Ok.. everyone knows that I will be traveling to China in about 11 weeks ..... so few questions for those of you who have been ....
We are staying in Guangzhou.
What things should I NOT travel without... now remember I am not getting a baby so just for me....
I have heard to get a z-pac and antibiotics...
Where is the best place to SHOP:...???????
1 thing that I am going to get is a bangle jade bracelet .... I have heard that they put it on you and you have to break to get off... I sooo cannot wait.. but want to make sure it is real and getting the best for my money.... I know Sindy is having a guide with us also...
maybe some paintings and then to bring back all the kids something and a few things for friends and family....
Thank you ....
Sunday, June 10, 2012
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I regret not getting the bracelet the most. It is the one thing I wanted and hesitated on. Do it!
ReplyDeleteThere are so many things in Guangzhou you can buy for gifts I would wait till you get there to decide.
Don't pack too much! Go as light as you can bear. Weather will be balmy. Laundry is cheap to do in China, you send it out. It will have an odd scent from their water when it comes back, but it is done really nicely. I would go as light as possible. That's super important because traveling with baby and stuff gets heavy and you want room to bring stuff home :)!! You may be helping your friend carry misc stuff if she is managing her baby. I took 3 pants, and about 4 tops. Could probably have taken 2 pants. Take light, cotton tops. HUMID there and it's a constant sensation of hot steamy bathroom after hot shower on hot day.
I took snacks for travel and was glad I did. Long flight and I was super glad I had things to snack on. I always travel with dried prunes because long flights can shut down your digestion a bit. Be sure to begin drinking tons of water the day before you go!! Drink lots and lots of water the day you leave and way more than you normally would the 4-5 days of trip. Make it a priority to have water going all the time. It is the BEST way to fight jet lag. Sounds simple, but I have had killer jetlag before, learned the water thing and never had it in China at all. I would take healthy, snacks you love that are convenient. When you get to China there are 7-11s and you will see snacks you recognize, but dried fruit, nuts, protein bars, are all things I like on a long trip. I used mine in China. Sometimes with baby I was too tired to leave the room.
Take the medicine you like for a headache, and some kind of cold stuff. Just in case. Be sure you keep everything labeled. For her: ZIPLOCKS!!!! You can break stuff down you want to take out for the day so your day bag is light. Best thing I took was different sized ziplocks. Wetwipes. Id take big amount for your self in a ziplock! Its hot and it feels good to be able to clean your hands often when you are out and about. Also bathrooms are not always easy to access sink. WETWIPES!!!A small pair of scissors in checked bag. You will use them. It may be to open stuff in room, whatever. I used mine! Broken in, comfy shoes!! The wipes in China were thinner, as were the diapers. If I were her, I would take diapers for plane flight home from here. Sounds silly, but great advice I was given. I took diapers for first few days, and saved some for trip home. Diapers there are perfectly fine! But we have really absorbent diapers in US. Jane LOVED cheerios. I took a small baby tupperware type cup filled with cheerios everywhere we went. Aunt Kim ;), you may win baby's favor with such a trick up your sleeve! I gave them to Jane moments after they handed her to me in China and she loved them and it distracted her tears for her to have a little snack. Crazy, but worked. These are the things I can think of I was soooo glad I did!
SORRY! So long. Omg, how embarrassing :).
ReplyDeleteOh My....there's a loaded question....did you see my packing list from when we went for SP? lol. I pretty much used everything. I would carry a little package of kleenex at all times. Not many public bathrooms keep the TP rotating...and some may not be fit to use. Little container of handsanitizer in case there is no soap.
ReplyDeleteWhen I packed I rolled everything in elastics, took up a lot less room in my suitcase. I had a pocket full of balloons with ribbons for anyones crying baby, seemed to do the trick when a new momma was at a loss of what to do for her new little one. I took childrens gravol(chewable)and so glad I did!! I ended up using them too! Once on the long trip to the Great Wall, it was hot and humid, I was dehydrated and got pretty weasy. The childrens helped cause it didn't make me sleepy but took the icky's away. >>>>hum....what else...I'll have to think..
Get what you want when you see it. I regret not coming home with more, because I thought there would be another chance. If you are staying on the island don't be afraid to cross the bridge to street market, gifts were more affordable over there, we got all our tea pots over there but take your camera. Since you just have your yourself there was nothing you couldn't get there, pack like a vacation. But take any meds that you think you might need and a few snacks. You can do laundry there but it takes time so pack light but not super light. Be prepared to be a runner for Sindy and a lot of emotion! Love you, this is going to be a very cathartic trip and something you really need.
ReplyDeleteI can only thing of one thing you should pack and take...
ReplyDelete" ME "
Sorry not much help as I have not been there.. but I do like Cora's advice... buy it when you see it ...don't wait as you may not have a chance later... The Jade bracelet sounds so cool... can't wait to see it when you get back... I like Debz idea with the balloons... and I like cheerios... lots of great ideas...
Hugz Carri
Here's my post that does a wrap up of must-have items in China. I'm so happy for you. I can't wait to follow your journey. I'm anxious to take Josie back to her homeland again.
ReplyDeletehttp://kenward.blogspot.com/2008/11/shopping-in-china-must-have-items.html
Okay, I talked to another friend about travel to China. She said wet wipes and ziplocks were two of her must haves :). We didn't even know each other when she traveled!
ReplyDeleteHi Kim, I would take cold/cough/flu medicine along. I took 1 package of Sudafed, which wasn't enough to treat the nasty cold I got. Other than that nothing comes to mind. You can buy everything in China. There is a small shop called "Jenny's" on Shamian Island. The owner, Jenny, will give you a good deal on your souvenirs. I bought jade pendants with the words "son", "daughter", "grandma", etc. engraved. They were around $12. each. I also bought cloissonne (sp?) ornaments. I bought boxes of 10 and they came to around $2. each. Jenny gave me a discount because I bought the box. They make great gifts. Jenny also gives you a free bracelet with your purchase :-). I loved that little store! I also bought some things (paintings mostly) in the gift shop of the White Swan. I didn't think it was expensive, but then I found out that I would have been able to get it for a fraction of the price in the little stores on the island. Live and learn.
ReplyDeleteMichaela
I think everyone has given great thoughts and I can't think of anything except to pack light because you will come home overflowing with stuff you want. You can do laundry there! It will be HOT and HUMID when you go. I got my bangle at the pearl/jade market (an 8 story building filled with pearls and jade in GX) and the shop was the tiny thing on the corner on the second floor right by the stairs. The display case is filled with Jade and there were three brothers that owned it. Our guide was very big into jade and said this was one of the few shops he went to.
ReplyDeleteDon't forget to get your China coffee mug from Starbucks!!!! We can be twins. :)
I loved the art shop right outside the WS next to the WS bakery. I still regret not getting any of thing from there. They had the most amazing red paper cut out pieces. We didn't get to do much shopping while we were there unfortunately...Shamin Island was under construction and it was difficult to get around.
Have dinner at Cow and Bridge...Thai...YUM!
Take me with you....please.
Hi Kim, it's me Laura. I am Dominic's mom and am waiting for baby girls from China and Ethiopia. I haven't checked your blog in awhile but WOW - you have a lot going on! Did you get matched with a baby already??? Congratulations! Also, so happy you have a new love in your life - you go girl! :) All the best, Laura
ReplyDeleteP.S. Grandma too??? Life is good!