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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
............ 
Oct 14, 2013 04:00 PM Kuching, Borneo - the cat city
In the Malay language Kuching means "cat" so I am not surprised that in the city center I found many monuments of cats. Unlike many big Malaysian cities on the peninsula Kuching - the capital of Sarawak still has colonial charm.
It is interesting that since 1842 till WW2 it was the capital of the white rajas who ruled in Sarawak - the Brooke family. Very interesting case!
I was wondering narrow street visiting Chinese temples, little shops, taking pictures of the historic buildings.
Then I took a shuttle minibus to the Sarawak Cultural Village in Santubong (24 r for RT ticket). Entry ticket cost 60 r. Around the little lake they reconstructed there traditional village houses from different parts of Sarawak. There are also workshops of the craftsmen. But the top attraction is a folk show o the dances. It takes about an hour and is like orgy of colors, costumes and music - fortunately it takes place in the a/c theater because it is hot, hot, hot and humid outside.
Back in Kuching I bought a nice, ripe papaya and started to look for the rum (do you remember my invention from the Spice Island?) Sorry - no rum in Kuching. Locals recommended arrack - a kind of alcohol they produce here from rice and tropical fruits, but believe me - it is not the same!
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Oct 13, 2013 04:00 PM Night on the planes...
I asked you about experiences regarding low-cost carrier Air Asia. Nobody responded. So now - after my first two flights on AAsia I can tell you that it is better then I expected. Departures were on time, service very efficient, planes new... Well - I did not have enough space for my long legs and they did not serve even free water but it is "low cost"!
The flight from Beijing to Kuala Lumpur took me 6,5 hours and then I spent almost 2 hours on KUL- Kuching flight.
I am again in the heat of the tropics! It was 34 deg Celsius when I landed.
Kuching - the capital of Sarawak Province has no airport bus - I was forced to take "coupon taxi" for 26 ringgits to come to the town. Maney changers pay here 3,18 ringitts per 1 USD. Do not change much money in the airport - they pay less.
Wow! What a change! Today people around me greet me, they smile and all of them speak English! Lush green and flowers around... I took a walk along the river (see picture) - there is a nice promenade...
After hard night I need to recover so tomorrow I will write more about Kuching and Sarawak.
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Oct 12, 2013 04:00 PM The palace of the last emperor
Changchun is not a big city - only 3 million inhabitants or so... But it is the capital of the Jilin province and I found here the palace of the last Chinese Emperor.
This was at the beginning of 20th century. After revolution in China the emperor escaped from Beijing. When Japanese got Manchuria in 1931 they offered him a throne in a new "puppet" country under their protectorate.
The capital of the country was here and he ruled until the end of the second world war,
They charge hefty 80 Y for entry, but what you can see there is quite interesting. In the inner palace rooms of the empress and concubines, great throne halls, Buddhist temple, saloons. There is a swimming pool (the emperor himself did not swim because his majesty cannot show his body), anti- aircraft shelter, limousines ets. I spent there about 3 hours studying old pictures, paintings, and objects of art...
Then I found somebody to share the cost of the taxi to the distant aiport (they charge 80 Y per car). Charming ladies from the Lei cafe gave me the password to their net...
I am waiting for the late flight to Beijing and then there will be night flight to Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia.
I do hope that the next message I will send to you from
Borneo...
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Oct 11, 2013 04:00 PM Sorry: canyon instead of the lake...
Clear day! But today Mother Nature gave me the lesson of humility. I wanted to climb to the Heavenly Lake. It lies on the level above 2100 m - on the border with North Korea. Weather was OK. But I was forced to turn back on the level of 1650 m because the deep snow that fell during the last day. The temperature there was already below zero Celsius.
One more dream was so close to come true... But I do not comply... Perhaps the next time...
Instead, I visited the canyon located in the national park - 2-kms long trail goes on the rim of the picturesque canyon.
Just let you know about this last frontier: there are two entrances to the Changbai National Park: West (closest to Song Jijan He - RT car transfer to the gate cost 200 Y) and North (500 Y). For the entry to the park you must pay hefty 125 Y and then for the ecobus in the park 85 Y (twice in the North for two buses).
In the late afternoon I had a time to walk around the bazaar in Song Jiang He. Locals were courious to see the lonely stranger (I did not see any other western tourist since Shenyang). They are selling very strange things there e.g. froggs. I was also lucky to met there Lilly -a local girl - so far the only person in Song Jiang He who speaks some English. Lilly was sweet to me. Thank you dear!
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Oct 10, 2013 04:00 PM Hard night in the hardsleeper...
It was heavy rainstorm with thunders when I was going yesterday to the Shenyang Station... Brrrr...
They allow you to enter the platform only 10 minutes before departure. No much time to find your car... As you know hardsleeper on China Railways is a king of European couchette car, 3-tier, not divided into compartments... This was K-category train (low) so the car was quite old, heating did not work... It was cold and noisy at night. I am moving north - to to the cooler area.
I was happy to leave train in the morning in the little town Song Jiang He, at the bottom of Changbai Mountains (Ever White Mountains). Not easy to find accommodation in the place where nobody speaks English! (even in the hotel). But the worst news is that it is cloudy and light rain is expected - I cannot go to the Heavenly Lake today. I have a day of flexibility. So I will try again tomorrow. Please keep your fingers crossed!
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Oct 09, 2013 04:00 PM Second Forbidden City
I am in Shenyang. Few people know that in Shenyang you can visit second Imperial Palace in China... Second Forbidden city was built here in 17th century...
I saw it today. Bus 224 from Nort Shenyang station took me there for just 1 yuan. City transport is cheap in China, but the problem is to know the bus number and to find the stop. Have a pen and piece of paper handy and ask them to write for you. :)
They charge entry fee of 60 Y (half with my discount) and then you can wonder in the labyrinth of squares, passages, palaces and pavilions. Forbidden City in Shenyang is not as large as that in Beijing, but still worth a visit. Season is over, few tourists only - nice atmosphere without the crowds.
Shenyang was a capital of emporium during the Qing dynasty (these rulers came from Manchuria). The founder of the dynasty is buried on the other side of the city (bus 227 took me there from the palace) The New Tomb - that's what they call it is beautiful complex of the gates, walls, towers located in the big park. They charge 50/25 y entry fee but it is worth.
It was busy day. And the coming night I plan to spend on the train going further north. New challenge awaits!
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Oct 08, 2013 04:00 PM China - What they invented!
I know that in the past they invented the gunpowder and many other important things, but now...
I spent last night in Zhongmei hotel in Qinhuangdao. After thousands of hotels visited in 230 plus different countries and territories it is hard to impress me, but here they did!
Imagine the room with two nice beds. But the whole wall between the room and the shower is glass - made! So you can see your lady bathing before she will come to make you happy! No courtains! Hmmm... What a pity I travel alone :)
OK... They invented also their bullet train. I used this train today to travel to the giant city of Shenyang - the capital of Liaoning Province. Almost 7 mln people live here. The train is fast, but it is hard to say that it is luxurious. Airplane seats are installed but I did not have enough space to stretch my legs... I am slightly bigger then average Chinese. Sorry... only 2,5 hours en route.
My hotel near Shenyang North station hasn't any name in Latin script displayed outside or inside! Not easy to find! Print your detailed google map before! Once in the reception you will not find any single person speaking even basic English words. So they cannot also read the outprint with your reservation... They did not hear about such a reservation. My God! I spent in the reception 40 minutes with a feeling that they do not want me in this hotel... Finally I got check in. The price of the room is 190 Y, but they required hefty 400 Y of deposit - in cash. What they invented!
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Oct 07, 2013 04:00 PM The dragon sipping sea water...
Today I reached the place where The Great Wall is meeting the sea. They call it "Old Dragon's Head". In their imagination enormous dragon (Great Wall) sneaking through China has his head in Laolongtou on the coast of the Yellow Sea - sipping there the water.
Actually in Laolongtou I found the stronghold with towers, extended 22 meters into the sea. In the first tower, built and painted in traditional style I found... the statue of chairman Mao. The second, stone tower is empty. With white beach around this stronghold is very picturesque place. But some 200 m away they built another attraction - the colorful temple of Sea Goddess. Both are included in the 60 yuan ticket... They know how to milk the tourist!
The first and very solid gate in the Wall was some 5 kms away - in Shanghaiguan - this is now UNESCO World Heritage Site. From this place I was walking another 4 kms to Jiao Shan - the restored part of the Great Wall. With 30 Y ticket you can climb here the wall to the little castle on the mountain ridge. Good exercise, believe me! This was my third time on the Great Wall but it still impress me - they did enormous work!
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Oct 06, 2013 04:00 PM Tianjin - saying bye to the ship!
In the morning I disembarked the ship in the Chinese port Tianjin. They built new, enormous passenger terminal in the middle of nowhere. So the main task was to get to the closest station of the light railway. This is definitely not a walking distance!
I was lucky to jump on the shuttle going with a crew members to the AEON shopping Mall - Light rail station "Exhibition Center" is just nearby.
Ticket to Tianjin (45 kms) cost me 9 juan (they pay 6,05 juans per USD at the moment).
Tanjin center spread around Hei River has a lot of European architecture from the end of 19th century, To get to the remains of the old town take subway to Gulou Station - picturesque Drum Tower is close with the traditional gates and Confucian Temple... You will also find many traditional workshops around.
It is warm with some haze in the morning and I am happy and ready for the new adventure. Freedom! Since today there will be no need to come to the ship.
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Oct 05, 2013 04:00 PM Dalian-China. Not always it is so easy!
We arrived to Dalian with 1,5-hours delay. I was running the city to be as soon as possible at the bus stop opposite the north entrance of Dalian Station.
Why? I wanted so much to see former Port Arthur - where the Japan was fighting with Russia at the beginning of 20th century.
I bought the ticket for 8 yuan and I was waiting in the line of the local people. A young lady responded my question "Does anybody speak English?" And then she said that due the traffic jams the bus to Lushun ((it is present name of Port Arthur) goes 1,5 to 2 hours. I started to count my time and came in to conclusion that if I will go, I will be late for the ship - it stupidly departs already at 3 pm!
Bad luck! Maybe next time!
Dalian - ex Russian Dalnyj has nice buildings from Russian and Japaneese era and also nice skyscrapers... There is even "Russian Street" with Russian food on sale and "Arbat" restaurant.
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