Knock, knock...

Woowsiers this place is busy!!!

Today began with a little bit of bread and croissants down in the subway on the way to the Big Buddha and the surrounding attractions. The cable car to the top of the mountain area was daunting to begin with, Jordan quietly whispered, "That thing goes pretty fast..." It did. Very enjoyable.

Cable car - hang on Jordan.

Once on top of the mountain the team explored the Big Buddha, the chopstick gallery and the monastery. Spencer announced to the group  that the vegetarian lunch thrown on by our guests was something to write home about.

Once fed and enlightened the group hopped back on the cable car to return for, wait for it... some more shopping.

Gus with a 3D Buddha picture = cool. 

Our feet were screaming for a rest, so we headed back to our accommodation to recharge the batteries. The next task was to negotiate the Temple Street Night Markets - famous for its fortune tellers, terrible karaoke and cheap knock offs. It's fair to say that there were some hairy moments throughout the evening, plenty of people, lights and bargaining = nightmare for teachers. But as always we got through it and the kids picked up some amazing (cough) goods.





Hong Kong has been sensational - plenty of laughs, some tears but memories for a lifetime. The image below will remain etched in the minds of all those present forever. Long live 'The Mansions!'

Beijing tomorrow - hopefully we are able to access Blogger. We'll soon find out...

First Stop = Hong Kong!

Well its been an interesting first few days for the group... The plane ride from Melbourne to Hong Kong was relatively bump free. The Moroccan Chicken and Chickpeas was a highlight and the movies flowed freely - Ed (our own David Stratton) scored the film 'The Croods' 4 out of 5, "the story line really touched a nerve with me."

Issy - over it.

Below you'll find some sensational snaps of Luke (sorry Luke) that were taken by a very bored Jamie during the last hours of the flight...

After landing, Pauline guided the team through the hotel, well, the hotel that we were supposed to staying at... Moving on (I think we have moved on...) the group are now staying in a very lively part of Nathan Road - Hong Kong's main street. Lots of culture and electronic shops, a good mix.

Day 2 was fantastic - it opened with a visit to one of the greatest food courts of all time in Hollywood Plaza. People felt the freedom to start the day with dumplings, Hot Korean BBQ chicken and noodles, rice pancakes and blueberry Oreos.

The group then moved onto Chin Lin Nunnery and the Nan Lian Gardens - a majestic little oasis in the heart of the hustle and bustle. The gardens provided many photo (and selfie) opportunities. After wandering through the gardens we moved onto conquering Victoria Peak. It took some serious walking (thanks to Jamie's poor navigational skills) to get to the Peak Tram. Upon arrival we noticed a rather large line - we were told that a 3 HOUR WAIT was expected if we wanted to take the trip to the top. So the group, tired and emotional, decided to get something to eat to lift our spirits and move back towards the harbor to catch HK's famous 'Symphony of Lights'. In the poignant words of Rhys, "It moved me emotionally. It was beautiful."

Everyone was ready for bed after the light show and decided to retire to their rooms for some R and R - an early start is planned for tomorrow as the team tackles the Giant Buddha, the markets and some serious street food.

10 Asia Experience Booklet 2013

Below you will find the PDF version of the Asia Experience Booklet for 2013. The booklet contains important information such as accurate flight numbers and times, emergency contact numbers and an up to date itinerary.

Preparation is key...

Hi Everyone,

Just thought I would post some photos of the class doing their best to get up to speed with the Chinese culture and language.

As well as putting together detailed activity planners for each of the days, the student group also prepared by practising the most dominant language in China - Mandarin. Students used an essential phrase sheet and were asked to develop a question and answer scenario that would be relevant to the upcoming trip.

Spencer and Gus working things out...

Updated Costs for tour

 
QANTAS02OCT Melbourne - Hong Kong 0935 1710 02OCT05OCT Hong Kong - Beijing 0900 1215 05OCT12OCT Shanghai - Sydney 1955 0935 13OCT13OCT Sydney - Melbourne 1200 1335 13OCT= $2555 with flights, Insurance and Volunteer option China Tour.

*These prices do not include costs of lunch and dinner, but will be included in the overall costs.

This post intends to provide students and parents with a more detailed overview of the Year 10 Asia Experience 2013.

(B)= Breakfast included

DAY 1/OCT 2 Hong Kong

Arrive in Hong Kong Intl Airport on flight with Qantas (yet to be identified). Meet & greet by the tour leader and private transfer to hotel. Afternoon exploration of the Mongkok District with the resident markets, temples and market alleys. Optional dinner at local Dim Sum Restaurant.

Overnight: Bianchi Lodge Hong Kong (http://www.caritas-chs.org.hk/eng/bianchi_lodge.asp)

DAY 2/OCT 3 Hong Kong (B)

Today you will be transferred by private couch up to Victoria Peak & Tram for a visit to Madame Tussauds and the Science Museum. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Repulse Bay and the Stanley Market, followed by a trip on a Star Ferry to Kowloon and light show in the evening.

Overnight: Bianchi Lodge Hong Kong (http://www.caritas-chs.org.hk/eng/bianchi_lodge.asp)

DAY 3/OCT 4 Hong Kong (B)

Morning at leisure with guide for further exploration and/or shopping. Private transfer to airport at any time (to be decided once flights are booked)

Day 4/OCT 5 Beijing

 

Arrive at any time (also to be decided when flights are booked). Time at leisure followed by a 6:00pm briefing with your CEO and group dinner. Upon arrival we will check the notice board in the hotel reception for details of the time and place of the meeting for the following day.

Overnight: Far East International Hotel (http://www.hotelscombined.com.au/Hotel/Far_East_International_Hotel_Beijing.htm)

 

 

Day 5/OCT 6 Beijing/Volunteering (B)

 

Today we will visit the Great Wall in the morning. In the early afternoon we’ll continue on from the Great Wall to a Special Commune, a unique rural community set up to advocate and empower intellectually challenged individuals to be part of their community and support them through work and continual learning. After a long day at the wall we’ll take time to relax and get to know the area before enjoying a welcome dinner with a Chinese song and dance performance by some of the students who live at the facility, one of the ongoing projects designed to provide meaningful employment opportunities.

Overnight: Village home stay with en suite.

 

Day 6/OCT 7 Beijing (B)

 

This morning, we’ll help with the planting and harvesting of crops, participate in cultural activities or pay a visit to a nearby orphanage/school for migrant children.

Return to Beijing in the afternoon. Then depart on a guided tour to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square with our CEO.

Overnight: Far East International Hotel (http://www.hotelscombined.com.au/Hotel/Far_East_International_Hotel_Beijing.htm)

 

 

Days 7-8/OCT 8-9 Xi'an (B)

 

In the morning, transfer to the airport to board a short flight to Xi'an (2 hour flight). Transfer to hotel upon arrival. Our CEO will take us on an orientation walk through one of Xi’an’s most fascinating areas — the Muslim Quarter. Tour the lovely and unusual Great Mosque (a wonderfully serene place to escape the hustle and bustle of the city), great souvenir stalls and some of the best street food in China. The remaining city walls are a great place to watch the sunset and join the locals for ballroom dancing or tai chi in the early morning. We’ll also be going on a trip to the Terracotta Warriors, situated a short drive out of town (approximately 1 hour). In the evening of Day 7, we board an overnight sleeper train that will ease us into Suzhou early the following morning. (Approx. 12 hrs)

Overnight: City Hotel Xi'an

 

Day 9/OCT 10 Suzhou

 

We will visit one of China's most exquisite gardens, Master of the Nets, and take in a traditional Chinese performance, complete with ancient costumes, folk singing and dancing, and traditional instruments. The Garden of Master of the Nets includes both a residential quarter and a delicately landscaped garden, both of which are illuminated at night by lanterns. The afternoon for leisure to shop/relax and explore the surroundings.

Overnight: Liu Yuan Hotel (http://www.hotels.com/ho362643/greentree-alliance-suzhou-liuyuan-hotel-suzhou-jiangsu-china/)

 

Day 10/OCT 11 Shanghai (B)

 

Arrive in Shanghai and enjoy an orientation walk to help us get our bearings. In the evening, we’ll be letting loose like the locals with a karaoke session in a private room for the group. This will definitely be a night to remember! In the afternoon, it’s time for shopping on the famous Nanjing Road or stroll along the Bund district, with its many riverside historical buildings.

Overnight: Jinjiang Inn the Bund (http://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Hotel_Review-g308272-d1050793-Reviews-Jinjiang_Inn_Shanghai_The_Bund-Shanghai.html)

 

Day 11/OCT 12 Shanghai (B)

Depart at any time (times to be decided once flights are booked).

 

Other things to be mindful of...

• In China, a person aged 14 years and above is considered to be responsible for their actions, and treated as an adult under the law. If detained, a person of this age will be held with adults and be subject to the same conditions and legal processes as adults.

• There are strictly enforced laws which prohibit demonstrations without prior approval from the government. If arrested, you could be jailed or deported.

• Penalties for drug offences are severe and include the death penalty.

• Other serious crimes may also attract the death penalty.

• Gambling and prostitution are illegal in mainland China.

• Photography of military or government buildings may result in a penalty. You should seek permission from local authorities before taking photographs.

• Homosexual acts are not illegal in China, but you should be aware of local sensitivities.

• You should carry evidence of your identity at all times and present it upon demand of police authorities. Your passport or a Chinese residence card is an acceptable form of identity. Failure to carry ID or comply with the registration requirement could result in fines and detention.

• Hotels are generally safe. Attendants are on each floor, keeping an eye on the rooms and safeguarding the keys. Dormitories obviously require more care. Don't be overly trusting of your fellow travellers - many of them are considerably less than honest. All hotels have safes and storage areas for valuables - use them. Don't leave anything you can't do without (passport, travellers cheques, money, air tickets etc) lying around in dormitories.

• Carry just as much cash as you need and keep the rest in travellers cheques. Always take a money belt for larger sums of cash, along with your passport and credit cards. A worrying trend is the increasing number of reports of foreigners attacked or even killed for their valuables, especially in more rural locations (a Western tourist was killed a few years ago on Moon Hill in popular Yangshuo); so be vigilant at all times. It's always advisable to travel with someone else or in a small group; individual travellers have to accept they are taking a risk.

• Pollution & Noise
  Pollution is a serious problem in China and can make travel unpleasant for everyone, but especially if you have allergies, skin conditions, or chest, eye, nose and throat problems. According to the World Bank, China has 16 of the world's 20 most polluted cities.
  Recently the Chinese government has launched an anti-noise pollution campaign. The government is on a loser with this one, but a number of cities have banned the use of car horns within the city. The Chinese are generally much more tolerant of noise than most foreigners. People watch TV at ear-shattering volumes, drivers lean on the horn, and much of China seems to wake uncomplainingly to the sound of jackhammers and earth-moving vehicles. 

Some helpful links- I strongly suggest you take a look!

Smart traveller tips

Smart traveller adive for China

Go China -About.com

Complete guide for packing

Apply for a passport here

Currency exchange rates

Cost of living in China site

Weather information

Essential money matter

Warnings when travelling in China

Do's & Dont's when travelling to China

Do…

• remove your shoes when entering a Chinese home or temple
• greet the eldest person in a Chinese family first, as a sign of respect
• Beckon someone by waving them over to you with your palm down. Don’t point or use your finger (this gesture is used for dogs).
• present things to people with both hands, to show that what you’re offering is the fullest extent of yourself
• be effusively thankful if someone gives you a gift, then set it aside to open later, to avoid appearing greedy
• be prepared for random people approaching to you and asking to practice their English
• Keep calm when dealing with officials, especially if tense situations arise. Getting angry or raising your voice will create only an ugly, face-losing situation for all.
• eat what your host offers and orders, including alcohol; it’s rude to refuse
• touch your glass below that of the eldest person in the group when toasting – the eldest (aka wise one) holds his/her glass highest
• fill your companion’s tea cup when it’s empty, especially if your companion is older than you
• eat all of the rice in your bowl – some Chinese believe it’s bad luck to leave even a single grain behind
• say how much you love watching Yao Ming play in the NBA (when he’s healthy)
• prepare yourself to see animals treated very differently than you’re used to back home
• Be punctual. Being on time shows respect for others.

Don’t…

• Write anything in red ink unless you’re correcting an exam. Red ink is used for letters of protest.
• leave your chopsticks upright in your bowl or tap your bowl with them
• point the bottom of your shoes/feet at someone
• Shake your feet, lest you shake away all of your luck.
• touch someone’s head (it’s sacred)
• Give clocks or books as gifts. The phrase ‘to give a clock’ in Mandarin sounds too much like ‘attend a funeral’ and ‘giving a book’ sounds like ‘delivering defeat.’
• Make political comments like ‘boy, didn’t Mao kill a lot of people’ unless your new pals take the lead. Many Chinese remain huge Mao fans, as proven daily by the lines at his mausoleum.
• Make out with your beau – limit your PDAs, lovebirds.
• be offended when asked if you’re married – and if you’re over 30 and single, say yes, lest you be pitied
• give too much attention to an object someone else has; they may feel obligated to give it to you
• Use those pretty gold/silver papers for western décor. It’s for spiritual/cultural Chinese rituals.
• Freak out if you don’t know what to do. When in doubt, simply watch what the Chinese people do and follow suit.

 

 

Accommodation so far...

China

• Day 1: Far East International Hotel  Beijing
• Small map of the area

• Day 2: Beijing Village homestay with en suite

• Day 3: Far East International Hotel  Beijing

• Day 4: City Hotel  Xi'an

• Day 5:  Overnight train to Suzhou

• Day 6: Liu Yuan Hotel- Suzhou

• Day 7: JinJiang Inn the Bund Shanghai

Honk Kong:

• Day 1:Bianchi lodge

• Day 2: Bianchi lodge