Toilet post#35

Obviously, another Beijing post.

Trivia: Bags go through scanners entering the Square. Heck, bags go through plenty of scanners throughout the city especially when travelling its subway system (only RMB2 to anywhere) and visiting the National Monuments. Any weaker bag could ooze green glob or start growing spidey bristles.

NO toilet facilities within the Square.

Trivia: The young guards stationed rigidly around the Square regards 'where's the toilet' question to be below them.

One has to exit the Square vide the underground tunnel and cross the road to get to the nearest public toilet.

Here. Just opposite this.

Trivia: Since you're already opposite the Square, locate the post office. Buy a postcard some stamps and mail it from there. The Tiananmen Square postmark is a great souvenir.

Not to worry. Toilet just a tad shabby but cleanliness level gets an A for Agreeable.

Trivia: The moderately hyped about daily evening changing of guards between the Square and the Imperial Palace across the road does not justify an hour and a half wait. Nevertheless, the light up of the Palace and Square may appeal to some.

Toilet post#34

Set myself a dateline (or is it deadline? When to use either?). Must complete posts on China comfy backpacking trip before the year end. Look at me. Started posting in July, still here. Since Toilet post#27, still here.

Still far to go. *sigh* Ok. New dateline (so, anyone's sharing thots on the 'deadline' issue?). Let's just cross city borders.

1.5 hours in the air and we arrive in Beijing, capital of China and the controversial host of the 2008 Olympics - Games of the XXIX Olympiad, from Xi'an. There I met my new dateline. *pump fist in air feebly*

We had no problem catching an airport bus to the city. It got a bit interesting when we found most taxi drivers were not familiar with our guesthouse address. Expected since most are new migrants from other towns and villages while the guesthouse we booked was at an area known as Old Beijing - Hutong.

Look. That's where we stayed. New Dragon Hostel. Interesting facade, no?Come inside. See, RMB389 (RM195 or USD57) for a room for 3, it's not shabby at all.

AND 15mins walking distance to the MUST VISIT tourist spots ie the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.

Very important when travelling:-

Always keep the namecard of your place of accommodation with you. It'll be easy reference to ask for directions when finding the way back.

Flashback:

Trip begun from Kuala Lumpur landed in Hong Kong ferried to Macau trained to Shen Zhen bused to Guangzhou flew to Xi'an flew to Beijing the finally flew back to Kuala Lumpur. *phew*

Related posts (kinda mini year end reflection exercise):-

Toilet post#32

Cool Time Out in Xian, China

Toilet post#31

De Fa Chang Restaurant and oh ya, Terracotta Warriors of Xi'an, China

Grilled Lamb Sticks Muslim Street in Xi'an, China

Toilet post#30 .. Bonus: Breakfast provided at Nam Fang Hotel, Xi'an China

Oak Tree Cafe Guangzhou International Airport, China

First Class Red Szechuan Restaurant Shenzhen China

Pork Chop Bun at Cafe Tai Lei Loi Kei, Macau

Toilet post#29

Toilet post#28

Dine in Hong Kong, Din in KL

Toilet post#27

Post holiday warm up

Toot-toot .. toot-toot ..

Toilet Post#33

It's midnight.

You are still loite .. ahem checking out the night scene around Lot 10, Jalan Bukit Bintang.

Had a couple of drinks, nature calls. Loudly.

Where to answer call discreetly? Civilisedly? Legally? Freely?

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Take the escalator (still in operations at such hour) in front of Lot 10 shopping complex (next to the Inner Circle cafe opposite the Standard Chartered Bank kiosk) down to its basement foodcourt.Caution. A reasonably level of soberness is required to amble among the dimly lit floor, littered with newly refurbished odd angled foodstalls.

Tada, privacy!

Now doesn't tip like this comes handy with the party season?

Toilet post#32

I exclaimed it in my earlier post on South West China (near Chengdu ) and now I'll reiterate my statement LOUDLY. My toilet experience in China is 2 thumbs 2 big toes and 1 bum up. *slap bum for effect*

And there we were. July 2009. With clothes weighed down in several coats of sweat. Popping in and out of historical tourists spots within and around the famed walled city of Xi’an. All with seasonal entrance fees, no less. Surprisingly although there were healthy flow of sticky rivers from our pores, there were still plenty leftover from the gallons of fluid we drank which made toilet visits a frequent activity. No complaints from me as these places of relief were all equipped with cool air-conditioning systems. Yay!Xi'an the ancient walled city has many interesting sites but one can only take so many scenic spots standing under the relentless summer heat. As for the shoving crowds, don't even make me go there.Best spot to catch your breath and patience, a well hidden restroom. Not meant to say it's exclusive for special members or need the ability to solve certain secret codes. Most visitors to the touristy spots come in groups with limited visiting time before they are bussed to cover another spot in their itineries, so they are lean on toilet breaks which means rushing in and out at the first toilet they come across. Visitors like us (semi-backpackers) have all the time to seek out further and quieter outlets. Ahh the comforts we chanced upon.
Ahhhh....

Toilet Post#31

Toilet at The Legendary De Fa Chang Restaurant renowned for its Superior Delicious Dumplings.

Not a pretty sight for such a grand named restaurant but then sadly it's usual to find most food establishments, no matter grand or otherwise, give least consideration to this 'lil room. Nevertheless, it has what it counts by appearing clean, dry and reasonably odourless.

Reason for this feature? Note the lever for flushing. It's a step-on.Having sensory auto flush is best but don't you think that this works out to be almost as convenient and hygienic?

Similar to almost all public washbasins we came across in China (including Hongkong of course), the tap was operated on sensors - no touching of the taps to control flow of water = no transfer of germs/DNAs/wateva between users.Hmm if only something can be done about the doors.

In the event you missed, I did eat here. Legendary, I have not lived that long. I'll give it the Delicious but as for being Superior .. blame it on my Malaysianised tastebuds.

Toilet Post#30 .. Bonus: Breakfast provided at Nan Fang Hotel, Xi'an

Actually, just got back from a week in bblrrrr cold Perth. But I still have posts & posts of my adoi hot China trip ..

Bused into the walled Xian city from the airport. Walked to our budget hotel. It was RMB150 per night. RM75. A far cry from the published rates of RM2,000 at this palace. However credit to my friend who did the research and booking, it was everything we needed. Clean, safe and with a hard working air-conditioner.And conveniently located within the busy area of the city. And breakfasts were provided. Ah, breakfasts. Cold dishes of oily greens were served. Believed the greens were boiled then mixed with salt, mild spices and chili oil.Noticed the other local patrons were enjoying the oily greens with steamed dumplings. Tight dough dumplings. The meagre fillings were sweet lotus paste or red bean paste. Every morning is different but same-same (a lingo describing very minimal variation). Oh how I missed my piping hot nasi lemak or a bowl of steamy noodles. Of course this is just me. The disadvantages of being born with very localised tatsebuds. =,(

No coffee no tea. Hot plain soya bean milk anyone? 2 of us dunked our 3+1 coffee mix into it and wala, a delicious newly discovered beverage was born!

PS. It was summer. Did I mentioned it was summer? Summer in China? Landed right smack in the extreme sunny July summer! A summer so hot that hair fizzles and bottoms sweat. *note to self: Never travel to China during their summer months!!*

So most dishes are either prepared or served at room temperature. These are called cold dishes (len-chai in Mandarin). The initial 6 meals, I tolerated. Then the persistent appearances of sliced raw cucumber and celery tossed in chilli oil got to me. So if the later posts sounds unappetising or sluggish, please understand that I'm a Malaysian who loves hot food served hot even in our all year round hot weather.

Toilet post#29

2 toilet posts in a row. All for the love and popular demand of my avid followers (croaking like a steriod pumped up bullfrog). Never knew there are so many washrooms enthusiasts amongst us.

By the way did anyone catch the logo of the snowsoft (38% exaggeration) bedroom slippers in my last post?

Okay okay it's pretty obvious I just want to gloat that I stayed in a 6 (Maybe higher? Is that the ultimate ranking?) stars hotel. It was easily the most extravagantly priced overnight accommodation I have ever slept in.Pity we had limited hours to laze around in soft fluffy beddings.The attached bathroom which was almost as big as the bedroom.. At last I've tried the rain-like showerhead.. Hmm call me odd but think I prefer the type mounted on the wall with the burst of water coming at me from the side. Being rained on doesn't make me feel clean.Note the flat screen next to the tub! The tub that we did not even have time to soak in. *sniff* Note the toiletries. Oh we did smell good!Four Seasons Hotel Macau Cotai Strip, beyond our room.

The trip to Macau was impromptu. Friends had been there several times but not me. So being my first visit, of course they were not allowed to take it too easy. However other then a disappointing visit to the overhyped new City of Dreams complex (for pictures please visit its website - so as not to spoil your dreams of visiting it), daylight only allowed a fast-paced walk through the Senado Square leading to The Ruins of St Paul.

My passport page showing entry and departure into Macau on the same day, 1st Jul 2009. Yes, that short a trip. 17 hours short. Well at least that's one more country stamped for keeps =D.