Travelling is a passion
by Marcel Meyer
Friday, 21.07.2006
Ankunft in Harbin
News aus Harbin China…..
Jetzt ist schone eine Woche um und die erste Angewöhnungsphase ist vorüber.
Aber nun erst mal zum Beginn..
Letzten Sonntag erreichte ich nach etwa 18h Reisezeit den Flughafen von Harbin. Das erste was mir aufgefallen ist, dass im Flug von Peking nach Harbin, ich der Einzige nicht Chinese war. Wie sich herausgestellt hat, ist diese Stadt nicht sehr Touristisch. Was auch den kleinen Ausländeranteil im Flugzeug erklärt.
Am Flughafen wurde ich zum glück von Paul abgeholt. Was natürlich sein englischer Name ist. Denn hier in China haben fast alle die englisch sprechen einen englischen Namen, so das auch wir diesen aussprechen können.
In der HIT (Harbin Institute of Technology) angekommen wurde ich mit einem Deutschen, welcher am selben Tag angekommen ist, in ein Zweierzimmer gesteckt.
Der erste Kontakt mit der Bevölkerung war sehr speziell. Was überraschend war, ist das auch die Studenten der angeblich so führenden Uni nicht englisch sprechen. Zum glück wurden wir von den Volonteers sehr gut betreut. Sie sind die ersten 2 Tage fast nicht von unserer Seite gewichen. Was auch wichtig war, denn sonst wäre schon das einfachste ein Unmöglichkeit!
Die nächste Überraschung war am Montagmorgen. Wo ich erfahren habe, dass das Labor von welchem ich zum Praktikum eingeladen wurde, umgezogen war oder nicht mehr existiert. Also war es an der Zeit ein neues zu suchen. Was einige Stunden in Anspruch nahm. Wir wurden durch die ganze Uni geschickt und ich betrat mehr als 14 Büros und wurden immer wieder weiter geschickt. Ich kam mir vor wie Asterix und Obelix als sie versuchten aus dem Irrenhaus zu gelangen.
Was an dieser Stelle auch zu sagen ist, dass der Campus der Uni mehr als 400 Hektar beträgt und die Studentenzahl momentan bei 55000 liegt!
Schlussendlich fanden wir ein Labor wo ich mein Praktikum durchführen kann.
Die Leute hier sind alle sehr sehr zuvorkommend. Was auf den ersten Blick nicht so aussieht. Denn ihre schnelle und zackige Art, wirkt für uns Schweizer sehr unfreundlich. Doch sobald man mit den Chinesen ins Gespräch kommt und sie besser kennen lehrnt bemerkt man sehr schnell dass sie sehr zuvorkommend sind und sie dich immer als ihr Gast ansehen.
Momentan sind wir eine Gruppe aus 10 Studenten welche solch ein Praktikum hier in Harbin ausüben und wir werden immer mehr. So wird es einem sicher nie langweilig und man findet immer jemand der mit einem etwas unternimmt.
Gestern war unser erster Tag als Touristen hier in Harbin. Wir schlenderten durch die Altstadt von Harbin welche überraschend schön war.
Was natürlich auch nicht fehlen darf sind die einzelnen Wörter welche wir hier lernen. Wir versuchen jeden Tag so viele Wörter aufzunehmen wie möglich aber wie sicher alle verstehen, es ist nicht einfach..!!!
Hoffe nächste Woche wieder einen kleinen Bericht mailen zu könne.
Bis bald also
Dsai djiän
Marcel
Mittagessen in der Mensa
Abendessen im Restaurant
Touristen Foto vor der Sophias Churche
HIT Hauptgebäude wo mein Labor ist
Jetzt ist schone eine Woche um und die erste Angewöhnungsphase ist vorüber.
Aber nun erst mal zum Beginn..
Letzten Sonntag erreichte ich nach etwa 18h Reisezeit den Flughafen von Harbin. Das erste was mir aufgefallen ist, dass im Flug von Peking nach Harbin, ich der Einzige nicht Chinese war. Wie sich herausgestellt hat, ist diese Stadt nicht sehr Touristisch. Was auch den kleinen Ausländeranteil im Flugzeug erklärt.
Am Flughafen wurde ich zum glück von Paul abgeholt. Was natürlich sein englischer Name ist. Denn hier in China haben fast alle die englisch sprechen einen englischen Namen, so das auch wir diesen aussprechen können.
In der HIT (Harbin Institute of Technology) angekommen wurde ich mit einem Deutschen, welcher am selben Tag angekommen ist, in ein Zweierzimmer gesteckt.
Der erste Kontakt mit der Bevölkerung war sehr speziell. Was überraschend war, ist das auch die Studenten der angeblich so führenden Uni nicht englisch sprechen. Zum glück wurden wir von den Volonteers sehr gut betreut. Sie sind die ersten 2 Tage fast nicht von unserer Seite gewichen. Was auch wichtig war, denn sonst wäre schon das einfachste ein Unmöglichkeit!
Die nächste Überraschung war am Montagmorgen. Wo ich erfahren habe, dass das Labor von welchem ich zum Praktikum eingeladen wurde, umgezogen war oder nicht mehr existiert. Also war es an der Zeit ein neues zu suchen. Was einige Stunden in Anspruch nahm. Wir wurden durch die ganze Uni geschickt und ich betrat mehr als 14 Büros und wurden immer wieder weiter geschickt. Ich kam mir vor wie Asterix und Obelix als sie versuchten aus dem Irrenhaus zu gelangen.
Was an dieser Stelle auch zu sagen ist, dass der Campus der Uni mehr als 400 Hektar beträgt und die Studentenzahl momentan bei 55000 liegt!
Schlussendlich fanden wir ein Labor wo ich mein Praktikum durchführen kann.
Die Leute hier sind alle sehr sehr zuvorkommend. Was auf den ersten Blick nicht so aussieht. Denn ihre schnelle und zackige Art, wirkt für uns Schweizer sehr unfreundlich. Doch sobald man mit den Chinesen ins Gespräch kommt und sie besser kennen lehrnt bemerkt man sehr schnell dass sie sehr zuvorkommend sind und sie dich immer als ihr Gast ansehen.
Momentan sind wir eine Gruppe aus 10 Studenten welche solch ein Praktikum hier in Harbin ausüben und wir werden immer mehr. So wird es einem sicher nie langweilig und man findet immer jemand der mit einem etwas unternimmt.
Gestern war unser erster Tag als Touristen hier in Harbin. Wir schlenderten durch die Altstadt von Harbin welche überraschend schön war.
Was natürlich auch nicht fehlen darf sind die einzelnen Wörter welche wir hier lernen. Wir versuchen jeden Tag so viele Wörter aufzunehmen wie möglich aber wie sicher alle verstehen, es ist nicht einfach..!!!
Hoffe nächste Woche wieder einen kleinen Bericht mailen zu könne.
Bis bald also
Dsai djiän
Marcel
Mittagessen in der Mensa
Abendessen im Restaurant
Touristen Foto vor der Sophias Churche
HIT Hauptgebäude wo mein Labor ist
Tuesday, 25.07.2006
My days in Harbin
MY days here in Harbin
After I arrived her in Harbin I had to accustom me in the Chinese habits.
In the Second week I had not so many new experiences here. During the week I had to work, hard work ;-) in the Lab.
On Wednesday we went to the KTV, it is called. It’s a Karaoke Place. And everyone who knows how I am singing can imaging how I sounded! But most of the others, they were really good singers. Especially Yang Shuo, one of our Chinese volunteers, she was really awesome in singing the Chinese traditional songs. WOW!
At the other days we went to the “Harbin pin jo festival“so the „ Harbin beer Festival” witch is quite fun to just join the evening in the City and to get out of the huge Campus.
I was quite surprised how good the chinese beer really is..!!
Of corse that was also the first chinese sentence I learn, to order a cold beer. That's like the survival kit here in China. Because what me surprised when I ordered the first beer. It was warm..!!! I guess for Swiss People it's the most terrible thing what can happen!
At the Weekend we went for shopping. That’s amazing what all for different stuff you can get here. There are several supermarkets and on every floor there is an other kind of goods!
I just bought some clothes.
On Sunday we went to the Tigers Park. Honestly it is nothing special. It’s just a Zoo where you can drive with the car through it. But there are some kinds of the Tigers who are endangered. It was quite nice to see them!
Actually Harbin has a lot to see. Especially some architecture, which were built by the Russians.
The Centre is nice to shop and it looks like a European city.
During this week there didn’t arrive many new students. Just one from Germany who is called Christoph and one from Spain who is called Jaume.
We integrated them in our group really quickly!
I’m still learning some Chinese and hope I can speak and probably understand some after these six weeks. But we will see!
I will write my next blogg after the next weekend
Greets from the centre empire
After I arrived her in Harbin I had to accustom me in the Chinese habits.
In the Second week I had not so many new experiences here. During the week I had to work, hard work ;-) in the Lab.
On Wednesday we went to the KTV, it is called. It’s a Karaoke Place. And everyone who knows how I am singing can imaging how I sounded! But most of the others, they were really good singers. Especially Yang Shuo, one of our Chinese volunteers, she was really awesome in singing the Chinese traditional songs. WOW!
At the other days we went to the “Harbin pin jo festival“so the „ Harbin beer Festival” witch is quite fun to just join the evening in the City and to get out of the huge Campus.
I was quite surprised how good the chinese beer really is..!!
Of corse that was also the first chinese sentence I learn, to order a cold beer. That's like the survival kit here in China. Because what me surprised when I ordered the first beer. It was warm..!!! I guess for Swiss People it's the most terrible thing what can happen!
At the Weekend we went for shopping. That’s amazing what all for different stuff you can get here. There are several supermarkets and on every floor there is an other kind of goods!
I just bought some clothes.
On Sunday we went to the Tigers Park. Honestly it is nothing special. It’s just a Zoo where you can drive with the car through it. But there are some kinds of the Tigers who are endangered. It was quite nice to see them!
Actually Harbin has a lot to see. Especially some architecture, which were built by the Russians.
The Centre is nice to shop and it looks like a European city.
During this week there didn’t arrive many new students. Just one from Germany who is called Christoph and one from Spain who is called Jaume.
We integrated them in our group really quickly!
I’m still learning some Chinese and hope I can speak and probably understand some after these six weeks. But we will see!
I will write my next blogg after the next weekend
Greets from the centre empire
Monday, 31.07.2006
The Lab
Where I work...
For more than three weeks I work now in the Lab and now it’s on the time to tell something about it.
The first days were really curios for me. Because I had to find a new Lab, the reason was, the original Lab moved. So I found a new one. After some hours of searching, talking and present my self, to professors. And now I’m here in the electronics Lab. It’s a small Lab with some computer places.
I’ve got like my own office ;-) see picture….
My job here is to do some Signal modulation on a Program called MATLAB. It’s really interesting for me, because it is exactly this chapter in what I like to specialise me in the next and last year in my school. Like that I can learn some new modulation and can get some advantages for the next Semester. Also that I have the chance to learn this program is fantastic. It will be very useful for me, when I finished the school.
In the Lab there are two Professors and 12 Students. I guess it is a small Lab. I didn’t see anyone else’s Lab, so I can’t compare.
Sometimes we play some Ping Pong to refresh the mind ;-)
They all play really good. I just can compare with some of them. Especially the Professor is like a star. He returns like every Ball back on the Table. Unbelievable!
It’s fun to play.
The People in the Lab are all so friendly. We are going to have Lunch together like everyday. And if you give them the chance to speak English they really want to. The level average of the English speaking students is not so high. Mostly you’re lucky to get one who can speak some words. Not in my Lab. After some sentence they speak quite good English. So I’m lucky, because some of the others trainee have to work with students who can't speak English, not one sentence, and that’s hard.
In my Lab they like to talk to you and everyone is very interested in you, what are you doing, where you come from and how it is there.
In the same Lab there is a Taiwanese Student, called Andy. He has the advantage that he speaks Chinese so it’s not so a big problem for him to communicate here.
Last Wednesday the Professors invited us, Andy and me, with the two PhD students who are responsible for us, to a dinner. They said just a small one. But it’s like it is here in China, to dine is a ceremony! So we ate like 3 hours. It is called “Hot Pot” and I guess it’s the original Fondue Chinoise. We had also some Chinese wine, they called it wine. It’s something with lots of alcohol. It has 65% of alcohol.
Here if you drink alcohol you have to cheers every single time, when you drink. And keep on watching that your cup is always lower than this one of the Professor, so you show him your respect!
After the first swallows, he started to say “cambai”, what is the meaning of finish the class in once. So I followed him, I didn’t want to be impolitely.
It was a really funny and interesting dinner.
So those were the news about my Lab where I work here in China.
For more than three weeks I work now in the Lab and now it’s on the time to tell something about it.
The first days were really curios for me. Because I had to find a new Lab, the reason was, the original Lab moved. So I found a new one. After some hours of searching, talking and present my self, to professors. And now I’m here in the electronics Lab. It’s a small Lab with some computer places.
I’ve got like my own office ;-) see picture….
My job here is to do some Signal modulation on a Program called MATLAB. It’s really interesting for me, because it is exactly this chapter in what I like to specialise me in the next and last year in my school. Like that I can learn some new modulation and can get some advantages for the next Semester. Also that I have the chance to learn this program is fantastic. It will be very useful for me, when I finished the school.
In the Lab there are two Professors and 12 Students. I guess it is a small Lab. I didn’t see anyone else’s Lab, so I can’t compare.
Sometimes we play some Ping Pong to refresh the mind ;-)
They all play really good. I just can compare with some of them. Especially the Professor is like a star. He returns like every Ball back on the Table. Unbelievable!
It’s fun to play.
The People in the Lab are all so friendly. We are going to have Lunch together like everyday. And if you give them the chance to speak English they really want to. The level average of the English speaking students is not so high. Mostly you’re lucky to get one who can speak some words. Not in my Lab. After some sentence they speak quite good English. So I’m lucky, because some of the others trainee have to work with students who can't speak English, not one sentence, and that’s hard.
In my Lab they like to talk to you and everyone is very interested in you, what are you doing, where you come from and how it is there.
In the same Lab there is a Taiwanese Student, called Andy. He has the advantage that he speaks Chinese so it’s not so a big problem for him to communicate here.
Last Wednesday the Professors invited us, Andy and me, with the two PhD students who are responsible for us, to a dinner. They said just a small one. But it’s like it is here in China, to dine is a ceremony! So we ate like 3 hours. It is called “Hot Pot” and I guess it’s the original Fondue Chinoise. We had also some Chinese wine, they called it wine. It’s something with lots of alcohol. It has 65% of alcohol.
Here if you drink alcohol you have to cheers every single time, when you drink. And keep on watching that your cup is always lower than this one of the Professor, so you show him your respect!
After the first swallows, he started to say “cambai”, what is the meaning of finish the class in once. So I followed him, I didn’t want to be impolitely.
It was a really funny and interesting dinner.
So those were the news about my Lab where I work here in China.
Tuesday, 01.08.2006
The Tour
The Weekend trip to Dandong…
Last weekend we decided to do a little tour in a National resort close-by the North Korean Border.
One of the Volunteers organised all, so we just had to follow the Dates.
We started on Thursday 8pm.
We met us in the Dorm to move on all together. The first thing what I recognised was that all the Chinese just had a small bag with some clothes and so on with them and that all of us Europeans had a huge Backpack with us, which was full of clothes.
As soon we arrived at the train station we met the others from the travel agency. So finally we were a group of up to 40 people.
During the night we took the sleeping train to Dandong City. It was a special experience, because there were so many People in this small train and the Beds to sleep were just like a wooden board!
But like this we’ve got fast in contact with the other travellers, who were all Chinese. To our surprise all the Children speak English. So, we had fast some little fans and friends. We had some really interesting discussion, especially with the older one who already goes to the college.
At the next day we arrived in the Park at 2pm and checked in at the “Hotel”. It was a sort of a hotel, without a Shower and not really with a toilet. But it was enough to stay for a night.
The next day we went on a tour through the Park. I noticed that the kind how we travelled, in a big group and follow a small flag and always have to walk where all the others walk and to watch were they are watching, not really the kind of traveling is, what I prefere!!!
We hurried through this Park, which already is really touristy, and not that what we imaging as a Natural resort. They built like faked Waterfalls and everywhere you can go by this small busses. The other thing is, yes I’m not used to this in Switzerland, there are during one day as many People as in a Park in Switzerland in half a year. It is incredible how many People here in China live. Every place is crowded.
![]()
In the after noon we went on a mountain where a small Temple placed at. It was in my opinion the best of the whole trip, what was organised! I really liked the stairs and the activity in the Countryside.
Sadly, we hadn’t good weather. So, the few over the other mountains were full of clouds and fog. I guess it would be wonderful if the sun shines and you see over all this mountains with this special Chinese character.
For the second night we staid in a small village at the entrance to the Park. During the night there were the streets full of People. And in front of every Restaurant there were these Karaoke TV’s. And there was a firework too.
After some researches we found 2 English songs. We desited to sing first “Love me tender” and the second one would be “YMCA”. We hoped of a good choreography so the singing part wouldn’t be so dominated. But the Police interrupted exactly at 10pm the KTV session. So no second song…
But the street life wasn’t finish with this interruption of the police. So we sat on the pathway and talked to some Local people and got some interesting stories.
On the last day of our trip we went to Dantong City, which is close to the North Korean boarder. Actually I was on the North Korean Ground but just by Boat on the Water. Actually, the view was nothing special. But, to know that the ground right there is forbidden area was fantastic. That was great.
There are two Bridges between the both Cities. One is still complete and the Chinese call it “the Bridge of Friendship”.
![]()
The other one was built by the Japanese in 1909. And during the Korean War the U.S.Airforce bombed this Bridge because the Chinese Army went over this Bridge to help North Korea
After a small sea food lunch we went to the train station and back to Harbin
Last Thursday my uncle John from Hong Kong called me. He said that he got a train ticket for the next train and he will arrive in Harbin next Friday morning. I was so exited about this great news. Because that mend that I would meet for him the first time in my life.
So, me full of energy had to find an accommodation for him. I was lucky to find a room in our dormitory. So, we hadn’t a long distance between our rooms and we could easy make appointment and just go to each others room.
Actually, he is not my real uncle. He is my mother’s cousin, but like it is in Indonesian culture I call him “Om john” what means “Uncle John”. We are the same family and that’s important.
The first time, that I saw my uncle, was on Friday morning in the Campus. After we put the stuff in his room we went for breakfast in the campus. Then he had to take a little rest because of the long voyage. It took him more than 12h to come to Harbin.
During this time I went with the others of our IAESTE group to a little Video shoot. We went to the Chemistry Lab and did a promotion video. They needed some foreigners on the Video they said. It was fun in the Lab. All of us where really bad in Chemistry and now we are on a promotion Video for the Lab??? They had to show us everything! How to hold the glass and what we should do.
In the after noon we went to eat something small and had the first talk. So we got to know each other better.
At night I had a farewell party. Because, all the Taiwanese went on a trip to Mongolia. We went in a huge barbeque Restaurant. Like I am, I ate to much.
On Saturday we had the first day just for us. So Om John and I went to “Sun Island”. It is a small Island in the river. The first problem was how to get there. So we took one of these small motorcycles to get there. It was sooo fun…
The Sun Island is a really beautiful and relaxing place. It would be much nicer if there wouldn’t be so many People, like everywhere here in China. It was a nice sunny day. So, a lot of wedding couples made the wedding pictures in this nice scenery.
We just walked through the park and had a rest on one of the 1000 benches.
Tired of the long day and the sun we went early to bed.
The next day was for shopping
Om John is e real Chinese business man. He can talk that is just awesome. And he bargained every price until it was like for free.
During the day we went to a Buddhism Temple here in Harbin. It was nice to see but I guess I will se many better Temples in Beijing where I will go next week.
On Sunday Om John went back and for me started a new week again.
It was fantastic to getting know my uncle and to get in contact with my relatives here in China…
Last weekend we decided to do a little tour in a National resort close-by the North Korean Border.
One of the Volunteers organised all, so we just had to follow the Dates.
We started on Thursday 8pm.
We met us in the Dorm to move on all together. The first thing what I recognised was that all the Chinese just had a small bag with some clothes and so on with them and that all of us Europeans had a huge Backpack with us, which was full of clothes.
As soon we arrived at the train station we met the others from the travel agency. So finally we were a group of up to 40 people.
During the night we took the sleeping train to Dandong City. It was a special experience, because there were so many People in this small train and the Beds to sleep were just like a wooden board!
But like this we’ve got fast in contact with the other travellers, who were all Chinese. To our surprise all the Children speak English. So, we had fast some little fans and friends. We had some really interesting discussion, especially with the older one who already goes to the college.
At the next day we arrived in the Park at 2pm and checked in at the “Hotel”. It was a sort of a hotel, without a Shower and not really with a toilet. But it was enough to stay for a night.
The next day we went on a tour through the Park. I noticed that the kind how we travelled, in a big group and follow a small flag and always have to walk where all the others walk and to watch were they are watching, not really the kind of traveling is, what I prefere!!!
We hurried through this Park, which already is really touristy, and not that what we imaging as a Natural resort. They built like faked Waterfalls and everywhere you can go by this small busses. The other thing is, yes I’m not used to this in Switzerland, there are during one day as many People as in a Park in Switzerland in half a year. It is incredible how many People here in China live. Every place is crowded.
In the after noon we went on a mountain where a small Temple placed at. It was in my opinion the best of the whole trip, what was organised! I really liked the stairs and the activity in the Countryside.
Sadly, we hadn’t good weather. So, the few over the other mountains were full of clouds and fog. I guess it would be wonderful if the sun shines and you see over all this mountains with this special Chinese character.
For the second night we staid in a small village at the entrance to the Park. During the night there were the streets full of People. And in front of every Restaurant there were these Karaoke TV’s. And there was a firework too.
After some researches we found 2 English songs. We desited to sing first “Love me tender” and the second one would be “YMCA”. We hoped of a good choreography so the singing part wouldn’t be so dominated. But the Police interrupted exactly at 10pm the KTV session. So no second song…
But the street life wasn’t finish with this interruption of the police. So we sat on the pathway and talked to some Local people and got some interesting stories.
On the last day of our trip we went to Dantong City, which is close to the North Korean boarder. Actually I was on the North Korean Ground but just by Boat on the Water. Actually, the view was nothing special. But, to know that the ground right there is forbidden area was fantastic. That was great.
There are two Bridges between the both Cities. One is still complete and the Chinese call it “the Bridge of Friendship”.
The other one was built by the Japanese in 1909. And during the Korean War the U.S.Airforce bombed this Bridge because the Chinese Army went over this Bridge to help North Korea
After a small sea food lunch we went to the train station and back to Harbin
Monday, 07.08.2006
My uncle's visit
Last Thursday my uncle John from Hong Kong called me. He said that he got a train ticket for the next train and he will arrive in Harbin next Friday morning. I was so exited about this great news. Because that mend that I would meet for him the first time in my life.
So, me full of energy had to find an accommodation for him. I was lucky to find a room in our dormitory. So, we hadn’t a long distance between our rooms and we could easy make appointment and just go to each others room.
Actually, he is not my real uncle. He is my mother’s cousin, but like it is in Indonesian culture I call him “Om john” what means “Uncle John”. We are the same family and that’s important.
The first time, that I saw my uncle, was on Friday morning in the Campus. After we put the stuff in his room we went for breakfast in the campus. Then he had to take a little rest because of the long voyage. It took him more than 12h to come to Harbin.
During this time I went with the others of our IAESTE group to a little Video shoot. We went to the Chemistry Lab and did a promotion video. They needed some foreigners on the Video they said. It was fun in the Lab. All of us where really bad in Chemistry and now we are on a promotion Video for the Lab??? They had to show us everything! How to hold the glass and what we should do.
In the after noon we went to eat something small and had the first talk. So we got to know each other better.
At night I had a farewell party. Because, all the Taiwanese went on a trip to Mongolia. We went in a huge barbeque Restaurant. Like I am, I ate to much.
On Saturday we had the first day just for us. So Om John and I went to “Sun Island”. It is a small Island in the river. The first problem was how to get there. So we took one of these small motorcycles to get there. It was sooo fun…
The Sun Island is a really beautiful and relaxing place. It would be much nicer if there wouldn’t be so many People, like everywhere here in China. It was a nice sunny day. So, a lot of wedding couples made the wedding pictures in this nice scenery.
We just walked through the park and had a rest on one of the 1000 benches.
Tired of the long day and the sun we went early to bed.
The next day was for shopping
Om John is e real Chinese business man. He can talk that is just awesome. And he bargained every price until it was like for free.
During the day we went to a Buddhism Temple here in Harbin. It was nice to see but I guess I will se many better Temples in Beijing where I will go next week.
On Sunday Om John went back and for me started a new week again.
It was fantastic to getting know my uncle and to get in contact with my relatives here in China…
Sunday, 13.08.2006
The Last week
My last week in Harbin
Yes I already left Harbin. I desited to leave earlier because there are so many things too see in Beijing. And so I'm here in Beijing to see this awesom City.
The last week was very busy. Because I had to finish my project and to do a presentation and deliver a report to the Professor. So the last 3 days I had no breaks. Actually, I would also work in the evening. But, then always the other trainees came and we went out or drank some beer and watched movies. So no work during the evening. That ment that I had to work during the lunchbreak. That was hard...
But, finally I finished my projekt and left the Lab.
It was a good Lab. We went for dinner at the Last night. It was fun to talk to them, but sad too, because it was the last time I would see them.
On Saturday, we went for a footballgame with other foreigners in Harbin. We played against a Chinese team.Against chinese wrestling students. We lost!
At night we went for dinner to eat Dumblings. Thats like huge Raviolies. It was strange. Because there are some who left already to Shanghai. So we were just 8 People. And it was strange too. Because I knew it would be the last dinner with all of them. I miss them already. We were a good group and had a lot of fun in Harbin.
Thank you guys.
Now Im here in Beijing. I arrived here today by plane. It was quite hard to get to the Hostel. Because no Taxidriver spoke english. And the Hostel is placed in a small road where no cars can pass. So no Taxidriver knew the Hostel. But finally I got here.
I din'd see mutch today because it was raining.
Hope I can tell you more soon...
Yes I already left Harbin. I desited to leave earlier because there are so many things too see in Beijing. And so I'm here in Beijing to see this awesom City.
The last week was very busy. Because I had to finish my project and to do a presentation and deliver a report to the Professor. So the last 3 days I had no breaks. Actually, I would also work in the evening. But, then always the other trainees came and we went out or drank some beer and watched movies. So no work during the evening. That ment that I had to work during the lunchbreak. That was hard...
But, finally I finished my projekt and left the Lab.
It was a good Lab. We went for dinner at the Last night. It was fun to talk to them, but sad too, because it was the last time I would see them.
On Saturday, we went for a footballgame with other foreigners in Harbin. We played against a Chinese team.Against chinese wrestling students. We lost!
At night we went for dinner to eat Dumblings. Thats like huge Raviolies. It was strange. Because there are some who left already to Shanghai. So we were just 8 People. And it was strange too. Because I knew it would be the last dinner with all of them. I miss them already. We were a good group and had a lot of fun in Harbin.
Thank you guys.
Now Im here in Beijing. I arrived here today by plane. It was quite hard to get to the Hostel. Because no Taxidriver spoke english. And the Hostel is placed in a small road where no cars can pass. So no Taxidriver knew the Hostel. But finally I got here.
I din'd see mutch today because it was raining.
Hope I can tell you more soon...
Monday, 21.08.2006
Sightseeing in Beijing
After one week i satteled down here in Beijing.
It's so a great city. But let me start at the bieginning...
After I arrived last sunday and it was just rainig, I was a little disappointed about Beijing. I planed so many things here and then the weather wouldn't play the game!
On monday I decided to see just some places in the city, close to the hostel. Because every second it could start to rain again! So I went to the Temple of Heaven. Actually, it's not really a temple, it's more a Park with a temple in it. Sadly, they renovate most of the sights, because of Beijig 2008, the olympics. So not every temple is accesible.
I enjoyed the Park (Temple). There have been many older citicen to do some Taiji or play music.
However, The next day I planed to go shopping. Because the weatherforcast said it would rain again. But when I woke up, the sun was shining bright on the sky...
So, I decided to go to the Summer Palace. I went there with a man from Lausanne, who live in the same dorm like I do. So we took the bus to get there. Lucky, we took not the normal explained bus. So we got to a different entrance than all the other tourists and could see the palace in a more quite way.
The Palace was so great. And the park round the Palace with it's small lake was really relaxing. Incredible but true. This palace is so huge that you can abscond from the tousends of tourists!
For dinner I had the most famous meal from Beijing, roast Beijing duck. I met some people from england and they knew a really nice and good restaurant. Actually, first I wasn't sure that there would be a reastuarant. Because, we went out of the Taxi and then we walked like 5 minutes in dark small streets, where no one was. But at the end we found the place. This reastaurant is famous four the roasted duck. But not under the tourists, just under the foreigners who live in Beijing.
the meal was delicious.
The next day I got a little shock. Because, I asked the tour office about some places where i wanted to visit and how I can get there. And the only thing what they could tell me, was that they never heard about these places before. So many things what i planed to do, and I didn't know how to get there.
So i went to the forbitten city in the after noon. It's just round the corner from the hostel. But first I went to the Maoseleum to see the death body of Mao Tse Tung. To get in there, you have to queue like 45 min. And actually it was wast of time. Because, you have to hurry and you can't really look at him. After a small lunch I went in the forbitten city. Also here where a lot of sights under construction for Beijing 2008.
But there is still enough to see for several hours. So I spent like 6 hours there. Many small museums are in there, in which the life of the empirors quing and ming were illustrated.
The next day was the great wall on the run. I booked it two days before so I wasn't sure about the weather and everyone who joint the group just hoped on good weather.
![]()
We left the hostel at 6am. Because the busride to Jinshanling take like 3h. There arrived, we took our backback and started to walk. We had 5h to walk to simatai, where the bus waited for us,(10km) on the wall. It was a great day. We had a great view and a funny group to walk. After 5km we made a break of one hour to eat lunch and just to relax on the wall. I recommend it to everyone who comes to beijing. It is worth to do it.
In the evening was the farewell dinner of some of the english people. There I heart that the trains to Pin Yao were fully booked for the next 5 days. Actually, I would take one of these trains to get there and see an older chinese city. But during this dinner some of them asked me to join them to a hike in the countryside. Lucky for me, they planed to go to a small village outside of beijing. Actually, I planed to go there too. But, the tour office didn't know how to get there. So now I had company to get there.
So we left on saturday morning to this small village. First, we arrived, we were a little bit disappointed. Because, there were busses of chinese tourists. But to our luck they just staied in the village. So the hiking tours to the mountains were just our own.
We planed to sleep one night in this small village. It was a really good idea. Because, the special flavour of the village you will just see at night. All these nice people and the quiteness.
My next blogg will be from home.
On friday I will fly home and this week I planed to relax and see some of Beijing by Bike.
It's so a great city. But let me start at the bieginning...
After I arrived last sunday and it was just rainig, I was a little disappointed about Beijing. I planed so many things here and then the weather wouldn't play the game!
On monday I decided to see just some places in the city, close to the hostel. Because every second it could start to rain again! So I went to the Temple of Heaven. Actually, it's not really a temple, it's more a Park with a temple in it. Sadly, they renovate most of the sights, because of Beijig 2008, the olympics. So not every temple is accesible.
I enjoyed the Park (Temple). There have been many older citicen to do some Taiji or play music.
However, The next day I planed to go shopping. Because the weatherforcast said it would rain again. But when I woke up, the sun was shining bright on the sky...
So, I decided to go to the Summer Palace. I went there with a man from Lausanne, who live in the same dorm like I do. So we took the bus to get there. Lucky, we took not the normal explained bus. So we got to a different entrance than all the other tourists and could see the palace in a more quite way.
The Palace was so great. And the park round the Palace with it's small lake was really relaxing. Incredible but true. This palace is so huge that you can abscond from the tousends of tourists!
For dinner I had the most famous meal from Beijing, roast Beijing duck. I met some people from england and they knew a really nice and good restaurant. Actually, first I wasn't sure that there would be a reastuarant. Because, we went out of the Taxi and then we walked like 5 minutes in dark small streets, where no one was. But at the end we found the place. This reastaurant is famous four the roasted duck. But not under the tourists, just under the foreigners who live in Beijing.
the meal was delicious.
The next day I got a little shock. Because, I asked the tour office about some places where i wanted to visit and how I can get there. And the only thing what they could tell me, was that they never heard about these places before. So many things what i planed to do, and I didn't know how to get there.
So i went to the forbitten city in the after noon. It's just round the corner from the hostel. But first I went to the Maoseleum to see the death body of Mao Tse Tung. To get in there, you have to queue like 45 min. And actually it was wast of time. Because, you have to hurry and you can't really look at him. After a small lunch I went in the forbitten city. Also here where a lot of sights under construction for Beijing 2008.
But there is still enough to see for several hours. So I spent like 6 hours there. Many small museums are in there, in which the life of the empirors quing and ming were illustrated.
The next day was the great wall on the run. I booked it two days before so I wasn't sure about the weather and everyone who joint the group just hoped on good weather.
We left the hostel at 6am. Because the busride to Jinshanling take like 3h. There arrived, we took our backback and started to walk. We had 5h to walk to simatai, where the bus waited for us,(10km) on the wall. It was a great day. We had a great view and a funny group to walk. After 5km we made a break of one hour to eat lunch and just to relax on the wall. I recommend it to everyone who comes to beijing. It is worth to do it.
In the evening was the farewell dinner of some of the english people. There I heart that the trains to Pin Yao were fully booked for the next 5 days. Actually, I would take one of these trains to get there and see an older chinese city. But during this dinner some of them asked me to join them to a hike in the countryside. Lucky for me, they planed to go to a small village outside of beijing. Actually, I planed to go there too. But, the tour office didn't know how to get there. So now I had company to get there.
So we left on saturday morning to this small village. First, we arrived, we were a little bit disappointed. Because, there were busses of chinese tourists. But to our luck they just staied in the village. So the hiking tours to the mountains were just our own.
We planed to sleep one night in this small village. It was a really good idea. Because, the special flavour of the village you will just see at night. All these nice people and the quiteness.
My next blogg will be from home.
On friday I will fly home and this week I planed to relax and see some of Beijing by Bike.
Sunday, 27.08.2006
The final days
The Last week in Beijing
It was a strange feeling to now that I will sleep in my own bed at the end of the week.
The last week I just relaxed and didn’t do a lot of sightseeing. On Monday I recovered myself. I slept until noon and just went to the Internet and changed some money. I sat in the courtyard of the hostel and enjoyed the present of the other travellers. We told us many different stories. It’s very interesting to hear other travellers’ experiences.
For dinner I went to the farewell dinner of Hanna. We went to the restaurant “1001 nights“. It is an oriental restaurant in Sanlitun, in the embassy area of Beijing.
On Tuesday I went to visit the company “Delong” a little bit outside of Beijing. I got this address from a friend in Switzerland, because this company is cooperation with a Swiss company. So I got the first contacts with the industry.
After this two days of relaxing I went on Wednesday to see some of Beijings normal live. So I went by subway to the north where all the old “hutong” are placed at.
The Hutongs are the old neighbourhoods where still look like the old Beijing, with the small streets and small houses.
I walked for hours though this nice and old Beijing.
Later I went to the Beihai Park to see some old citizen dancing, talking and enjoy the evening in the green.
For dinner I went to the night marked. It is a marked which presents every kind of food what you can image. From normal noodles over small sharks to scorpions.
I then also tried some of these. I tried small scorpions, grasshoppers and a centipede. It was not really good. But I was just once there and I liked to try the taste of these animals.
Thursday, was my last real day in Beijing and in China. I went to see the underground city. It was built after the WW2, from Mao, who was afraid of an atomic war. But it was disappointed. Not the whole area was reachable and the guide hurried through the small tunnels and I couldn’t look on all the details of the tunnels. But, every small bunker in Switzerland has much more to see than these simple tunnels under Beijing.
My last sleep in Beijing was bad. I couldn’t really sleep because I was cared of missing the plane or that it would start to rain. Then when it rains in Beijing you need like hours to get to the airport. Fortunately it didn’t rain the next morning. So everything was like planed. I got at time to the airport and on the plane.
I arrived at time in Switzerland where already Felizitas waited for me behind the glass wall…
It was a strange feeling to now that I will sleep in my own bed at the end of the week.
The last week I just relaxed and didn’t do a lot of sightseeing. On Monday I recovered myself. I slept until noon and just went to the Internet and changed some money. I sat in the courtyard of the hostel and enjoyed the present of the other travellers. We told us many different stories. It’s very interesting to hear other travellers’ experiences.
For dinner I went to the farewell dinner of Hanna. We went to the restaurant “1001 nights“. It is an oriental restaurant in Sanlitun, in the embassy area of Beijing.
On Tuesday I went to visit the company “Delong” a little bit outside of Beijing. I got this address from a friend in Switzerland, because this company is cooperation with a Swiss company. So I got the first contacts with the industry.
After this two days of relaxing I went on Wednesday to see some of Beijings normal live. So I went by subway to the north where all the old “hutong” are placed at.
The Hutongs are the old neighbourhoods where still look like the old Beijing, with the small streets and small houses.
I walked for hours though this nice and old Beijing.
Later I went to the Beihai Park to see some old citizen dancing, talking and enjoy the evening in the green.
For dinner I went to the night marked. It is a marked which presents every kind of food what you can image. From normal noodles over small sharks to scorpions.
I then also tried some of these. I tried small scorpions, grasshoppers and a centipede. It was not really good. But I was just once there and I liked to try the taste of these animals.
Thursday, was my last real day in Beijing and in China. I went to see the underground city. It was built after the WW2, from Mao, who was afraid of an atomic war. But it was disappointed. Not the whole area was reachable and the guide hurried through the small tunnels and I couldn’t look on all the details of the tunnels. But, every small bunker in Switzerland has much more to see than these simple tunnels under Beijing.
My last sleep in Beijing was bad. I couldn’t really sleep because I was cared of missing the plane or that it would start to rain. Then when it rains in Beijing you need like hours to get to the airport. Fortunately it didn’t rain the next morning. So everything was like planed. I got at time to the airport and on the plane.
I arrived at time in Switzerland where already Felizitas waited for me behind the glass wall…
