApNk_g_I/AAAAAAAAB2s/usQDPm7xpEg/s1600/DSC00458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6ApNk_g_I/AAAAAAAAB2s/usQDPm7xpEg/s320/DSC00458.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;">After Omron, and we dropped of the kids from the University, we went to the acrobat show. These people are amazing in their acrobatic talents. There were some people who were able to put their feet past their head, from the back. I think I would die if I had to do that. It just goes to show what you can really accomplish if you put your mind to it. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6Aqem5lLI/AAAAAAAAB28/shU6XlaLEKQ/s1600/DSC00463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6Aqem5lLI/AAAAAAAAB28/shU6XlaLEKQ/s320/DSC00463.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-2732396260868922642010-09-25T18:04:00.000-07:002011-11-09T06:35:15.910-08:00Day 5 - Taipei/Shanghai<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_3moUMaI/AAAAAAAABsE/8ZyICrg7xNs/s1600/DSC00367.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ5_3moUMaI/AAAAAAAABsE/8ZyICrg7xNs/s320/DSC00367.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div> We flew out today to Shanghai, but first went to the Jiang Jie Shi memorial hall (<span lang="ZH-CN" style="font-family: SimSun;">中正记念堂)。</span>So far, all of the architecture has been absolutely beautiful and this was no exception. George (our tour guide) took us to the main hall first, where we saw the guard change. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i></b>Finally, we took a tour of the main area in the basement where the museum and artifacts are. I didn’t realize how many foreign medals Jiang Jie Shi (Jiang Kai Shek) earned. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6AAQCQnhI/AAAAAAAABt4/VX0Iy6QBt18/s1600/DSC00381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6AAQCQnhI/AAAAAAAABt4/VX0Iy6QBt18/s320/DSC00381.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">While everyone was in the shops I went out to appreciate the front of the memorial. It was absolutely beautiful. I stood in the center and took a panoramic photo so you could really appreciate it. Overall, I think </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Taiwan will be a great place to do business. People say that their economy is already developed or close to maturation, but I see so much more potential in that country. I think there is room to take advantage of the financial sector since it is still widely unknown. For example, if I buy stock there and all of a sudden, because of all their developments, the international community gets a whiff of it, then I can make a whole lot of money. I can also advise people which stocks to buy. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6ASPeNK4I/AAAAAAAABxo/lrXS2UWlnzw/s1600/DSC00414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6ASPeNK4I/AAAAAAAABxo/lrXS2UWlnzw/s320/DSC00414.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6AQ8EbhAI/AAAAAAAABxc/4vcxY5NtX2k/s1600/DSC00413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6AQ8EbhAI/AAAAAAAABxc/4vcxY5NtX2k/s320/DSC00413.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6ASnIzCII/AAAAAAAABxw/vHZB5fc8pu0/s1600/DSC00415.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" px="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ6ASnIzCII/AAAAAAAABxw/vHZB5fc8pu0/s320/DSC00415.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Off to the airport we go. After arriving at Shanghai, we got stuck in traffic. This is isn’t any kind of weak desert traffic. It was bumper to bumper where all the cars are vying to cut in front of the car ahead of them. We finally stopped off at a restaurant after an hour sitting in the bus and ate. The meals, here in Communist China, are definitely smaller sized dishes. I don’t think I liked that. </div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">Oh well. Off to the next day.</div></div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-32008338790131734292010-09-25T09:41:00.000-07:002010-09-25T09:41:28.127-07:00Day 4 - Taipei<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: auto 0in;">Well, today we went to the National Museum. The museum had all sorts of artifacts from China that was brought over by the Nationalist Party because they didn’t want any of them broken. China still wants them back but is unwilling to do anything about it. We were unable to take any pictures inside, but we started off in the neolithic period that showed all the tools. During that time they developed their bronze wares. After viewing all the bronze works we went to go see the ceramic works created throughout all of the dynasties. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve seen a lot of blue painted china or what, but they were a little boring. The colored ones though were mesmerizing. They were so vibrant even after all these years. We also went to see the paintings during the various peiords. Most beautiful were the 4 treasures.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t remember the name of the painter but those were what began the movement of Chinese art that is famous today. When we were finally let loose I went to see the calligraphy section of the museum. They had the lotus sutra translated on a piece of parchment about 20 – 25 feet long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writing was as close to perfect as can be. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ4kKeU76NI/AAAAAAAAATU/rNE0fUfhTqw/s1600/DSC00246.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="70" px="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ4kKeU76NI/AAAAAAAAATU/rNE0fUfhTqw/s320/DSC00246.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in; tab-stops: center 3.25in;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in; tab-stops: center 3.25in;">After the museum we went to Taipei 101.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This building is the 2<sup>nd</sup> tallest building in the world after the World Trade Center fell. The observation deck was on the 91<sup>st</sup> floor, a dizzying height. On the bottom 5 floors there was plenty of shopping, although mostly for the rich. (I could only afford some lunch). There was Cartier, Prada, Versace, and other shops with those names. The mall area was made entirely of marble. The food court was an interesting experience. All of the tables were full and apparently there are seat hawks. They wait until someone finishes, then immediately rushes them to leave their seat so they can take it. Pablo, Mauricio and I were all standing around with a tray full of calamari, rice and soup to get a seat. That was for about 15 minutes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ4kWcNxfMI/AAAAAAAAATY/K2QKxMBSS3s/s1600/DSC00254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" px="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TJ4kWcNxfMI/AAAAAAAAATY/K2QKxMBSS3s/s320/DSC00254.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in; tab-stops: center 3.25in;">Afterwards was dinner, of course. 8 course meal (I just learned 8 is a lucky number). Well, off to sleep and another day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re going to the mainland tomorrow. =)<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;"><br />
</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-42272906798048275072010-09-08T08:17:00.000-07:002011-11-09T07:04:29.187-08:00Day 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Day 3 <br />
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Hi all, I’ve had little time to write lately as we’ve been moving all day and all night. The third day was another packed day. We visited a lot of sites. Beginning at 8:00 in the morning, we took the bus over to the National Science Park, where we visited a very successful storage device company, called Promise Technologies. We had a presentation of their business model and their success. They’re a worldwide company that uses channel sales through some major companies to make their profits. They’re listed on the Taiwan stock market, but their headquarters is not here. Their makeup is more de-centralized where the CFO lives here, the CEO lives in Milipitas, CA, etc, etc. The one thing that I wanted to know was HOW the decisions were made, but they were unable to clear that up for me. Overall though, an interesting company. <br />
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Afterwards, we went to the industrial park museum and saw what they had manufactured here. They have manufactured keyboards, mouses (mice?), chips and I even saw one of my favorite toys, the Kindle. Apparently the screen technology for e-paper was developed and is manufactured in that park. <br />
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Then we went to the National University and visited the electrical engineering department. There, they have developed various tools to help with stress. First thing we saw was an entire home created to relieve stress. No remote, just hand motions to change the channel or the volume. I’d hate to think what hand motions are to switch to the DVD player. All the lights were triggered to motion within the house. Especially sensitive was the bedroom area. When you get up to go use the bathroom, your movements trigger the lights in the hallway so you won’t stumble into something. There was also a stationary bike with a landscape screen and a small 1-person car to get around in. It’s definitely the wave of the future. <br />
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Afterwards we finally made it to Taipei for dinner and drinks at the Fisherman’s Wharf. There they had the “Lover’s Bridge” that was absolutely gorgeous when light up. Finally, when we got to the hotel at around 9:30 at night, I just completely crashed. Alright, there’s day 3, day 4 is coming soon. <br />
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Talk to you all later.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-67267982332946447662010-09-06T07:27:00.000-07:002011-11-09T07:06:15.435-08:00Day 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Well, the flight to Beijing was pretty smooth. The only hitch was about an hour before the flight they boarded and apparently were waiting for us since we got a drink at the bar. I slept a grand total of 3 hours on the plane. On the flight they were serving duck for dinner and rice porridge for breakfast. Interesting, eh?<br />
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After arriving in Beijing, we flew to Taiwan. Taiwan’s customs are really easy once you get past immigration. You walk right by the counter with nothing to declare. Once arriving, we hit the ground running. First stop, Chiang Kai Shek’s (Sr.) Memorial. It was absolutely gorgeous. <br />
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The second stop was Jr’s Memorial. When we arrived here they were doing the changing of the guard. They switch out every hour, but when they are posted, they can’t move. Seriously, they didn’t move a muscle. It was an effort to wait for them to blink. <br />
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Afterwards, we went to the local reservoir. There were swarms of dragon flies, and the area a couple of us hiked up to gave us an awesome view of the damn below. The dam only opens up when there is too much water. The rest of the time the water is used for irrigation and businesses when there is a drought. We then ate, and had to ride the bus for another 2 hours to the university here, where I completely crashed for the night.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TIT6NwMw2fI/AAAAAAAAABo/eCE49aKYgvQ/s1600/DSC00087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TIT6NwMw2fI/AAAAAAAAABo/eCE49aKYgvQ/s320/DSC00087.JPG" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TIT6RpYtWEI/AAAAAAAAABw/GZbZSENXGKk/s1600/DSC00094.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdIhvJsQt-8/TIT6RpYtWEI/AAAAAAAAABw/GZbZSENXGKk/s320/DSC00094.JPG" /></a></div><br />
So far, day 2…awesome, but very very busy.</div>Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4759591368184099981.post-31984831498004189612010-09-03T17:25:00.000-07:002010-09-03T17:25:05.818-07:00The day ofHi all. <br />
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For this trip, because it's for class, we have to do a travel blog, so I thought that I would share this with all of you. I'll try to update as soon as possible, but it might be a couple of days before I can upload anything. <br />
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I will share my pictures and experiences of the places we will visit. I know that we will visit a number of factories, service businesses and the stock/equity market. Additionally, we will be visiting the World Expo in Shanghai and the Great Wall in Beijing。<br />
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We're leaving tonight at 1:00 A.M. from LAX, and it's a 12 1/2 hour flight to Beijing. Another 3 hours to Taipei, Taiwan. So, it'll definitely be a couple of days before I can upload anything. <br />
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Also, I’ll try to put a Chinese translation on everything.<br />
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Alright, talk to you guys later. Take care.<br />
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-James<br />
<br />
大家好<br />
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因为这旅游是一个课,所以我们得写博客。我决定与你们分享博客。我要常常更新,可是大概过两三天才能更新。<br />
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我会更新我们参观的地方照片和我一些经验。 我们会参观一些工厂,服务业的公司和公道需求。额外的我们能到世界展览会长城去旅行。<br />
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我们今天夜里一点钟从LAX起飞。可是是一个时而半个小时的飞行。 在座另外三个小时的飞行到台北去。所以一定过两三天才能更新。我也要把我写的话都翻印。<br />
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好。一会儿再写。小心。<br />
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-阮世界。Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05457481090663642379noreply@blogger.com1