Don’t worry, just a little bump - $70 is just around the corner. Short traders just keep making those margin calls, mortgage the house if you have to. Fortunes await you! PO is for pansies and doomers. At $70 short some more ..... it is going back to $22 .... the world is awash with oil ........ reality has nothing to do with it, its all in those charts!!!!!!!!!!
Joined: May 14, 2005 Posts: 2125 Location: Along the banks of the muddy Mississippi
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
I spent a couple of weeks in Beijing a year ago. One of the things I used daily was Visine eye drops. The city is incredibly dirty and my eyes often felt gritty after a day walking about.
I agree completely about only eating fruits that you can peel. I also didn't trust water unless I treated it myself (take along a water filter/purifier) or bought bottled water. Beijing is now claiming that their water system has been made potable in time for the Olympics, but I do not actually believe that to be true. Hence, I recommend that you keep your mouth closed while showering. But seriously, keep your mouth closed.
As steam_cannon noted, the toilets one encounters in public are invariably squat toilets in very poor sanitary condition. Be sure you have your own toilet paper. Most quality hotels, however, have western style toilets.
I found the people friendly and welcoming. Be aware that you are expected to barter in most places for souvenirs and whatnot that you might purchase. The initial asking price is always more than the item is worth.
The flight there and back is very long and tiring. I also recommend Tylenol pm to help sleep through much of it. Or, if you prefer, alcohol on international flights is free, though they do not often advertise that fact. Just ask for it.
Have an excellent trip.
Edit: I forgot to mention that the weather in Beijing is generally similar to that of Washington, DC, which lies on roughly the same latitude. Spring and fall are the nicest times to visit Beijing. Weather in Xi'an is usually colder and in coastal Shanghai usually warmer. _________________ “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.” (Ted Perry)
Joined: Mar 07, 2007 Posts: 318 Location: Holland, United Kingdom (of the seven Netherlands)
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:03 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
Before leaving your hotel, take a card from the hotel with you, to show to the taxi driver. Do not try to say the name of the hotel in English or Chinese. The taxi driver will smile, maybe even nod. But he will not have a clue why you want to sell him a horse. Trying to pronounce Chinese words correctly is impossible unless you had at least a few weeks practice. And most Chinese do not speak English. Most Chinese that speak English are almost impossible to understand because they have the same problems with English you have with pronouncing Chinese. The Y Will Say So Me Thing Li Ke This. Most English teachers in China learnt their English from a book...
"Where is a phone?"
"Where is a toilet?"
"Where are the police?"
"Please write down how much this is?"
This will have to be written down in Chinese Characters (with an English translation for you to remember what was what).
Chinese people are very nice and helpfull. Some of those nice people are in fact trying to sell you something though. China is a safe country to travel in. Criminals are shot.
The squat toilet is indeed something you can expect in some places, although I think most of them in tourist places have been replaced by now by modern toilets (American style). Chinese waiting in line for the toilet can find it very interesting to see a foreigner use a squat toilet.
You do not need to travel with large amounts of cash. Your bank pass will be accepted.
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
Wow, you guys are amazing - extremely helpful. I'm so glad I put my questions out there for you!
FoolYap - Thanks for your stories about the people. We are a Canadian group. It's good to know people were so welcoming in your experience. I will remember to negotiate prices! One thing I was cautioned about was that sometimes foreigners are given counterfeit money when shopping in the markets, so it's a good idea to avoid situations where the vendor has to make change for you (in other words, pay exact amounts wherever possible). Rabga may have heard about or experienced this, seeing that he/she is in China currently. Regarding swimming pools, I just wondered if foreigners were likely to become ill after using one, for the same reasons that they can become ill after drinking the water or eating uncooked food.
Steam Cannon - Thanks for all the weather information, and also the links about the squat toilets! I heard about squat toilets and am working on my quadriceps strength. The details about how to use one are much appreciated. Regarding jackets, I will go with a windbreaker/fleece combination.
Roc Doc - The Great Wall, Ming's Tomb and Tianamen Square are all on the list. I'm very excited about the opportunity to see these places and will do a lot of journaling.
Turtle - Thanks for sharing your experience and for the tip about showering - I actually wondered about that. Can't be too careful! I understand that the hotels provide us with a couple of bottled waters daily, and we'll have to purchase it when we're out sightseeing.
Gerben - Thanks about the advice re: language barriers. We are practicing a bit, but yeah, pronunciation in Mandarin is key. My son is good at it, as he has been studying Mandarin.
Thanks again, all of you. If anyone has any other tips or information to share, I would love to hear it all. As I think of more questions, I will post them.
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:03 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
WildRose wrote:
Regarding swimming pools, I just wondered if foreigners were likely
to become ill after using one, for the same reasons that they can
become ill after drinking the water or eating uncooked food.
If it's a pool and not a pond and it's not cloudy, then it's chlorinated or
brominated. Either way it should be safe. Of course you still shouldn't
drink the water from a Pool, it has P in it...
Quote:
Water used for drinking and cooking should be free of pathogenic
(disease causing) microorganisms that cause such illnesses as
typhoid fever, dysentery, cholera, and gastroenteritis. Whether a
person contracts these diseases from water depends on the type of
pathogen, the number of organisms in the water (density), the
strength of the organism (virulence), the volume of water ingested,
and the susceptibility of the individual. Purification of drinking water
containing pathogenic microorganisms requires specific treatment
called disinfection.
Although several methods eliminate disease-causing
microorganisms in water, chlorination is the most commonly used.
Chlorination is effective against many pathogenic bacteria...
Chlorinated isocyanurates (Eye-so-sigh-AN-your-eights) are a family
of chlorine disinfectants used commonly to destroy germs and
algae in pools and spas. They are also a sanitizing ingredient in
automatic dishwasher detergents and other cleaning products. And
where clean drinking water is unavailable due to poverty or
natural disaster, chlorinated isocyanurates, in the form of granules
or tablets of solid powder, can be used to disinfect water for
household or emergency use.
Chlorine in pools is the same stuff in US drinking water and what's
in bleach used in emergencies when water has to be disinfected.
Pool water has a lot more chlorine then what is normally used for
disinfecting drinking water, so I would think you should be pretty
safe using pools in other parts of the world. On the other hand,
swimming in rivers would not be safe...
Last edited by steam_cannon on Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:41 pm; edited 1 time in total
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
WildRose wrote:
and also the links about the squat toilets! I heard
about squat toilets and am working on my quadriceps strength. The
details about how to use one are much appreciated.
It's good to know. And you probably don't need to worry too much about
strength, usually it's not any trouble to lean a hand against a wall a
little. The most important thing though is make sure stuff doesn't
fall out of your pockets. And I've heard a few people mention before
that taking your pants off entirely can be helpful if you're using water...
Gerben wrote:
Chinese waiting in line for the toilet can find it very interesting to
see a foreigner use a squat toilet.
Public row toilets may not have doors "inside the building" but most
toilets probably will. I don't know, I never had any trouble with
people staring so you probably don't have to worry too much about
people watching as you figure it out. And hey, if it's a row toilet without
doors think of it as a chance to see how someone else uses it,
that's how I learned (I kid you not)...
This is a less then swanky hotel washroom, your hotel's will
probably be better, though I stayed at a resort once with a
washroom like this "with no roof"... Jinghong - an introduction to Chinese toilets http://tinyurl.com/252bpa
Also if you look at this picture, one other thing you may find is that
many bathrooms might be without mirrors. So if you want to brush
your hair or get a hair out of your eye, you should bring a small
hand mirror. Also a small container of alcohol handwash or vodka
isn't too bad of an idea as many bathrooms may or may not have a
sink. It probably won't be that ruff most of the time, but it only
takes two inches of space for those things and I'll tell ya, on my
travels I used them...
WildRose wrote:
Regarding jackets, I will go with a windbreaker/fleece combination.
It's a combination that I've used for the last two Massachusetts
winters. I still have some down coats, but it's funny, I haven't really
needed them. It simple and it works...
Gerben wrote:
"Where is a phone?"
"Where is a toilet?"
"Where are the police?"
"Please write down how much this is?"
This will have to be written down in Chinese Characters
(with an English translation for you to remember what was what).
Yeah printouts taped to flashcards work pretty well or just
write it if you're Chinese writing isn't too bad. And having a few
extra copies is a good idea too since people in the market will write
down how much something is on your notecard...
Joined: Sep 04, 2005 Posts: 360 Location: central MA, USA
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
steam_cannon wrote:
And having a few
extra copies is a good idea too since people in the market will write
down how much something is on your notecard...
Or on the palm of your hand, in my case. Was a surprise the first time someone did it, but it made sense.
BTW, as far as buying souvenirs go, most of the vendors I ran into knew at least the English phrase, "You say 'how much'". As in, they'd write down the price of something, you'd say no, they'd ask you to write a counter-offer.
If I recall correctly, the Lonely Planet guide suggested that if you could get something for half the asking price, you were probably not being ripped off too badly.
One thing that I found consistently in my haggling was that people were far more willing to haggle down the price with me than they were with my dad. I think it was his grey hair? They assumed that because he was older, he was either gullible or wealthier I guess? (The latter was certainly true, but not the former, heh.) I remember one trip through a vendor "gauntlet" at the base of the Great Wall, where we took different paths through it, and reconnected to find that we'd bought very similar items, but his price was a fair bit higher on all of it. He was not amused, but I sure was! They just wouldn't bargain with him in the same way as they would with me.
It really does help if you're always willing to walk away. I often saw similar (or identical) items for sale day after day. The one time I bought "lightly" assuming I'd see more of the same later in the trip, turned out to be a mistake; carved wooden statues in a shop outside a temple, which were 1) dirt cheap and 2) exquisite. Don't know what the deal was. Never did see anything like them later, again. Only bought one, as a gift for my son, and have long wished that I'd bought at least one for myself!
Don't expect to see any ginormous bargains on jade. I didn't. Some fair prices, for sure, but the really good jade pieces weren't cheap. I seem to recall a market in Beijing or Shanghai having some spectacular pieces, but most were far out of my price range. In Shanghai I did see one tiny little fish carved of dark green jade with brilliant white specks that the artist had contrived to look like the fish's scales; I still wish I'dve swallowed hard and bought that -- another example of, early into the trip, mistakenly assuming I could always see something like it later.
Silk was cheap while I was there though. So were freshwater pearls, especially colored ones. (Non-white pearls are probably not deemed "worthwhile", but I saw some fabulous peach-colored ones on strings, for a pittance.)
Saw a lot of artwork for sale, most of it either mediocre & cheap or very nice & very expensive. Did buy a few pieces of "folk art" for very reasonable prices, perhaps because they weren't trying to be traditional stereotyped Chinese art subjects like dragons or warriors or monks.
The food was great, albeit we probably seldom had authentic meals. Did eat at a restaurant in Beijing that's famous for duck and had something like six or seven courses, all duck. One of the dishes was "duck web" -- little slices of the webbing between a duck's feet. Neat, and tasty. I was a little put off by the roasted duck head sliced in half like an open book, on the plate.
Ate at one fabulous place in Xi'an that served something like a dozen courses of little dumplings, all stuffed differently, and shaped & painted with food colors to look like whatever was inside (little chickens, pea pods, pumpkins, etc) -- but that was a special deal in a private room setup by a business associate that felt he owed my dad a favor, and I don't recall the restaurant's name alas.
My favorite souvenirs were the memories, and the 17 rolls of film I took while there. Ironically, I didn't get sick from food until after eating the airline food on the trip home, a domestic flight from LA to Boston -- got a bad reaction to that within an hour of eating it.
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:02 am Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
Okay, steam_cannon, so public pools are probably safe, as safe as the ones we use here in NA; good to know, in case the opportunity for swimming presents itself.
I am getting a little nervous about the bathrooms now! Actually, I think I may not be as queasy about them as my kids are! We'll have to manage, though, and being prepared is 10 times better than not, so I thank you for finding all of those useful links. We'll have western-style toilets in our hotels, or so I'm told, which means we won't have to squat in the wee hours of the morning, at least! I will pack lots of Purell for hand-cleaning.
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 3:35 am Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
FoolYap wrote:
One thing that I found consistently in my haggling was that people were far more willing to haggle down the price with me than they were with my dad. I think it was his grey hair? They assumed that because he was older, he was either gullible or wealthier I guess? (The latter was certainly true, but not the former, heh.) I remember one trip through a vendor "gauntlet" at the base of the Great Wall, where we took different paths through it, and reconnected to find that we'd bought very similar items, but his price was a fair bit higher on all of it. He was not amused, but I sure was! They just wouldn't bargain with him in the same way as they would with me.
It really does help if you're always willing to walk away. I often saw similar (or identical) items for sale day after day. The one time I bought "lightly" assuming I'd see more of the same later in the trip, turned out to be a mistake; carved wooden statues in a shop outside a temple, which were 1) dirt cheap and 2) exquisite. Don't know what the deal was. Never did see anything like them later, again. Only bought one, as a gift for my son, and have long wished that I'd bought at least one for myself!
Thanks for sharing. I'm not sure what I will be looking for; I guess I'm just keeping an open mind and certain things will just "jump" out at me, the way the wooden statues probably did for you. I have a love of local art work whenever I visit a new place, so I would like to bring something like that home. It's going to be interesting to see if my kids get better deals than I get! If so, I'll get them to do some of my shopping, eh. We plan to take loads of pictures as well.
Regarding food, I know that we'll be sampling Peking duck and that we'll have a Mongolian barbecue experience in Shanghai. Breakfasts at the hotels feature western and Chinese fare. Other than that, it's wide open.
I'm really getting excited. Thanks for relaying your experiences, Steve.
Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 9:09 am Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
WildRose wrote:
I'm not sure what I will be looking for; I guess I'm just keeping an
open mind and certain things will just "jump" out at me...
I don't want to sound like I have an opinion on everything, but too
late for that I guess... Hehehe, well in my opinion cheap strings of
pearls are really worth getting. I picked up strings for $2 each of
pretty nice river pearls in Ukraine. You can't get any real pearls for
that price around here and wow did people love them as gifts! That's
something I really wish I got more of. At that price you can restring
them as bracelets, watch bands, use them in art projects, gifts.
With the falling dollar they might be four dollars now, but still...
Another nice find that people here liked was Cuban cigars, cheap as
can be good cigars you can't get here. FYI, people usually take the
labels off in their luggage and put them back on later. I've never
had any trouble, but US customs is against importing Cuban goods.
Probably better advice is to not carry back anything you suspect is
shady or against customs regulations, definitely not plants or food.
Also an amusing thing regarding international flights, before you
enter the customs section there is usually something like a bent
hallway with a big sign and a big waste basket. The sign reads off
as a list of prohibited items and says "If you think anything you are
carrying is prohibited in the United States, you may dispose of it now."
I think it's a pretty nice system.
Also, you should be careful picking up things that you are uncertain
about. A friend of mine (who I sometimes wonder if his parents are
spies or something) was on a family trip to Thailand seeing the
countryside and some mountain resorts and wildlife. On one trip
though a remote mountain village a lady was selling what looked
like wrapped dumplings at a rather touristy price of two dollars. He
was about to buy one when his guide asked him if that was what
he really wanted to buy and informed him it was not a dumpling.
It was a big ball of poppy tar (unrefined opium).
So I guess from that story, as a rule of thumb, before you go
check everything you have is what you think it is. Drugs from the
normal pharmacy may contain drugs restricted in this country. Those
acupuncture needles and brass budda statue will give airport
security a fit if they are in your carry on...
Regarding laundry, your hotel may have laundry services. I always
was doing mine by hand though.
Oh and remember I was telling you I had one travel bag for three
months... Here is one other item that you may or may not
bring, but I felt was essential. 1 yard or Tulle or screening
and some thumb tacks. Some of the places you are going seem to
be getting into the 60- to 70's this week. This may be too early for
mosquito season, but it's hard to know. And one problem I was
constantly dealing with was fixing windows... Like the bathrooms
with no mirrors, hotel windows and apartment windows consistently
did not have screens. Being prepared for this, I had screening and
quickly fixed the problem.
This window had a nice hinged wood frame for a screen, but no screen!
So I added one
Anyway, you are probably too early for mosquito season, but it's a
concern in many places at certain times of the year...
China Teachers wrote:
Shanghai has mosquitoes big enough to stand flat-footed and
m'kay a chicken. Never seen the like.
http://tinyurl.com/yrhupj
Also a tube of crazy glue, a stick of hot-melt (and a lighter) and a
small role of tape were often useful. There were constantly things
that I needed to use, that needed to be fixed first... Also crazy glue
by itself is often worth having. I prefer using "liquid bandage" from
the pharmacy, but crazy glue works well too. If you have to go, but
you have a big slice, some tissue and half a drop of crazy glue to
stiffen it makes a great bandage/butterfly stitch. Most people don't
patch up big slices themselves, but it works very well. And if I was
on a trip with kids, I would take along "new skin liquid bandage", it
patches up cuts and scrapes without any problems like bandages
getting wet in the pool. A bottle of liquid bandage takes about two
inches of space, actually much less then containers of bandages...
Temparin is another small item worth it's weight in gold, though it
only costs like three bucks. It's sold in walmart and pharmacies in
the toothbrush section as a temporary filling material. It takes up
about 1 square centimeter of a bag. When a filling pops out or a
crown comes off, you just put on a little of this dental putty and it's
fixed (no more pain or trouble). I've used it on myself and my wife.
Crowns will last for months with it and fillings will last for 3-5 days
before more puttying is needed.
WildRose wrote:
I will pack lots of Purell for hand-cleaning.
Amusingly, I think purell is a good idea everywhere but just
something to keep in mind, you're probably more likely to get sick
from touching things on the plane then on your travels in China. It's
hard to get kids not to touch things though, but this is just
something to keep in mind that if someone in your party starts
getting sick just after the trip began, it's probably because of the
plane ride and not the Chinese restaurant you went to or the bathrooms...
Quote:
How to avoid the airplane cold
Stay hydrated, keep your hands clean and other preventative tips
Airline carriers are formidable carriers of the common cold; and a
recent study says you may be more than 100 times as likely to
catch a cold on a plane as in your normal daily rounds.
I am getting a little nervous about the bathrooms now! Actually, I
think I may not be as queasy about them as my kids are!
Maybe, but kids often like to complain and in their hearts like excitement.
So it will probably be very entertaining for them.
The rest of the world uses those toilets because they are easy to
maintain and more healthy to use then western toilets (the wiki
article has some details). But they do look kind of like the toilet
was stolen if you are from the west. So if you want to have fun with
them, just tell them the toilets were stolen...
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 3:12 am Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
steam_cannon wrote:
WildRose wrote:
I'm not sure what I will be looking for; I guess I'm just keeping an
open mind and certain things will just "jump" out at me...
I don't want to sound like I have an opinion on everything, but too
late for that I guess... Hehehe, well in my opinion cheap strings of
pearls are really worth getting. I picked up strings for $2 each of
pretty nice river pearls in Ukraine. You can't get any real pearls for
that price around here and wow did people love them as gifts! That's
something I really wish I got more of.
Hi, steam_cannon. Yeah, I see your point. I do have several friends and family members (actually, lots) to buy for, so I'd like to pick up something nice for each one without going crazy spending money.
[/quote]Probably better advice is to not carry back anything you suspect is
shady or against customs regulations, definitely not plants or food.[/quote]
I've also been informed about the rules regarding containers with liquids, lotions, etc. in carry-on bags.
[/quote]... as a rule of thumb, before you go
check everything you have is what you think it is. Drugs from the
normal pharmacy may contain drugs restricted in this country. Those
acupuncture needles and brass budda statue will give airport
security a fit if they are in your carry on... [/quote]
Gotcha. Will watch these kinds of things.
[/quote]Some of the places you are going seem to
be getting into the 60- to 70's this week. This may be too early for
mosquito season, but it's hard to know.[/quote]
We wondered about needing shots for malaria, but our physician felt they were unnecessary as the time we're visiting is considered "low season" for malaria in the areas where we'll be.
The tulle was a good idea, though. You're very resourceful.
WildRose wrote:
I will pack lots of Purell for hand-cleaning.
[/quote]Amusingly, I think purell is a good idea everywhere but just
something to keep in mind, you're probably more likely to get sick
from touching things on the plane then on your travels in China. It's
hard to get kids not to touch things though, but this is just
something to keep in mind that if someone in your party starts
getting sick just after the trip began, it's probably because of the
plane ride and not the Chinese restaurant you went to or the bathrooms... [/quote]
Agreed, not only from touching things but also just being in the confined space of an airplane. There are likely to be a few people on board with colds or flus. I guess the best thing is to get as much rest as possible in the weeks leading up to the trip in order to strengthen the immune system.
WildRose wrote:
I am getting a little nervous about the bathrooms now! Actually, I
think I may not be as queasy about them as my kids are!
[/quote]Maybe, but kids often like to complain and in their hearts like excitement.
So it will probably be very entertaining for them.
The rest of the world uses those toilets because they are easy to
maintain and more healthy to use then western toilets (the wiki
article has some details). But they do look kind of like the toilet
was stolen if you are from the west. So if you want to have fun with
them, just tell them the toilets were stolen... [/quote]
That would be an excellent idea for younger kids! Alas, the ones I'm travelling with are older; one is mortified and the other simply grossed out! I have a feeling they will come home with a greater appreciation for some of our western conveniences.
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 11:32 am Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
WildRose wrote:
Hi, steam_cannon. Yeah, I see your point. I do have several
friends and family members (actually, lots) to buy for, so I'd like to
pick up something nice for each one without going crazy spending money.
I had to make a list! I found that nesting dolls (carved wood), was
the best gift for guys and pearls or amber or small ceramics were
the best gifts for gals. I think one of the best parts of an adventure
is finding things you can share with others...
WildRose wrote:
Quote:
Probably better advice is to not carry back anything you suspect is
shady or against customs regulations, definitely not plants or food.
I've also been informed about the rules regarding containers with
liquids, lotions, etc. in carry-on bags.
I'm sure. Just saying on international flights, on the way back
customs officials are more picky. If you're bag is filled with
sausages, horse hooves, rhino horns, cute caged crickets and
cuban cigars, an ornate piece of the great wall... They may take
issue with some of those things.
Ceramic Tableware
Although ceramic tableware is not prohibited or restricted, you
should know that such tableware made in foreign countries may
contain dangerous levels of lead in the glaze, which can seep into
foods and beverages. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
recommends that if you buy ceramic tableware abroad—especially in
Mexico, China, Hong Kong, or India—you have it tested for lead
release when you return, or use it for decorative purposes only.
Cultural Artifacts and Cultural Property (Art/Artifacts)
Dog and Cat Fur
It is illegal in the United States to import, export, distribute,
transport, manufacture, or sell products containing dog or cat fur in
the United States. (You sure that "Fur Coat" is real mink?)
Drug Paraphernalia
It is illegal to bring drug paraphernalia into the United States unless
they have been prescribed for authentic medical conditions such as
diabetes. CBP will seize any illegal drug paraphernalia.
Firearms
Fish and Wildlife
Food Products (Prepared) You may bring bakery items and certain cheeses into the United States.
As a general rule, condiments, vinegars, oils, packaged spices,
honey, coffee and tea are admissible. Because rice can often harbor
insects, it is best to avoid bringing it into the United States.
Fruits and Vegetables
Bringing fruits and vegetables can be complicated. For instance,
consider the apple you bought in the foreign airport just before
boarding and then did not eat? Whether or not CBP will allow the
apple into the United States depends on where you got it and
where you are going after you arrive in the United States. The same
would be true for those magnificent Mediterranean tomatoes. Fresh
fruits and vegetables can carry plant pests or diseases into the United States.
Game and Hunting Trophies
If you plan to import game or a hunting trophy, please contact the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before you leave
Gold
Gold coins, medals, and bullion, formerly prohibited, may be brought
into the United States. However, under regulations administered by
the Office of Foreign Assets Control, such items originating in or
brought from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Serbia, and Sudan are
prohibited entry. Copies of gold coins are prohibited if not properly
marked by country of issuance.
Meats, Livestock, and Poultry
You may not import fresh, dried, or canned meats or meat products
from most foreign countries into the United States.
Medication
...drugs with a high potential for abuse—Rohypnol, GHB, and
Fen-Phen, to name a few — may not be brought into the United States...
Merchandise from Embargoed Countries
Generally, you may not bring in any goods from the following (if not
followed by an asterisk or where specified that the embargo only
applies to diamonds): Cuba, Iran*, Iraq*, Serbia and Montenegro*,
North Korea*, Burma (Myanmar), Angola, Liberia and Sierra Leone
(diamonds only) and Sudan. The Office of Foreign Assets Control
(OFAC) of the U.S. Department of Treasury enforces this ban.
*The embargo on Iranian goods has been revised to allow the
importation of food stuffs intended for human consumption, carpets
and other textile floor coverings. Please check with your local port
for further details.
* Only certain Iraqi cultural property or other items of
archaeological, historical/cultural, rare scientific and religious
importance illegally removed from the Iraq National Museum, the
National Library and other locations in Iraq is prohibited.
Pets
Plants and Seeds
"Every single plant or plant product including handicraft items made
with straw, must be declared to the CBP officer and must be
presented for CBP inspection, no matter how free of pests it appears to be."
Soil
Textiles and Clothing
"In general, there is no limit to how much fabric and clothing you
can bring back as long as it is for your personal use or as gifts. If
you have exceeded your personal exemption, you may have to pay
duty on the items Unaccompanied personal shipments (packages
that are mailed or shipped), however, may be subject to limitations on amount."
Trademarked and Copyrighted Articles
"Articles bearing marks that are counterfeit or inappropriately using
a federally registered trademark are subject to seizure and forfeiture."
Now I'm not going to say that I violated any of these, but it would
be very easy to do by accident. For example, in many parts of the
world hooka pipes and short pipes are normally used for tobacco,
but these normal pipes would be illegal to bring into the US
because the government believes they are only used for drugs.
I could include a picture of a pipe I saw someone smoking tobacco in,
but I need to hurry up...
Brooms, paintings made with seeds, bag of sunflower seeds, cat
doll with very realistic fur, software games for a dollar instead of
$50 in the US... There are a lot of things you could pick up that
might be questionable. But hey, you probably know this stuff and
it's not too hard to figure out anyway...
Now where to buy things that will get you in trouble...
You must get a taxi or guide to take you to a large open market.
Open markets are great! There will be food markets, clothing
markets, hardware markets, tool markets, excellent used tools,
cheap circuitry, recycled stuff "flee markets". You might find a block
of uncut jade, an abacus like what the sellers use, a cast iron frying
pan with a dragon on it for 50 cents, wonderful shoes. And many
people on peakoil.com like to see the things that have lasted over
the years, foreign flea markets really give you a glimpse into the
past of a culture and shows you what people thought were worth
saving or what lasted. There is really nothing like a good open
market. In Ukraine's open markets I saw thing I've never seen here
or in tourist spots, like a red velvet covered ceramic vase for my
wife... You must find at least one market! And if you want
something to do with kids in the evening, go to a night market to
find candy treats, have some tea...
The tulle was a good idea, though. You're very resourceful.
Thanks
WildRose wrote:
Quote:
just tell them the toilets were stolen...
That would be an excellent idea for younger kids! Alas, the ones
I'm travelling with are older; one is mortified and the other simply
grossed out! I have a feeling they will come home with a greater
appreciation for some of our western conveniences.
Ah well it may still make a good in joke... And I'm sure it's going to
be difficult for them getting over the differences. Even good things
can look bad at first because they are different. But I don't know,
maybe take lots of pictures and encourage them to smile in the
pictures. That might be a way to remind people that this is all about
enjoying what there is to see. Anyway, do take lots of pictures and
maybe post a few when you get back. I'm sure we will all like to see!
WildRose wrote:
Quote:
And remember this, whatever minor challenges there may be,
it's going to be lots of fun!!!
Aw, is that you and your wife, steam_cannon? You do look like
you're enjoying yourselves! Sounds like you've done a fair bit of traveling.
Yeah, I've done some traveling in the US and out... And yep, that's
me and my wife We were at the black sea in Crimea. The sinks
were outdoors. There was a tiny shared cooking area. The spider
filled bathrooms made a hillbilly shack look upscale. Cold water
showers. I was itching from Jellyfish stings. The trip there and back
was a nightmare no stop hellride. The guided tours were nuts. But
it was wonderful, one of the best times I've ever had.
WildRose wrote:
Thanks so much for all of your tips...
Travelings an interesting topic, it's a time when you figure out what
you need and what you don't...
Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: Advice for someone travelling to China?
Thanks for the links, steam_cannon. The pictures of the markets and of Kaili and Shanghai are great. It's funny, the more I look at photos and read about what I'll be seeing, the more excited I get, but my daughter doesn't want to look - she would rather that everything is brand new to her.
I plan on taking lots of pictures; I'd like to do a grouping of photos in frames somewhere in our home when we get back. I will definitely post some on the forum here for all to see.
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But seriously, keep your mouth closed.
And I'm sure it's going to
