Archive for the ‘China – Mainland’ Category
Adventures From Somewhere Now Listed on “Travel China Guide”
By Chase A. Wolf
Chase’s Log 5.5.2010. For readers of Adventures from Somewhere – it’s now listed on Travel China Guide - and excellent online guide to all things China-travel related. Adventures From Somewhere is listed on the following page under the “World Travel Guide” section at http://www.travelchinaguide.com/directory/.
More of my recent travels to be published shortly, starting with three days in the fabled city of Chicago, where by faithful guides showed me the Windy City’s high and low cuisine – who can say no to perfectly grilled Wagyu Beef complimented by a Premier Cru Bordeaux, and a kraut-smothered Chicago-style Polish Sausage drowned with local beer? Though I advise not consuming both on the same day. . . .
Good reading and good travels.
Shanghai to Taipei: I Only Rate the “One Season,” Apparently….
By Chase A. Wolf
Chase’s Log 2.05.2010 Touched down in Taipei, Taiwan this morning, without seeing anything during the flight from Shanghai to Taipei – nothing, no ground, no sky, no clouds. My fingernails are gone and I’m now working on my knuckles. Home Office tells me to quit worrying about ZERO visibility on take-offs and landings – that’s why aircraft have ground proximity warning systems, radar altimeters, etc. – but I don’t see Home Office sitting in the seat next to me, either.
Concierge at the "One Season"
I grabbed a cab and gave the driver the address to my hotel – the Four Seasons – looking forward a post-flight debriefing at the hotel bar. When we arrived, the Gods of Travel – those pranksters – had yet another little jest to play on me. The hotel I’d booked was the One Season, not the Four Seasons. Sigh.
(I’ve reconcile myself to the fact that I appear to have offended only the Gods of Travel Logistics, and not the Gods of Travel Intestinal Discomfort – so far. I need to find a monk and get this sorted out before things get out of hand.)
The One Season is a “boutique” hotel in the middle of downtown Taipei where nobody speaks English. The room is a bit noisy from the traffic but it’s spacious, friendly and comfortable. I am content and eager to explore the city. Read the rest of this entry »
Shanghai: Meetings, Meetings and More Meetings……
By Chase A. Wolf
Chase’s Log 2.3.2010 Shanghai – a whirlwind of meetings – twelve in three days. The flight in from Seoul was a knuckle biter – I can’t believe they didn’t close Shanghai airport! I saw the ground when the wheels touched down. ZERO visibility! Thanks to the Travel Gods – the pilots were sober and the avionics all worked.
There’s not a lot of glamour to tell of from my Shanghai stop. Meetings, meetings, and more meetings. But, you know – they all went pretty well and I’ve been receiving some excellent feedback about my idea, though I know this concept turns upside down the way we’ve been shopping in the U.S. for the last 25 years. We’ll find out how far the globe has really shrunk.
Aaron, Jay and I after a meeting
One question I expected to hear and have heard is: How can we trust you? This is a basic, yet unanswerable question. I can provide references. I can give history. But in an era of Wall Street scandals and massive Ponzi schemes, how much does any of this really matter?
My only response is that I’m travelling for two months to meet people all around the globe so they can make their own assessment of my plans, credibility and honor. Read the rest of this entry »