A Test with a Happy Ending

Recently I passed the test, which is the last section for getting a driving license. It makes me so happy, as it means that I can driver a car by myself from then on. The facts proved that if you can work hard, you will be successful eventually. I also appreciate my coach. Because of his teaching with patience, I know the skills easily, even though I am not very good at practice.
In addition, I find another fact that maybe it's useful for some people, especially for the ladies. Learning to drive a car is a good way to lose weight. I have studied driving for about 2.5 months, my friend said I was thinner than before. J So if you are eager to lose weight, please don't hesitate to try it. If you have got a driving license already, well, do sports and eat more vegetables and fruits. 

 

Visiting Yangshuo last weekend

Last weekend I visited Yangshuo again with friends. Though it was a little rainy, we departed happily. It is always a pleasant to gather together with friends after a week's work, especially in the place that is relaxing and beautiful. For convenient transport, we rented a little van instead of taking bus. Bicycling along the countryside road is one of the highlights in Yangshuo. Many young people took that with the rain coat. We didn't want to get wet by rain, so we chose to skip biking and use our van. After visiting the Big Banyan Tree and the Butterfly Spring Garden, we drove ahead to Xingping Village to enjoy the lunch. It felt great to enjoy the meal on the loft with both the river view and vegetable garden view in a quiet village.  

Youth Day

I never really had any memory related to Youth Days in the past 10 days. However this year, it is an exception,we were announced that there was half day off 10 minutes before the lunch break, and it is surely a surprise.
The weather report of Guilin never get it right lately, it said to be rainy till May 10, however today the sun is shinning and we had a great day.

I had a hamburger and a couple of Coke in KFC, since it is cool inside and you do not have to wait too long.Heading back to my place, and after enjoyed a movie with my roommate---Tutu, a Chinese teacher, who kept complainning about her three students:1. rich and stubborn old lady named Susan,who is over 60 years old and prepare for her art teaching courses in Beijing next month, spoke english from the begining to the end of the class;2. Scott,a handsome man around 35 and had been in the army for 10 years, graduated from Harvard University, and had learn Chinese in the U.S. for 3 years, spoke very good chinese already, never gives up any chance to talk about the politics and problems in China with Tutu;3. the new student,over 40 years from England,I forget his name, had three children and bring them all to China, who is a rich guy and drive his own car to the class. Tutu said he is the best student, since he know nothing about Chinese and everything can be taught, the point is he wear perfume, and had a overwhelming smell that makes she sick, and have to let him had two breaks for one class...
I was a good listener, so tutu going on talk about her students and what she had found about the huge culture difference between chinese and the U.S.. and some tiny little funny things happend in the class. Well,I think a man can start on a difficult language as Chinese from its 40 or even 60, he is a great man, a great in his/her YOUTH. Her students are just like our clients, each one is different and special, however we need to be patient and tend to their needs with passion, only in this way,we can make it.

Meeting Jeff in the Office

It is nice to have meet Jeff on Ruby's behalf at the office. He is so cute, talkative and made face to us while talking. He even given out very good suggestions for us to help our potential customers feel assured about travel in China. He had a 16 days tour with us and will visit Vietnam and Cambodia as well as Laos after that.

 

 

K. in Zhengzhou

Some friends are forever, no matter where you are, they are in your heart with you. One of my best friends―V. is in Zhengzhou now, married to a local guy last year, and had a baby girl about 1 year old.

Life was getting hard for her lately, I can tell from her voice, the baby kept crying while we were talking. Though her husband and herself had tried their best, they cannot make boths end meet. The mother-in-law attended the baby for them during the day time however kept complaining about the bad condition of the rented room as well as the food.

K. was once a girl full of life. We went shopping for the whole day and roaming on the street to find any things that interesting, just for killing the time, which seems stupid but we were happy. We went to the bar and drinking, talking overnight for every tiny thing that happened…

Wish things can get better for you, K.

 

Saigon of Vietnam

Lately I was reading the World Traveller Mangezine,focusing on Saigon in Vietnam. Seeing the pictures of Notra Dame Cathedral,Museum of Hochiminh City,War Ewmnants Museum as well as the strongly recommended restaurants with different features, it makes the readers fell in love with this city of mistery.The famous movie "the lover" filmed in 1994 based on the novel of Maguerite Duras, recited the love story of between a French girl and a Chinese man, was also another reason that Saigon become of the most popular cities in the world. There is no one who saw "the Lover",and liked traveling do not think of visiting Saigon.

China Documentary Trip

China highlights is honored to serve our American friends who were with us during the 2nd world war, and we would like to commemorate those people who have help China during the difficult time. We are very thankful for the days of peace and we hope that through traveling, we will be able to promote understanding, communication and love between China and the rest of the world.

Background

In 1937, Japan lunched a full-scale invasion of China. Chinese people waged heroic resistance and received much support and help from other countries and their people. Of these, Claire Lee Chennault and his American volunteer group (referred to as the AVG) are the most well-known representatives.

The group was established in 1941. The skillful tactics and superb flying skills of allowed the American volunteer group to win against greater odds. Their bravery greatly inspired the Chinese people's morale. Chinese people said they are tigers flying in the sky. The pilots painted a tiger with wings on their planes, and they became known as the Flying Tigers.

From 1941 till the end of Second World War, the US air force total shot down 2600 Japanese aircrafts and bombed 44 warships. The Flying Tiger to do their best efforts to strong support China's Anti-Japanese War.

The Trip

In Oct 2008, Frank Gleason came to China again with Richard sponsored by China Highlights. Travel Advisor David Zhou was sent to escort them. This time his destination was Guizhou, a province in southwest of China which is famous for its folk customs, starting from Guilin.

Frank’s Guizhou trip was not only for memories, he also visited many interesting places which were recommended and organized by China Highlights. They went to markets to buy fresh vegetable for lunch and children practiced English with him. They visit a local school in a village and play the basket ball with students. In a minority village, Frank drank the local rice wine at the welcome ceremony and enjoyed the singing and dancing performances. Frank was happy on his Guizhou trip. After the trip to Guizhou, Frank returned to Guilin again.

Let us travel with the footsteps of a WWⅡ US Veteran, Frank.

Hiking from Pingan to Dazhai in Longsheng

Last weekend my colleagues and I went to Longji terraced filed for a two days hiking tour. On arrival of the entrance of Pingan terraced field, the view of the terraced filled was very impressive and we had one night stay in Mr. Liao's café&Inn(named Ting quan ge in Chinese), the boss(Mr. Liao)of the inn is a young guy of 23 years old, he was the boss and the cook, good at the Chinese and western style food. All the rooms of the hostel are made of Wooden. I've never stay in this kind of hotel room before, though the room is basic in its facility, I had a very good night sleep there. Wake up in the morning, the sun was shining and the yummy noodle of Mr. liao was ready, we had a big breakfast and started hiking.

 

We departs at 10:40 am and met many foreign tourists, they all had a local guide who can speak simple English or French for the hiking tour. We looked at the hiking guide board on the way and did the first part of the hiking by following other tourists. The road was bumpy and we got hungry half way, after 2 hours hike, we do not see any other tourists except an local long hair woman who was taking some wooden for cooking. She took us to a store near her home for some snacks and suggests being our guide for the rest of the tour.After a quick bargain, she promised to lead us to Dazhai with a total cost of CNY25, we started our tour again. By 4:30 pm, we arrived Dazhai terraced filed and finished the tourJ.The scenery on the road was terrific even though it was not the best season. Go there in April or Oct, you will see more of it.

 

 

 

 

Think Twice When Seeing English Signs in China

The Chinese on this sign is to remind people not to fall into the river,
while the English translation is to remind people "to fall into the river
carefully". There are a lot of funning English signs in China that require
you to think twice before following the instructions.

Hainan Island to Exempt Taxes on Imported Goods

Hainan, a tropical island province in southern China, will implement a duty-free policy for tourists since April 20, announced by China's Ministry of Finance. By that time, all visitors (aged 18 and above) to Hainan Province depart the island by air to other places in China can apply for the refunds with a total value of no more than 5,000 yuan (762 $) per person each time, but not tourists flying to foreign destinations.

There will be two duty-free shops in Hainan Province, one is in Haikou, and another is in Sanya. The duty-free commodities cover 18 types of imported items with a deduction rate ranging from 15 to 35 percent, including jewelry, artwork, wristwatches, perfumes, cosmetics, pens, glasses, scarves, neckties, wool fabrics, cotton goods, clothing, belts, bags, small leather goods, candies and sporting goods. Visitors from places outside the province can enjoy the preferential policy twice a year, while the local residents can only enjoy it once a year.

This policy of tax exemption in Hainan Province is definitely beneficial to build a tourist island with 4 "S": sunshine, sea, sand beach and shopping. Check out China Highlights' Hainan tours or design your Hainan tours.

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