A day or so after starting my new job I was asked to a one-day meeting of my fellow HR Managers from the APac region to be held in China in July. In Chengdu.
Where is Chengdu you ask?
Think Western China. Think last stop before Tibet. Really. Apparently you still can't go to Tibet unless on a registered tour, but that's another story.
Here's a map to help.
So what did I think?
Well, apart from the long distance to travel for 1 1/2 days of meetings (six flights of four or more hours in seven days) it was well worth the trip.
I spent most of my time in a conference room. I also spent a good deal of time thinking I was going to die from over consumption of extremely spicy Sichuan food. But apart from that I experienced things that make such visits all worthwhile.
- Ate an amazing 16-course lunch where every course was either steeped in, covered in or made from five types of tea (white, green, black, yellow and oolong).
- Played Mah Jong, in China, to local rules (I won).
- Caught local taxis that were driven as if they were bicycles.
- Caught a ride in a taxi that went through red lights, pedestrian crossings and the wrong way up one-way streets.
- Was spoken to by a 7yo Chinese girl, in perfect English.
- Was told that Chengdu was the 'laziest city in China'. I think a better translation is 'most laid back city in China'.
- Realised that there are certain medications that one should take when visiting a country whose national cuisine is likely to upset a delicate western stomach.
- Found that, in the absence of such medications, flat Coke is quite a good cure-all.
There is, apparently, a local saying that roughly translates as "The Sun is High and the Emperor is Far Away" which would aptly describe the laid back approach in this city far from the sights of Beijing.
15 comments:
When I read Chengdu "earthquake" was my first thought.
Is the haziness in the photos from pollution? Chengdu is a very large city isn't it? The tea dishes sound lovely... but if you need a flat coke afterwards....
Ooo... you got to travel....
You didn't mention whether you were allowed to knit on the plane.
"the sun is high and the emperor is far away" - what a great saying!
Sounds like a wonderful trip, M.
God, nothing worse than being sick and no access to the painkillers! But sounds like a good trip apart from that.
Wow! Sounds like a fascinating trip. Shame you couldn't be there longer.
Mmm, flat Coke. I always find Fruit Tingles to be very useful cure-alls when travelling too. Indigestion, migraine etc. I carry 3 rolls.
Ooh China! What a fascinating place, So. Many. People. And they have such good sayings too, not to mention translations. Especially from fluent 7 year olds.
And I agree with you. One can have too many flights, even on trips that seem like major perks.
Melinda: I think the haziness is pollution, unfortunately. Didn't see sky all week.
Froggie: No knit/crochet on the plane. Tough enough getting into China as it is without threatening them with a crochet hook.
Laura Jane: Fruit tingles! Great idea.
What an awesome trip! Shame you couldn't have stayed longer
Sounds awesome, in point-dot form !
Hope it wasn't ALL spent in dreary conference rooms..
xx
I shall happily heed your advice re flat coke as it looks like I might be going to China in early September.
And would we have ever guessed this time last year that you would be doing this kind of travelling now!
What were the toilets like?
He he he...
What a wonderful experience. (although I imagine it didn't feel wonderful on the described taxi-ride!)
Flat coke definitely cures all. I wouldn't mind living somewhere described as the "laziest city" in the nation!
Illness aside, that sounds so great - and I love that saying.
well you HAVE been a busy girl in my absence!
My friend ate there often and learned not to ask what he was eating, after once when he did, was informed he was eating ostrich footpads. Those things on the bottoms of their feet! ew!
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