...and everything keeps popping up in Chinese, and I don't know what the hell to do. I'm trying to get from Urumqui to Shanghai on or around July 6 or so this year - I can't get it to work through Yahoo or Travelocity, it always says "problems getting reservation" So then I tried Air China's website, which kind of is not that great - mostly because stuff keeps popping up in chinese even when I start off using the "English" pages, not sure if its cause I'm using firefox or what, though I don't think IE was working for me either. So how the hell does a farang like me do? I don't want to use some scamming travel agency, trying to do this on my own. Should I just resort to that pre-internet dinosaur technology of the telephone? I'm not sure if I can even use one of those things.
careful with that telephone, you may have to talk with and/or interact with someone. it could be rough.
Buy your ticket from a travel agency. Its cheaper and they'll do all the work for you. If you need a good travel agency, let me know and I'll post the one I use.
LOL. Sam if you can't even buy a plane ticket while you're in the US, you're going to have a hell of a time once you get there. I can just see you in a restaurant... [/slow ugly american loud voice] Yes, ma'am. One large General Tso's chicken. TO GO. THANK YOU. [/end slow ugly american loud voice] Might I suggest a book for you to read to prepare you for your trip? 4000 Days: My Life and Survival in a Thai Prison. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312253648/103-2030658-4525405?v=glance
Texxx, my travel horizons extend further than Vegas or Miami. I've trekked the Gobi on camelback and frozen my ass off in the taiga and huffed my way up himalayan scree. I have used squat toilets and outhouses that would make you cringe. True growth does not come waiting in line for two hours to pay 100 bucks to get inside Crobar to ogle chicks who wouldn't talk to you in about a million years.
The taiga is a hardy biome, indeed. Not sure what possesses one to choose a vacation there, but to each his own. I will stick to my pedestrian American leisure destinations. See if you can't befriend one of the YOFs in the garm to help you out with this issue.
You can start with spelling "Urumqi" the right way. Man, I hate dealing with people who can't spell "Urumqi" right, it's like they didn't even pass the second grade.
http://www.cs-air.com/en/ Urumqi is under Wuhan in the selection box. http://www.ce-air.com/cea/en_US/service/buy_ticket/straight The online booking system is upgrading. The website suggests email booking. And try this one: http://www.zuji.com.hk/zuji/home/0,,ZUJIHK,00.html Good luck.
Hi Sam, I think Dragon gave some trustworthy sites. If you really want to try the dinasour way, I have some numbers from Urumqi that you can try. Farang or not, I believe you still can get as good a price as the locals if you plan ahead and look hard enough. Good luck!
Just my experience, Booking airline tickets to and in China are cheaper by up to 30-40% through Chinese American travel agencies, and they do speak English
I had my first squat toilet experience this winter when I went to Peshawar for a day. I spent the night at my cousin's friend's dorm, and it was pathetic. I had to pee in the squater toilet the night I got there . I was thinking of going to the five star hotel in the city to use the restroom the next day, but I held EVERYTHING in for 24 hrs.
Supposedly squatting is better for you physiologically than sitting (it allows for more....clearance). thx to all who have helped out in this thread btw.
I don't know - I always had problems with clearance between my clothes and said squat toilet. They aren't a pain in the ass, but they sure are a pain in the thighs, hip flexors, and knees.
How do these squat toilets work? Is it just some kind of pail or something that you poop in? What's so unique about them? Why are they so gross?
