Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Being in Beijing?

Start:     Aug 16, '09
End:     Aug 23, '09
Location:     Beijing, China
My first ever trip abroad was to Hong Kong way back in the 20th century :-)

...and another trip years later after that had me visiting Hong Kong (before the handover) and China too with one of my closest friends in high school.

Now, out of the blue and partially unplanned, except for some sleepy but enthusiastic (huh?) conversation during a ride towards Tagaytay for a birthday party..I find I just cannot resist a visit to Beijing this August.

I've longed to set foot on the Great Wall at least once in my lifetime...so I've decided to gird my loins, tighten my belt (so I won't eat that much and not spend that much on food hehehe!) and treat myself to this trip as a reward for my hard work. Mentally, I know its not a financially sound idea, as my expenses have been piling up since 2nd quarter of the year and show no signs of abating.... however,as a friend once said - "kundi ngayon, e kailan pa?" (if not now, then when?) which is good enough for me...seize the day and the opportunity!

I don't think I will be going to the US of A this year...so I might as well splurge somewhere cheaper..value for money and all that...hahaha!

This time, I hope the preparations will go smoothly and the trip itself will be fun and fabulous (if there is no problem getting the China visa)....and really...its bound to be..with the kind of companions I have in this trip...(secret ba?) LOL! more later!
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48 comments:

  1. Virtual TedJuly 15, 2009 at 1:49 PM

    Hi Cat,

    That's awesome! I haven't been to Beijing yet, but I sure would like to go there one of these days.

    Just over a month until your Beijing adventure!

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  2. Me AnnJuly 15, 2009 at 4:51 PM

    wow! Kayumangguitos ba?

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  3. Rocky EspritJuly 15, 2009 at 5:05 PM

    Gow!!! Not a second-thought, even! :)

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  4. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:08 PM

    I was told that if you come to visit the Great Wall, you become somewhat of a "hero" daw. Personally, it was exhilarating for me to have set foot on a place with so much history and one that probably parallel the Roman empire. TIP: Kung saan mang hotel kayo, siguradong may day-trip to the Great Wall. Puede kayong makipag-arrange sa hotel or kung may mag-susundo sa inyo sa airport, kausapin nyo yung driver (yes, they do that too in China). Usually naman marunong ng English yung mga yun. Kung merong side trip to the Ming Tombs, I suggest you skip it. Kasi wala naman kayong makikita dun. Inalis na dun yung mga laman. Parang kuweba na lang. Ang lalim pa. Kung claustrophobic ka, I would not advise this. If you want to see them, visit the museum. TIP: When climbing up or down the Wall steps in the more inclined portions, try doing it backwards, mas di nakakapagod. Medyo weird nga lang tingnan. Pero magaling ka naman magdala, hehehe...Some people may give you a strange look but if you persist, others may also do as you do. TIP: Sa may starting point, someone may approach you and offer to get you a video of your walk/activities. Kung mag-isa ka lang ok ito, but make sure malinaw ang usapan kung magkano sa simula palang. Pero kun may kasama ka, eh di magkuhanan na lang kayo. TIP: Souvenir items are more expensive pag nasa baba pa. Meron din naman na similar na bini-benta sa taas pero mas mura.

    Most people make it to the third tower. Depende sa oras ng punta nyo, try going to the fourth. Kung start na ng Autumn yang punta mo, you'll see a great nature show of the hillsides.

    TIP: Merong magandang food street diyan sa Beijing. I forgot the name. Pag-umaga wala. Pero pag-kagat ng dilim, they start putting up their mobile eateries. Mura na masarap pa. Authentic street food.

    I hope you can also do the Forbidden City tour. Sa tapat lang yun ng Tiananmen Square. I also hope the restrooms are now clean.

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  5. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:12 PM

    hello Ted...thanks!

    I'm excited inspite of the many things I have to do...yesterday before I slept, I made sure to buy the ticket online so I really hope everything will work out....

    *dreams of flying warriors ala Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon*

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  6. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:13 PM

    hi Meann...

    hint: in my description, I said trip to Tagaytay...in that van trip ang aking mga kasama ay sina Joey, Che, Jing, Loo :-)

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  7. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:14 PM

    actually, I had third thoughts, because the difference in the ticket for a return trip on Aug 21 and Aug 23 was more than a 100 dollars..and for a working girl like me...well, I said, I'd make it up somehow...

    baon ng mah-ling to China...and skyflakes crackers...mwahaha!

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  8. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:16 PM

    hello Chito,

    thank you very much for the tips you have given..this is the kind of tips I really look forward to getting from my travel-inclined friends hehehe...

    usually how long does it take from say center of Beijing to the Great Wall of China if mag-drive?

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  9. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:21 PM

    If the Wall will be your first stop, the trip can be a little over an hour only. Pero kasi daw in recent times, grabe na rin ang traffic sa Beijing. So the key is to start early.

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  10. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:21 PM

    hmm...this is good...I thought of including it...but maybe its good I will list down here the top 25 sights I had read in my on-sale travel pack for Beijing...and then I can get free advice from you on what to skip :-)

    1. Summer Palace
    2. Old Summer Palace
    3. Great Bell Temple
    4. The Great Wall - a must for me
    5. Ming Tombs - acc to Chito wag na
    6. Beihai Park
    7. Jingshan Park
    8. Forbidden City (Palace Museum) - I want to try this
    9. Imperial Garden (Yu Hua Yuan)
    10. Palace of Heavenly Purity
    11. Hall of Preserving Harmony
    12. Hall of Middle Harmony
    13. Hall of Supreme Harmony - (by this time I think I'm getting too many halls)
    14. Tian'anmen Gate - I want to include this
    15. Tian-anmen Square - well, also this
    16. Great Hall of the People
    17. Monument to the People's Heroes - uhmmm...thinking it over
    18. Chairman Mao Memorial Hall
    19. Qianmen Gate (Zhengyangmen)
    20. Museum of the Chinese Revolution
    21. Qinian Hall
    22. Imperial Vault of the Heavens
    23. Temple of Confucius - sounds interesting, don't know the proximity to the other sites though
    24. Lama Temple (Yonghe Gong)
    25. Ancient Laboratory

    o, ano say mo?

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  11. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:23 PM

    uhm...ehehehe...

    even going upwards? I thought this would be more suited to when one goes downwards...nakup, I better start walking exercises again..I may faint while on the 10th step lang..hahaha! so embarassing considering old people are seen to be doing the walks on this gate without huffing and puffing..

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  12. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:25 PM

    well, maswerte ako....I feel like I don't even want to bring a cam..because my two companions are such great photographers...e for once, starring ako sa pictures na (hehehe..presumptuous no? ..yehey!!!

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  13. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:25 PM

    its now more expensive upstairs? hmm..ano yan, reward for the hard climbing?

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  14. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:26 PM

    is that the usual limit? am even afraid to think of going to the 2nd tower...kaya pa ba ng knees ko?

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  15. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:27 PM

    music to my ears...and food for thought for my stomach..really looking forward to it...I said yesterday that if possible, I want to try the Peking Duck in Beijing...hehehe!

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  16. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:29 PM

    thats why we decided to pay extra and make it 17-23 instead of 17-21...looks like there are so many things to see and do in Beijing...so a must ang Forbidden City...

    ok, note to self: bring wet ones, hand sanitizer, hat, umbrella, sunscreen (I keep on forgetting this), candy and skyflakes in bag...

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  17. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:36 PM

    What! 25 sites?? If you have 25 days puede pa. The halls, you can skip, or maybe visit just one or two lang. Once you see one, you've seen them all. Sa Forbidden City lang (assuming lahat accessible, i.e. not under repair or renovation), mahigit kalahating araw ka na dun. Some of the places you mentioned, I've not been to. n the otherhand, if you look at this trip as something of a photo-lakad (vs slow, leisurely walks while soaking in the ambiance), it may well be worth it go to as many places as you can. I'm not familiar with the Tienanmen Gate but maybe it's just within the Square area (which is a very large area, by the way) kaya puedeng walking tour lang ito. Try Google Earth to see the proximity of these sites.

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  18. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:38 PM

    No. More expensive downstairs.

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  19. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:41 PM

    I chatted with Che about this yesterday...I was thinking if we had a sampler...like we visit one museum, one temple, one hall, one etc. etc. ok na yon, kay sa visiting all...I don't even want to go to clubs, discos and whatever while in Beijing...kung pwede street food and specialty foods nila :-)

    photolakad? well am not sure...ako pa naman type na for first trip to a place, its like a marathon walk!

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  20. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:42 PM

    Kayang-kaya mo yan! The reason, I recommend the fourth tower is because it is of course higher and the view is more spectacular not to mention the fact na hindi kasing crowded dun than those in the first few towers.

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  21. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:43 PM

    In this situation, you can always stop and pretend you're taking a picture...hehehe...

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  22. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:45 PM

    Wag kang paka-sisiguro. Kung love-birds ang kasama mo, baka di ma-alala na kasama ka pala, hahahaha....

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  23. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:46 PM

    Wala nang Peking Duck. Beijing Duck na!

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  24. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    bakit naman kc pinalitan ang pangalan ng Peking to Beijing....tsk..tsk...

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  25. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    hahaha! if I had a good cam..I'd sneak in stolen shots of them and gawa ako ng pre-nup presentation so I can pay them back!

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  26. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:48 PM

    ah yes, that should be the reason I bring around a cam...even if I look pale and sweaty...at least I have an excuse to stop...mwahaha!

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  27. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:48 PM

    I think you forgot to include the 2008 Olympic venues. Ang ganda din daw ng mga yun. Para di naman pure historical and theme ng lakad nyo.

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  28. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:49 PM

    may 5th tower pa pwede?

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  29. CatH \(^_^)/July 15, 2009 at 9:50 PM

    that reminds me...of food..

    I should eat bird's nest soup...ahahaha!

    ay, going back...yes, good idea...we ought to visit those too...

    and eat dumplings/siomai after...

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  30. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:54 PM

    There are actually 10 towers na open to the public, pero it will take you almost the whole day to visit all ten. By the way, there are also several points where the Wall tour can start. Sa area around Beijing lang, dalawa na yata. Others are in provinces surrounding Bejing (medyo malayo pero mas konti ang tao, i.e. vs sa Beijing)

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  31. Tochie **July 15, 2009 at 9:59 PM

    Try the more exotic ones. Yung mga wala talaga dito sa atin or rare ginagawa. Masarap yung fried eel. By the way, walang kutsara diyan. When I was there (in a resto) and was served with rice and soup, I naturally asked for a spoon. Nagka-gulo (kasi di marunong ng ingles yung waitress), tinawag pa yung chief cook. Akala ata nila may reklamo ako sa food. The small booklet of Chinese words that I brought was not very helpful either. Dinrowing ko pa sa table napkin. Tapos dinala sa akin yung ceramic na soup spoon.

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  32. CatH \(^_^)/July 16, 2009 at 1:08 AM

    HAHAHAHA! drawing of a spoon! good thing not the big big ladle for soup...

    I will bring personal chopsticks..hehe...

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  33. tunde akingbulugbeJuly 16, 2009 at 5:45 AM

    good to hear you are going to Beijing,that great and wonderful city!
    just to wish you a safe and beautiful trip.
    tunde.

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  34. CatH \(^_^)/July 16, 2009 at 6:30 AM

    thanks Tunde! I shall think of my multiply friends while am trying to catch my breath with all the walking :-)

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  35. mian Sta CruzJuly 16, 2009 at 6:39 AM

    gosh!!! I'm so inggit!!! I really want to join you guys. . =(
    kaya lang di na ng bulsa maglakwatsa

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  36. CatH \(^_^)/July 16, 2009 at 9:13 AM

    Mian..think of your bulsa later no! this is an opportunity, think of all the photolakads we can do..

    tara na...the more the many-er! *wink*

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  37. h bJuly 17, 2009 at 12:30 AM

    hi (im the sis of hannah..ur friend in multiply) anyway, been there with hannah last Nov. many things to do...we made our own tour (which i think also was best rather than taking a group tour or a hotel tour...u own ur time and u have a nice car with driver & guide-->optional). we still have our itinerary with rates....and i bet hannah is more willing to make kwento to the best place to go and eat(try beggar's chicken) too bad we didnt find the siopao coz they dont know what it is(weird noh?---want pa naman namin tikman ang tunay na siopao)....and yes please do (1) get the chinese name of ur hotel/write it down in chinese (2) practice drawing things such as spoon, fork,CR, etc. and (3) hand/face signals.....IT IS A MUST!

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  38. Guia YonzonJuly 17, 2009 at 2:05 AM

    Ay, sayang, Cat. Hugz and I were planning on passing by Beijing either before or after the AYACC in Guiyang on Aug 4 to 12. We have been to Beijing a long time ago and done the usual tour to the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Forbidden City, People's Palace, Museum of the Nationalities and Tiananmen Square (these sites I mentioned, I highly recommend that you go see altho baka nga pangit na yung Ming Tombs). This time, I would like to see the new wonders of Beijing: The Bird's Nest, The Egg, The Water Cube & the 2-Legged Tower. =)

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  39. Guia YonzonJuly 17, 2009 at 4:50 AM

    Of course, you have to have Peking Duck in Peking (Beijing)! I remember when we had it on our tour, we were even given commemorative coins attesting that we indeed ate authentic Peking Duck. ^_^ But if I may say so myself, there are very good Peking Duck available here in Manila already. The one in Gloria Maris is a popular choice.

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  40. CatH \(^_^)/July 17, 2009 at 8:07 AM

    Hello, si Hannah-chan pala sibling mo..hehehe!

    thanks for the visit and the news..check ko later both your sites para makita ko anong nangyari..

    yeah, I also heard somewhere before na di sila familiar with siopao..hahaha!

    dapat pala yata may translator gadget ako...*wink*

    eto na..mag-dro-drowing na.....ay baka di rin maintindihan ang pangit ko mag-draw!

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  41. CatH \(^_^)/July 17, 2009 at 8:09 AM

    sayang mga Ms. G!

    nagkwento si Sir B daan daw kayo nga eh..pero early August..anobanaman yan...kc parang impulse na August nga kc magexpire na yung visa ng isa..e ako I was thinking of winter tour..pero e kung kasama namin ang lovey-dovey nitong isa..e di mas ok...GI ang kasama...hahaha!

    noted yung recommended sites ninyo ni Chito :-) and iwanan na namin yung Ming Tombs na yon...

    di po ba pwede mag-extend kayo ni Sir B don, para kita-kits tayo on August 17 or 18? punta na kayo sa Beijing...nandon na rin kayo sa country eh...hehehhee..

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  42. CatH \(^_^)/July 17, 2009 at 8:11 AM

    may masarap ba na Peking Duck dito sa Makati?

    last na kain ko yata was this resto in GB1 (before this got renovated, remember yung banda Max's? this would be near what is now the Healthy Options etc.

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  43. Guia YonzonJuly 18, 2009 at 9:38 PM

    Gloria Maris in the CCP Complex and in Greenhills has good Peking Duck. Also the Chinese restaurant in GB2 (Big Buddha yata, I forget the name) – for the price, it is worth it. Basta fatty and crispy yung balat, masaya na ako, hehe. Pare-pareho rin naman ang sauce, hoisin. Ay, yung wrap nga pala dapat soft and thin. Naku, baka may makakita ditong fanatic Chinese foodie, lagot ako. I am by no means a Chinese food expert. =)

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  44. Guia YonzonJuly 18, 2009 at 9:39 PM

    The schedule of our trip to China is actually very tight. Singit lang talaga coz we have to prep for the October PICCA.

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  45. CatH \(^_^)/July 18, 2009 at 10:18 PM

    hmm..I think I've eaten already at Big Buddha before..ages ago sa AIM days (funny how when one was just a student, one made the rounds of restos...these days with jobs, hanggang fast food waaah!)

    there are a lot of Chinese restos back in my hometown so am sort of jaded na when it comes to Chinese food...hehehe! thanks for the tip..I will try to pop in and look for the Peking Duck in BB..

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  46. CatH \(^_^)/July 18, 2009 at 10:18 PM

    cge, next time, check - check kami with the others in the group to see if may mga eye-ball-an while outside of Phils :-)

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  47. CatH \(^_^)/July 29, 2009 at 9:20 AM

    btw, for those here in Makati planning for a trip to China, I got my China visa today...and I paid Php 1,700 to Uni Orient travel agency for the processing AND the china visa fee....(this is 1 entry only)

    I used to patronize their branch in Cebu while I was there, and I was glad to find out they have a branch near to me here...as not only are they cheaper (well, with what I had compared anyway), they seem to specialize in China too.

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  48. CatH \(^_^)/August 7, 2009 at 4:30 AM

    hmmph...if I didn't suddenly have a yen to check my personal email to see if my order for a fruitcase pushed through, I wouldn't have known till much later that the flight to Beijing got cancelled on August 17 and moved to August 18.

    luckily, I had the presence of mind inspite of my shock and irritation to call and have them move to Sunday instead, and without any extra cost.. I was sorely tempted to ask them to provide free hotel 1 day stay due to the change in plans, but managed to contain myself :-)

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