Hello again from Tibet! Yesterday we saw the dali lama's summer and winter palaces. I'll post pictures later, don't have enough time right now. We also saw a monestary. I thought monks couldn't talk? Apparently they debate. Wait til you see the pics. Then we had a group dinner which was pretty good. Pretty jam packed day by the end of it.
Today is a free day, our last full day here. I'm planning to do some shopping and relaxing today. Tomorrow we leave for Shanghai, with a layover in Chengdu. So we'll be traveling all day.
I'll try to post my pics on myspace this afternoon, so you won't see them til tomorrow. Also, all my Tibet pictures didn't get loaded from the first day so I have to fix that too!
See ya!
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Friday, August 31, 2007
Tibet
First full day in Tibet today. We're going to the Potala Palace and a couple of monestaries and then to a group dinner. We are all feeling the altitude. It is definitely quite hard to breathe and easy to get dizzy or get a headache. So we have to take it easy! Oh darn.
I posted pictures on my myspace page. They're not very organized because I'm having trouble with the language on the computer. So I also couldn't put captions. The photo folder called 4 contains great wall pics, 5 contains panda pics, 6 contains Tibet pics.
See ya!
I posted pictures on my myspace page. They're not very organized because I'm having trouble with the language on the computer. So I also couldn't put captions. The photo folder called 4 contains great wall pics, 5 contains panda pics, 6 contains Tibet pics.
See ya!
Greeting from Tibet
I LOVE IT HERE. Although one sentence sums up the experience so far. People stare and point at me and it is quite uncomfortable. HA! It could be worse, I could be the guy in my group who is 6'10. They are taking pictures with him and treating him like he is a god.
Today started off with a trip to the Giant Panda Breeding Facility. It was amazing and my new favorite is the red panda. I want one! I'll post pictures in the morning (Friday evening your time). Then we flew to Tibet. Wait til you see the pictures. It is truly amazing and I am so glad I am here. We were greeted with white scarves that symbolize innocence. Tonight most of us walked around a temple and to the little markets (while being stared at of course) and then to dinner. I had chicken curry because I know you are going to ask. I also tried a local soup. It was a'ight.
Tomorrow we're touring Potala Place where the Dhali Lama spent his winters. We're also going to some monestaries. Post again soon!
Today started off with a trip to the Giant Panda Breeding Facility. It was amazing and my new favorite is the red panda. I want one! I'll post pictures in the morning (Friday evening your time). Then we flew to Tibet. Wait til you see the pictures. It is truly amazing and I am so glad I am here. We were greeted with white scarves that symbolize innocence. Tonight most of us walked around a temple and to the little markets (while being stared at of course) and then to dinner. I had chicken curry because I know you are going to ask. I also tried a local soup. It was a'ight.
Tomorrow we're touring Potala Place where the Dhali Lama spent his winters. We're also going to some monestaries. Post again soon!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Thursday Night
Tired! And stinky! The wall kicked our butts today, especially mine. I literally thought I was going to pass out and wanted to cry. The wall, it tried to conquer me but I WOULD NOT BACK DOWN. :)
Anywho, not sure where I left off. But we went to the Great Wall today and then hopped on an airplane to Chendu. Bad idea. Let me tell you, there were some VERY stinky people and there was no showering between the wall and the plane.
We are at a 5 start hotel, the Sheraton. But we are only here for 11 hours! What a waste. It is the nicest hotel and we don't get to take advantage. We're only sleeping here for the night and then in the morning we go to see the Giant Pandas! YAY!!! I will get my picture taken with a little (or big) panda. After that, we fly out right away to Tibet. So again, not sure when I'll be able to post again. We also don't have our luggage yet so I can't post Great Wall pictures since my camera cord is not with me. Sorry! Good night/good morning for you!!
Oh, PS...not sure if I mentioned that I can post to my blog but I can't actually view my posts. So if anything is wrong, shoot me an email at danam531@comcast.net. See ya peeps.
Anywho, not sure where I left off. But we went to the Great Wall today and then hopped on an airplane to Chendu. Bad idea. Let me tell you, there were some VERY stinky people and there was no showering between the wall and the plane.
We are at a 5 start hotel, the Sheraton. But we are only here for 11 hours! What a waste. It is the nicest hotel and we don't get to take advantage. We're only sleeping here for the night and then in the morning we go to see the Giant Pandas! YAY!!! I will get my picture taken with a little (or big) panda. After that, we fly out right away to Tibet. So again, not sure when I'll be able to post again. We also don't have our luggage yet so I can't post Great Wall pictures since my camera cord is not with me. Sorry! Good night/good morning for you!!
Oh, PS...not sure if I mentioned that I can post to my blog but I can't actually view my posts. So if anything is wrong, shoot me an email at danam531@comcast.net. See ya peeps.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Ni Zhou...Good Morning Wednesday
Hello! For those of you that couldn't view my pics on myspace, I think I fixed the problem if you want to try again.
It is hot here. Enough said.
Yesterday, we had breakfast at the hotel and then made our way to Lenovo. Lenovo makes PCs and notebooks, etc. They have some really great innovation (see pics on myspace from Innovation Center). We weren't allowed to take pics in the factory so there aren't many. Businesses here are a little different in general. They have campuses where their workers are housed. They have a nice big space for parks and basketball courts, etc. This allows them to keep their employees on the premises and to pay them a lower wage by giving them housing.
After Lenovo, some people went to the Summer Palace. I did not go because I was wearing a suit and it was very hot as stated above. Some of us didn't get the memo that the clothing requirements changed to business casual. (There was no memo.)
The rest of us came back to the hotel and changed into cooler clothes. Then we hit the markets. YIKES!!! These people are scarey when they want to sell stuff! They all yell at you and some of them hit you with whatever they are selling. If you don't want to buy from them, they hold onto your arm and you have to drag them away with you. Needless to say that this is a negotiation type place, you don't pay full price. I bought a backpack (needed for the plane) and an iPod speaker set. Then we drove through Tian'anmen Square.
I went with the Dean to get some snacks for a little shindig we were having later and we went to the Olympics store. INSANE. They couldn't keep things on the wall long enough before someone would come up and buy it. Tons of people. Hot.
I had to go back to the hotel and shower because did I mention it was hot? That night, we all had a 2nd fitting of our suits that we had ordered. Mine was way too big so it needs alterations. By this time, it was about 9pm and I decided to stay in for the rest of the night. Good thing, because my roommate went out with everyone trying to find some dumpling restaurant and they never found it. Walked around for an hour for nothing and didn't even eat.
Today is a laid back day. Our group has three business meetings and then the big group is going for a traditional Peking Duck Dinner. Tomorrow we hit the Great Wall and head out to Chengdu. So I may not be posting for a couple of days. I'll try to get in tomorrow, but we leave early and I'm not sure what time the business center opens!
Hope everything is well at home. What's with Owen Wilson? We Chinese keep up with the gossip of you strange Americans.
It is hot here. Enough said.
Yesterday, we had breakfast at the hotel and then made our way to Lenovo. Lenovo makes PCs and notebooks, etc. They have some really great innovation (see pics on myspace from Innovation Center). We weren't allowed to take pics in the factory so there aren't many. Businesses here are a little different in general. They have campuses where their workers are housed. They have a nice big space for parks and basketball courts, etc. This allows them to keep their employees on the premises and to pay them a lower wage by giving them housing.
After Lenovo, some people went to the Summer Palace. I did not go because I was wearing a suit and it was very hot as stated above. Some of us didn't get the memo that the clothing requirements changed to business casual. (There was no memo.)
The rest of us came back to the hotel and changed into cooler clothes. Then we hit the markets. YIKES!!! These people are scarey when they want to sell stuff! They all yell at you and some of them hit you with whatever they are selling. If you don't want to buy from them, they hold onto your arm and you have to drag them away with you. Needless to say that this is a negotiation type place, you don't pay full price. I bought a backpack (needed for the plane) and an iPod speaker set. Then we drove through Tian'anmen Square.
I went with the Dean to get some snacks for a little shindig we were having later and we went to the Olympics store. INSANE. They couldn't keep things on the wall long enough before someone would come up and buy it. Tons of people. Hot.
I had to go back to the hotel and shower because did I mention it was hot? That night, we all had a 2nd fitting of our suits that we had ordered. Mine was way too big so it needs alterations. By this time, it was about 9pm and I decided to stay in for the rest of the night. Good thing, because my roommate went out with everyone trying to find some dumpling restaurant and they never found it. Walked around for an hour for nothing and didn't even eat.
Today is a laid back day. Our group has three business meetings and then the big group is going for a traditional Peking Duck Dinner. Tomorrow we hit the Great Wall and head out to Chengdu. So I may not be posting for a couple of days. I'll try to get in tomorrow, but we leave early and I'm not sure what time the business center opens!
Hope everything is well at home. What's with Owen Wilson? We Chinese keep up with the gossip of you strange Americans.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Tuesday Morning
Ni Hao! It is 7:30am Tuesday morning, 6:30pm on Monday night for you oh-so-behind Westerners.
Yesterday we went to the Olympic Committee. It was awesome! Did you know that tickets to the games will only cost about $12???? And they are reserving 14% of tickets for Chinese students, who will pay 5 yuen, or less than $1! The buildings are crazy. The birds nest is the main building, the pic is on my myspace account. Then they have this water cube where all the aquatics will take place. I couldn't get a picture of that. But the disconnect in this city is insane. See my pics, we saw the olympic countdown clock, and then on the road underneath it, there was a homeless man sleeping. Things are so off kilter here. The technology in some buildings is far more advanced than in the U.S. But then you realize how poor the vast majority of these people are.
After the Olympic Committee, our group had a meeting with an investment banking company who has a specialty in energy saving projects. A little boring, but the guy we met with was really nice. He was actually American and wants to apply to Kellogg next year.
After our 2nd meeting, our group went off to the market. We each had at least one suit tailor made. They were about $100. We get them delivered to our hotel tonight, I'm very curious to see how they turn out! The tailor has a great reputation from our dean. When we were waiting for our last team member to get measured, some of us went upstairs to the food court. INSANE. You have to haggle for everything in this country! They run up to you and want to sell you food. And everyone is wearing those masks on their nose and mouth which is very creepy. I know, its more sanitary, but it was still a little weird! So we finally went to dinner at the Pink Loft. Its a Tai place. It was really good, but everyone was exhausted so we finished up and went back to the hotel for some R&R.
Today we are getting breakfast at the hotel and then heading over to a meeting with Lenovo. Lenovo is IBM in China. Should be very interested. Then I think we have lunch and, drumroll please.....FREE TIME! We haven't had much, so everyone is excited.
OK, will post more tomorrow. Hope everything is well in the U.S. I hope Karla is keeping my cats alive. :)
Yesterday we went to the Olympic Committee. It was awesome! Did you know that tickets to the games will only cost about $12???? And they are reserving 14% of tickets for Chinese students, who will pay 5 yuen, or less than $1! The buildings are crazy. The birds nest is the main building, the pic is on my myspace account. Then they have this water cube where all the aquatics will take place. I couldn't get a picture of that. But the disconnect in this city is insane. See my pics, we saw the olympic countdown clock, and then on the road underneath it, there was a homeless man sleeping. Things are so off kilter here. The technology in some buildings is far more advanced than in the U.S. But then you realize how poor the vast majority of these people are.
After the Olympic Committee, our group had a meeting with an investment banking company who has a specialty in energy saving projects. A little boring, but the guy we met with was really nice. He was actually American and wants to apply to Kellogg next year.
After our 2nd meeting, our group went off to the market. We each had at least one suit tailor made. They were about $100. We get them delivered to our hotel tonight, I'm very curious to see how they turn out! The tailor has a great reputation from our dean. When we were waiting for our last team member to get measured, some of us went upstairs to the food court. INSANE. You have to haggle for everything in this country! They run up to you and want to sell you food. And everyone is wearing those masks on their nose and mouth which is very creepy. I know, its more sanitary, but it was still a little weird! So we finally went to dinner at the Pink Loft. Its a Tai place. It was really good, but everyone was exhausted so we finished up and went back to the hotel for some R&R.
Today we are getting breakfast at the hotel and then heading over to a meeting with Lenovo. Lenovo is IBM in China. Should be very interested. Then I think we have lunch and, drumroll please.....FREE TIME! We haven't had much, so everyone is excited.
OK, will post more tomorrow. Hope everything is well in the U.S. I hope Karla is keeping my cats alive. :)
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Good Morning! Monday
So internet access is a little sparse and I'm having trouble posting, let alone uploading pictures.
If you want to check out my pictures, go to:
After that we went to another place that used to be the empress's home. That was pretty neat, you could really imagine her walking around there.
After that, we so happened to meet up with a representitive from the 10th district of Illinois (Chicago). He met with us for about 1/2 hour. It just happened to be that he was on our plane and agreed to meet with us.
After that, we went out to dinner. It was so cool! This restaurant had a big "lake" in it and then there were boats floating in the lake. You actually get in the boat to eat. This was traditional Cantonese food. People ordered drunken shrimp (still moving), chicken where you had to eat the bones with it, etc. I tried a few things, nothing outrageous (I know, you're surprised!)
After that, we all went to a little bar on a rooftop after walking to find a different bar for almost an hour.
Another long day! Today we are going to meet with the Olympics Committee and some other good stuff. Talk to you soon!
If you want to check out my pictures, go to:
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=74058875
or go to myspace.com and find danam531
Yesterday (Sunday) we had breakfast at the hotel (yummy!). Then we headed over to the Forbidden City, which was the emperor's home. After that we went on a hutong tour. They drove us in a rickshaw (someone takes us on this bike that has two seats behind it). The hutongs are a little "neighborhood" if you want to call it that, where many of the poorer people live. They arranged for us to have a meal cooked by someone who lives there. It was pretty good, didn't settle quite well in the stomach. But it was interesting to hear this lady's story.
After that we went to another place that used to be the empress's home. That was pretty neat, you could really imagine her walking around there.
After that, we so happened to meet up with a representitive from the 10th district of Illinois (Chicago). He met with us for about 1/2 hour. It just happened to be that he was on our plane and agreed to meet with us.
After that, we went out to dinner. It was so cool! This restaurant had a big "lake" in it and then there were boats floating in the lake. You actually get in the boat to eat. This was traditional Cantonese food. People ordered drunken shrimp (still moving), chicken where you had to eat the bones with it, etc. I tried a few things, nothing outrageous (I know, you're surprised!)
After that, we all went to a little bar on a rooftop after walking to find a different bar for almost an hour.
Another long day! Today we are going to meet with the Olympics Committee and some other good stuff. Talk to you soon!
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