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Here is my hair story.
I looked at some Chinese salons with Chinese friends, only thing I needed was cutting the length of hair, nothing fancy, no colouring, no nothing, just a simple cut of the tresses.
But every salon I went to wanted to jazz up my hair, add colour, add bangs etc basically do what they wanted with my wavy hair out of control hair.
So I cut my own hair and it was a bad idea! I have been wearing hats ever since to take the attention of the hair which looks like a child took a knife to.
Does anyone know of a decent place for females which does exactly what it says on the tin. Oh and the bonus would be not one of those brightly lit salons which can cause a epileptic fit with blaring music, disco/barber lights and fluffy hair people standing around like the hair mafia I don’t know why but they always creep me out.
Diamond
Decided to try this place after all the reviews and being a foodie am always up for something different in China.
Set menu was okay, small portions, a few drinks weren’t available. Not a good idea having chipped crockery although I do know the plates etc are delicate but still presentation should be at least decent.
My table had to wait 15 minutes to get someone to get the bill despite a lot of staff being present. Food isn’t really Middle Eastern but a nice try as it is more for the Chinese pallet with the types of oils and spices.
The restaurant itself very nice décor not over the top, small touches of the middle East , comfortable well place furniture and the music was at least Middle Eastern and the belly dancer was entertaining.
Overall 5 out of 10 for a new restaurant hopefully some points will be refined over the future. I would recommend people give it a try once and I think maybe I will go back in a few months time after the teething problems.
Diamond
Thank you guys for giving info on Hong Kong,I did bit of research and don’t think I will move despite the job offer I was getting good pay but without accommodation and really don’t want to move and struggle financially.
So looks like Chengdu is home for now.
Talking about cold, I tried this trick at my office. I was so cold that I thought death was arriving sooner than I anticpated so with a huge gasp by my Chinese employees I turned on the heater and warmed up. I then went to the bosses office and told her that I would pay the bill for everytime I used the heating, she was so embarrassed that the foreigner is offering this, I think the phrase ‘lose face’came to mind. So I have been using the heating with about 15 happy people crammed in a tiny office thanking me for being brave ( I have never been called brave many other names come to mind but at work I am brave got to love the Chinese).
But I am trying to be efficient because I know that heating costs a lot of money (my very high apartment bill is proof of that) so whatever power we don’t need I switch off such as unnecessary lights, cables etc.
Hi Nancy do you help with apartments in the South of the city, Gaoxin area such as near Wanxiang Beilu or near Ikea and Auchan?
Let me know thanks
Hi Nancy do you help with apartments in the South of the city, Gaoxin area such as near Wanxiang Beilu or near Ikea and Auchan?
Let me know thanks
I have a travelling by bus story, I am not a fan of public transport but had to use the bus on this occasion.
One morning (peak time) after many jam packed buses drove by me I finally jumped on one, it was mega packed I had one foot on the pavement and one on the bus platform so a man in a massive purple puffy jacket grabbed my arm and hauled me into the bus so the doors could at least close, he then laughed saying ‘something laowai’.
I spent a few seconds trying to navigate through the masses to put my 2 Kuai in the money box but then some random woman who was closer took my money, I thought what are you doing and a few people passed it around and put it in the box for me, I thought how nice, if this was back in my hometown my money would have gone into someones pocket.
As more people were getting on the bus I began to feel like a rockstar who jumps into a crowd and gets passed around because as the bus was moving I could feel myself being gently nudged (not pushed which is a first for me since being in China)into the back of the bus, I kept saying sorry because my huge backpack (usually full of cheap snacks and my notebook) was knocking peoples faces but no one got aggressive or anything because if they had then I don’t know what I would have done. So I was finally in the back near the exit doors, my heart stopped beating so fast and I could calm my nerves as I knew I could get off at least without the manic and panic. Then the brakes suddenly screeched and the bus halted, the best thing was no one hurt themselves or even moved an inch because we were all huddled together, I started to laugh, who needs air bags when you have all these people squeezed in a bus and wearing puffy, inflated jackets/coats are so good for safety. I don’t even think anyone budged when the bus halted.
I came to my stop and I tried to slowly edge myself towards the exit doors once again my backpack was whipping people (I think I will buy a small one for bus journeys) and I leapt out the bus. Then I realised I got off one stop to early ha ha, thought about getting the next bus but then decided against it and walked instead oh China at times you do make me smile.
Diamond
I have a travelling by bus story, I am not a fan of public transport but had to use the bus on this occasion.
One morning (peak time) after many jam packed buses drove by me I finally jumped on one, it was mega packed I had one foot on the pavement and one on the bus platform so a man in a massive purple puffy jacket grabbed my arm and hauled me into the bus so the doors could at least close, he then laughed saying ‘something laowai’.
I spent a few seconds trying to navigate through the masses to put my 2 Kuai in the money box but then some random woman who was closer took my money, I thought what are you doing and a few people passed it around and put it in the box for me, I thought how nice, if this was back in my hometown my money would have gone into someones pocket.
As more people were getting on the bus I began to feel like a rockstar who jumps into a crowd and gets passed around because as the bus was moving I could feel myself being gently nudged (not pushed which is a first for me since being in China)into the back of the bus, I kept saying sorry because my huge backpack (usually full of cheap snacks and my notebook) was knocking peoples faces but no one got aggressive or anything because if they had then I don’t know what I would have done. So I was finally in the back near the exit doors, my heart stopped beating so fast and I could calm my nerves as I knew I could get off at least without the manic and panic. Then the brakes suddenly screeched and the bus halted, the best thing was no one hurt themselves or even moved an inch because we were all huddled together, I started to laugh, who needs air bags when you have all these people squeezed in a bus and wearing puffy, inflated jackets/coats are so good for safety. I don’t even think anyone budged when the bus halted.
I came to my stop and I tried to slowly edge myself towards the exit doors once again my backpack was whipping people (I think I will buy a small one for bus journeys) and I leapt out the bus. Then I realised I got off one stop to early ha ha, thought about getting the next bus but then decided against it and walked instead oh China at times you do make me smile.
Diamond
Hi everyone I was the one who put the question up on the forum about a roundtrip airport driver and will update you. Firstly I was cra**ing myself about getting transport sorted out as a non Chinese speaker. On the day of leaving I dragged my massive suitcase which was a pain due to one wheel getting jammed with small stones on the driveway, saw a taxi hailed it and jumped in it, driver took 20 minutes and drove so fast while blaring dance music and charged 50 Rmb from near Ikea. I was so early at the airport but secretly enjoyed watching a group tour of 30 Chinese people all wearing red caps, push and shove others to get to the front of the check in line because they were running late. I have never seen people throw luggage so fast in my life, the checking in people have the reflexes of Mr Mohammed Ali, to the left and right and bang on the belt it goes.
On the way back thank you ‘Rick in China’ for the tip I walked by the people who were shouting TAXI and charging 300 to 500 Rmb are you kidding me, one woman grabbed my arm and was dragging me out to the car park so I told her that I would only pay 25 Rmb and took it out my pocket she unleeched off me so quickly. I joined the queue got a taxi, threw in my bags and the driver put on the meter and it cost 46 Rmb to my apartment. I was so relieved and the panic attacks can now stop so a massive thank you to you all for helping a nervous traveller.
Cheers all and best wishes for the coming year 2012
Diamond
Hi thanks for the advice so far and I have been trying to do some research and looked at job advertisements on the internet.
Does anyone know of English First, Hampsons and Sunnys English club in Chengdu what are they like and if I should contact them for Esl positions.
Cheers
Diamond
Thanks Charlie I will begin to research but the looking ‘white’ part will be difficult because I am not white. A friend of a friend works in a really good school in Chengdu and even though she is a native speaker and way too qualified to work as an esl teacher she does get discriminated against for not being white which is hard to believe. Which is why I don’t want to be treated like that but I am aware this will happen to a degree which is the reason I want to hear from other esl teachers in Chengdu who can point me in the right direction.
Diamond
Thanks I feeling much confident in just hailing a taxi to go to the airport with out paying a fortune and Rick I owe you one about the tip on where to get a taxi from the airport.
I am one of those of people who is a bit naive and pay whatever a person asks for thinking that maybe there honest enough not to lie to me but being here in Chengdu has taught me many lessons be smart I will try to be anyway.
I have my home address in Chinese so will show it the driver as I have never been to the aiport since arriving in China so was worried about being late and not getting ripped off.
Thanks everyone
Diamond
Hi thank you everyone for all your advice I got my friend to help me get some medication and see if it helps fingers crossed it does because the rash on the backside means I can’t sit down!
I had been in Chengdu for 9 months and everything was fine no skin or health issues at all. But around the beginning of July this year the heat was too much for me to take and I was out in it without any sun protection and was often sweating especially the back of my body. I never thought of using anything because I have never had any skin complaints.
I thought it might have been green tea as I started to drink Jasmine tea in June and that is when I got the same type of rash on my face so I stopped and the rash went away. However I changed to another green or black tea and the rash didn’t get worse but it still was on my back and thighs. It has been months and I have now stopped the green tea and see if anything changes but it baffles me that nothing happened to my skin until the summer.
The rash has been so itchy and within weeks after the weather changed to a cooler climate the rash has cleared up by itself from my hands, neck and face but the back of my body remains.
If it doesn’t improve soon then could anyone please suggest a western or English speaking hospital or Doctor which doesn’t charge a fortune.
I appreciate all your help thank you.
Diamond
Hi everyone thank you so much for your advice I am going to use a normal taxi and insist on using the meter. I can not believe the quotes I got for 400 to 500 Rmb compared to what I have read on this forum I can breathe now so thank you all.
Diamond
Hi guys thanks for the information.
Does anyone know how much a one way or round trip to the airport would cost because I don’t want to get ripped off. One guy has offered a round trip for 400 Rmb and another 500 Rmb which seems so expensive but I have nothing to compare to so any ideas on how much I should be paying for? I am located in the south of the city near Ikea don’t know if that is further or closer to the airport.
Also what if I hailed a taxi with the meter running would that be okay. Any advice would be appreciated as I have been ripped off too many times since being in Chengdu that it would be nice not to keep losing money like water out the hand.
Diamond
OMG I did not word my heading well using the word ‘deprivation’! Well I laugh about it now. Just meant it as I have been deprived of meeting foreign faces and meeting new friends.
Where is the Jah Bar? I can not navigate the city but have a bicycle anyone interested in going cyling one day.
Elias thanks for that Wiki link on the ‘deprivation’ I actually found it quite interesting and will be more careful when using that word lol.
Diaomond
