Viking China

[Romeosc]

Dale - good to know ATMs are easy to find at airports (assuming Shanghai is similar to Beijing). We'll use them then not have to worry about the ones at the hotel.

 

Yes, no sunburn, just black-lung.

All worth it, I'm sure, can't wait to be on the Great Wall :)

 

 

"White Lungs" ... Hotels will change money at front desk. Cell phones worked even from top of Great Wall and on river! We called everyone in US from Wall and sent pictures on line!

[rico567]

Are enjoying the Westin and the Bund skyline at the start of the CCD tour. Everything is great so far, Viking doing a wonderful job. Some of our fellow travelers need to PAY ATTENTION. One couple was miffed because we went & looked at silk carpets, and cashmere was on the 2nd floor. Well, on the outside of the building, in big English letters, it said "cashmere".....and you know what? I think they probably could have gone if they'd wanted. Of course, with those people, they'd complain if you hung them with a new rope. I suppose in a group of 30, you're gonna get one......or two.

[Romeosc]

Are enjoying the Westin and the Bund skyline at the start of the CCD tour. Everything is great so far, Viking doing a wonderful job. Some of our fellow travelers need to PAY ATTENTION. One couple was miffed because we went & looked at silk carpets, and cashmere was on the 2nd floor. Well, on the outside of the building, in big English letters, it said "cashmere".....and you know what? I think they probably could have gone if they'd wanted. Of course, with those people, they'd complain if you hung them with a new rope. I suppose in a group of 30, you're gonna get one......or two.

 

 

If you have time while in Shanghai go to the mall under the street!

[Peregrina651]

If you have time while in Shanghai go to the mall under the street!

 

Can you be more specific about which street and in what part of town?? Or is it the kind of thing where if you describe it, the folks at the hotel will know what you are talking about?

 

Thanks.

[Romeosc]

Can you be more specific about which street and in what part of town?? Or is it the kind of thing where if you describe it, the folks at the hotel will know what you are talking about?

 

Thanks.

 

 

It is near the museum (where Viking takes you) at Peoples park. You take stairs or escalator down to cross strrt and "voila" it is there... we found by accident while trying to cross street. We went on for at least 2 miles!

 

Thousands of booths... some handmade crafts like nice Chinese man who made our names out of Jewelry wire in Chinese and English. Noone spoke English but were very nice and we had fun communicating with modified language skills.

[bxny]

Looks like a great place to shop. The wire earrings would make nice gifts.

[Romeosc]

Looks like a great place to shop. The wire earrings would make nice gifts.

 

True hand crafted!

 

 

We had a small framed piece with our name in English and Chinese!

[Sparky333]

I guess it's not the same exact itinerary on each tour - but when you go to the Shanghai museum would you be able to stay longer if you wanted to or does some other activity follow that stop?

 

I've read that you only spend an hour there and I'm pretty sure that won't be enough for me.

[Romeosc]

I guess it's not the same exact itinerary on each tour - but when you go to the Shanghai museum would you be able to stay longer if you wanted to or does some other activity follow that stop?

 

I've read that you only spend an hour there and I'm pretty sure that won't be enough for me.

 

 

We love museums, spent 8 hours one time in Vatican Museum, we just were museumed out, same jewels from different times... we skipped out on our own, told our guide and left. We took cab back to hotel for less than 20 Yuan. Make sure to have a card from hotel to show cab driver, because they speak no English! The group was going back to hotel after another hour at museum. We met them in time for dinner and Acrobat Show!

 

It is very safe for Americans to travel unescorted in China... we were amazed! Wish we had a couple of more days in Shanghai! We also went back out the next day, since bus to airport was around noon!

[annheath]

Hi Sparky, Washington Apples and Dennyls! My friend Ann and I will be traveling with you on the Imperial Jewels of China trip on Nov. 5th. Can't wait to meet everyone. Thanks to all for the of the great information available here!

[Sparky333]

annheath -- looking forward to meeting you guys and all of the other cruisecritic folks, too! Really getting close now. I'm trying to hurry to read one last book I had on my China reading list - Peter Hessler's River Town. I just finished his book Oracle Bones and loved it.

 

I guess all that's left now is the torture of packing and sitting on a plane for 14 hours. See you in Shanghai! :)

[tommui987]

Of course, with those people, they'd complain if you hung them with a new rope. I suppose in a group of 30, you're gonna get one......or two.

 

I was on a Viking cruise from Beijing to Shanghai and one guy declared he hated Chinese food!

[Romeosc]

I was on a Viking cruise from Beijing to Shanghai and one guy declared he hated Chinese food!

 

 

We were lucky... All of our Bus mates and actually ship mates were wonderful!

 

We didn't find anyone that we had any problems with, but I don't know if everyone else felt that way about us!:D

 

I'm glad none of the people from this cruise ( http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?p=21802409&posted=1#post21802409) were on ours!

[CZEE]

I was on a Viking cruise from Beijing to Shanghai and one guy declared he hated Chinese food!

 

We had a guy on our cruise, who thankfully expressed this opinion when he was on the airplane. He said "that the only thing wrong with China is that there are too many Chinese." I was floored. Wonder why he took the trip? Takes all kinds.

 

We shipped a couple of large items from Xi'an (Terra Cotta warriors shop). They came in quickly and in fine shape. We also shipped an embroidered picture back from Shanghai and it arrived in fine shape also. I had no idea my husband had bought it. In retrospect, he did ask my opinion about a picture. . .LOL

 

So have no fear shipping.

[Sparky333]

Just got a bon voyage call from our Viking rep - to see if we had any last minute questions, etc. I asked about any swine flu quarantining incidents and he said there had been none since June. Fingers crossed!!!!!!!

[Washington Apples]

Hi Dennyls and Sparky,

We're in the same hotels, too. Cabin 409 on the boat. Our email is RiKaKroger@centurytel.net. Looking forward to meeting you all in Shanghai. Have a good trip over.

Rich and Karen

[Washington Apples]

Hi AnnHeath,

I read those two books by Peter Hessler, too. I actually liked River Town better than Oracle Bones... but both were very good. Looking forward to meeting you guys! See you there.

Karen

[Sparky333]

Hi Karen -

That was me that mentioned those Hessler books. River Town has a nice flow (no pun intended) but somehow I liked the more in-depth historical perspective of Oracle Bones a little better. Wonder if any of our museum visits will include oracle bones - they would be so interesting to see.

 

Just finished packing- wow, 44 lbs does not allow for much. I don't think I'll ever get good at packing light. :o

It's probably easier when you're going in the summer and can pack capris and other light-weight pieces. Having to take both warm and cold weather outfits makes for a heavier bag, for sure.

I saw the 10 day forecast for Shanghai shows upper 70s and Beijing low 40s. It was flurrying there last night. Layers!

 

See you all Thursday -

Leslie

[Romeosc]

Hi Karen -

That was me that mentioned those Hessler books. River Town has a nice flow (no pun intended) but somehow I liked the more in-depth historical perspective of Oracle Bones a little better. Wonder if any of our museum visits will include oracle bones - they would be so interesting to see.

 

Just finished packing- wow, 44 lbs does not allow for much. I don't think I'll ever get good at packing light. :o

It's probably easier when you're going in the summer and can pack capris and other light-weight pieces. Having to take both warm and cold weather outfits makes for a heavier bag, for sure.

I saw the 10 day forecast for Shanghai shows upper 70s and Beijing low 40s. It was flurrying there last night. Layers!

 

See you all Thursday -

Leslie

 

Don't worry about 44# limit! Our guide "Iowa" Aihua told us not to worry, He would handle it! We ended up flying to Shanghai with 4 suitcases, 1 silk rug and 2 carry-ons! Viking checks all bags together and Iowa says as long as we are "supporting China's Economy", don't worry! We started with 2 suitcases in our 2 regular suitcases each 49 #. We had planned on leaving our American clothes behind after replacing with purchases. My wife did leave because her clothes on ship for our room attendant to give to friends. We had front desk write the note in Chinese, because we were affraid that they would think we left by mistake and ship them to us!

[Aussieflyer]

I have enjoyed reading all the posts for those leaving this week - we join the ship in Chongqing next Thursday (12th). One question for those already been: Did you take gifts for the school children and if so, how many of what? I know there is the opportunity to donate cash but some people seem to say they gave the children gifts as well. Did this cause any problem with the "lucky" ones vs those who missed out?

[Sparky333]

Thanks Romeo - I won't worry about that 44# too much. I just know I can't fit one more thing in there so that will limit shopping (maybe a good thing)!

I think people said at the Great Wall they have cheap luggage for sale so maybe we'll buy one bag there to take on the trip back to the US if our 2 bags are maxed out.

 

We saw on the news this morning they seeded the clouds in Beijing and it snowed - a lot! I think it's supposed to warm up there over the next 10 days, tho'.

[Romeosc]

I have enjoyed reading all the posts for those leaving this week - we join the ship in Chongqing next Thursday (12th). One question for those already been: Did you take gifts for the school children and if so, how many of what? I know there is the opportunity to donate cash but some people seem to say they gave the children gifts as well. Did this cause any problem with the "lucky" ones vs those who missed out?

 

 

We took some small token gifts. We are from Memphis and took some pins old Jaycee pins that have Elvis on them. We gave them to several kids that performed or we "talked to " in classroom. We didn't make a big deal. If you have local magnets etc, it is a good thought! We gave several Tootsie rolls and gum we had in backpack, Some gave us "candy" also. They put the pins on wall in classroom. We did iit so no one felt slighted! I wish I had brought postcards etc!

 

On Bus you need to practice a song... We didn't and some did "ald Ang Sign(sic)" but finially we sang "iTsy bitsy spider"

http://my.pogoplug.com/share/d6MPJ9lAMkxDldhZo8GlCg

[Sparky333]

Romeo --

Is it possible to give the gifts for the children to the teacher to distribute? We're bringing some stickers and fancy pencils but won't have enough to give to all. I thought I read that the teacher collected everything and then made sure each child got something.

 

I tried to find some school supplies that were made in the USA - but everything says 'made in China' - hope they don't consider that not as interesting! :rolleyes:

[no fuss travel]

They have a box outside in the courtyard that you can put your gifts into. It is shared amongst all of the children and teachers. The children and teachers really appreciate it. They also have another box for donation of the dollar kind. Some people donated money and others donated the gifts that they had brought with them.

[Romeosc]

Romeo --

Is it possible to give the gifts for the children to the teacher to distribute? We're bringing some stickers and fancy pencils but won't have enough to give to all. I thought I read that the teacher collected everything and then made sure each child got something.

 

I tried to find some school supplies that were made in the USA - but everything says 'made in China' - hope they don't consider that not as interesting! :rolleyes:

 

 

You will be in a classroom of about 25 students and they will answer questions and then is an appropriate time for 1 on 1.

 

A sample song :