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 Written by Andy For the October Holiday in China, Rica and I decided to take a vacation in Hua Hin. It was Rica’s first time to Hua Hin (2nd to Thailand) and my 2nd time but I haven’t been here in 6 years I think. Hua Hin is located about 3 hours south of Bangkok and you can just take a car to get there. The flight from Hong Kong to Bangkok is cheap and easy to do and then we booked a van to take us and 2 friends down here so overall the transportation is really easy to get there.
Before we got here we booked a cheap hotel online, the Thipurai Beach Hotel, which is a little out of the city but within walking distance to “downtown.” The hotel was about 1000 bah a night ($32) and we booked it for 2 nights so we can have a look around if there is anything better and cheaper. The hotel was nice but unfortunately their wifi was not working and while we are on vacation we still needed to check some emails. We stayed there the first two nights and then moved to the Rahmahyah hotel just up the street which was only 800 bah ($25) a night. Overall the Rahmahyah hotel is much better the the first one, not just because of the wifi, but the hotel staff is much nicer and the food on the menu is awesome. If you are thinking of a trip to Hua Hin (and don’t want to stay in a 5 star hotel) this is the place to stay. Next time we are back we will defiantly stay here again.
Hua Hin is pretty small so we could walk everyone or if we are lazy we could just take a tuk tuk but we decided it’s just easier to rent a motor bike and drive around on that. You can rent a bike for 250 bah a day ($8) and we have filled up twice for a cost of 200 bah ($7) so it’s defiantly the way to go. It let’s us get around to shopping and to eat as well as see some other places around.
While here we have spent time on the beach and also to see the Monkeys and do some elephant riding. The is a lot to do and you can get everywhere other motor bikes. In the evening we go to the night market and eat the great street food they have for very cheap. There is more to do but laying on the beach and napping is what I like to do, and then answer a few emails on my iPad is also ok.
I’ll write some more when back in SZ and not on the beach but so far the vacation has been good and wish this wasn’t the last day here (we leave for Bangkok for a day and night before heading home).
Written by Andy  I don’t blog much so figured I can go ahead and put a quick post up while laying around On Sunday afternoon.
Just been hanging out on a lazy Sunday in Shenzhen before another busy week next week starting with a trip to Hong Kong to work all day on Monday. Will just be a 4 day work week for me as I’m off to Thailand on Friday for 9 days on vacation. In China they have the October holiday from October 1 to 5 so I’m only off a few extra days to lay on the breach.
In Shenzhen this week it’s started to cool down. Nice enough now that I have the window open and No AC for the day.
Anyway, just a quick update and I’ll try and post more when in Thailand.
Written by Rica Rica
MSN:surnl@hotmail.com
Skype:rica.yin
http://www.123chinasourcing.com/
Written by Andy Yesterday (August 13, 2011) the Shenzhen Universiade started and Shenzhen held the opening ceremony that night. Our apartment is right beside the main stadium and so over the last 6 months we’ve seen Shenzhen getting ready for the games. Most of the preparations have been on making the area look nice but the last month has focuses on getting security and traffic controls in place.
Most people have probably never heard of the Universiade, also called the University Games or I like to stay the University Olympics since its pretty much the Olympics but for university students. I didn’t know it existed either or what it was until being in Shenzhen but it is like the Olympics and happens every four years and this is the 26th time. It is also a very big event with thousands of athletes, coaches and staff from all over the world coming to the event. To learn more about the actual event you can visit the official site at www.sz2011.org.
Now that the games are here I hope trying to get home and to the office doesn’t get any harder, but it looks OK today. Below are some pictures I took yesterday of the preparations and building that has happened. We will see how everything goes and I’ll try and catch up with some of the events on TV as its all played live here but not sure elsewhere in the world.
Written by Rica  Train Schedule Times and schedule for the train
Written by Rica  
 
Sumsung galaxy s2
the color is great!
And the camera is so clear and so fast! and it is auto focus!
4.3inch big screen
480×800
Android 2.3
Written by Andy
One of my very first posts was about the different boarders between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. That information is still accurate and you can view that original post here, but I want to update a little more about the Shenzhen Bay or Shenzhen Wan. Since that original post I spent a lot of time going between Shenzhen and Hong Kong before moving across the boarder and then moving back and now its usually the boarder I take when going back to visit/work in Hong Kong.
The time you go makes a big difference
In my original post I mentioned that this boarder was fairly new and quick. It’s still the fastest way to get across if you go at the right time. The longest its taken me was about an hour on a Saturday about 1 PM going to Hong Kong from Shenzhen. Since then I have tried to learn when to go and when not to go. Here is what I’ve found about the time to go:
Lines should be short:
The best time to go from is early in the morning, around 8 AM or early. On the weekdays you maybe OK till 8:45 AM but then it start to get busy, on the weekends better be there at or before 8. Then the best time to go is in the evening after 9 PM, though on Sunday it may still be busy, and the later you get there the better. Note on the Shenzhen side though that if you come back late you may have problems getting a taxi.
Other then that on the weekdays in the afternoon is can sometimes be OK and even Saturday afternoon has been OK, but there is no telling and sometimes it can be really busy.
Lines will probably be long:
It can actually happen anytime during the day if you’re not there early or late as above. However, it defiantly will be busy Saturday after 9 AM and then Sunday evening. The reason is most of the people are taking a tour bus to Hong Kong and all the tour buses go through this border now so it can get full when all the buses arrive.
Also a special note that with the 2011 Universidad in August it will take a long time.
Closing comments and notes
The times above are mostly related to the China side as I have been going through the e-channel on the Hong Kong side, but from what I see it is almost the same since if you get stuck on one side you will get stuck on the other.
Have you had a different experience? Did you get stuck at some of the times I have? Leave a comments and let me know.
Written by Andy I haven’t posted anything in a few months, don’t think anyone is really following but if you a sorry if you keep checking but don’t see any updates. I’ve been busy working and also we where busy moving back to Shenzhen from Hong Kong. We are now living in Shenzhen right across the street from the Kempinski hotel in Nanshan (Costal City area). The job in Shenzhen has kept me busy so I haven’t spent much time writing up posts but figured I should put something up and have time today on this lazy Sunday.
The costal city area where we live is getting crazy as the Shenzhen Universidad will take place from August 12th to the 24th and the big stadium is right here. I’m not looking forward to the two weeks during the games as the traffic here is going to be terrible. On the good side though the ares is really nice with all the preparations almost finished and then Shenzhen Metro it now open normal hours in our area (HouHai Stop) so it is easier to get around Shenzhen, but unfortunately there is no stop near my office.
I hope to spend more time writing some posts but we’ll see if that happens. Leave a comment to let me know if you are ready and you can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare, or Weibo for those of you in China.
Here is a quick shot of a view from our Apartment Today:
Have fun!
Written by Andy 
I haven’t been posting much as I’ve been busy working but figured now that I’m on vacation I can go ahead and spend some time writing about our travels. Rica and I spent the last few days in relaxing in Coron and are now waiting to leave as I write this.
We arrived 3 days ago and had 2 full days here along with the one to get here and one flying back. We stayed at the Coron Village Lodge right in town, about 40 min by car from the airport. The first day we arrived we spent exploring the town, though after a little you see everything and there isn’t much to do.
The second day was the best part of the trip. The helpful staff at the lodge arranged a boat for us to do island hopping. We went from place to place on our private boat (Rica and I with the captain and helper) swimming and taking some great pictures. I won’t go into details but this made the trip worth it, you can take a look at some of the great pictures we got. Really a great time but exhausting from all the swimming and sun.
The 3rd day was not very good as I got too much sun and heat the day before and felt sick all day! We spent most of the day on out air conditioned room getting some rest. Since we where in the city and there is not much to unless you take a boat it was too late to do anything, but at least we felt rested and better for the trip back.
Overall it was great to see and thanks to Mike for suggesting it and arranging the accommodations. The only bad part is there really isn’t much in the town so you need to be ready to get a boat everyday to enjoy it. We did one set of island hopping but there is more to see if you are here longer. You can also choose to stay at another location or on the island which maybe better.
On the way to the airport now and will post more from Boracay.
Andy – Posted from WordPress for Android
Written by Andy Haven’t been posting much latly, but we want to wish everyone a happy new year and merry Christmas! Hope everyone had a good one and here is a little video from Rica and me celebrating!
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