Beijing is Still Not Olympic-Ready

I really really wished the scientists came up with "Mute" drugs. I'd feed all the Chinese there. N then, for once, I'd have peace of mind.

Microphone & sound system will never sell in China. They are the mic & woofers.

And really, sometimes, I really wonder what make their bones so strong. The way they bang through people to walk through. It makes me angry.

Crowd control is ok in Beijing. With so many police & army personnels in e city center, it's extremely safe. But the discipline somehow stop short there. When we went to Chengde, 4 out of 6 taxis we took refused to go by meter. One hawker shout an impossible price when saw my enthusiasm for the sweet potato he was selling.
WE were immediately reminded of all the con men & con women of China when encountering this. Being a foreign tourist & taken advantage off like that, we felt disgusted.

It's really sad. Because, however unsafe Spain can be, we can get information. However stuck up Italians are, we can get information. However it is in everywhere else, we can get information.
I would not allow people to stand up for China in this case for being the 3rd world country.

Msia has information brochurs, even in no-star hotel.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia, made effort to learn English enough to reply tourists & recommend somebody when there weren't
printed information/public service.
Cambodia is, by United Nation standard, an under-developed country.
When we stayed in hostels in Spain & Austria, there were brochures easily available.

Forbidden City & displays in other famous sights like Heavenly Temple & Summer Palaces, were dusty, hence viewing can be difficult & unpleasant. I always fell sick(plus my relatives) after a Beijing trip. Thank goodness for that knowledge, I was packed with "Boost Immune" supplement.

Shopping at e bargain market was even more disappointing. They threw me out of the store when I gave THEIR impossible price. I was already so turned off when they gave an impossible price. It is meant for bargain but they were too much. And I actually know how all of their standard prices. I've shopped there so many times. BUt Beijing this time, is so infested by tourists, and what's worst? Caucasian.

When we went to Silk Market. The population of the caucasian is 95% of the shoppers there, I was very very turned off. We weren't welcomed cos we were not Blonde & BLue-eyed.

Talking about price. A sweat wool cardigan's opened price was 535yuan. After disc(speical Chinese rate) is 435yuan. !!!!! That is S$80++. Can get in London Oxford St for that price.
It's really a turn off. Because I just got a woolen gloves in Chengde for 3yuan. 3YUAN! (It really was wool. I wore it. I knew it. I have many many gloves). I really did not want to spend 1/2an hour bargaining half my soul out for something that's poor quality when I could get it at the same bargain with quality in US or wherever.
And one luggage was quoted at 1350yuan. Best price is 525. That's more than S$100. I can get Lojel in Sg, free small cabin bag.
When I asked for a price of 150(medium size), the sales lady threw me out. Thinking that I'd be sorry. Next to me, a caucasian pair asked 300 for e big size bag. I screamed back at her. She backed off. Looks like that was the culture. My hubby threaten to complain to authority. I told him. I don't threaten. I do it. If I said i'd complain, I do it. I don't threaten. That is not my style. That is my lousy customers style.

Looks like I don't sound disappointed. I was very very very disappointed.
China is a place you need to book tour from home. Which I never like.

It is not tourist friendly.

IT IS NOT ready for Olympics.