Going to Asia has been high on my list for many years but there have always been too many obstacles preventing me from going. It is a long ways away, it can be quite expensive, and the language would be a barrier. On and on went the excuses. So when my college friend Cathy Perez told me she was planning a trip over there and asked if I would like to join her, I threw caution to the wind and said yes. The timing was right. With the economic slump throughout Asia, travel would be much less expensive. I had the flexibility with my work to take the time off. And, I didn't have to do much. Cathy did all the research and planned the whole itinerary. All I had to do was write the check.
For me, the trip itinerary kept evolving until I was looking at spending a total of 4 weeks throughout China, Hong Kong, Thailand and Japan. When you're going that far, why not take full advantage! Our journey began in Shanghai for a two-week organized tour throughout China and Hong Kong. In Thailand and Japan, we would be on our own. Our departure date of October 21st finally arrived and after what seem like a flight that would never end, we arrived in the land of billion people.
For photos and a travelogue of each city, click on links below.
General Comments and Tips on traveling in Asia:
China:
- Food: Anyone that's been to China will tell you how awful the food is. They are correct. Even the good food is bad. One thing we did which made a big difference was to stay in 5-star hotels and opt for the American breakfast. We loaded up on breakfast each day so we could last the whole day without having to eat again except for dinner on occasion. Also, I took a box of Balance Bars to keep me going through the day if necessary.
- Hotels: To reiterate, if you go to China, don't economize on the hotels. Stay in 5-star hotels. China's 2 and 3 star hotels are not the same as ours and most people I know wouldn't stay there. You're lucky to get heat and a private bath. We enjoyed the modern comforts and did not have to worry as much about cleanliness and security.
- Tours: We were very happy that we took a tour. It's significantly less than trying to things on your own and it's much more comfortable. Plus, you meet interesting people. Our tour was great because we were not with the same people throughout the trip and we had our evenings on our own so we could venture out if we wanted.
- Shopping: Despite everything I had been told, I was still unprepared for how good the shopping was going to be. And, I couldn't believe how we could bargain. But you really have to play the game and walk away a couple of times. Sometimes it doesn't work but most of the time it did for us and we got some great deals. In China, you can get the best deals on silk, cashmere, cloisenet, jade, and fresh water pearls. But beware of the "handicraft shops" where many of the tours will stop. Prices are much higher there and they won't bargain much. In China, you can also get just about any US or European brand that is made there. And, you can get anything else for much less than the states.
Hong Kong:
- As already mentioned, don't go to Hong Kong to shop. It's a thing of the past, at least for now. Otherwise, it's a fairly modern city and English is spoken everywhere. Once you've visited Hong Kong Island and toured Kowloon and maybe Macau, there's not much else to do. I couldn't imagine spending more than a week there unless you were visiting someone or you were there on business.
Thailand
- My only regret with Thailand is that we didn't have more time. For a relatively small country, it's got a wealth of things to see and do. It's extremely varied in climate and topography ranging from the jungles and mountains in the north to the tropical beaches in the south. You can do a lot of trekking in the northern part of Thailand and within a few hours of Bangkok are some rainforests where you can see some amazing waterfalls and wild animals. Phuket, where we went, is just one of hundreds of small islands in the southern part of Thailand. I would have loved to explore some of the more remote islands where there are fewer tourists. You could probably spend a couple of weeks doing just that. In fact, I would not recommend Phuket. There are other areas less developed that are supposed to be nicer like Krabi on the other side of the bay from Phuket.
- Another perk about Thailand is the food. For me, it was a welcome change from the food in China. Although there are many similarities, Thais have a way of jazzing things up. Cathy was worried about the spices and curry but with one exception, all our meals were pretty mild, and cheap!
- The Thais are very warm and friendly. The entire country values tourism as one of the most important industries and everyone goes out of their way to be friendly and helpful. We did not encounter one rude person.
- Can't forget about the shopping. It's worth a trip to Bangkok alone to do your Christmas shopping. You can find just about everything in Thailand that you can in China plus a whole lot more. I thought the artwork and craft items were more unique and beautiful than in China.
Japan:
- Like everyone told me, Japan is expensive! However, it is possible to maintain a budget without breaking your bank. You just have to plan ahead and be willing to be a little adventurous.
- Transportation. Everywhere else we had been, taxis were our main mode of transportation. We could get just about anywhere for less than $2. In Japan, it costs $5 just to step into the cap and an average 5 minute ride will cost around $12. We decided to try the subway. Japan has a great subway system that will take you just about anywhere you want to go. Most of the signs are in English and there's always someone who can help even if it means pointing and signing to communicate. We regret that we didn't buy the Japan Rail Pass. You have to purchase it outside the country and it's good for unlimited travel on the JR (Japan Railways) trains. The cost would have been the same as the roundtrip ticket we bought to Kyoto.
- Sights. I was surprised there wasn't more sightseeing in Tokyo. It looks just like any other modern city. Only the Imperial Palace and a few temples remain from the past. I didn't get a chance to do it but there's a great tour to Mt. Fuji and the whole national park area that looks beautiful. I think the best time to go there is in the late winter or early Spring (April). In the summer, Mt. Fuji is often hidden by the fog and in the fall, most of the snow has melted which makes for a less picturesque view.
General:
- Timing. In general, the fall was a good time to travel. The weather was very cooperative and, with only a few exceptions, we had perfect weather. Plus there are less tourists so things are relatively less crowded. It's hard to believe how crowded the Great Wall would have been on a busy day. The day we went, the weather was not good and it obviously was not the high season, yet there were still crowds of people there.
- Travel light. It was tough but I forced myself to pack as light as possible which was still fairly heavy since we visited two different climates. I had to bring some clothes for the tropical weather in Thailand. I also brought a lightweight, nylon duffel bag in which to carry home purchases. (It was full.)
- Public restrooms. I had been well prepared for the disgusting condition of the public restrooms throughout Asia. Yes, this is true, however, many of the public areas have added "Western" style restrooms for the tourists. There were only a few places where the Chinese style was the only choice. I found this very interesting that given a choice, anyone, including the Chinese, would choose to relieve themselves into a hole in the ground rather than our more dignified manner. Goes to show that people will stick with what they are accustomed to even when presented with a better option. Look at chopsticks, for instance.
