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| Bullet Train to Tianjin |
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| Train Station |
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| Hot Pot with Vegetable Stock and HOT/SPICY Stock |
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| Fried buns dipped in condensed milk!! |
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| Leo my personal tour guide |
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
May 28th Bullet Train Pictures
May 28th Travel Day to Beiijing
Well, today was the day. I was about to travel China alone. Drew is starting school and I have a 11:30 speed train reservation to Beijing. The Westin concierge Juani from Argentina was back from his weekend at the beach and wanted to catch up on everything I did over the weekend. I had breakfast and told him all of the fun things I saw and did in Tianjin. But it was time...Juani got me a cab and off I went to the Tianjin train station.
The train stations in China are just like American airports. Line up, go through security and then to your gate. Drew had recommended that I go first class because I had luggage. The cost to take the train was $69 Kuai (or $11 US dollars). I am glad that I did. The frantic rush through the gate for seating was crazy. Before getting on the train, I heard a young man speaking english and struck up a conversation. His name was Nick and he was an architect student at Pratt University in NJ doing an internship in Tianjin. He was taking the Beijing train for work and was really enjoying his stay. I told him about Drew and the 50 students from UW. I suggested to Nick if he needed some down time with some college students, give Drew a call. It was fun to talk to him!!
The train ride was quick. Tianjin and Beijing are about 60 miles apart. The ride was less than 30 minutes with one stop in Wijung. The landscape between Tianjin and Beijing was half agriculture and half high-rise apartments. Upon arrival the tourist guide, Leo, from Orient Travel, met me and took me to my hotel, Shangri-La, on the west side of Beijing. I unpacked my stuff and went out exploring. For dinner I went to the "hot pot" restaurant down the street and enjoyed the meal. I called it an early evening and knew that 8:00 a.m. would come quick for a day full of sightseeing.
The train stations in China are just like American airports. Line up, go through security and then to your gate. Drew had recommended that I go first class because I had luggage. The cost to take the train was $69 Kuai (or $11 US dollars). I am glad that I did. The frantic rush through the gate for seating was crazy. Before getting on the train, I heard a young man speaking english and struck up a conversation. His name was Nick and he was an architect student at Pratt University in NJ doing an internship in Tianjin. He was taking the Beijing train for work and was really enjoying his stay. I told him about Drew and the 50 students from UW. I suggested to Nick if he needed some down time with some college students, give Drew a call. It was fun to talk to him!!
The train ride was quick. Tianjin and Beijing are about 60 miles apart. The ride was less than 30 minutes with one stop in Wijung. The landscape between Tianjin and Beijing was half agriculture and half high-rise apartments. Upon arrival the tourist guide, Leo, from Orient Travel, met me and took me to my hotel, Shangri-La, on the west side of Beijing. I unpacked my stuff and went out exploring. For dinner I went to the "hot pot" restaurant down the street and enjoyed the meal. I called it an early evening and knew that 8:00 a.m. would come quick for a day full of sightseeing.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Sunday, May 27th Hot Pot Sunday
Tianjin is very impressive. Yesterday's tour was fun and the city is beautiful. Today I grabbed a cab (solo) to the Drum Tower. The Drum Tower and accompanying area of vendors selling antiquities was quite taking. The colors and designs on the Drum Tower were vibrant and very interesting. The numerous vendors were colorful too. I noticed that each vendor had his/her entire family crammed into their little store area, the size of my closet at home. It appears the chinese family is very close and they all live, work and eat together...all generations too.
It turned out to be a hot day with a slight breeze, and walking around the Drum Tower and vendors was the perfect afternoon to move slow and nod at those staring at me. I really enjoy the Chinese people. So non-adversarial, content and calm. It is infectious!
I spent $2.00 for a cab to the Drum Tower. This was the first time since I have been in China that I had a female taxi driver. The taxi driver's are crazy here. Most of the time I shut my eyes and pray. They come within inches of other cabs, bicycles, rickshaws, mopeds and walkers. Darn scary!! Nobody stops at a light, and a right or left hand turn does not require slowing down before making the turn. Pretty unbelievable.
Drew was unpacking at his dorm and doing some shopping. He suggested that we meet later for dinner..."hot pot". I was game...I remember Drew talking about it last year.
Drew also suggested that after the Drum Tower to take a taxi over to the Chinahouse. This is a house made out of porcelain. I think every broken plate in China was collected to put this house together. Very interesting! Again, the colors and textures were beautiful. After touring the porcelain house and taking pics, I snagged a cab back to the Westin. Again, a female taxi driver....second one in the same day!!
Dinner was at 7:00 o'clock about a mile from my hotel. Drew was on the other side of town. He and his roommate Ricky took a taxi and met me at Haidi Lao Huoguo at 7:00 p.m. The place was packed, but the boys had made a reservation. Drew suggested wearing something dark because you spill/splatter a lot, which ruins your shirt. Thanks Drew!
The hot pot type cooking is similar to fondue except the hot pot in sunken into you table and it is boiled in a vegetable stock or you can spice it up to the point that you start on fire....haha. The boys ordered lame, beef and pork, two types of mushrooms, tofu, noodles, cabbge and potatoes. Threw it into the pot and let it cook away. Amazing!! They also ordered a fried roll that you dip in condensed milk, yes, you heard me right, condensed milk. Wow, I could have eaten these all night!! The whole dinner was very good and except for the fried rolls, it was quite healthy.
Drew starts class tomorrow, so we parted ways about 8:30. I walked back to the hotel and the boys took a taxi.
I loved "hot pot" Sunday!! I can certainly see why Drew loves it!!
Tomorrow I am off to Beijing via speed/bullet train!!
It turned out to be a hot day with a slight breeze, and walking around the Drum Tower and vendors was the perfect afternoon to move slow and nod at those staring at me. I really enjoy the Chinese people. So non-adversarial, content and calm. It is infectious!
I spent $2.00 for a cab to the Drum Tower. This was the first time since I have been in China that I had a female taxi driver. The taxi driver's are crazy here. Most of the time I shut my eyes and pray. They come within inches of other cabs, bicycles, rickshaws, mopeds and walkers. Darn scary!! Nobody stops at a light, and a right or left hand turn does not require slowing down before making the turn. Pretty unbelievable.
Drew was unpacking at his dorm and doing some shopping. He suggested that we meet later for dinner..."hot pot". I was game...I remember Drew talking about it last year.
Drew also suggested that after the Drum Tower to take a taxi over to the Chinahouse. This is a house made out of porcelain. I think every broken plate in China was collected to put this house together. Very interesting! Again, the colors and textures were beautiful. After touring the porcelain house and taking pics, I snagged a cab back to the Westin. Again, a female taxi driver....second one in the same day!!
Dinner was at 7:00 o'clock about a mile from my hotel. Drew was on the other side of town. He and his roommate Ricky took a taxi and met me at Haidi Lao Huoguo at 7:00 p.m. The place was packed, but the boys had made a reservation. Drew suggested wearing something dark because you spill/splatter a lot, which ruins your shirt. Thanks Drew!
The hot pot type cooking is similar to fondue except the hot pot in sunken into you table and it is boiled in a vegetable stock or you can spice it up to the point that you start on fire....haha. The boys ordered lame, beef and pork, two types of mushrooms, tofu, noodles, cabbge and potatoes. Threw it into the pot and let it cook away. Amazing!! They also ordered a fried roll that you dip in condensed milk, yes, you heard me right, condensed milk. Wow, I could have eaten these all night!! The whole dinner was very good and except for the fried rolls, it was quite healthy.
Drew starts class tomorrow, so we parted ways about 8:30. I walked back to the hotel and the boys took a taxi.
I loved "hot pot" Sunday!! I can certainly see why Drew loves it!!
Tomorrow I am off to Beijing via speed/bullet train!!
Sunday, May 27, 2012
May 26 - Tianjin day #1
Before going to bed last night, I got a text from Drew inviting me to tour Tianjin with his UW Tianjin Program's classmates. I was excited, until I realized that I have to navigate a taxi to the University. Drew has taken care of everything for me up to this point. He speaks Mandarin and understands the money exchange, culture, people, etc..... I have been sitting back and letting him handle everything: planes, trains, taxi, ferry, subways, food orders, money, you name it, he did it!! NOW I am in trouble.....my traveling partner is staying in Tianjin and I am on my own!!!
Well, I stayed up late planning my day and pre-packing and thinking through my steps for Saturday. I was ready! Setting two alarms, I was asleep in seconds. I needed to be at his dorm by 8:45 and the taxi ride was 30 minutes in good traffic. Estimated wakeup, 6:30 a.m.
Good Morning Tianjin!! It was a beautiful, somewhat cool morning. I had breakfast at the hotel (same breakfast stock as the Ho Jo) and coffee to go. The concierge snagged me a cap and explained to the driver where to take me. The Westin's concierges are the best!! Very very helpful. They also gave me a card to show the returning taxi driver where to bring me back to.
The University where Drew is going to school is nice. Unfortunately the front desk clerk of his dorm (or hotel as they call it here) didn't speak a lick of English. They called the program director, Ms. Wong. She came down and helped me locate Drew, who by that time, showed up in the lobby. I got a chance to see his dorm room, #610 and meet his roommate, Ricky. Ricky was studying with Drew last year in Tianjin and was one of the four returning students like Drew to the program this summer. There are 50 students from Wisconsin attending the University and at different language levels. The program is very intense and complete immersion. It should be a great summer for Drew!!
Well, we loaded the tour bus and started touring the city!! The students were very welcoming in light of the fact that I was Drew's MOM!! First, Tianjin hosted the soccer and football in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We saw a beautiful Olympic Stadium. Next, was the Tianjin Museum. We spent an hour and half touring the rich history of Tianjin and people watching! The little kids are so darn cute!! Tianjin is about 600 years and was occupied by nine different countries during the opium era. The museum is beautiful and very well maintained. The museum was very busy!
After the museum, it was lunch time on Food Street. Drew arranged lunch with another returning student, Mark and Ms. Wong. Since Ms. Wong is from Tianjin, we went to a restaurant for authentic Tianjin food. She ordered 7-8 dishes and it was unbelievable!! The pumpkin cakes, spicy chicken, fatty BQ pork, squid, and fish soup were fabulous. After she ordered, we all got up from the table and went to the fish tank located at the front of the restaurant, at which time the cook reached in, grabbed a huge fish, asked if it looked okay and then killed it, The fish was then placed in a bag and sent to the kitchen. We returned to the table and food just started coming, and coming, and coming. The drink was sour plum juice, which was fabulous!! Since the dishes were hot (as in spicy!!) I held onto the plum juice pitcher and guarded it with my life. The glasses were the size of mini juice glasses and I think I filled mine no less than 6-7 times. I also started sweating at this point and never did cool down the rest of the day. I long for ice cubes and have resigned myself that for the net three weeks luke warm drinks are okay.
After a wonderful lunch we went to look around Food Street and all of the different types of foods. The students went on to the Italian Concession and I took a taxi back to the hotel to make my bullet train reservations for Monday to Beijing. I then took a taxi back and met the students at Ancient Culture Street to do some shopping/haggling. Everything imaginable was there: purses, jewelry, furniture, paper and calligraphy pens.......and on and on and on.
I restrained myself somewhat, buying mostly small things, but I have my eye on some things that I would like to take home. Long day and we were tired. The students went back to the dorm and Drew haggled for me, then we both took taxis back to our rooms and went to bed.
Good day and it was fun to spend it with Drew and his friends!! He has a good group here and should have a great summer experience.
Well, I stayed up late planning my day and pre-packing and thinking through my steps for Saturday. I was ready! Setting two alarms, I was asleep in seconds. I needed to be at his dorm by 8:45 and the taxi ride was 30 minutes in good traffic. Estimated wakeup, 6:30 a.m.
Good Morning Tianjin!! It was a beautiful, somewhat cool morning. I had breakfast at the hotel (same breakfast stock as the Ho Jo) and coffee to go. The concierge snagged me a cap and explained to the driver where to take me. The Westin's concierges are the best!! Very very helpful. They also gave me a card to show the returning taxi driver where to bring me back to.
The University where Drew is going to school is nice. Unfortunately the front desk clerk of his dorm (or hotel as they call it here) didn't speak a lick of English. They called the program director, Ms. Wong. She came down and helped me locate Drew, who by that time, showed up in the lobby. I got a chance to see his dorm room, #610 and meet his roommate, Ricky. Ricky was studying with Drew last year in Tianjin and was one of the four returning students like Drew to the program this summer. There are 50 students from Wisconsin attending the University and at different language levels. The program is very intense and complete immersion. It should be a great summer for Drew!!
Well, we loaded the tour bus and started touring the city!! The students were very welcoming in light of the fact that I was Drew's MOM!! First, Tianjin hosted the soccer and football in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. We saw a beautiful Olympic Stadium. Next, was the Tianjin Museum. We spent an hour and half touring the rich history of Tianjin and people watching! The little kids are so darn cute!! Tianjin is about 600 years and was occupied by nine different countries during the opium era. The museum is beautiful and very well maintained. The museum was very busy!
After the museum, it was lunch time on Food Street. Drew arranged lunch with another returning student, Mark and Ms. Wong. Since Ms. Wong is from Tianjin, we went to a restaurant for authentic Tianjin food. She ordered 7-8 dishes and it was unbelievable!! The pumpkin cakes, spicy chicken, fatty BQ pork, squid, and fish soup were fabulous. After she ordered, we all got up from the table and went to the fish tank located at the front of the restaurant, at which time the cook reached in, grabbed a huge fish, asked if it looked okay and then killed it, The fish was then placed in a bag and sent to the kitchen. We returned to the table and food just started coming, and coming, and coming. The drink was sour plum juice, which was fabulous!! Since the dishes were hot (as in spicy!!) I held onto the plum juice pitcher and guarded it with my life. The glasses were the size of mini juice glasses and I think I filled mine no less than 6-7 times. I also started sweating at this point and never did cool down the rest of the day. I long for ice cubes and have resigned myself that for the net three weeks luke warm drinks are okay.
After a wonderful lunch we went to look around Food Street and all of the different types of foods. The students went on to the Italian Concession and I took a taxi back to the hotel to make my bullet train reservations for Monday to Beijing. I then took a taxi back and met the students at Ancient Culture Street to do some shopping/haggling. Everything imaginable was there: purses, jewelry, furniture, paper and calligraphy pens.......and on and on and on.
I restrained myself somewhat, buying mostly small things, but I have my eye on some things that I would like to take home. Long day and we were tired. The students went back to the dorm and Drew haggled for me, then we both took taxis back to our rooms and went to bed.
Good day and it was fun to spend it with Drew and his friends!! He has a good group here and should have a great summer experience.
May 26th - Tianjin Day #1 Pictures
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| Drew and his roommate Ricky |
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| Tianjin Museum |
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| Cute Chinese Girl with her Grandmother |
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| Ricky and Ms. Wong, UW Program Director |
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| Drew and returning student Mark |
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| Picking our fish for lunch |
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| Squid with very spicy/hot peppers |
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| Root stuff with rice in lotus water |
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| Our fish cooked |
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| Fish/Turtles for lunch |
Friday, May 25, 2012
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