An Idiot Abroad : China

An Idiot Abroad is travel documentary follow Karl Pilkington, who travel to the seven wonders of the world. And the first episode is Beijing, China, where he visit the Great Wall of China. I write these blog post one day before my school trip. The school give us 2 choices, Great Wall or Beijing Opera. Since I already visited Great Wall, I choose Beijing Opera instead. (and just realised no blog post about Great Wall.. Hahaha..)

If you watch it, Karl will experience how to spell his name in Chinese, China Public Toilet, Bizarre Food in WangFuJing, Great Wall of China, Fortune Teller, Traditional Fire Spa, and experience Chinese People's Attitude.  :)

Shi Du 十渡

Have you heard about ShiDu 十渡？

We got 3 days of holiday Mid Autumn Festival. And, One of my korean friend, advice us to go to ShiDu. first time I heard about the place was from TingLi books, Shidu is the place where we can go bungee jumping. We bought train ticket, for only 12 RMB. Actually, Shidu is still Beijing. It's on the south part of Beijing. And it's nothing like Beijing City. With only train ticket on hand, we went to Shidu "backpacker style"

Day I : We took train from Beijing West Train Station. On the station, we met a lady who offer place to stay. Actually, first we a bit scared with the lady. The lady even followed us to the train. And it's not just that lady, many "the same kind" persons, offering place at station and train. After two and half hour, we arrived at ShiDu, in the middle of the night, without light, we decided to follow the lady, because we didn't have any choices.

We thought the Shidu Train Station is like other station, we can easily find taxi. But it's not, it's just a place where you can exit the train, theres no building or anything. It's just road in the middle of corn field. No joking.

We follow the lady and arrived at her house. It's Farm House, with guest house service. Actually the place is really nice, got two rooms that enough for five of us. Got TV and bathroom inside the room. Even have Air Conditioner and Warm Water. And it's only cost us 20 RMB/ person.

The Lady also provide breakfast service for 5 RMB/person. Great.. We also met her husband, who work offering horse riding service at ShiDu.

Day II : After breakfast, we went to GuShanZhai 孤山寨。We took 110 RMB Ticket, which including the tourist attraction, the bamboo raft, speed boat, and HaHaLeYuan, it was small park inside the tourism object.

The best thing is 一线天, it's extremely narrow passage between two cliff.

After that, we visit Tourism Office of Shidu to figure out what we need to do for tomorrow. Have Dinner and went back to our Guest House at night.

Day Three : Went to 拒马乐园 Juma Recreation Park. It's the place for bungee jumping and other recreation activities. We took 100 RMB, including the Cable Car and Boat River Recreation.

Finish playing, we went back home by bus 917 to Beijing. It's one great experiences. Don't need to go so far to enjoy natural sceneries, you can go to ShiDu. 

At Shidu, there are not many foreign tourists there. I think not many foreigner know about ShiDu. All places are filled by local tourists. 

Extreme Weather

From wearing shorts to jacket with only 2 days.. Many of my friends fall sick because of these extreme weather, including me.

From : http://www.wunderground.com/

北京，大家好！

Bumpy flight, long queue on immigration, arrived safely on dorm 17, where I found out my agent forgot to booked me double room.. *laugh slowly*

So, I decided to stay at #CC again.. but luckily, I got nice room, a little bigger than my previous room, with nice shower and working wardrobe.. so cheersss... Every dorm are fully booked, even CC.. 

The photo of wardrobe I forgot to take before..

Giant Sauna in China

It was the big title from Indonesia's Newspaper yesterday, Giant Sauna in China.

Is it true, these year are the longest summer in China? I mean, everytime I saw the weather forecast on my computer desktop, I always saw the beijing's weather is about 28-30 degree celcius, it's not that hot. Just saw that the date when the reporter came to Beijing was on the end of July. It's so late news.. Hahaha..

The introduction is not only about the weather, but also how the china people react to the heat, where the reporter said..

You can see many man riding car or truck without clothes, riding bicycle without clothes, and walking on the street without clothes, on afternoon and evening.

The first time I realized about these habit of China people to walking around on public without clothes was when I visit Guang Zhou. You can see they all walking around without clothes, with all sweat over the body and talking about business with others.

One time, I went to eating MaLaTang 麻辣烫 (Ah, I'm not yet talking about it!!), there were 2 chinese guy eating on the street without clothes, drinking beer. One of my friends, it was the first time for her to saw it, and it was so strange for her. In Indonesia, the one who wear nothing on the street were insane people.

Back to the news, the reporter interview one of the chinese guy said to her that the hottest weather will be on October. -.-;; On october, it should be already Fall. Maybe lost in translation. I thought the hottest weather should be on August.

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I just saw my images on my iphone, there are so many of them. Many blog post to follow..!!

Lost in Beijing : The Movie

Nope, it's not movie from my blog, hahaha..

But it's a Chinese Movie, called "Lost in Beijing", starring Tony Leung and Fang Bing Bing. The Chinese title actually is 苹果, it means apple, and the name of the main character.

The story is about Liu Pingguo and her husband who moved to Beijing, from North East of China. Liu Pingguo work as foot masseuse and her husband work as window cleaner. One time, Liu Pingguo drunk and passed out in her boss office. Her boss, starred by Tony Leung, suddenly saw her and then rape her, while Liu Pingguo's husband accidentally saw.

Soon, Liu Pingguo discovered that she is pregnant.

Honestly, I am not yet watching it, and from wikipedia, it is said that the movie was banned because of the material inside, about blackmail and rape in modern day. But the movie already had it's international premiere in Berlin Internation Movie Festival 2007.

Happy Valley Beijing

Since I have my broken shoulder, I never have touched Roller Coaster any more, because I'm afraid of it. Nope, my broken shoulder from gymnastic accident, not because I ride the roller coaster. Why I'm afraid? Because when you ride Roller Coaster, you hanged on with the safety belt on your shoulder, you know what I mean..

Since I'm in China, and hanging out in Happy Valley, I was dared to try the roller coaster, and I try, because it's been so freaking long, it's been 6-7 years, I know I can do it...

It's not that Tempting...

I ride 2 roller coaster yesterday, First was the Yellow one, it was good but kinda dizzy and it's quite fast.. The best one is the 2nd one, you feel like Superman, flying, see how your head was facing the earth, the best feeling ever...

Now I can say that I'm not afraid ride roller coaster anymore.. Broken Shoulder just history, no more reason why I cant take that ride.. :)

Where is it? Happy Valley, Beijing.

The weather quite nice today, I think the weather skip spring, and directly come to Summer, green everywhere... :)

第一次在北京看电影

爱丽丝梦游仙境

For the first time, watched movie in Beijing. I watched Alice in Wonderland in Jinyi International Cinemas, ZhongGuanCun. It's quite good, since there's no dubbing voice as I'm afraid it will be, but quite expensive. I paid 60 元, around 80.000 IDR, it's price for 3D movie in Weekend. Well, I also watched 3D in weekend, but the price already half, since we use the student card. The original price is 120 元.

And the one thing I'm not usually to do is, we need to pay deposit of 100 RMB, for the 3D glasses. They will return the deposit, as soon as you return the glasses. Well, the glasses is quite good, not just ordinary plastic glasses like in Jakarta.

I heard, China just allow 20 Western Movies per year. Maybe that's why China's Movies Industry is so alive and quite good. I saw many shooting was taken placed everywhere I went.

About the movie : Quite good, but if you don't like fantasy movies, I won't recommend. All of us, who watched the movie agree that we're not satisfied with the ending, we loved to see Alice in the end, met the guy who really looked like Mad Heater. It would be nice. :)

Beijing in Sephia Mode

The wind got bigger, and the weather got stranger. I lived all my life in tropical climate country, never felt or experience living in the 4 seasons country. And now, as I'm lost in Beijing, I experienced what the winter like ( the dry skin, the cold snow, the minus temperature ) as I'm waiting for the spring to come. It felt spring nearly come, still waiting the flowers to blossom beautifully.

BLCU CC, March 14th 2010

BLCU CC, March 20th 2010

The snow on Sunday, in the middle of March, is it normal? Woke up on Saturday, my friend, S told me to look out the window, it was sephia day. She also, the one who took the picture above. First, it was kinda romantic, but when you realize what happened, it's not that romantic. The sephia not because of the sun or anything, but it was because of the sand storm.. hahaha..

I think spring is really near, I can feel the weather got warmer and the wind got bigger.. :)

Beijing is...

Another quick update, well in my other blog, I just post about randomly I google something, just for fun... Read here...

And I google 'Beijing is..', the result...

With 21.000.000 Results, Beijing is Not My Home... what? so randomly fun and funny too..

*click the picture, for better look at..

a friend come along..

I'm happy to inform you that one of my college friends will joined me to be 'Lost in Beijing'..

Suddenly a few days a go, my friend text me to ask about my China Education.. She asked me, where and how much will it cost.. I'm not really hope she will join, because she told me she still thought about it..

And surprisingly, she text me 2 days ago, that she will join me at BLCU these march.. unfortunately, she with her friend will go with different agency as mine.. I thought to join her agency, but my new friends (that went to BNU n BLCU like me) encouraged me more to join my agency right now..

Yes, I apply my China Study through agency, why?

1. It's more easy and convenient... than applying by myself.. I know it's easy..!!
   
2. My first thought, that I will go to China by myself ( before my friend joined me), so through agency, I will come abroad with new friends that will be through all experiences with me, together.. (senasib sepenanggungan)
3. The Agency will take care everything.. from school application, opening bank account, visa, registration of dorm... so I can sit back and relaxed..
4. At least, when I arrived in China, I wont be alone and completely lost..
   

Right now, I'm so happy. My friend will come with me, in the same university, same city.. I hope we will stay in the same dorm.. Even the agency is different.. She is one my close friends through college.. She just graduated first in Diploma 3 program (3 years study) and went back to her home city, while I'm continue my study for one more year..

I think it will be a little awkward, but it will bring more nostalgic moment.. Hahaha..

I joined one forum in Indonesia, it's the biggest online community in Indonesia, that is Kaskus.. One of the topic in that forum, is China, where we kaskuser share everything about China.. In there, I was looking information about Study in China.. and in kaskus, I met 3 new friends who will go to China with me, ( 2 (BNU & BLCU) of them are already mentioned above, and the other one (BUU) is studying Mandarin in the same private course with me.. )

and while the application date near closed, more kaskuser showed up asked about the same thing.. I'm happy to help them, and to see blcu become their consideration.. It mean more new friends.. I cant help but excited.. ^^ even my private course teacher just found out that I will come to China next feb, she help me a lot, and she is shared more story about Beijing with class.. I cant wait but truthfully I'm also scared..

BLCU it is...

Hey...

Now I already decided and register for 6 month short term Spring 2010 of Chinese Language Program in BLCU.. Wew, that's long... :D

After very-very-confused (overreact!!?) about choosing university, I just forgot about another important thing, which program n how long..

I promised myself to start register on Tuesday, no matter what which university or it will be more longer.. then there I was, driving to my agency, register to BLCU and then I just forgot.. I hadn't yet discussed it with my father about the program, I just discussed which university.. (He choose BLCU, btw) All I remember was my father want me to study for 1 year, because when I said to him that I wanted to study only 1 semester, He said that it wasn't enough.. (and He can speak Chinese..)

So I decided to register one-year program.. When I went home and told him, he said why I didnt register for one semester, he was afraid that I didnt like living in China, especially Beijing (the bitter-sweet city, nope, it's CHINA!!)

SO, on today, I went back to my agency, complete the document, and change my registration to one semester, application of F visa.. and DONE!!!

One of my close friends, Kelly, told me that her cousin who went to BLCU told her, that BLCU is right place, not everyone in BLCU party much like the gossip said..

And I feel more confident with my choice, after email one of BLCU student I met at one forum, he also said that It's better to choose the short term program than long term program, because long term program is 1 year class with the same group of students and teachers, so you stuck on the same classes through one year..

I hope you dont get bored reading my long post of blog.. hahaha..

Which One? BLCU-BNU?

Well, It all started from the moment I'm graduate from my university.. The first things to do for a new unemployed like me is finding a job.. Well, at least that's whats in my mind.. I want to look a job in my field, hospitality or tourism industry..

Because of bad economy, and not really good opportunity at while, my dream becoming a flight attendant must be paused.. ( I said paused, not stopped ).. SQ not hiring, Cathay Pacific not, Korean Area is missed.. Garuda definitely not ( my parents would freaked ).. so looking for hospitality field, not through 2nd interview at Mandarin Oriental.. got bored at home, I'm thinking to take some language courses to fill my free time..

First, I thought I want to improve my English speaking skill, but the class is not opened yet, too minim student.. So, I thought mandarin would be good choice, the class had just started, so I joined a little bit late.. For many years, I'm so thankful my parents is not kinda parents that push their children to learn mandarin.. n I'm WRONG!!..

When my Dad heard that I want to take mandarin courses.. He told my mom, better made me go to China.. And then the story went on and on, I've given two choices, continue to master degree or go to China.. I choose the 2nd choice, learn mandarin in China.. when I ask all my friends, they supported me to go to China... ( yeah, you, Norita, Kelly, Burhan, JK.... )

and then here I am.. this is my first step to be lost in Beijing.. hahaha..

first choose the right school... and these step no move any further, because I'm still confused...

1. BLCU or Beijing Language and Culture University..

well it spoken to be the one and only university that specially in teaching Chinese languages to the foreigners..

(+) :

* most of all books used in universities throughout China for learning Putonghua is created by BLCU

* 40 years experience for teaching Putonghua.. ( Mandarin language )

* Many foreigners go here..

* Wudaokou area, it said to be well lively neighborhood, with many restaurants, mandarin courses, shops..

( - ) :

* Highest education cost..

* It was said many Indonesians come to here.. but It also said it much become so much fewer nowadays..

* Too much foreigners means many chances to use english, instead mandarin..

* Negative Influences and Surroundings, such as clubbing, partying.

2. BNU or Beijing Normal University

(+) :

* It well said to be one of the top universities in China for its own people..

* Known for teacher's colleges..

* Not many foreigners come here.

* Because it is local university, so many Chinese people go here as well..

* It's little cheaper than BLCU.. just little...

( - ):

* Too much homework, it is said 2-4 hours to do the homework at one day..

* Some foreigner commented about the teaching system is not appropriate or useless ( maybe because they are not used to.. )

* Too many koreans, japanese and also Indonesian..

Well for third and fourth choice was CNU or Capital Normal University and Tsinghua.. I dont get much information about Tsinghua because it was said to be 2nd best local university but poor in chinese language program.. ( like learning about languages in ITB ( one of Indonesian top university that best known for engineering major ))...

3. CNU or Capital Normal University..

(+) :

* Much more cheaper..

* One of the best dorm in Beijing..

* Convenient, gym, shops, classes, dorm are located in one building..

( - ):

* Many Indonesians, especially from East Java..

* One of my agencies told me that it was located in one building, the students are poor experienced talking with local people.. ( their Chinese don't improve much )

* They are divided in groups from the country, Indonesian with Indonesian, Thai with Thai..

so, which one.. now my mind more to BLCU than BNU.. said 60% BLCU and 40% BNU..

For looking universities, I know some people who through the same experience that is finding the right universities..

There are 3 peoples... One goes BUU, one goes BLCU, and one goes BNU.. hahaha.. and each of them are told me to go where they want to go... I'm still confused though.. at these saturday, there will be Chinese Education Fair, I will attend and hope at Monday, I will register in one of the agencies.. so I can book the dorm ASAP.. ( the dorm systems are the first come first served, so I must be hurry )