User Comments - light487

Posted on: Renting a Bike

I've also heard that for larger amounts, yuan2 is often used. However I have to agree with xiaoluoyu that based on my own experiences in all the different cities I went to, kuai4 was the most commonly used term for money. The only times I remember hearing the term yuan2 used is when the hostel staff were talking to people who didn't understand Chinese, so as not to confuse them and also on a few occasions where the person I was dealing with wasn't aware, up until that point, that I spoke Chinese. Given that is more formal and used for larger amounts, I would expect that bank clerks might also use the term yuan2.

The moral of the story is to use kuai4 when you are talking with native Chinese speakers and yuan for everyone else.. :)

I would never rent a bike in the city though.. have you seen how crazy the traffic is??? :) C-R-A-Z-E-E!! :)

Posted on: Luke is Back! And So Are the Zombies!

Haha.. yeh.. I was on one of those train rides at the end. :) I felt a bit odd walking back into the "soft-seater" section from the dining car.. but I struck up a good friendship with the girl in the seat across the aisle. She offered me her coat during the night when it seemed as though I might be cold.. but I have this crazy stuff all over my arms and legs called hair.. hehe.. it keeps me warm. :) Yeah.. definitely need to get myself one of those portable tea canisters with the filter at the top though.. it seemed everyone had one except for me, so when the lady came past with the hot coffee in the morning, I wasn't going to say no to the 10RMB offering.. :)

Posted on: Can You Use Chopsticks?

Yeh.. hrmm.. I also learned the difference between Bei (measure word for 'cup/glass' of something) and Beizi (the actual cup or glass object) while I was in China.. It's an interesting little concept and one that takes a little bit of work to get your head around.. though fortunately, the bei example is easy enough.. would also be interested to know a bit more about this as well.

yibei pijiu (a glass of beer)

yi beizi (a glass)

I believe it also works with notebook or something too..

Posted on: Luke is Back! And So Are the Zombies!

Oh "Windows".. right.. (light bulb).. I remember someone mentioning that chain of bars while I was in Shanghai the first time. :) They also didn't give it a very good appraisal :) haha!

I went to a Bookworm in Beijing and I have to say that it had the best western food I'd eaten while I was in China.. I think I ended up paying 125rmb for the 3 course meal, plus extra for the liter or so (yup.. everyone drinks heaps of beer in China.. on par with Aussies :)) of tsingtao draft I drank.. and of course my mug of natie kafei :) I think it ended up around the 160RMB mark.. but each dish was perfect.. even the beef steak was melt-in-your-mouth perfection with little to no grissle.. lovely! :)

Posted on: Luke is Back! And So Are the Zombies!

That Chengdu-hua stuff is very different to all of the other dialects I heard. Does anyone know the foundation language that it comes from? It sounded almost arabic as compared to havcing the same foundations as Shanghainese or Shaanxihua etc etc

Posted on: Luke is Back! And So Are the Zombies!

@sebire: Also fun to watch their reaction when you say something in Chinese to them as you get off the metro/bus that you were on while they were talking about you.. hehe.. :)

I remember one instance where I was walking past someone and said something in Chinese, though they weren't talking about me.. just walking along by themselves, and when they turned to see who said it they did a double-take.. haha.. I guess they didn't expect some 6'2" laowai to be talking Chinese.. :)

Posted on: Mild Swearing

Can we get an update on this lesson please? :) This type of language is what makes learning fun, not to mention different from textbooks. :) Maybe a QingWen on the subject or something like that.

Thanks! :)

Posted on: Luke is Back! And So Are the Zombies!

Part 3: The Reunion :p

or maybe.. Part 3: The Return of the (language) King

haha.. ok maybe not.. :)

Posted on: Luke is Back! And So Are the Zombies!

Yeh.. I met that guy, and he told me the story of how he banged up his knee.. (ouch!).. Travel insurance is a big must when going to China. I'm just glad the worst thing that happened to be was to cut my finger on my razor when I was searching in my bag for something.

That bar downstairs has big bottles of Tsingtao for 5 yuan! Very cheap! :) And they even have a stash of cold ones in their little fridge under the coffee machine if you want it cold.. :) The only bad thing about the place was the internet being so slow.. it was adequate and free but very, very slow.. :) Definitely not a great hostel by the standards of Sim's Cozy in Chengdu.. but decent, clean, honest, helpful etc..

Posted on: Napkins

I can definitely recommend a superb place to stay in Chengdu, though there are definitely a bunch of foreigners there.. Sim's Cozy Guest House.. awesome place, and cheap too.. worked out to be 64 yuan (RMB) per night for a single room with queen sized bed, TV and DVD player! :) Awesome! :)