China, Why You're Not Easy To Travel?

I have travelled to several countries so far but I have to say China is not the easy place to travel. Even though I do travel to Hong Kong, i.e part of China, I have higher level positive feelings about my times there.

I experience some Hong Kong amazing foods; the perfect breakfast set-scrambled eggs, 2 slices thick toasts, macaroni and ham soup where I can’t get in other parts of the world; French toasts which has deep fried until beautifully crispy and topped with butters and condensed milks; the awesome wanton noodles with freaking soft skins and springy noodles. 

I witness the peaceful, relax environment of Discovery Bay and wowed by it. The Hong Kong public toilets are very cleans results of efficiency and high productivity of cleaners. It is convenient to find the hand sanitizers and toilet papers in each Hong Kong public toilets.

However, when comes to China, it has huge differences in foods, culture, behaviors, buildings and streets compared to Hong Kong. I can conclude travelling to China is fascinating but at the same time is exhausting.

Yes, I would go back in one day to see other places but guarantee with the tour agencies. The tour agencies steer away the troubles and annoyances i.e. prices haggling and fake goods. This is the country I should armed with the knowledge and roughly knowing what to expect so that I can have some degree of control.

Honestly, I don’t prepare.  So, I thought to share some insights and musings why China is not easy to travel. 

1. The people are rude and impolite

This type of electric bicycle users are rude and careless in speeding. Father almost knocked down by them. No apologizes given after that.

China local tourists push and shove others for getting the front place during observing emperor's meeting room. They won't give chance to others no matter he or she been there for 10 minutes.

I have the bad impressions on China people due to the way they behave are impolite and rude. They earn the bad reputations decades and this considers my first time to deal with them. Here are some personal experiences I have encountered in Great Wall of China, supermarkets Beijing and flights.

In flight bound to Beijing 

a) While on the midnight flights bound to Beijing, the passengers are dominated by the China people. A China couple whom thirsty critiqued Air Asia crew members too slow in selling the drinks. So, they kept on requesting for many times. In fact, Air Asia crew members have their own selling goods and services procedures. That means, Air Asia crew members initially offer drinks to the pre-book meal passengers before selling to other on board passengers.

b) There are few young men behind my flight seat who talk and laugh loudly. They substitute with Ipad on Kung Fu movies if they don’t feel want to talk.   The unnecessary noises frustrated me. I can’t have the rest. It drives me to complain. “Could you lower down your voices and Ipad sounds. They are too loud. I can’t sleep.” My request is granted. Thank Buddha the young men understand my Mandarin and behave considerate.

c) China on board passengers insists to leave their seats for taking their personal belonging on compartments although the seat belt signs are on and English safety announcements being made. Since the Air Asia crew members learns that maybe the language problems, they announce the safety reminds in Mandarin. Believe it or not, very little of them remain in their seats for the reason of Mandarin announcements.

All these behaviors make me conclude they think they can do whatever they want because they have paid the flight tickets.

d) One night in supermarket Maliando street Beijing, my sister pick 3 bin tang hu lu, the staff yelled at my sister loudly “you only take 3 bin tang hu lu arh?” I don’t feel the staff feel guilty with such poor attitudes. The staff has no smile on her face, looking intense and closed up which corresponds with her way to treat my sister.

It draws attention from the vegetables, meat sellers and other staff who stared at us. We are the sources of the yelling. What’s wrong if only pick little bin tang hu lu? It doesn’t mention the minimum numbers each customers should take for bin tang hu lu.  Our solution is walk away, knowing arguing a lot bring troubles.

e) This is what the tour member describes to us. She has severe coughing and gets the medicine at Tong Ren Tang. Since she doubts with the medicine prescription, she clarify with the Tong Ren Tang. The staff reply her “where is your eyes? It writes down everything at the back of the medicine”.  If I was the tour member, I give up on purchase. So, don’t expect good customer service in China.

f) I notice a bad habit of the winter coats owners at the wholesale market Beijing. They talk bad about the customers behind their backs i.e. who just out from the shops seconds ago in the high pitch voices. Besides talking at the back, they talk in front of you. E.g., mummy wants to get the bigger size of the winter coats. The lady owner supposes to persuade and convinces mummy the small size is good to her. Tropical country citizens lack of knowledge in the winter coats aspect. Instead, she blames mummy is not the serious customers, playing her by giving more works for her.

g) China people are good at queue jumping. For instance, I entered the public toilets and queuing. Suddenly, a mid-aged tall woman who is not in the line walks straight in front of other toilets users. She is not even looking at other users. I don’t want her to make all to wait longer no matter with good reasons or no, I ask her to queue but she ignored me. Luckily, one tour member in front of me disallowed her to make her way to the toilets. She finally using her shoulder touched my shoulder strongly and a hate stare before leaving.

2. The “trough” style public toilets

It doesn’t refer to the toilets in the western brands fast food restaurants and restaurants.  This is different when I travelled to the rural areas of China-Wulanbutong grassland. I encountered “trough” style public toilets-squatting over the holes on the ground with no toilet doors; looking down the holes, there are many poo of unknown users and the pee smells filled the air. As the tour member said “going toilet China 10 times, puking 10 times”. We all unmarried lady feel shy to pee in such condition, but the old tour member teach us: whatever you have as woman I have, I won’t peek you, don’t worry. Also, no toilets papers there. No hand sanitizers. No soaps. No hand towels. So, it’s actually the great ideas to carry all of them before heading out. Another thing that shocks me-the women didn’t close the toilet doors even though the toilets do have the doors.

3. Disconnect from the world

Assessing whatsapp, google, facebook and youtube are restricted in China. Can you imagine the life without whatsapp, google, facebook and youtube? This drives me crazy. My sister vote China is the best place to away from the workplace. The bosses and colleagues have no chances to find you, earning the calm days. At least they are China sites are available-wechat, youku, weibo, just to name a few. It is suggest getting a good VPN in the hope of to keep up with people in facebook, whatsapp and youtube before arriving in China.

4. Lack of hygiene

What going on in the public place China are people constantly spitting all over the places. It’s unspeakable horrible listening to their coughing spitting sounds. Be careful walking as the roads full with spits. Littering is other part of life China as people throw garbage and cigarettes scattered everywhere.  

Despite the above problems, I still find China is a fascinating country to visit. It has lots of natural beauty to offer. Please bear in mind, this entry is not going to dissuade or discourage you not travelling to China. In contrast, you should explore this country that rich with histories and cultures. Meantime, you should prepare yourself with the above problems.