Whirl wind tour of Asia

Week one log of my whirlwind tour of Asia...
13 days, 4 countries, 9 cities, 13 plane rides...one exhausted little girl!

Day 1:
So I started off today with a flight from Hong Kong to Luzon in the Philippines. The airport story consisted of long lines, my fabulous coworker getting us checked in ahead of time thanks to his preferred flying status, gate agent moving our seats from row 28 to 36 so we could sit across the aisle from each other, just about running through the airport to get to the gate, to find like15 people on a 737 size jet. Lots of empty seats!


Our supplier met us at Clark airport and it was about a 1 hour drive to Subic Bay - where their factory is. The factory is in an industrial complex where the roads have names like Aim High, Innovative Road and Efficiency Way. Factory tour was good but hot - outside air temperature of 90F felt cool compared to the area where the presses and ovens were. I rate the bathrooms on my tours through Asia.. One star for each "amenity": actual toilet (vs. hole in ground), toilet paper, sink, soap, paper towels. The bathroom at the factory was 3 stars (missing paper products). Since day 1 of my Asia trips, I've carried my own paper products (just in case!). The most interesting part of the day was the trip from Subic Bay to Manila - about 3.5 hours by car. The landscape is beautiful - mountains created by volcanoes - so very interesting shapes. Everything is lush and green. My Filipino co-worker told me of some very beautiful areas (with beaches, diving and nice places to hike) in the Philippines and suggested I return and experience some of them.

When we arrived in Manila, I was reminded of the Dominican Republic..very crowded streets with "no rules". Cars ignored the lane markers - at one point I counted 7 cars wide on a 4 lane road. It was bumper to bumper traffic and the scooters/motorcycles drove between the cars. One truck - with the logo "Seasonaire Industrial Works and Trading" had an open bed with about 10 guys (wearing Seasonaire shirts) riding in the back and 4 guys in the Front. Amongst the traffic were "peanut vendors" - guys walking around selling bags (about the size of granola bars) of peanuts and occasionally other items. Open air buses (no windows or doors) carried mobs of people.

When we finally arrived at the Marriott near the airport, our car was stopped at the gate (as were all other ones). A guy walked around with a mirror looking under the vehicle while a K-9 unit sniffed the trunk/back of van. All our bags were scanned as we entered into the hotel (i.e. security screening at airport) and we walked through metal detectors. We went through the same routine at the restaurant. Yes, a bit unnerving to realize these security measures were needed.

Dinner was Chinese food - which was probably better than it's US counterpart but nothing compared to mainland China or Taiwan Chinese food. But, excellent company. One day down- 10 or 11 to go

Day 2:
Today started with early morning flight from Manila to Taipei. I called my Boo and we talked for a bit while I waited in the airport for our flight. I guess both she and Mitsi miss me....she sent me like 4 different pictures after we spoke. My favorite one shown below.
 
The flight was on Philippines Airline and they have the most hysterically funny saftey message video. I wish I had the mind to tape it. There is no way I can do it justice in attempting to recap it. Which reminds me of the bell hop in Manila. He was showing me my room and how everything worked...the "multinational" outlets, TV, A/C remote. Then he opens the door and says, "here is the iron/ironing board. I feel like houdini. I wonder what is behind this door..." And he opens it up to show the hangers, robes and slippers. Then before he opens the drawer he says, "and in this drawer is the hair dryer!" And, when he opens it, he looks and says, "Phew, I was hoping it was in here. Would have looked bad if it wasn't." Again, I know my recap isn't doing it justice, as his facial expressions and the way he said the words was so funny. No one else in our group got the same "royal" treatment I did. It is always funny how the Asian men feel the need to make sure I am well cared for. I get quite spoiled.
 
Right now I'm sitting in the Taipei airport waiting on our flight to Beijing. Yep, not even one night in Taipei. I've been to Taiwan 2x before, so there wasn't much that was "new" to me. Taiwan is a beautiful island, though....mountains run down the middle. The east side has beautiful beaches. The people are very nice and very proud of their heirtage and food. Which reminds me, lunch was fabulous - traditional Taiwanese food - which is slightly different than mainland China. I think I like the Taiwanese flavorings better. We had spicy tofu - which was very good. And, a chicken and bamboo soup that I loved. There were other dishes but those two were my favorite. I never knew bamboo had such a lovely flavor to it. Thinking of going to the Asian market near me to see if they have good bamboo there.
 
Day 3:
Woke up in Beijing this morning. We had an 8:30 meet with a supplier. Yes, we have to work on Saturday. Unfortunately, my co-worker is a work-a-holic. Although it was an important trip – a new supplier that I think is a very good option for our business. I’ve been to Beijing before – seen the Summer Palace, Forbidden City and the Great Wall. I’ve had the Peking Duck – best anywhere! So I don’t feel so deprived this trip. It was a 2 hour drive to the factory – south west of Beijing and unfortunately, the traffic in Beijing was terrible causing it to be more like 3-1/2 hours. Ugh! We arrived in time for lunch. Gotta love the Chinese…no meal skipping here! They put on a very nice spread. My favorite was a “red potato” pastry like thing. Also, the “pie” which is a type of fried dough. I know well enough how many plates come out, so I do my best to only have a little of each and therefore not likely to get overfull. My co-worker hasn’t figured that out yet.
 
Sadly, at some point in the day, I started to feel sick. My glands got swollen and I’m started to have trouble swallowing. My throat hurts terribly. I did my best to not appear ill. The factory tour was good and after the owner wanted us to stay for dinner and Chinese wine (more like grappa). My co-worker had an evening meeting, so we had to turn them down. I wish that hadn’t been the case. I think it would have been fun to eat and drink with the owner. He was typical older Chinese man – no English, very proud of his business. Those are the type of meals I enjoy the best. The Chinese form bonds over meals and alcohol.
 
We got back and I had 1-1/2 hours til dinner. I took a bath and napped. I awoke with the glands more swollen and barely able to swallow. I muddled through dinner…spioiling myself with a coconut juice…you can’t get anything like it in the states. It has the consistency of 2% combined with whole milk. No see through at all. Not as sweet as the coconut juice/milk you can get in the states.
 
As soon as we finished dinner, I went back to the room. I packed up my bags (in preparation for the next day’s departure) and went to bed.
 
Day 4:
Sunday, I woke up and my glands were still swollen. I looked in the mirror and can see white spots on my tonsils. If it sticks around or I spike a fever, I suspect I have strep throat. But, it might just clear up on its own. No fun being sick in China. Not a big fan of Chinese doctors. But, since Sunday was a travel day, it wasn’t too bad. Rode to airport, plane to Hangzhou, 2.5 hour car ride to Jinhua. We arrived before 4 p.m. and I ended up sleeping until dinner at 6:30. I was under the impression we’d be meeting Luke in the Hangzhou airport and he’d be riding with us to Jinhua. When he wasn’t there, I assumed he wouldn’t be joining us. But when I met everyone for dinner, there Luke was. I was so happy. Luke is one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. He is kind, courteous and makes an extra effort to make visitors feel welcome. I confided in him that I was sick. So, at dinner, he made sure we ordered some fruit juice for me, to help get me the vitamins needed. He also told me that if I didn’t feel better, I was to let him and he’d make sure I got to a doctor for meds. Because I was feeling so yucky, I don’t recall much about dinner. The owner of Sun-Flex seemed very nice (he joined us for dinner). Nothing really stands out in my mind…but again, I’m sure it is because I was feeling so sick. I went to bed right after dinner.
 
Day 5:
It is getting late, so I probably won’t be writing much about today. We visited two suppliers. The neat thing on the way to the first one was as we drove through the city center. One the actual sidewalks, people were playing badminton! In the park across the street, they were doing what looked like tai chi. it is very cool to see these displays…which reminds me, as we arrived in Zhengzhou or wherever this hotel is (about ½ hour from Zhengzhou), people were watching three ladies dancing on stage, but also imitating them. It looked like Tai Chi again. So interesting to see.
 
Okay, I should sleep soon.  As the trip goes on, the time to write seems less and less. Mostly because I am now sleeping soundly through the night and not waking up early (leaving me time to write).


Day 6:I visited the city Zhengzhou. There were two new suppliers we were evaluating there. While visiting the first one, it seemed part of the city was being torn down. There were bricks all over the place and the dust was at least 10 mm thick. Upon talking to the supplier, we find out that they are knocking down a lot of the old buildings to add “green space” or so it seems. The first supplier we visited was building a new plant in the “development area”. This is a new part of the city that used to be a rural area where they are putting up building after building. The new factory that is being built will have double the capacaity of the old one. They will also have dormitories for the workers. Our host was very proud of the area being built for the dorms and wanted to show them to us. While touring the construction of the new factory, I noted an area where the workers were working. They had a few cots (with bug netting), a seating area, cooking area and food area right within the building being built. My guess is the guys who are working there camp out at night, since they don’t live close to the facility being built.

The second place we visiting was a bit smaller. They provided a large variety of products. Some of the products they provided were put together by hand in a very tedious process. My co-worker leaned and whispered, “I feel sorry for those girls,” indicating the ones doing the work. I noted they were about Boo’s age. I couldn’t help but think about how if she had been born in China, most likely, she’d be a candidate for such an existence.

Day 7:
The next city we visited was Shunde. Shunde is located in South China. It is near Shenzhen, which is one of the first places I visited in China. When I first visited Shenzhen, it was a rural area that was just getting manufacturing. Ten years later, it reminded me of Hong Kong…a built up city with shopping malls and Starbucks. I think it is about a 2 hour drive from Shude to Shenzhen. Shunde is a manufacturing city…like many of the others I’ve visited.

Sadly, that which stands out is one of rudeness. I was checking into the Sheraton hotel and was in the line for Starwood Preferred Guests…which I am a member. The lady behind the counter was working on my room when a man came up and interrupted. She explained she was busy but he wasn’t having it. Of course, I don’t understand the language. All I know is there was a lot of talk back and forth where it looked like she asked him to wait and told him she was working with me. I truly believe he expected her to stop what she was doing with me and take care of him. I’m not positive of his nationality. But he was Asian. The next morning, when checking out, I had almost the exact same thing happen. For whatever reason, these men seemed to think they didn’t have to wait their turn and they didn’t need to acknowledge the fact that the clerk was busy with another customer. And, in both cases, the ladies behind the counter seemed to politely tell them they were busy and had to wait…more than one time to convince the men to go away. In neither case did the man wait to have his issue resolved. Odd.