jfv wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 11:21 am

TylerDeadPine wrote: Mon Nov 13, 2023 7:01 am

jfv wrote: Sun Nov 12, 2023 7:37 pm

When you go to Hong Kong & Ningbo, will you be meeting up with locals (work colleagues?).. or traveling by yourself? Hong Kong wouldn't be so bad if you're going alone, but just about anywhere on mainland (except maybe Shanghai or Beijing) is challenging if you don't have someone to guide you around.

Yeah I’m with a guy who has been many times - we are into… very different things, but he can get around and speaks tourist mandarin

Cool. Probably much better than going there by yourself. There were a few times I traveled to mainland and didn't do anything except business meeting, restaurant, hotel room. Have a good time!

Follow up - Ningbo I did almost nothing but work and eat and sleep, but the downtown had some great food, was clean and people were nice.

Hong Kong is cool but way more international-business-tech hub than I expected… I don’t know why, I was very ignorant. No clue what I thought it would be like.

I got brutal vertigo there, probably from all the plane rides in a short amount of time messing my ears up. Tried to get to the top of the mountain and I could only get to Mid-Levels before needing to come back down. I needed to sit and found the Best-Dumpling-House-In-The-World run by my new HK locals buds Haley and Betty. They totally rock and the hand cut noodles are mind blowing. I stayed for 4 hours.
We ended up doing a gift exchange at Christmas. They sent me dumpling shaped couch pillows.
https://www.instagram.com/amaze_dumplings/?hl=en
They’re doing a pop up/guest spot somewhere in Denmark later this year, I’ll get the details if anyone lives there. If anyone is a mega baller or runs corporate you should fly them in to chef whatever event you have - I cannot overhype them enough.


Sharp change of topic, my spouse is nervous to travel without me since leukemia so I’m more than happy to go with to a work conference in Salt Lake City. I’ll have nothing to do during the day for four days and other than eat at Red Iguana would love any suggestions!

TylerDeadPine wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 1:58 am Follow up - Ningbo I did almost nothing but work and eat and sleep, but the downtown had some great food, was clean and people were nice.

Hong Kong is cool but way more international-business-tech hub than I expected… I don’t know why, I was very ignorant. No clue what I thought it would be like.

Haven't been to Ningbo, but your experience there sounds like almost all of my trips to mainland China (aside from Shanghai). I can't stress enough how nice the people are there; it was just difficult for me to do anything on my own due to lack of knowledge of the local area or language.

I have fond memories of Hong Kong, though they might be skewed a bit because it was my first place I visited in Asia. So different than anything that I had ever seen. I really want to go back. I haven't been to Hong Kong or mainland China since the pandemic.

TylerDeadPine wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 1:58 am Sharp change of topic, my spouse is nervous to travel without me since leukemia so I’m more than happy to go with to a work conference in Salt Lake City. I’ll have nothing to do during the day for four days and other than eat at Red Iguana would love any suggestions!

I've driven through there twice on my way to Nevada/California (from Illinois). When I went there 20 years ago, I had no idea how beautiful Utah is. Between the mountains and the salt flats, the landscape is incredible. That's probably what I would want to see (again) if I went back there. I don't know much about the city stuff. Have a good trip!

jfv wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 1:31 pm

TylerDeadPine wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 1:58 am Follow up - Ningbo I did almost nothing but work and eat and sleep, but the downtown had some great food, was clean and people were nice.

Hong Kong is cool but way more international-business-tech hub than I expected… I don’t know why, I was very ignorant. No clue what I thought it would be like.

Haven't been to Ningbo, but your experience there sounds like almost all of my trips to mainland China (aside from Shanghai). I can't stress enough how nice the people are there; it was just difficult for me to do anything on my own due to lack of knowledge of the local area or language.

I have fond memories of Hong Kong, though they might be skewed a bit because it was my first place I visited in Asia. So different than anything that I had ever seen. I really want to go back. I haven't been to Hong Kong or mainland China since the pandemic.

TylerDeadPine wrote: Tue Mar 05, 2024 1:58 am Sharp change of topic, my spouse is nervous to travel without me since leukemia so I’m more than happy to go with to a work conference in Salt Lake City. I’ll have nothing to do during the day for four days and other than eat at Red Iguana would love any suggestions!

I've driven through there twice on my way to Nevada/California (from Illinois). When I went there 20 years ago, I had no idea how beautiful Utah is. Between the mountains and the salt flats, the landscape is incredible. That's probably what I would want to see (again) if I went back there. I don't know much about the city stuff. Have a good trip!

The people were SO nice. I wasn't prepared for that. I did get stopped on the street by women for photos, which my ego was completely prepared for. I have a friend who grew up in Ghangzhou so I had her on WeChat to keep me straight.

I felt the same way about Hong Kong and it was also my first place. The city coming into view while taking the train from the airport is a real experience.
Also I knew the British history/influence but didn't expect it to be so prevalent. It felt very much like an Asian-Canadian city - all the names of the streets, and the road signs, even the airport feels super similar to Pearson in Toronto

Utah is gorgeous! Zion park is a treasure.
I've been there plenty doing CNC/Robot work but lived the work-eat-hotel life. I'm looking forward to exploring SLC.

Anyone ever been to Newfoundland? What did you think?

Wood Goblin wrote: Anyone ever been to Newfoundland? What did you think?

My brother and I drove there from Florida about 26 years ago. The ferry docked at Port Aux Basques. We drove to Gross Morn and hiked for a day and then started driving east. Our goal was to make it to St John’s, but at Gander we decided to turn around and head back to the ferry. It was very scenic and I wish now we had gone to St John’s but we were exhausted and sleeping in a tiny Ford Festiva and the driving conditions were not great for a tiny car. I hope to go back some day. Folks were friendly.

Jon

In Silverthorne, Colorado, on a ski trip with my son. Weather should be perfect. We got lucky.

Barbo wrote: Sun Mar 10, 2024 11:15 am

Wood Goblin wrote: Anyone ever been to Newfoundland? What did you think?

My brother and I drove there from Florida about 26 years ago. The ferry docked at Port Aux Basques. We drove to Gross Morn and hiked for a day and then started driving east. Our goal was to make it to St John’s, but at Gander we decided to turn around and head back to the ferry. It was very scenic and I wish now we had gone to St John’s but we were exhausted and sleeping in a tiny Ford Festiva and the driving conditions were not great for a tiny car. I hope to go back some day. Folks were friendly.

Jon

Thanks! We’re thinking it looks vast and beautiful and relatively undiscovered by Instagram tourists and are hoping to visit this summer.

Headed to Japan next week for 10 days. Hitting Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara (for a few hrs maybe).

Welcoming any must dos. We have a pretty extensive list for Tokyo (hotels in Shinjuku and Chuo), but less so for the others. We’re doing the Sumo tournament in Osaka and a Ryoken with Onsen in Kyoto. Will also likely do a few walking tours (Golden Gai, Izakaya row, Geisha). Also hitting the Hands store and a food court with conveyor sushi.

There's a Japan-specific travel thread. I'll be reviewing it too as I have a trip penciled in for late this year:

https://www.premierrockforum.com/viewto ... ilit=osaka

tommy wrote: Tue Mar 12, 2024 9:17 am Headed to Japan next week for 10 days. Hitting Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara (for a few hrs maybe).

Welcoming any must dos. We have a pretty extensive list for Tokyo (hotels in Shinjuku and Chuo), but less so for the others. We’re doing the Sumo tournament in Osaka and a Ryoken with Onsen in Kyoto. Will also likely do a few walking tours (Golden Gai, Izakaya row, Geisha). Also hitting the Hands store and a food court with conveyor sushi.

We went there last year. I don’t have time right now to write more, but my biggest recommendation by far: if you’re planning to visit the torii gates that ascend the mountain in Kyoto, go at night. The site will be virtually empty and just beautiful and haunting.