August 2007

Fear and Loathing in Qingdao

What a Trip! Friday evening we met at 19.00 at the gate clock Century Garden, waiting for the driver. Mr. Honda was a little late but Mr. bread box was already there. Marie, Charlotte, Ronny, Dominik and myself pity on us with the shoe box to go to Hongqiao airport - a nice bumpy ride.

Once there, we immediately checked in and shortly after we got on the plane to Qingdao. Our beach party sun euphoria evaporated fairly quickly but when we found out that it poured down with rain in Qingdao. So we went with 4 taxis to the hostel. The trip took longer than usual because quite Qingdao was under water and they were totally overwhelmed us for major highways. After a brief odyssey through Q-Town, we finally reached our hostel.

where only one room was ready, which was also still totally moldy. Then came the nagging gets ready. In the end we were spread across several rooms and a group took the mold room because we had no chance of reception according to a hotel - after all, was the next day, yes, the go-ahead for the 14th International Beer Festival in Qingdao. After more than exhausting journey we were dead tired in our bunks. Oh yes, there was no running water - because of the storm - and the computer to program the Room keycards was broken, everything went so perfectly -.-*

The next morning we walk to discover at the beach promenade towards the city in search of a Starbucks or at least breakfast. How were of course not find it, so we covered ourselves in a bakery with sweets and a piece of moldy cheese cake. Immediately afterwards we took the next best taxi in the direction of Tsingtao Brewery.

There we met an American named Casey Cobb by his company more flavor. Together with him, so we visited the brewery museum and bottling plants. As we passed a glass case with beer bottles from all over the world, trust I my eyes - in the glass display case were actually two empty bottles and an empty bottle of Alpha Brauhaus Schweinfurt beer cellar. Before I met euphoria quickly called him back to Charlotte to meet her proud to show my discovery. Schweinfurt rocks!

After the visit we were drinking some beers in the accompanying Tsingtao "pub". Then I went briefly back to the hostel for my video camera and all the Tsingtao beer souvenirs to bring to your room. Meanwhile, the slight drizzle has again developed into a full monsoon and we swam with our taxi towards beer festival. Once there we met up again with the other (12 people permanently to reconcile simply does not work) and we were on our way to the Paulaner beer tent.

the beer tent we ordered beer awfully expensive Paulaner and danced to the Chinese entertainment on the table - until it gave way and shattered. Somehow I was not really in a party mood, because I think the beer festival also seemed pretty fake - to the expensive beer. 2 hours, 2 beers benches and a broken beer table later (we were now also table-dance-ban), decided Thomas Kreutzer, Dominik and I to rush us into BABYFACE. Of course, it was still raining like cats and dogs, and how, as always, got a taxi. It is in Shanghai already hard to get one if it rains, but in Qingdao, it is really absolutely impossible. If QD up to his 2008 Olympics Taxi fleet doubled - did the real problems. Eventually, Thomas K. found soaking wet with a 100 RMB note to the streets to ANYONE who drives us to the disco. A nice Chinese in a new Citroen took pity on us and drove us into BABYFACE. There we rocked up to 2 clock in the morning of Black and House, Paul met in Stuttgart and at the end many Russians. As we were too stupid, we went back out into the rain. Thomas wanted to another bar, New York or something like that predisposed, but in the short term in order to massage. The Relax!

about half past 3, we were soaking wet, tired and still slightly intoxicated at our hostel and wanted nurnoch of Death on the bed. Unfortunately, the hostel Staff Thomas Kreutzer extra bed in our room away (including my Ray Ban sunglasses Fake - ICH WAR YOU YOU FUCKER), and so Thomas was still a tirade at the best that has washed himself. Letzenendes he got a free bed in another room and we had a less oxygen consumer in our 8m ² of four.

The next morning I slept and Dominic from the ghetto and went to our breakfast (a can of cold coffee for two and a packet of strawberry biscuits) on a discovery tour of Qingdao. We walked back down the hill to the waterfront and walked along it in a different direction. There were many traders spread out their trinkets and junk so I bought several, and a killer slingshot for 80 cents. At the end of the promenade, in a small alley, we saw a little girl eating their pasta in peace. Thus, a small, love Chinese, I had to photograph them immediately.

We looked at the clock and still had 2 hours on up to our agreed meeting point at 15.00 clock Hostel. So we decided to visit the TV Tower Qingdao. We took a taxi there, had a look at everything in silence and enjoyed the spectacular view from the rooftop terrace - the weather was now dry and sunny. When we were done we went to the restaurant to view the local elevator down to drive. The line was super long and we had to drive only 30 minutes to return to the hostel. We made spontaneously returns to the abstract of one-way streets in Souvernirshop where people may actually just get in and the staff there made clear that we have down here, because otherwise we would miss our flight. It worked ^ ^

below were arrived there, as always, not a taxi and then separated Domi and I to double our chances. After about 15 minutes I had one and wanted to pick up Dominic by taxi, but he was somehow related to nowhere. When he appeared then, the taxi driver knew the way to the hostel, not even the mini used on the card no. So we got pissed out of the taxi from - the 7 we had to fork out RMB. In the meantime, however, had Dominik a group of Chinese-twenties checked out, which we gladly went to the hostel - thank God! They were really cool and could even halfway English. We arrived in time at the hostel.

all together again, we took three taxis to the airport - with the best sunshine. Man, I've been annoyed, but we had stopped just unlucky with the weather. In any case, we have made the best of the situation and experiences in any case a lot. Qingdao is a beautiful city, which I'll look again at all costs.

far So,

your

Thomas

country under!

Our room

First Impressions from Qingdao

Good night!

command SMILE!

The mother of the Chinese beer

Woa woa NAZI!

Thomas in Drunken-Room

Brauhauskeller beer and Alpha FTW!

Beerfest my ass!

What is your konig Rlsener?

At least the Chinese had their fun

Thomas clock at 2 am in the massage outfit ^ ^

Just the sweet little

TV Tower Qingdao

Do not mess!

The view was great

Hostel of Mass Destruction

Our new Chinese home driving Homies

Woa woa II NAZI!

Boarding the plane

Good Night China!

Final Countdown

Hello and sorry for the long "break"!

To my excuse I can EGTL. only say that the last 2 weeks were pretty stressful, because I work on Vice Head of Central Services, or simply for vacation replacement have been appointed by the chief.

So I had every day instead of 8:30 to be at work to keep the daily meeting with the Site Manager of the company SCHOLPP already at 8. Otherwise, I was busy all day running around, because my phone and my phone rang constantly. LuK in the hall I had slits for air lines and power cables can tap somewhere and always ran on a machine - I had really got our hands full every night and was all ready to go home. I'm glad if Gerhard is back on Monday ^ ^

tends Otherwise, my time in China with giant strides to its end. It is the madness as fast for half a year abroad will pass. Meanwhile, Anne also arrived Neufang, the first intern for the next round. Especially now that people have used so well together and you have yourself accustomed to China, you have to go home. But as the saying goes: One should stop when it is most beautiful ...

Last weekend, Marie II, Peter, Dominic and I, from Saturday to Sunday in Shanghai, to still be considered the last remaining "attractions". Saturday afternoon we were in the City Urban Planning Museum, then in the Pu Dong aquarium. In the evening we were tasty teppanyaki food and are then dropped pretty dead in our hotel beds.

The next day we went to the Lupu Bridge to shoot photos, and in direct connection to the Jade Temple Bhudde. Then we met up with Max in Starbucks People Square and drove back to Taicang. After all sounds a little action, but we must remember that not all attractions are right next to each other and you spend so much time in the taxi or the Metro.

Here are some pictures: