Travel To China

Praveen Sequira asked:


Statistics reveal that Chinese is spoken by every one in five persons all over the world. There is no field in which the Chinese people or people of Chinese origin have not made a name for themselves. Their sincerity and hardworking nature have gotten them genuine respect.

China is becoming a popular destination for tourists and business men alike. Tourists visit China to see among other things, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, The Great Wall of China. To converse and understand the Chinese language, many of them attend Chinese language and writing classes. Chinese language lessons are now being offered on the web where you can learn Chinese for free.

Many international corporations are moving their Global Services Delivery centers to China and need help in Chinese language translation. They need help to communicate with local businessmen as also the Government of China. China’s growing stature in the global economy makes it necessary for international majors to interact with China and the Chinese people. When you visit China and speak Chinese to the people of China, they will feel respected. Seeing the growing popularity of China, there are many organizations offering free Chinese Language translation for people who deal with China for doing business.

There are people who want to learn Chinese for the sheer love of the language. The literature of China is rich and should be read to get an idea of China’s glorious history and its efforts to overcome the ills of the past.

In America, Chinese language translator jobs are available for people who have studied the language. America has identified Chinese as one of the four major languages that is important for its citizens. This is also one of the reasons for the growing popularity of the Chinese language. Since there are many opportunities to learn Chinese online, there has been an increase in the number of people learning Chinese. Chinese can be learned with the help of a Chinese language free workbook that will help you to understand what you have learnt.

Many people from China are visiting various countries across the world in search of attractive tourist destinations. The countries visited need people who know the Standard Chinese language, in order to converse with their guests from China. A demand has sprung up for Chinese lessons. There are organizations offering people how to speak Chinese lessons for free.

There is a renewed interest in Chinese history and Chinese civilization in parts of the world. The people who want to learn about China’s past need to learn to speak Chinese. Opportunities to learn Chinese for free are available and one should make best use of these.

Chinese being spoken all over the world, there are even Chinese Language Conferences being held very often. This proves the importance of the language.

Learning Chinese has also become popular because of the career opportunities available for Chinese translators and also the career opportunities available in China in this globalist world. If you need to learn a foreign language, try Chinese.



Luis

Raman Verma asked:


Indonesia

The name Indonesia has its roots in two Greek words: “Indos” meaning Indian and “Nesos” which means islands. It is an appropriate description of the archipelago as there are estimated to be a total of 17,508 islands, of which only about 6,000 are inhabited, stretching for 5,150 km between the Australian and Asian continental. The main islands are Sumatra Kalimantan), Sulawesi Irian Jaya), and last but not least Java. The nation’s capital, Jakarta, has a fascinating and significant history

Climate– Indonesia’s climate is definitely tropical. The main seasons are summer, winter and monsoon; it is devoid of autumn and spring.

Culture– Indonesia is rich in art and culture which are intertwined with religion and age-old traditions. The basic principles which guide life include the concepts of mutual assistance or “gotong royong”. Religious influences on the community are varied  from island to island. Indonesia is rich with culture with 250 - 300 ethnic groups live here.

From graceful court and temple dances to charming folk dances and boisterous play, the performing arts of Indonesia offer an astounding range of types and styles, shadow puppeteer is famous.

Cuisine– Fish features prominently in the diet as fresh, salted, dried, smoked or a paste. Coconut is found everywhere. The staple food traditionally ranges from rice corn, sago, cassava to sweet potatoes.

Hot spots—Indonesia is a mix of beaches, forests and cities- Amlapura, Bali Barat National Park,  Irian Jaya, , Java, , Jakarta, Baluran National Park, Karimunjawa Islands, Kalimantan (Borneo), Gili Islands, Gunung Rinjani (Mount Rinjani), Kuta, , Pulau Bunaken, Rantepao, Tanatoraja, , Sumatra, , Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park (Great Bukit Barisan Forest Park), Harau Valley, Jangga Village, Kerinci-Seblat National Park, Lingga Village, Medan, Mentawai Islands, Ngalau Indah Caves, Ngarai Sianok (Sianok Canyon), Padang, Pandaan Beach, Pandi Sikat, Parapat, Samosir Island, Siberut Island, Sipiso-piso Waterfall, Taman Hutan Raya Bung Hatta, and more.

Malaysia

The Malay Peninsula has thrived from its central position in the maritime trade routes between China, India and the Middle East. It is shown on early map with a label that translates as “Golden Chersonese”; the Straits of Malacca were referred to as “Sinus Sabaricus”. The two distinct parts of Malaysia, separated from each other by the South China Sea, share a largely similar landscape in that both West and East Malaysia feature coastal plains rising to often densely forested hills and mountains. Putrajaya is the newly created administrative capital whereas the capital city isKuala Lumpur. Georgetown, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Kota Kinabalu, Alor Sar, Malacca Tow, and Klang are the major cities.

Climate– It’s hot and humid year-round in Malaysia .

Culture– Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multilingual society, consisting of 52% Malays and other indigenous tribes. With Malays, Chinese and Indians living side by sideThe music, art, food, dance, architecture and general day to day living are influenced by all three to some degree, creating some of Asia’s most fascinating sounds, sights and tastes. Malaysian traditional music is heavily influenced by Chinese and Islamic forms, it is based largely around the gendang (drum), but includes other percussion instruments. The country has a strong tradition of dance and dance dramas, some of Thai, Indian and Portuguese origin. Other artistic forms include wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre), silat (a stylised martial art).

Cuisine– There is a great variety; spicy Malay Food, a seemingly endless variety of Chinese food, exotic cuisine from North and South India, as well as Nyonya and Portuguese Food.

Hot spots– Malaysia’s love of Western-style is abundantly clear in its big cities, Kuala Lumpur, Penang etc. Malaysia boasts some of the most superb beaches, mountains and national parks in Asia. Cameron Highlands, Batu Caves, Lake Gardens ,Sepilok Orang-Utan Rehabilitation Centre, Taman Negara National Park



Collin

Britni R asked:


I keep reading about China and how they ship weapons off to Darfur, but what mode of transportation do they use to do it? Do they actually use a ship, or is aircraft involved?

Caroline

Sirius asked:


I inherited a beautiful set of Sheffield china Classic 501 pattern. I am trying to find info such as when it was produced and what the metal on the edge is.

Paula

Jennifer G asked:


I love to make PB bars with milk chocolate melted on top-they’re usually a favorite for friends and family. However, I’m super limited on my baking supplies here in China. I have PB and can “make do” with a few other items, but I need a super simple recipe.
All great suggestions and they sound delicious, but I cannot find Rice Krispies, Special K or equivalents-cereal is pretty limited.

Ramiro

sunshine01 asked:


would be among the hottest names for normal Chinese people since his novels are widely spread in the Chinese world. It seems all his novels had been shot as TV series or movies.

Jin Yon, born February 6, 1924, pen name of Louis Cha is one of the most influential modern Chinese-language novelists. Co-founder of the Hong Kong daily Ming Pao, he was its first editor-in-chief and held this position until 1993.Cha’s fiction has a widespread following in Chinese-speaking areas, including Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. His fifteen novels and short fiction - composed between 1955 and 1972 - earned him a reputation as one of the finest wuxia (”martial arts and chivalry”) writer ever. He is the best-selling Chinese author alive; over 30 million copies of his works have been sold worldwide (over 100 million if one includes bootleg copies). Cha’s works have been translated into Korean, English, Japanese, French, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Burmese and Thai and he has many fans abroad as well, thanks to the numerous adaptations of his works made into films, television series, and video games.

Cha wrote a total of 15 pieces, of which one (”Sword of the Yue Maiden”) was a short story and the other 14 were novels and novellas of various length. Most of his novels were initially published in dailyinstalments in the newspaper.

Jinyong’s wuxia send people into an imaginary world out of our normal life. So much knowledge of Chinese history, Chinese kungfu, Chinese medicine and the excellent love stories involved make them widely spread among the Chinese all over the world.



Layla

Jason Huang asked:


The guqin, or seven-stringed zither, is China’s oldest stringed instrument, and as legend has it, its sweet sounds once helped defeat an army. Now this ancient instrument experiences a modern-day renaissance. This holiday season, NTDTV’s Holiday Wonders (live at the Beacon Theater on Broadway, NYC, Dec. 19-24, 2006) brings a unique opportunity to experience the magic of traditional Chinese culture, using traditional and ancient instruments. The magnificence of the backdrops, the abundant imagination, the marvelous music, the splendor of the costumes, and the actors’ great skill–altogether make for outstanding entertainment reflecting China’s 5,000 years of civilization and traditional culture–a culture full of myths and legends.

The first guqins were made about 3,000 years ago. They were very simple, with just one or two strings. As aesthetic concepts flowered and playing skills improved, the instrument changed. By the 3rd century the guqin had seven strings, and was very similar to the instrument played today.

Historically, the guqin has been viewed as a symbol of high culture, as well as the instrument most able to express the essence of Chinese music. There is consequently a great deal of symbolism surrounding the guqin.

In ancient China, the guqin was an instrument played mainly by those of noble birth. Among the 3,000 or so guqin tunes that have been handed down, the majority are works by the then ruling class, expressing their aspirations.

In Chinese history, there is a famous story called the “Empty City Trick” (Kong Cheng Ji) in which the guqin played the key role in defeating an army of thousands. The story of Kong Cheng Ji can be found in the famous 15th century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms.

During the “Three Kingdoms” period (220-280), the Kingdom of Shu underwent a series of defeats by the Kingdom of Wei. On one occasion the Wei general, Sima Yi, advanced with his armies to the gate of a Shu city, unaware that there were no Shu soldiers within the city to protect it.

On seeing the Wei army advance, rather than capitulating, the Shu military advisor Zhuge Liang went to the gate tower and played a beautiful melody on his guqin.

As he listened, Sima Yi, the general of the invading army, found himself in a quandary. He tried to tell from the nuance of the music whether the city was truly empty, or if Shu soldiers hid within it. Judging by the tranquil tones, he decided this was a trick of Zhuge Liang’s to tempt his army into an ambush, and so he ordered a retreat.

The ruse helped the Kingdom of Shu to avoid another defeat and ultimate destruction.

You may wonder what melody Zhuge Liang played. Nobody knows. This will probably forever remain a secret shrouded in the mists of history.

In addition to Holiday Wonders, NTDTV also brings to live the divine beauty of the ancient East with its now-legendary Chinese New Year Spectacular http://shows.ntdtv.com/ . This year the “Spectacular” is grander than ever, touring 26 mayor cities worldwide with more than 1,000 performers between January and March 2007. The NYC flagship show returns to Radio City Music Hall for seven performances.



Jada

Sky B asked:


I know that China made Confucianism the official belief in the Han Dynasty years, but what year exactly? I’m doing a time line on events that shaped the religion (Confucianism) and i can’t find anything!

Christopher

Ian Williamson asked:


For those looking for a different cultural experience, or even just a great holiday destination, then adding Malaysia to your travel list will not disappoint. A Malaysian holiday can be a relaxed resort style getaway on one of the islands such as Sabah or Langkawi, bargain shopping and sight-seeing in the capital Kuala Lumpur, or perhaps a combination of both to let you experience the diversity of this amazing country.

For first time travelers to Malaysia there are several tips that will make your holiday less stressful and infinitely more enjoyable, such as:

Check Health Warnings Before leaving for Malaysia visit your family doctor to check health warnings for the area you intend to visit. If you intend to do any hiking or rainforest walks then you will need to start taking malaria tablets around a week before your departure. Your family doctor will be able to advise of any other precautions or medications that you need.

Airport Transfers By far the easiest and cheapest way to get from the airport into the capital is via the KLIA Express (airport express train). The train is very modern with video screens showing points of interest and things to do in Malaysia while you enjoy a comfortable ride into Kuala Lumpur in around 35 minutes. Using a bus or taxi transfer will normally take around one hour by comparison and cost a little more. An added convenience when using the KLIA Express to connect with a departing flight is the facility to book your luggage onto your flight from the central train station in Kuala Lumpur (providing you do this at least 2.5 hours before your flight).

Taxi Fares Always ask how much the fare will be to get to your destination before getting into the taxi. Taxi fares in Malaysia are for the most part quite reasonable however at times a naive traveler can be easy pickings, especially on a return trip from an outlying area so be sure to ask for the cost of the fare beforehand and if it seems too high then you can usually find another taxi to get a better deal. The exception to this however is during peak hours in Kuala Lumpur when you will pay more because of traffic delays. Your hotel concierge can advise you on what the busiest traffic times are likely to be. Planning your movements around the capital outside of these times will save you money if you’re on a tight budget.

Don’t drink the tap water To reduce your chances of having your holiday ruined by tummy upsets it is wise not to consume the local tap water. During your stay keep these points in mind: 1) Clean your teeth and toothbrush with bottled water. 2) Remember to specify “No Ice” when ordering cocktails or mixer drinks. (Many of the more up-market resorts and hotels have ice that has been made using filtered or bottled water which is perfectly safe, however if you wish to be extra cautious then it is safer to forgo the ice).

Buy personal items from a supermarket Make purchases of personal care items such as sunscreen, toothpaste or bottled water from a local supermarket instead of the resort or hotel where you are staying. Although the prices of these items may not seem too expensive you will normally find a supermarket or small convenience store somewhere close to the resort where these items are up to a third of the price that you will pay at the resort. Any money you save on these purchases can be used for souvenir shopping instead.

Restaurants When you’re staying in regional areas and choosing somewhere to eat keep in mind that you are no longer in a western country. Malaysia is a relatively poor country which is more evident in outlying areas than it is in the capital. While in your home country a restaurant in a run down looking building could indicate a possible health risk this is not the case in regional areas of Malaysia as many of the buildings are old because of the general poverty of the population. The best guide for choosing a restaurant is if the local people are happy eating there it is a good indication that the food is safe.

Keep valuables concealed Always keep wallets, purses, mobile phones etc in your pockets or backpack to avoid the attention of pickpockets, especially in larger cities. Although not a major problem any large population has its share of thieving so it is best to keep your valuables secure. It is also wise to carry your backpack on the front of your body in certain areas such as the china town markets in Kuala Lumpur where it can be quite crowded giving pickpockets a chance to access valuables within the outer compartments of a backpack.

Malaysia is a great holiday destination with excellent shopping, friendly people, wonderful scenery, and delicious food and by following these simple tips you’ll have such a memorable time you’ll want to return again and again



Sarah

Deidre asked:


I am going to china soon and I am getting contradictory information from my service representative and their website. Hopw can I call the US from China? Any help would be appreciated!
I am going to china soon and I am getting contradictory information from my service representative and their website. How can I call the US from China? Any help would be appreciated!

I know my phone can make the international calls, its a matter of what numbers I am to dial. I am getting contradictory info.

And I am leaving soon so there is no time to switch.

Julie