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Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Day 1 (31 Oct 2009) :- KL - Tianjin Airport – Beijing part 2

9.50 a.m – Welcome to Beijing South Station (subway access).erm, the station looks and feel like KL Sentral, but it’s more spacious and well designed.

Subway station looks like the same as KL. But, the only difference is that, passenger have to pass the security checked-they will scan all your belonging. It’s quit annoying because you have to do it every time you want to board subway. But whatever! Just follow the rules, don’t try do make a mess here, ok, or you might be being shoot!.(O_*)huhu.





f.a.q : what is the first thing I should do here?

answ : buy a
Yikatong (an integrated circuit card (ICC card) that can store credit for multiple rides)it’s so worth it!, very convenient - because you don’t have to buy a one way ticket everytime you want to use subway (time effective) (like RAPIDPASS card) (cost – 20Y-need to recharge it, if out of balance). Flat rate for one way - 2Y.

Yikatong can be used for taxi ride,and city buses too.The system is expected to be further expanded for payments of parking fees and expressway tolls.-hey, we also have that->‘Touch&Go’.

f.a.q : What I’m supposed to do, if my Yikatong is out of balance?

answ: You can add credit toYikatong at ticket counters or vending machines in any subway station.

f.a.q : How to use Yikatong?

Answer : just touch your Yikatong on the gate panel. )-like putra LRT/dll . Click herehttp://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/feature_2/Subway_Tour/ (teach you virtually how to use it)-very interactive Or http://www.bjsubway.com/ for more info

f.a.q : How I want to read a Beijing Subway map ?

answer: it’s easy - download and study the Beijing Subway Map (download the map with English and chinese character –it’s really help a lot, especially when you want to ask the Chinese where you want to go, they always refer to the Chinese word) Refer to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Beijing-Subway.png, http://www.travelchinaguide.com/cityguides/beijing/transportation/subway.htm

I did booked a hostel from airasia hostel, and it is at Qianmen. To reach there, I have to take subway from Beijing South, Line 4 to Xuanwumen station (subway interchange station), then change to Line 2 to Qianmen.
About Qianmen Hostel – from my point of view

Location:-tip top, easy to access via subway, near Tianmen Square, Forbidden City, – Just a walking distance, easy to find food around here, and quit cheap.

Room and services:-the room and bathroom is clean, everything in good condition, the receptionist and all the staff was really nice, helpful, and yes, they can speak English. Other facilities:-internet access, TV room,& cafe’.-please ask about room price, as you can bargain actually, hehe can get much cheaper.. :p

Tips : Don’t forget to buy a sim card for phone.(I bought China Mobile).You’ll need it for booking a hostel/flight or train/call your friends/call back home. It’s only cost you 100Y with 50Y credit. It’s a prepaid line; you can buy a top-up card at any phone store. If you can’t understand the instructions, ask the store lady/guy to do it for you. It’s much easy and cheap rather than roaming your line.






Saturday, October 31, 2009

Day 1 (31 Oct 2009) :- KL - Tianjin Airport – Beijing part 1

Hi there ! (^_~),

this is my travelogue , i will share with all of you out there, my view/experience as i take a journey to one of the Asia's most influence country - CHINA.

hope you enjoy my travelogue,& the post will help you-sorry if there's any grammar/spelling mistakes. :p

<-_->

Day 1 (31 Oct 2009) :- KL - Tianjin AirportBeijing part 1

1.00 a.m : Depart from KL (LCCT) via Air Asia – Thank you to Air Asia, ‘Now everyone can fly’ –with convenient cost !!,of course. (0_0)

lepak @ LCCT

on board Air Asia X

fill up this one!!

.. and this one too.. ask steward/-ess to help you

8.00 a.m : syukur, Arrived at Tianjin Airport (temp : -2C) .. so cold. rasa macam ke tulang dow..

@Tianjin Airport

f.a.q : How to go to Beijing from Tianjin Airport ?

answ : Beijing–Tianjin Intercity Railway is a 114 km high-speed rail line between Beijing and Tianjin in China.

1.Take a shuttle bus from Tianjin Airport to Tianjin Railway Station (cost – Y10) here's a few pics that i snap, all the way from airport to Tianjin Railway Station:-

2.Then, buy bullet train ticket to Beijing South (cost – Y58). It will take only 30 minute to Beijing South Station (subway hub) (something like KLIA transit to KL Sentral).


erm.. is this a bicycle or motorcycle? erm, confusing-do they have a roadtax for this? they are really good in modifying things..

traffic jam...

can you see the traffic light? - it used solar.->innovative

After 25 minutes, arrived at the Tianjin Railway Station..

view from the outside

ok, after arrived at Tianjin Railway Station, you will enter the main entrance, there’s a security check (they will scan all your belongings before you can enter the Station-security issue in China-> my god, it’s so ridiculous, luckily Malaysia didn’t have rules like this- at first, I thought it’s only applicable at the airport, not on public transport), there’s a ticket counter on your left, or you can ask someone to help you. Well, it’s not that easy you know.. huhu. If you CAN’T speak mandarin(most Chinese speak mandarin) like me, taadaa…, you’re in big trouble-I mean BIG trouble.

view from the inside(this is waiting area)

Everything was in mandarin/Chinese –EVERYTHING. The information board about ticket/train schedule was ALL IN CHINESE.OMG, there’s NOTHING in English!!at least, they can display an English version, right?.i was so confused, and at that moment, I was thinking by myself, what the h*ll I’m doing here, totally stranger’s, should I go back to KL? Why I didn’t think of this would happen? Huh, don’t know how to read ANY of it! How I want to buy a ticket?- I’m stuck and I really didn’t know what to do. Haha, guess what, syukur, Allah will always protect He’s followers. I cross by this young girl, & luckily, after about 15 minutes, I found a person that can help me. She bought a ticket for me and shows me the departure hall. FINALLY, I got a ticket.

One of the fastest train,-i'm going to ride it

ticket

Beijing..here I come !!

walla !! welcome on board to CRH – It is designed with maximum speed of 350 km/h (217 mph) and CRH trains running on the line at a top speed of 330 km/h (205 mph) are one of the fastest conventional trains in the world !! The 120 km journey between Beijing and Tianjin, was shortened from the original 70 minutes to 30 minutes. Amazing right?-wish Malaysia will have one of this one day. I would give 5 star rate for this train- Very clean and cozy inside. !!, even though I take economy seat-maybe it’s new train.

to be continued in next post.. pt 2 -arrived at Beijing