The International Incident Tour. Psycho goes to CHINA.

[scottbass71]

…. unless the Chinese have seen my infamous picture, then I’ll probably wind up in a labor camp making Fen*ers

Great quote

seriously HK is fantastic I am trying to get back there ASAP, chuck you will have a ball in HK

 

[Colin]

chuck you will have a ball in HK

just don't eat them....

 

[kasim1275]

I'll say hi if I see the guy wearing an Ernie Ball tee and cap with that tourist look on the face.

As an unofficial embassador of Hong Kong, I welcome you and hope you will have a great time over here and of course in China.

Give me a shout if you are in town, who knows we might be able to meet up and have a drink or something.

 

[bovinehost]

I think he's still in the air.

 

[Beth]

Chuck, you're really going to have a blast, I know it. It's really not as bad as you think. The people in China are all very nice -- they all want your money, but they're all really nice. I've never been to Beijing, but Shanghai has some really cool sights. Make sure to go to Yu Garden, like Kevin said. There's a lot of good shopping around that area as well, especially if you like Mao stuff. (I got the watch and the shoulder bag, hee hee). Cab drivers are especially "daring" there, just remember to be assertive. It never hurts to be the loud obnoxious American when you feel like you're being ripped off or about to be mugged.

Hong Kong is a beautiful modern city with a LOT of things to do and see. Take the little train up to the top of Victoria mountain (Kasim, is that what its called?) and see the city from high up. Go to the floating restaurants and pick your lunch out of a fish tank - live! Get dim sum in Tsimshatsui area, the best I've ever had. There's a Schezuan restaurant in Kowloon in this really hip mall that has the CRAZIEST hot pepper chicken I've ever tried. I'll try to dig the name up for you before you leave.

If you don't eat the sea cucumber, you're a WIMP!!!

 

[Dead-Eye]

If you don't eat the sea cucumber, you're a WIMP!!!

I remember reading about that in the wonderful Steve Vai tour diary by Mike Keneally:

Most memorable culinary moment: as a substitute for spare ribs, Philip the non-red-meat-eating bass player is served a sea cucumber, aptly described by Matthew (a very highly-placed American at Sony Taiwan) as basically "a slug, with the consistency of a phlegm ball". Philip takes a bite which he cannot swallow and quickly leaves the room to dispense it somewhere. Which means that I have to try it, of course. Thank God for beer.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I've never been to Beijing

There is lots of cool stuff to see in and around Beijing, but the top 2 would be the Forbidden City (absolutely spectacular) and the old observatory (which contains the only remaining section of the city walls). The Summer Palace is a nice way to kill half a day as well. The Great Wall at Badaling (the closest section to Beijing) is worth a look, but horribly commercialised these days. If you have a couple of hours up your sleeve, hire a bicycle and explore the hutongs (back alleys) around the city.

Hong Kong is a beautiful modern city with a LOT of things to do and see. Take the little train up to the top of Victoria mountain (Kasim, is that what its called?)

The Peak

 

[Psycho Ward]

I survived the flight, Hong Kong was just a connection and I'm Beijing right now. We are staying in the Olympic district and I can see the "Bird Nest" from my room. I have to get ready for the first spouse tour; we're going to the "Temple of Heaven" a "perfection of Ming architecture".

Of course we found a McDonalds and had Coke with purified ice. Dinner last night was great and I used the don't ask, don't tell policy and feel great. I've found a music store and I'm going to see if they have any Balls and tonight a Kung Fu show.

AND the local beer is great!

Thanks everyone for all the info and so far most of your recommendations are on the schedule. Pictures will follow soon.

 

[Big Poppa]

chuck please post photos of you and the wives in a group tourist shot!

 

[Psycho Ward]

chuck please post photos of you and the wives in a group tourist shot!

Will do sir!

This is sort of a dull group, so it's easy to be the life of the party.

I'm saving my StingRay shirt for photo's at the Great Wall.

Well off to breakfast, this morning we're having fish vomit, mmmmmm!

 

[Beth]

Don't forget to put some century-old eggs on your plate too! Fantastic that you're already there!

You know, Chuck, the 2 weeks I spent in Asia in 2005 were the best 2 weeks of my life for my digestive system. As gross as all the food seemed, it really was good for me.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I have to get ready for the first spouse tour; we're going to the "Temple of Heaven" a "perfection of Ming architecture".

The Temple of Heaven is interesting, for sure, but I do hope one of the spouse tours is taking in the Forbidden City, it's easily the most fascinating historical tourist site I've ever visited. 10,000 rooms in a walled city, bang in the middle of the Bejing CBD. Development in Beijing has been planned so that once you're inside the Forbidden City walls, you cannot see any other external building, so it's really like stepping back in time. Plus, it adjoins the Gate of Heavenly Peace and Tiananmen Square, and at the other end of the square you can queue up to see embalmed Mao lying in a temperature controlled glass coffin

 

[bovinehost]

this morning we're having fish vomit

you can queue up to see embalmed Mao lying in a temperature controlled glass coffin

I've read that it was the fish vomit that killed Mao.

 

[brasco68]

If nothing else...the food will clean ya out.

Nothing like that fresh empty feeling after sweatin' it out on that 5 star bowl for an hour...

 

[Psycho Ward]

The Temple of Heaven is interesting, for sure, but I do hope one of the spouse tours is taking in the Forbidden City, it's easily the most fascinating historical tourist site I've ever visited. 10,000 rooms in a walled city, bang in the middle of the Bejing CBD. Development in Beijing has been planned so that once you're inside the Forbidden City walls, you cannot see any other external building, so it's really like stepping back in time. Plus, it adjoins the Gate of Heavenly Peace and Tiananmen Square, and at the other end of the square you can queue up to see embalmed Mao lying in a temperature controlled glass coffin

We are going to all of those places Mark and I look forward to it!

The food on the other hand ain't doing much for me, I'm totally tired of it. But beer on the other hand is considered a "soft drink" here, now that is something I totally like! I am having fun and all, but this trip is way too long, I still have over a week here. I miss my basses.... oh yeah the kids too... but.

 

[Aussie Mark]

I still have over a week here. I miss my basses....

chuck, have you contacted Palle (Knucklehead name is "Cutlass I" - http://www.ernieball.com/forums/members/cutlass-i.html )? Palle is a Dane who has lived in Beijing for several years now, and I believe he gigs as well. He's got a few MMs with him in Beijing.

 

[ashiin]

ah, but if you ever go to hong kong...

Go to the Tom Lee Music Store in Wan Chai, there's a dargie stingray and a fretless dargie SR5 just sitting there, i really wish i could buy them

 

[Psycho Ward]

Here's a photo for you...

 

[Big Poppa]

Chuck When you come to the desert I am going to buy you some more current socks.....NOthing spells DORK like those bad boys!

 

[Kirby]

Chuck When you come to the desert I am going to buy you some more current socks.....NOthing spells DORK like those bad boys!

Wow, thanks for the laugh so early on a Saturday!