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Redneck_Buddha wrote:I just can't wait for my April work trip to Saudi Arabia </sarcasm>

At least it's April and not August.
Have you been before?

I tried to arrange my last Asia trip to take a connection (plus a 2 day layover) via Dubai. Couldn't pull off the schedule, but, would love to go just to see for myself what it's like over there.

ryouiki wrote:I think I can understand Anygun's sentiment....that said:

All good points. You're certainly entitled to make your judgements and act accordingly.
When I'm traveling in foreign countries, I'm a poster boy for good behavior, so, avoiding trouble is pretty easy.

Except in Mexico. I won't be going back there any time soon.
I believe I'd travel to Iran before I'd go to Mexico voluntarily.

steveincowtown wrote:Guns- never seen one there, not even on a policeman.

I've seen a few guns... The police on the street don't have guns, but the border guards used to. I remember the days arriving into Shanghai (or worse, taking the boat from HK to the mainland) and being greeted by a gaggle of border guards toting AK-47's. They've dialed back the overt presence quite a lot, but I'm sure they're still there behind the glass.

Really the one major concern when I'm traveling there is privacy. Who's listening to my calls? Internet? Am I being watched in my hotel room? Kind of like the NSA here, without the video.

Sounds like AnyGun has given it a try <respect> and decided it's not for him. Don't let him dissuade you from trying for yourself if you get the chance. Their form of government sucks, but the people are generally fantastic (there's always bad apples) and the history will make you feel small. I was there a few years ago, visiting a place I had been many times and as we drive into town there's a big billboard proclaiming this the year of the citys' 5,000th anniversary. Yes.... 5,000 (obviously they were taking liberties a bit, but...). You can't experience that by staying in your pajamas.

anygunanywhere wrote:You do of course know who General Chiang Kai-shek was?

My dad married Genral Shek's WW2 chief deputy's daughter. Free Chinese Royalty. I was his best man.

She was the wicked witch of the East.

All she served was genuine chinese food. When we went out with them we were served the chicken feet and raw stuff that still squirmed.

Thanks. I have had enough. I don't need to go there to experience China. I have had my fill.

Anygunanywhere

I'd really like to hear that story in detail... Sounds interesting.
CKS was the less-bad dictator, but still not a guy to be trifled with.
THE best museum I've ever been to is the National Palace Museum in Taipei.
You want to put me to sleep, send me to the Louvre or the Orsay (Tower of London was pretty close second, not exactly a "museum")
I've spent a lot of time in Taiwan and mainland China. The changes over the past 15 years are nothing short of amazing.

Doesn't change the fact that they're still communists, unfortunately. But, give it time. They are all Capitalists at heart.

Genuine Chinese food is THE GOOD STUFF. What's served in the typical "Chinese Restaurant" in the States a real Chinese person would never eat. We'll have to agree to disagree on the food issue. I subscribe to the "no parts wasted" diet, except for organ meat.