| Help! The closer it gets more terrified I am! | |
|---|---|
| Jan 8, 2008 10:09 |   |
 | So the date is set and I'm going for my dream trip to China & South-East Asia this year. I am planning this big trip since many years and finally I get to do it but... I'm getting more and more scared that I wont handle it. Not knowing the language, the culture and this beeing my first 'exotic' backpacking trip it just feels way too much. Please somebody tell me it's not as difficult as it seems and it's all worth it or otherwise I'm afraid I'll chicken out!!! |
| Jan 8, 2008 11:31 | #1 |
| Don't worry...is going to be a great experience, you will enjoy it!! Asian people are nice!! Most of the people also speak english and you should not have problem at all. If you can find it,buy a small book called "POINT IT",it could be useful. Have a good trip. |
| Jan 8, 2008 12:12 | #2 |
| OK, I am no expert on the matter; however, I can share with you my most basic and elemental thoughts about traveling to a foreign country big and diverse as China. #1 your health, do not forget it for a second, if you get sick as you travel, that is a big thing because you pass to depend on others for your basic and elemental needs. Eat any thing or anywhere you want to eat, but make sure it is at less full and fresh cook, see it boil or fry, but see it. Drink bottle liquids only period. In big cities if you go to the big supermarkets, you can run in to a lot of can western food and meats, European cheeses and many Australian and New Zealand foods. Do not forget, your every day health is catalytic to a marvelous trip. Carry with you basic cold, allergies and stomach medicines always and some good sun protection, together with an alcohol base hand cleaner and wipes. #2 China people it is very friendly and lovable, however, there are some crooks too, that can make your trip a nightmare, nice as you can be, reject ALL kind of unsolicited help. If you need help, you select the person that is going to help you. The worse experiences I read here come from people that let others come to them approach and help. Stay out of ugly places, as you do in your home country, and do not follow estrange persons that approaches you. Keep an eye on your personal stuff, and make sure you make eye contact with the people around you, so they know you know they are there. In Chinese culture, they do not look to you on to your eye directly too often, so looking at them in a GENERAL VIEW you can see who is looking at you. It provides you with a view advantage. This works best in public streets and places like the train and bus station. If walking on a big city like Beijing, Guangzhou or Shanghai stop at a window here and there, so you can let the people around you move on, as you stop see if any one stops too. As I travel around China, I mainly fly, but if not, I prefer buses: the amount of people around me is a lot less than the many on the train, it is faster and buses are good, many are by far better than the ones we have in the USA greyhound. If you are going solo, language is a big issue. I recommend you to buy a translator that speaks, show the words and or sentence in simplified Chinese, and pin yin. If the other person knows how to type he/she can answer you, and you can understand, because it will translate for you in 15 different languages of your choice, it is word about $200.00 us dollars at best buy or fry’s. A cheaper approach is an English to Chinese pocket book. Finally, do some research so you know something about the places where you are going, before you arrive? You are in, for the time of your life, China it is a very safe country, you just need to be safe and street wise. |
| Jan 8, 2008 14:43 | #3 |
| There are Irish pubs everywhere...don't worry ;-) My usual rules apply: * Do not drink to drunkeness * Enjoy your new friends but do not trust them There are plenty of scammers in modern China; so long as you are aware of them and avoid putting yourself in bad situations you will have a grand time. |
| Jan 9, 2008 03:53 | #4 |
| Ewelina, Don’t chicken out, just go for it. What a great adventure and what wonderful stories you can tell you children in years to come. “There are no strangers, just people we have never met” Dodger. |
| Jan 9, 2008 10:28 | #5 |
| Hi Ewelina It can be hard at times, but you should have fun. As you are backpacking, use youth hostels so you can meet other travellers and with luck find staff who know what's happening. But note that many Chinese hostels are just part of a hotel and have few foreign visitors. My normal advice is to allow time to find out things, and for things to go wrong, indeed time just to absorb the atmosphere. If you need help, find a 'wang ba' (net cafe) and get into here and start a thread saying where u r and you could use some help. There's sure to be someone available, but it might take a while. |
| Jan 10, 2008 03:17 | #6 |
| OK, I really needed that. And now back to Lonely Planet and finishing off the route! Thanks |
| Jan 10, 2008 09:14 | #7 |
| GUESTJANET | The Spring Festival is coming,and it's an important festival. If you don't mind, you can spend this holiday with my family. I'm a student get my degree in beijing and I will be back home on Jan.24 If you want to travel in hangzhou , I can go with you.It's my hometown my email: sohu.com|janetwu2007 |
| Jan 11, 2008 00:50 | #8 |
| I worried before my first trip to China, then It was full scale panic the 2nd time as I went alone. There are dangers anywhere you go in the world but in China I felt comfortable, many people wanted to help me and I had a great time. My Chinese is not good but everyone had the patience to try and understand or they would find someone who spoke little English. Go there and be careful but relax and enjoy because it is a wonderful place. |
| Jan 11, 2008 03:10 | #9 |
| lol, don't worry. i m chinese girl ,and i will travel to shanghai in 4 days. it is first time for me to go to this city. i m scare too, but i believe that i will have a good time in this city. |
Post a Reply to: Help! The closer it gets more terrified I am!
Copyright © 1998-2024 All rights reserved.