Thoughts: Surviving in Non-English Speaking Countries

My survival guide which I guarded zealously as if it's my passport.

 

     Before I went to Taiwan, people I know were asking me how would I survive in a non-English speaking country.  It baffled me, too, to be honest.  I realized that I went to Thailand and not everybody there speaks English but I got along just fine.  So, what's the fuss in the going to Taiwan where the main language is Mandarin?  And now that I'm going to Beijing in November, people are once again wondering how could I survive without knowing how to speak and understand their language.

     
     Well, in my case, I just thoroughly researched ALL the places I wanted to see in Taiwan before actually going there.  My main concern then was directions to and from those places, so, to minimize asking the locals for directions, I used google maps to scout the area I wanted to visit.  With the street view offered by google maps, I became well-acquainted not only how to get from one place to another but also how the area looks like.  Moreover, google maps in Taiwan also provides information how to get by through public transportation.

     Of course, I was aware that I'll have to ask someone about something sometime.  So, I asked the hotel receptionist to translate useful words and phrases for me in my notebook which I could show to people in case I really needed to say something.  These range from food allergies,  money changer to asking someone to marry me.  Needless to say, the hotel receptionist was laughing so hard translating my list.  You never know when asking someone to marry you comes in handy.  Hahaha.  If I had my way, I would even ask the receptionist to translate this, "Police! I've been raped!" ala-Nodame (Nodame Cantabile anime/manga).

     In real life, the sentences which proved very useful for me are: "I'm allergic to shellfish," and "Today is my birthday."  And yes, I was not able to use, "Will you marry me?"  I didn't see Vic Zhou, Jerry Yan, Mike He, Ethan Ruan, or Joe Cheng, so I had no one to say it to. Heehee.  Perhaps, some other time.  In Beijing, maybe.

     Speaking of Beijing, this time, I will try my hardest to be able to speak even a little of the basic Mandarin phrases.  I don't know if I can do it, but I'll definitely try it.

   

Thoughts: Mooncake Festival

     When I was in Hong Kong early this month, I noticed that there were a lot of posters for mooncakes; at the MTRs, malls, everywhere.  I was wondering why.  Then, I realized, the mooncake festival was about to come. 

     Last week, I received mooncakes from a Chinese acquaintance I met a few years back.  I helped her with some matters concerning her citizenship, and now, she doesn't fail in giving me gifts every Christmas, Chinese new year and mooncake festival.  One Chinese new year, she even gave a red envelope with some cash inside.  Well, she's older than me by some 15 years or so, and she wouldn't take the envelope back, insisting it's tradition, so I just imagined it came from my aunt.  Heehee.

     This year, she sent a box of mooncakes and some yogurt treats for the mooncake, or mid-autumn, festival. Yay! 

   

   

Hong Kong Adventure: Day 3 - City Tour from the Avenue of Stars to Aberdeen

     This is the day we'd waited for, a tour in Shenzhen, China!  Yipee!  But first things first. We had a morning city tour of Hong Kong and this was the second time I joined this tour.  It was a repeat of last year's tour, but one stop was new: picture-taking at the tail-end of the Avenue of Stars, or something.  As always, I was not paying attention to our tour guide when he spoke about the place.  Heehee.  Nonetheless, we had a very picturesque view of the harbor bathed in mid-morning light.  However, the dark, ominous clouds were foreboding; I thought it was going to rain but the temperature remained hot.

     We proceeded to Aberdeen pier, and we had the option to ride a boat going around the harbor to see sampans floating, but the fare was relatively high.  We just took pictures around and the colorful boat stations were striking.  I was thirsty and I saw a vending machine but dang it, it only accepts coins, which I didn't have at the time.

      Of course, we were shuffled to a jewelry factory.  The tour was non-compulsory, so the agency had to make some money, right?  Well, it'll not take long, around 30 minutes,  if no one from your group window shops or panic buys.

     Then, off we go to Hung Hom Station, gateway to Shenzhen, China!  The tour guide led us to the station, bought our one-way ticket to the Lowu border costing HKD 33.00 per person.  The guide made sure we were safely through the turnstiles before bidding us adieu.  And we hopped on to the train!

     Up next, Shenzhen, China adventures!

    
Credits:  I used the Painterly Effect 2 for the texture in "Postcard perfect memories."  Most webframes on this blog were from The Coffeeshop Blog.

Hong Kong Adventure: Day 2 - Shopping at Tsim Sha Tsui; Victoria Harbor, Star Ferry, and Mongkok

     For Day 2, we almost did nothing; when I mean nothing, it means that we basically shopped during the late morning till late afternoon, and only did the touristy stuff as the night drew near.  I didn't know how it happened that we went shopping.  Time flew by really fast.  Honestly, it was a day spent wasted, really.  I took a mental note and told myself to only go shopping after seeing the sites.  I don't mind walking great distances; but I do mind walking for hours seeing nothing but shopping malls.     

     From our hotel, we passed by a building with giant various sweets and desserts on a platform.  It can't be eaten, though, it's just a display but it looked so good...yummy!  It's beside Holiday Inn Hotel, near East Tsim Sha Tsui exit.

      After that, we went to the shops in Tsim Sha Tsui and spent considerable time in there.  Again, no more shopping next time.  I only had 3 days in Taiwan but I was able to see a lot of sites.  I had 4 days in Hong Kong and I couldn't remember what I actually did.  Probably because we did not do and see much.

     So, night was nearing and the Symphony of Lights was about to start, and I learned, again, another valuable lesson.  Never assume that someone who goes to Hong Kong frequently, at least 4 to 5 times a year, knows the tourist sites.  Yeah.  So, be ready to get lost if you go to a foreign country unprepared.  Never rely on someone; do your own homework.  It's my second time in Hong Kong but it was as if it was only my first time there.

     We rode the Star Ferry after getting our free one-hour wi-fi access card from the tourist information center near the terminal.  We were hoping to catch the Symphony of Lights and see the splendor of Victoria Harbor while on board the ferry.  When we reached Central, we just took the next ferry back to Tsim Sha Tsui just because we could.  The night was clear; the clouds huge, and the harbor was just amazing with all the lights.  It's a treat to see the show on water, but it's difficult to get a clear shot while moving.  But hey, the fare's more or less HKD 2.00, and the view's fantastic, so I should be more than thankful. 

     The free wi-fi card looks a lot similar to this:

     After our return trip, we went to see the Clock Tower, and climbed onto the viewing deck.  We walked to the bus stop to catch a bus going to Mongkok.  We went to the Ladies' Market and bought some souvenirs.  We had late dinner at Kanimizu along Nathan Road, and since they were already closing, food was 60% off (or was it 40%? I was too hungry to remember).  The food was great and cheap (because of the discount) and service was superb.  They serve free water, with lots of ice, and of course, unlimited tea.

    By the time we arrived back at the hotel, it was almost 11:30 p.m.  We were all tired walking but we needed to wake up early for our city tour the following morning.

Hong Kong Adventure: Day 1 - Airport, Central and Stanley Market

 

     Finally, we landed at the Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), and just like the first time we were there, we walked quite a distance towards the train service going to the immigration counter.  I had with me my laptop so it made my long walk quite tedious.

     After passing through the immigration, we headed for our airport bus service at the arrival hall. We had to wait some 20 minutes or so before we had to depart, and the bus dropped off so many people in so many hotels within the Tsim Tsa Tsui area that when we finally reached ours, it was noon already.  

     Check-in was a breeze at our hotel in Kimberley Road.  After depositing our luggages at our room, we went out for lunch; the same place where we had lunch a year ago.  Then, we went to Central to see our overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) make a park out of Central.  It was an experience, really.  The OFWs were sitting contentedly on the pavements, stairs, and even on the road itself, playing cards or bingo, or just chilling out, chatting and eating. It was like a huge picnic, and everybody seemed to be happy like one, big family.

     We boarded a double-decker bus going to Stanley Market, and was amazed, yet again, at the driving skills of bus drivers plying the narrow, mountain-side route. Forgetting my hatred of heights, I bravely took a seat near the edge to take pictures.  It was not terrifying as I thought it would be: if you want to get a shot, you sometimes become unmindful of mundane fears.

     I think the bus ride lasted for about 40 or so minutes, and I had a blast looking at the sea, the repulse bay, the outlying islands and the gorgeous homes we passed along.  The last stop took us to Stanley Market and we shopped for souvenirs and gifts to bring back home.  It was already 5:00 p.m. when we got there and the vibe was laid-back; moreso when we reached the small plaza with a breathtaking view of the sea and the setting sun.  There's a boardwalk, some restaurants and a mall where locals, caucasians and other tourists mix.  There were families but the crowd was much younger, with children and teens milling around the area.

Spotted: OFWs in  Central

These two boys who were staring out the sea were so cute.

Could not resist taking their pictures.

 

    

Hong Kong Adventures: View from the Skies

     Ever wondered how the world looks from the sky?  It's amazing; like a fantasy.  Huge islands and mountains appear to be smaller than the aircraft and everything else seems like miniature models.  The clouds look like cotton candy in the shape of cuddly animals: bears, dogs, pandas, elephants, depending on my imagination.

     When we went to Hong Kong, our flight was in the early morning  so I had the liberty to look outside the window and gaze at the world below me. I got pictures of mountains, ships and islands from the skies.  Not particularly great shots, as the clouds screened most of the view out, but these evoke the feeling that I am no longer seeing the world through myopic eyes.

     

A sea of clouds and mountains.

Shot somewhere within the Philippine area of responsibility.

Views a few minutes before landing in Hong Kong International Airport:

Ships ahoy!

Hong Kong and Shenzhen Adventures: Prelude

     Finally, I'll be able to write about my most recent travel to Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China.  Don't worry, I would not write at length about my experience in Hong Kong, like what I did for my Taiwan adventures, considering that many from our country have been there already, and data about Hong Kong are aplenty.  Truthfully, we did more of shopping than sightseeing in Hong Kong, but there are still interesting stories to tell.  However, since it was my first time in Mainland China, I'll focus more on Shenzhen.

     Details about my adventures would be posted sometime this week.

     Till then!