Name: Kanng
Question: I have plan to go skiing with my son on vacation. It will be Dec 13th to 16th. I try to find a place to enjoy skiing in Korea, but I can’t find information about ski resort in Korea. Would you send me information about Korea ski resort please. Thank you for your information.
Trans Siberian Railway: From Beijing to Irkutsk
September 2009
The Trans Siberian rail journey has long been a dream of mine. Armed with a surge of confidence and knowledge the optimal season was quick in passing, I decided to travel to Beijing to embark upon the train via Mongolia to Lake Baikal and the city of Irkutsk.
It was September and the weather had been glorious in Beijing, a welcome relief from the sauna that is Hong Kong. September is one of the best times to embark upon the rail journey as the crowds of summer have largely dissipated. I was able to arrange tickets via a specialist travel agency by the name of Monkey Shrine, and after a fun filled week spent with friends in Beijing, I began my journey…
The Tourist Hotel is well maintained and is in a good location in the city of Zhuhai. It’s across the street from a new shopping complex that contains several western food outlets. And it is three blocks or so from the bay. The rooms are standard but I found it to be of good value.
- Dakota Smith
Travelers Digest
Date of stay: August 2009
Cleanliness: 3/5
Facilities: 3/5
Service: 4/5
Location: 4/5
Pricing: 5/5
Rooms: 3/5
Would you recommend this hotel to a friend: Yes
I just wanted to provide everyone with an update on the Great Chinese Firewall. It’s been about two years since I’ve last spent any significant time in mainland China, and in the time since it seems that China has gotten immeasurably better at enforcing its draconian internet restrictions. While before one could easily bypass the firewall using any number of free proxy services, China has taken steps to block these sites at a heightened pace.
So for those of you planning on visiting China and wishing to have unfiltered access to the internet (I needs me my Facebook), I suggest you download a proxy program before your arrival in China.
A great hotel in the heart of Wan Chai. The rooms are clean and well sized for Hong Kong standards. The lobby is very nice and so is the pool. Located right on Lockhart Road, the location is great for those looking to enjoy the nightlife of Wan Chai.
- Dakota Smith
Travelers Digest
Date of stay: July 2009
Cleanliness: 5/5
Facilities: 4/5
Service: 3/5
Location: 5/5
Pricing: 4/5
Rooms: 3/5
Would you recommend this hotel to a friend: Yes
I recently stayed at this hotel when I was connecting through Beijing. I chose the hotel as it was close to the airport however I have mixed feelings towards the result. The hotel was in a hard to find location, my taxi driver had a difficult time finding the place even though I had it written in Chinese and called the hotel for him to talk to. The neighborhood the hotel is in can be described at best as ’shady’, I would not recommend walking anywhere around the hotel.
However the rooms were very modern and clean. And the hotel offered a free shuttle bus to the airport. When all is taken into account, it’s a mixed bag.
- Dakota Smith
Travelers Digest
Date of stay: September 2009
Cleanliness: 3/5
Facilities: 3/5
Service: 2/5
Location: 2/5
Pricing: 3/5
Rooms: 5/5
Would you recommend this hotel to a friend: No
Destination of the month: Trans-Siberian Railway. There’s not a better time than September to embark upon this epic rail journey. This is the magic hour after the heat of summer but before the chilling cold of the Russian winter.
The Trans-Siberian journey can be taken many ways, I personally would recommend taking the trans-Mongolian route from Moscow to Beijing. You’ll get to see most of the highlights of the Russian trip including Lake Baikal and Irkutsk, but you’ll also get to enjoy the isolation of Mongolia and finish your journey in the orient. The trip takes about one week and transverses over 7,000 km.
Read about my personal experiences on the Trans Siberian.
The People’s Republic of China has been in the news a lot lately for their perceived over-reactions to swine flu and their quarantining of visitors. Having just come from China I thought I would share exactly what it is they’re doing.
All international flights arriving in the country are being screened on the tarmac by health professionals who are taking each passenger’s temperature.
At the border crossings they’re having visitors fill out health declaration forms and if a person has been to a country that China considers at risk, that person then has their temperature taken.
If a person is found to have a fever they’ll be sent to a doctor where if it’s determined they have symptoms of swine flu, they’ll be quarantined in a rural hotel for seven days. There’s no way around this quarantine, even if you would like to just turn around and leave the country.
In neighbouring Hong Kong health officials are screening temperatures of all visitors to the country at every air, sea, and land port.
Beijing is the capital of the People’s Republic of China, and rose to the heights of international fame when it hosted the Olympics last year. The city’s premier sights are the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace, and also the section of the Great Wall of China located just outside of the city proper.
http://www.travelersdigest.com/beijing_travel_guide.htm
The famed banking and financial center of China also offers a wealth of attractions for tourists.
http://www.travelersdigest.com/shanghai_travel_guide.htm
