Going to China, Last Minute things

[Stiganator]

I'll be heading to Taiwan and China in just 3 weeks.

Are there any diseases I need to be aware of, I'm am going to get my Hep. A and yellow fever shots. A friend said I should bring Cipro along, good? I found this site called www.telestial.com that sells phones and SIMs, should I snag one from there or is it cheaper in Taiwan and China.

Any other comments on where to go and what to do are welcome.

Tentative plan is this, Taipei, Hsin-chu, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong, Haikou/Sanya, Guilin/Lijiang, Chengdu, Lhasa, Urumqi, Beijing, Xian, Shanghai then home to the States.

Trip dates are from May 15-May 30 in Taiwan, May 30 to August 17th in Hong Kong and China, leaving from Hong Kong the 17th, in case any of you know of regional events that might be occuring.

Edit 1: Also if I have overlooked any place feel free to bring up its merits. I am also doing a comparison for subculture differences between the provinces for a school project.

Had someone mention Harbin. Anyone been there?

 

[JDrake]

SARS?

 

[Stiganator]

That is like pneumonia though isn't it? There isn't really anything for it is there?

 

[Falloutboy]

wow thats quite a trip, nothing much to add but good luck. watched a documentary on some of the changes in china as of late and it looked like a very interesting place to visit

 

[FrustratedUser]

Don't forget you membership for the Comunist Party. It will save you a world of trouble over there.

 

[Kaieye]

Taipei: Food court around Shilin( try the flatten fried chicken breast for 50 nt dollars) stinky tofu and mixed fruit drinks, 101 Taipei(tallest tower in the world), Costco here and Kaohsiung. Don't take any medicine with you. Peel the fruit and vegetables or eat food that is temperture hot. If this is your first time in Asia, there is a good chance that you might catch Bronchitis. If your lucky, you won't.
It will be hot and humid for the rest of the trip. I would spend two weeks less in China and go to Japan if I were you.
Just rambling...

 

[Praxis1452]

I got bronchitis and a 1 week throat infection last time I went to beijing heh. GL

 

[Pepsei]

have fun in taiwan, don't step in phlem (phlegm is a type of mucus, the sticky fluid secreted by the mucous membranes of animals. Its definition is limited to the mucus produced by the respiratory system, excluding that from the nasal passages, and particularly that which is expelled by coughing (sputum). colloquially known as a loogie.)
more so in china. people just like to clear their throat and then spit.

 

[Stiganator]

should I have a mask dealy like you see on the news? Is it just from the crazy soot pollution? I wish I could go to Japan, but I think it is way more expensive there, and my tickets leave from HK so I'd have to go to Japan and then come back to HK to leave. If that was cheap maybe I could do it...

 

[puffff]

you dont need a yellow fever shot. yellow fever is only found in South America and Africa. the shot (as i recall) is damn expensive and you could save some money by skipping it.

Link

 

[StormRider]

Why would a person be more likely to get bronchitis over there?

 

[Epic Fail]

So, you will be the one who bring bird flu to America?

 

[ManSnake]

Be very careful of the tanks. You don't want to get run down by one of those!

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

Go around talking about how awesome Falun Gong is, and how much Tibet/Taiwan need to be independent. They'll love ya!

 

[Stiganator]

Looks like I will be doing environmental observations while I'm there. Look at key points the regions might want to address.