Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2006 8:27 am Post subject: Hill Climbers!
OK Guys (and Gals) -
I don't see how I didnt post this one before!!
How many of you love to climb hills
I personally absolutely love to trek and climb hills, and do so every day (except when it rains all day - which is something I hate, trekking in muddy conditions) ... It's also a GREAT way to burn fat off in record time. There's a nice steep hill about 10 minutes (give or take) from the house, and a nice cute girl selling water etc at the top .
The climb also acts as a great "warm up" before diving into other exercises - and one doesn't need to really exercise the legs after a tough climb anyway (which makes the rest of the workout shorter, and more intense) - killing two birds with one stone.
Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:56 pm Post subject: Re: Hill Climbers!
Jonathon Quibble wrote:
I have climbed a few hills in my time, but usually with the assistance of a locally-hired porter.
If the hills your referring to are hill stations in India, I must say I too sometimes enlist the help of porters (to carry luggage) in snowy conditions ...
But, the hill I'm referring to is here in Dongguan, China (no snow) ... If I had luggage to carry up, I'd tote it up myself. Damn good workout (though maybe not for those of advanced years suffering from roids or other problems ... ) ... _________________ Dongguan Expat - Your online Community!
I find the Chinese porters to be a troublesome lot.
I hired one in Kunming some years ago for two days to carry my strongbox whilst I visited some agricultural projects and all the wretched fellow did was complain the whole time about "heavy luggage".
I believe that if you agree to do a job, then you dashed well finish it!
I find the Chinese porters to be a troublesome lot.
I hired one in Kunming some years ago for two days to carry my strongbox whilst I visited some agricultural projects and all the wretched fellow did was complain the whole time about "heavy luggage".
I believe that if you agree to do a job, then you dashed well finish it!
Well, no porters on the hill here - this is pretty much just used for exercise.
Not sure why the guy complained about heavy luggage though - if he was a porter to start with! Porters in India generally don't do that (though I'm not the best person to ask, as I tote my own stuff for the most part). _________________ Dongguan Expat - Your online Community!
Our first day in Harbin, a porter at the railway station tried just that very trick!
Arriving in Harbin by train can be quite a daunting experience, the actual station itself and the thousands upon thoiusands op people everywhere is no problem, been here long enough, quite used to that sorta thing, same with the unlicensed cabbies touting for business on the platform (avoid these like the plague) but again, no problem.
Being greeted by large, burly Chinese guys in jack-boots, leather trench coats, peaked cap and sidearm at the exit to the station however, aint too nice, especially when he's looking at you, barking orders at you to go back, where another two (third reich clones) are standing behind you, ready to escort you to a small office....... "wtf did we do" damn, that was a lil scary, they wanted to levy a fine against us coz we had too much luggage, hmmm, ok, how much? pffft 500 rmb, wtf...that was more than the train ticket, but pay up or lose the luggage, so we had to pay. (thieving gits) b et they had a joke about that one on how they robbed more foreigners today!
We weren't the only one's either, I think every foreigner was prayed upon, though countless Chinese were carrying far more than us, they were not stopped, so, just another rip the foreigner day in Harbin, trust me there's plenty of those if you're not careful and precious little you can do about it when you're caught out.
Anyway, we pay the fine and head for the exit, porter in tow.
We head left, he heads right, we shout at him, he legs it, with our luggage to a small group of what could only be described as a motley crew, ie: are you ready to die for your luggage?
Fortunately a cop saw it happen and we got the luggage back and the miscreants retreated at a rapid pace... A wonderful first half hour in Harbin...
As much as there's a lot of contempt/dislike/ lets fleece the foreigner attitude here and almost all Chinese will try it on, the cops here are fantastic, well most of em are, there's always some exceptions, but generally they're much, much better than they are back home in England. _________________
Our first day in Harbin, a porter at the railway station tried just that very trick!
Arriving in Harbin by train can be quite a daunting experience, the actual station itself and the thousands upon thoiusands op people everywhere is no problem, been here long enough, quite used to that sorta thing, same with the unlicensed cabbies touting for business on the platform (avoid these like the plague) but again, no problem.
Being greeted by large, burly Chinese guys in jack-boots, leather trench coats, peaked cap and sidearm at the exit to the station however, aint too nice, especially when he's looking at you, barking orders at you to go back, where another two (third reich clones) are standing behind you, ready to escort you to a small office....... "wtf did we do" damn, that was a lil scary, they wanted to levy a fine against us coz we had too much luggage, hmmm, ok, how much? pffft 500 rmb, wtf...that was more than the train ticket, but pay up or lose the luggage, so we had to pay. (thieving gits) b et they had a joke about that one on how they robbed more foreigners today!
I take it these PORTERS levied a fine?? Who the hell were they anyway to levy a fine?? And I really don't think the idiots have the right to do it anyway. Too much luggage on a TRAIN - thats a new one to me too!!
If it was me, I'd create a ruckus .
Also, from what you say, the north is way different from the south. And I know the people are bigger built up there, but still - this sort of thing wouldn't happen here down south .
Simon-Hrb wrote:
We weren't the only one's either, I think every foreigner was prayed upon, though countless Chinese were carrying far more than us, they were not stopped, so, just another rip the foreigner day in Harbin, trust me there's plenty of those if you're not careful and precious little you can do about it when you're caught out.
Anyway, we pay the fine and head for the exit, porter in tow.
We head left, he heads right, we shout at him, he legs it, with our luggage to a small group of what could only be described as a motley crew, ie: are you ready to die for your luggage?
Fortunately a cop saw it happen and we got the luggage back and the miscreants retreated at a rapid pace... A wonderful first half hour in Harbin...
You shouldn't have paid it ... but did the cop get your money back for you? Hope so - frigging 500RMB for Christ's sakes!!
Simon-Hrb wrote:
As much as there's a lot of contempt/dislike/ lets fleece the foreigner attitude here and almost all Chinese will try it on, the cops here are fantastic, well most of em are, there's always some exceptions, but generally they're much, much better than they are back home in England.
The "fleece the lao wai" attitude is there in many places in China - and whats even more irritating is the "assume the lao wai is rich attitude". Many people here won't try to rip you off, but they'll still quote you higher prices on everything ... just because they assume your rich.
Case in point is frigging Walmart - every time I try and shop for something, some salesgirl will come up to me, and point out the most expensive brand name for the product I'm thinking of buying!
I'm not sure about cops in China being fantastic, or maybe I just haven't met any nice ones.
The cops in HK are FANTASTIC though! Very helpful!! And most can speak pretty decent English - a big boon. British legacy I guess - but you say the cops aren't that great back home, Simon? I always thought British bobbies were real helpful and nice as well ... guess not these days though!
Anyway, if someone were to ask me which was the friendliest police force in the world, I'd go with HK police!!
Except for a short period when their immigration used to badger me every time I entered the country (another story in itself), but they sorted that mess out eventually.
The porters didn't levy the fine, the local government did, with it's jack-bootted, armed officials. The porters had nothing to do with the fine, they just tried to steal the luggage.
And as far as the cops go in England, I wouldn't trust one as far as I could throw one. _________________
The porters didn't levy the fine, the local government did, with it's jack-bootted, armed officials. The porters had nothing to do with the fine, they just tried to steal the luggage.
.
Very mysterious indeed, fines for excess luggage on TRAINS?
The porters didn't levy the fine, the local government did, with it's jack-bootted, armed officials. The porters had nothing to do with the fine, they just tried to steal the luggage.
.
Very mysterious indeed, fines for excess luggage on TRAINS?
Sounds like life is definitely different up north than down south.
Yes, most governmental departments here will fleece a foreigner when and wherever possible. You don't get the same hassles at the airports, there, they're friendly, even curteous and helpful, but the railway stations in Harbin and its employees are as unwelcoming as possible. _________________
The porters didn't levy the fine, the local government did, with it's jack-bootted, armed officials. The porters had nothing to do with the fine, they just tried to steal the luggage.
.
Very mysterious indeed, fines for excess luggage on TRAINS?
Sounds like life is definitely different up north than down south.
Yes, most governmental departments here will fleece a foreigner when and wherever possible. You don't get the same hassles at the airports, there, they're friendly, even curteous and helpful, but the railway stations in Harbin and its employees are as unwelcoming as possible.
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There's a nice steep hill about 10 minutes (give or take) from the house, and a nice cute girl selling water etc at the top 
) ...
