the random tidbits thread
Jan 1, 2012 | 7:30 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: PEK & MKE
Programs: Amex-gold, Hainan-gold, Mrt-LT Titanium
Posts: 1,532
Calendar new years holiday
Abet surprised by the calendar NY's eve 3 day 'work' holiday this year here in BJ.
Seems the 31st, saturday, was a work day. And the next 3 days, jan 1st-3rd, or Sun-Tues. are the holidays when most all offices are closed, schools also.
This is mild in comparison to the upcoming Chinese NY. Some workers are planning several 'weeks' off !. & schools are closed for a month to 5 weeks, mid jan-mid feb for this winter holiday.
Seems the 31st, saturday, was a work day. And the next 3 days, jan 1st-3rd, or Sun-Tues. are the holidays when most all offices are closed, schools also.
This is mild in comparison to the upcoming Chinese NY. Some workers are planning several 'weeks' off !. & schools are closed for a month to 5 weeks, mid jan-mid feb for this winter holiday.
Last edited by Jiatong; Jan 1, 2012 at 8:22 pm Reason: CNY
Jan 2, 2012 | 5:27 am
#32
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Bay Area
Programs: BA - Blue
Posts: 4,717
Abet surprised by the calendar NY's eve 3 day 'work' holiday this year here in BJ.
Seems the 31st, saturday, was a work day. And the next 3 days, jan 1st-3rd, or Sun-Tues. are the holidays when most all offices are closed, schools also.
This is mild in comparison to the upcoming Chinese NY. Some workers are planning several 'weeks' off !. & schools are closed for a month to 5 weeks, mid jan-mid feb for this winter holiday.
Seems the 31st, saturday, was a work day. And the next 3 days, jan 1st-3rd, or Sun-Tues. are the holidays when most all offices are closed, schools also.
This is mild in comparison to the upcoming Chinese NY. Some workers are planning several 'weeks' off !. & schools are closed for a month to 5 weeks, mid jan-mid feb for this winter holiday.
I do find these 'day off during the week, so must work the week-end' rules all a bit odd. Luckily, my work is very flexible, and means I can work when I like....of course, that usually means working most week-ends!
tb
Jan 3, 2012 | 1:27 am
#33
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 509
First: Happy New Year and Well Wishes to All! -- I 've not kept up with FT forums busy, busy.
I just checked out a book by an ex-pat: Alan Paul. Title: Big in China. 3/2011. I found his writing style easy to read. He blogged about his family's 3 1/2 years in BJ/China and won a national award. He was part of the "Woodie Alan Band". His wife was WSJ's China bureau chief. --Did anyone get to hear his band? or read his columns?
CNY is coming up fast and I have to get a move on to tame the dust bunnies at Mom's place...and then my own.
I just checked out a book by an ex-pat: Alan Paul. Title: Big in China. 3/2011. I found his writing style easy to read. He blogged about his family's 3 1/2 years in BJ/China and won a national award. He was part of the "Woodie Alan Band". His wife was WSJ's China bureau chief. --Did anyone get to hear his band? or read his columns?
CNY is coming up fast and I have to get a move on to tame the dust bunnies at Mom's place...and then my own.
Jan 4, 2012 | 2:39 pm
#34
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: AU
Programs: former Olympic Airways Gold (yeah - still proud of that!)
Posts: 14,538
I managed to lose the key card to my complex/building about 10 days ago, so I had been either waiting for people to leave or bothering the guard to let me in. Yesterday (Sunday), I asked the guard to sell me his toggle. While he said "no" at first, an hour later, he told me I could have it for y50 (as long as I remained hush-hush about it; I'm guessing his bosses don't read FT). The official price is probably only y20, but going through the "official process" is certainly worth more than y30.
(good advice for the future though!)
Jan 4, 2012 | 3:22 pm
#35
Original Poster
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Shanghai
Posts: 46,283
Actually, I've since discovered an even better way. Most locksmiths sell the key chain dongles for y10-15, and some can even copy the info from your existing dongle on the spot. But, the latter part isn't so important because most decent doormen can activate those things in seconds.
Jan 6, 2012 | 4:52 am
#36
Join Date: Aug 2008
Programs: HHonors Gold, Marriott Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, OZ*G, AA Gold, AS MVP
Posts: 1,944
Since this is for random tidbits...
I've noticed for a long time that Standard Chartered has given slightly better US$ cash exchange rates than other banks, but haven't really bothered to check. Today, I did.
SCB China: 6.28RMB/US$
Other banks: 6.23RMB/US$
Anyone know why? (Not that I'm complaining)
I've noticed for a long time that Standard Chartered has given slightly better US$ cash exchange rates than other banks, but haven't really bothered to check. Today, I did.
SCB China: 6.28RMB/US$
Other banks: 6.23RMB/US$
Anyone know why? (Not that I'm complaining)
Jan 6, 2012 | 5:57 pm
#37
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,397
Since this is for random tidbits...
I've noticed for a long time that Standard Chartered has given slightly better US$ cash exchange rates than other banks, but haven't really bothered to check. Today, I did.
SCB China: 6.28RMB/US$
Other banks: 6.23RMB/US$
Anyone know why? (Not that I'm complaining)
I've noticed for a long time that Standard Chartered has given slightly better US$ cash exchange rates than other banks, but haven't really bothered to check. Today, I did.
SCB China: 6.28RMB/US$
Other banks: 6.23RMB/US$
Anyone know why? (Not that I'm complaining)
Other banks also offer this service for free, e.g., HSBC Premier. Another way of getting the better rate at any bank is to wire the money into your account from overseas.
Jan 6, 2012 | 6:26 pm
#38
Ambassador: China
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Malibu Inferno Ground Zero
Programs: UA AA CO
Posts: 4,836
China Land of Opportunity
The East is Red has now changed
to "Go East Young Man"@:-)
Kasper Leschly, the Danish founder of the footwear brand D:Fuse, goes to a confidential forum in Beijing every second Tuesday of the month in Beijing
Leschly set up his company, which is based in Tianjin, in 2007. The company's first footwear shop was opened in Shanghai with an investment of 250,000 yuan ($40,000, 30,500 euros).
A little more than four years later, D:Fuse has 200 outlets around China, and its annual sales volume is triple when compared with 2008
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/weekly/...t_14390144.htm
to "Go East Young Man"@:-)
Kasper Leschly, the Danish founder of the footwear brand D:Fuse, goes to a confidential forum in Beijing every second Tuesday of the month in Beijing
Leschly set up his company, which is based in Tianjin, in 2007. The company's first footwear shop was opened in Shanghai with an investment of 250,000 yuan ($40,000, 30,500 euros).
A little more than four years later, D:Fuse has 200 outlets around China, and its annual sales volume is triple when compared with 2008
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/weekly/...t_14390144.htm