The Travel Thread

[caught]

What's Trieste like?

Really interesting city that's quite different from anywhere else in Italy: lots of East- and Central-European influence. Fiercely independent - in mentality at least - from the rest of Italy, maybe not too disimilar in that sense from Liverpool. If you drive north along the coast you'll come across marinas where you'd never believe you were in Italy, while Trieste itself is an industrial port.

 

[caught]

@The Esk @butters re China what's your experience been like with all the pollution/smog etc? Just reading about the situation in Beijing is putting me off a bit...

Beijing was smoggy, yeah. I didn't even realise the plane was about to land cos I thought we were still dead high, but then it touched down. lol You can feel it in the air, smell it. It's not very nice. But still, great city.

It's pretty bad all year round to be honest, don't go in the summer when the air quality is at its poorest. March/April is the best, October next best, winter can get very poor especially if a high pressure system sits over the area.

Worse and worse every time I've been. Maybe I'm remembering it sentimentally, but it seemed a lot better pre-Olympics. There were actually hutongs there, too. Such a different city now.

 

[Billy Dean]

@caught @The Esk @butters thanks fellas. Would you let it put you off going? Was planning to go in March.

 

[jackyboy]

Going to Budapest a week on Sunday!

 

[caught]

@caught @The Esk @butters thanks fellas. Would you let it put you off going? Was planning to go in March.

Personally I'd say it is definitely worth a trip. The first time I went to Beijing was late Feb-early March and it was quite mild of a day, cool of an evening. No sandstorms or anything, although this was back in 2005. It was smoggy enough back then but it's certainly worsened.

Considering it's such a long trip, I always recommend spending as much time there as you can reasonably afford and tour a few other places, rather than staying in Beijing alone.

 

[Billy Dean]

Personally I'd say it is definitely worth a trip. The first time I went to Beijing was late Feb-early March and it was quite mild of a day, cool of an evening. No sandstorms or anything, although this was back in 2005. It was smoggy enough back then but it's certainly worsened.

Considering it's such a long trip, I always recommend spending as much time there as you can reasonably afford and tour a few other places, rather than staying in Beijing alone.

Thanks mate, yeah the plan was to also try to get to Pingyao, Shanghai, Xian, possibly Hong Kong too.

 

[caught]

Thanks mate, yeah the plan was to also try to get to Pingyao, Shanghai, Xian, possibly Hong Kong too.

All worth a visit. And since you're going south anyway I'd recommend visiting Yuangshuo if possible - one of the most beatiful places I've ever seen. Guilin, just a little north, is also nice. I like HK but I know a lot of people don't take to it as much as other parts of China.

 

[Billy Dean]

All worth a visit. And since you're going south anyway I'd recommend visiting Yuangshuo if possible - one of the most beatiful places I've ever seen. Guilin, just a little north, is also nice. I like HK but I know a lot of people don't take to it as much as other parts of China.

Thanks a lot I'll have a look at those places. Maybe I'll just miss Beijing out and focus on the other places. Onl;y got 2 weeks unfrtunately.

 

[The Esk]

Thanks a lot I'll have a look at those places. Maybe I'll just miss Beijing out and focus on the other places. Onl;y got 2 weeks unfrtunately.

Beijing is worth a couple of days, no more if you have a tight schedule.

One way of maximising your time in China is to catch the overnight trains which are quite comfortable, you can sleep and a fascinating insight into China.

Good shouts by @caught I would add Chengdu to the list, fantastic culturally but also the best food in China in my opinion (and the Pandas)

 

[Big Fat Sam]

Worse and worse every time I've been. Maybe I'm remembering it sentimentally, but it seemed a lot better pre-Olympics. There were actually hutongs there, too. Such a different city now.

Well, there are still plenty of the hutongs there ...

 

[caught]

Well, there are still plenty of the hutongs there ...

True, but fewer actual functioning ones. I noticed a lot had vanished between 05 and 07-08, and some others had been gentrified.

And I'd echo @The Esk re. China travel: the night trains (even hard sleeper) are cheap and comfortable, although top bunk on a hard sleeper normally means your face is about 3cm from the ceiling. Great experience, though, and a ni hao or two gets you a long way.

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

I would add Chengdu to the list,

Always wanted to go there since I read the classic Chinese novel "Romance of the three kingdoms" many years ago.

There, and the Wuzhang Plains.

EDIT: And Chibi (Red Cliffs), site of the major naval battle of the Han dynasty.

 

[The Esk]

What's Trieste like?

Fantastic place mate, Italian but only just....

The Barcolana held 2nd weekend in October is one if the world's largest sailing regattas, an amazing sight.

 

[Fresh Prince of Belle Val]

Beijing is worth a couple of days, no more if you have a tight schedule.

One way of maximising your time in China is to catch the overnight trains which are quite comfortable, you can sleep and a fascinating insight into China.

Good shouts by @caught I would add Chengdu to the list, fantastic culturally but also the best food in China in my opinion (and the Pandas)

What does Panda taste like?

 

[Whistlin' Dixie]

What does Panda taste like?

Chicken, probably.