by James Dillard, jedwarddillard.blogspot.com

There might not be a better place in the world to travel right now than to China.  The history is second to none and the traditional architecture is like an oasis in a desert of classical European replications. The cities are modern, the people are nice and the exchange rate is fabulous.  Plus, for the time being at least, if you want it for cheap, whether “it” is silk, pearls or a faux Chanel handbag, you can get it in China… even if “it” isn’t exactly legal in the strictest sense of the word.

But one sticky issue still surrounds, or rather sustains, the Great Dragon of the East: the food.  All of us have heard the horror stories: chicken feet, bear claw, donkey and even dog meat.  But before you cancel your trip to the 2008 Olympics for fear of the entrées, know that hope is on the horizon.

Essentially, the food problem is really two fold. There is an underlying issue of culture, which makes a dog kabob sickening to us but succulent to the Chinese.  We see Old Yeller; they see a steak.  But, on top of these small differences, there is a sea of confusion about what is being ordered.  Few menus have translations; even fewer have descriptions.  Plenty have pictures, but the experienced traveler quickly learns exactly how useless pictures of foreign dishes are.  Chinese food is made to be eaten with chopsticks – that means all of the food is finely diced, making it easier to pick up (imagine how much trouble it would be to eat a chicken breast with the sticks).  An unfortunate side effect of this is that all of the pictures look vaguely the same: diced meat with vegetables and sauce.  This confusion leads to fear, causing some to seek refuge in western-style Chinese restaurants, with translated menus (many of which still lack descriptions), plenty of napkins and English speaking staff, where they overpay for sub par food.  They’re choosing culture over cuisine, safety over the satisfaction of a great meal.  But at last, there is hope.

In the heart of Beijing, a company called YBZG is setting out to clear the ambiguity for all the English speakers who set their eyes to the East, whether they are businessmen seeking their fortune or travelers seeking adventure.  Their goal, ambitious to say the least, is toprovide a standard of clarity for all of China’s menus.  In a way, they’re modern Marco Polos, opening up the riches of the East to the people of the West, but instead of silk, tea and precious stones, they offer travelers a taste of Chinese cuisine beyond that of Gong Bao Ji Ding (or as we know it, Kung Pao Chicken).  Despite being incorporated just a month ago, they’ve already translated over 40,000 menu items into clear, appetizing English in a standard manner, meaning that the same characters give the same translation every time.

They haven’t reached the whole city yet, but they’re gearing up to reach a critical mass of restaurants before the Olympics begin in 2008, when Beijing is supposed to swell by 12 million people – 7 million of whom will be foreigners, most of whom won’t speak or read any Chinese.  In the mean time, here are some traditional dishes YBZG suggests you try during your next trip to China, complete with characters, pinyin (Chinese phonetic spelling) and a description.

Shish Kabobs (yang rou chuan)
These aren’t your parents’ shish kabobs.  These old Beijing favorites are strips of meat (Lamb or Chicken, usually) skewered and roasted over an open flame.  Once finished, they’re rolled in an assortment of spices and passed on to the customer.  They’re cheap (1 RMB or less – the equivalent of 13 cents in the US), quick and tasty.  Groups will frequently order fifty or more to go with rice and other dishes.  Beware of street vendors, especially in the summer – make sure they cook the meat all the way through.

Dumplings (jiao zi)
The dumplings in China are so good they need an article to themselves, but here’s a quick introduction.  There are three major types: dumplings, steamed buns and potstickers (fried dumplings).  The dumplings (jiaozi) are filled with anything your heart desires, from lamb to seafood.  Steamed buns (baozi) are dough buns filled with meat, usually pork, or green vegetables.  Potstickers are dumplings, filled with pork and pan-fried.

Green Beans with pork (gan bian si ji dou)
Remember when you had to sit at the table until the green beans were gone?  Those days wouldn’t have existed if these had been the green beans.  Cooked by dry frying, a technique that uses the least amount of oil necessary to keep the beans from sticking to the pan, this is one of the hidden treasures of Chinese cuisine.  The beans are given some extra taste by adding bits of pork and a small amount of pepper.  This popular dish can be found at just about any restaurant in China – be sure to try it before you leave.

Bamboo Shoots (qing chao zhu sun)
Not just for pandas, bamboo shoots are made by dry frying the shoots with pork, peppers and the Chinese pepper-flower hua jiao.  Hua jiao, found in many Sichuan foods excites your taste buds, allowing you to fully experience all the different flavors of the dish.  At the same time, too much of the hua jiao deadens your taste buds, which may be intentional, since Sichuan food is known for being spicy.

Ants Climbing a Tree (mai yi shang shu)
On a poorly translated menu, this would be a dish you’d probably avoid.  Like many Chinese foods, however, this dish is named poetically, not literally, sort of like a submarine isn’t literally a submersible war machine.  This dish, cooked in oil, is made with vermicelli noodles sprinkled with pork and spicy peppers and it is definitely a Chinese favorite.

Crispy Rice with a seafood sauce (hai xian guo ba)
You can’t leave China without eating your fair share of rice, but when you get bored with white rice and fried rice try crispy rice.  Matter of fact, you might just want to start with the crispy rice.  This dish is made by baking the rice into a thick layer, then pouring soup over it as it sizzles.  The dish is made to be eaten quickly, sort of like cereal, so that it doesn’t get soggy.  Crispy rice with a seafood soup – fish or squid – is especially tasty, but you can usually get soups with vegetables and chicken if that’s your preference.

Tips and Tricks

1. Keep an eye on the menus.
Foreign-friendly restaurants frequently have an English menu and a menu for locals.  The vast majority of China’s 1.3 billion people are honest, loyal and caring but occasionally the unscrupulous among them will choose to post higher prices on foreign-friendly menus.  The best defense against this is common sense – if prices seem outrageously high for the quality of restaurant you’re in, ask questions about the dishes and make a decision from there.  Should the menu be Chinese only, you’re secure, but be sure to keep a mental tab on what you bought and what it costs, since you probably won’t be able to read the receipt.  If your really nervous, then make some Chinese friends – they’re easy to find, eager to speak English and extremely loyal.

2. Look before you bite.
In China, duck and chicken commonly get cut straight through – bones and all – so don’t be shocked to find a surprise in your food, especially if it’s sliced.  Diced dishes such as Gong Bao Ji Ding are cut differently so they don’t have this problem.

3. Don’t be afraid to call your server.
You’ll have to waive your hand at the fu wu yuan (waitress) to get them to come to your table – it’s not rude, it’s their custom.  In higher end restaurants this usually isn’t necessary, but don’t expect your server to bring you your check  – you’ll have to ask for it.

4. China is really big.
In the Western world we frequently assume that Chinese food is Chinese food is Chinese food but that’s not quite true.  Each region has its own cuisine, like New England, Texas and the South have all developed their own food personalities.  In China, there are eight different cuisines and four major tastes.  It is said that there are four predominant tastes in Chinese food that come from Shandong, Guangdong, Sichuan, and Henan.  Be sure to explore them all and notice how they are different from each other.

5. Order dishes for others.
In China, it’s a good idea. to buy one more dish than the number of people in your group.  Most restaurants serve their portions family style, so learn to share with your travel party.  In larger parties, it can be hard to let everyone pick something since most restaurants only give you one menu, so try using a group leader – especially if they know some Chinese.

6. Sea Cucumber isn’t a vegetable – it’s a slug.
Another common menu misnomer is Saliva Chicken, which isn’t spit upon, but is considered tasty enough to make you salivate.  The only full proof way to avoid these problems is to become a Chinese scholar.  Since most of us don’t have that much time, it’s better to use the family style dinners as an opportunity to experiment.  If you take a chance on something and don’t like it, there’ll still plenty of other food on the table.

7. Drinks with dinner.
Ordering a Western wine with food is difficult because of all the complex flavors in the food – Western wine simply doesn’t pair as well as it does with Western dishes.  Try a sweet drink like Sprite, Coke or a juice instead.  Sweet wines like German Gewurtzraminer or Canadian Ice Wines also pair quite well.

8. Put your napkin in you lap – if they give you one. If you aren’t an expert with chop sticks, your food is going to be prone to dripping, squirting or slipping on its way from the plate to your mouth.  This means you’ll probably end up with some stains on your shorts if you aren’t careful.  Napkins are in short supply and aren’t always given out before the meal, but don’t be afraid to ask for them.  Your fu wu yuan will be happy to bring them for you.  If you really want to be safe, eat the Chinese way: move your chair back away from the table and bend over towards your food.  If you spill, it’ll fall safely onto the table.

by James Dillard

Some sites don’t need any recommendation. While there are diamonds in the rough all over the world, there a handful of icons that epitomize entire regions. The Great Wall of China is one of those icons.

From the time they reach fifth grade, Americans know three things about China: egg rolls, fortune cookies and the Great Wall. The breathtaking bulwark, stretching over 6,000 kilometers, is in many ways the face of China to the world. Rumor has it that NASA astronauts saw the prolonged partition from space (they didn’t… it’s shorter than most suburban houses). Its sheer length, the source of its fame, is so immense that the remaining sections alone, are reported to be long enough, if stacked end to end, to run from New York City to Los Angeles.

But beyond its sheer length, the true beauty of the distinguished divider is in the details; length on the scale of the Great Wall can’t be appreciated in person. The Great Wall, however, has become a tourist icon because of its intricacy, the way it oscillates in unison with the terrain remaining always immutable yet changing at every bend.

The Mu Tian Yu section of the wall, located an hour and half outside of Beijing, shows off not just the detail of the wall, but its impact on the China as well. The view from Mu Tian Yu is stunning. Tree covered crags, as impressive as the wall and broken only by the occasional village, give the whole scene permanence. One feels as if the scene must look the same now as it did over 500 years ago when construction of the Mu Tian Yu section was completed.

It’s fair to say that the wall is almost as old as it is long; construction of the original sections began in the sixth century BC and continued for the next two thousand years as Kings and Emperors repeatedly tried to seal China off from marauders (usually Mongolians) from the north. To put the time period into perspective, consider that the Roman Empire hadn’t yet been founded when the wall was begun and had been dead for over a thousand years when it was completed.

This historical depth is another part of the Wall’s iconic status. It is the chosen face of China – the graphic they put on the visa’s they give to all the foreigners desperate to see the world’s up and coming power. The simple truth is that the wall is the Chinese Statue of Liberty – only it was made to keep the damn foreigners out, not to welcome them in… that and it’s 20 times older.

From the top of the fortifications you can see more than just the Chinese countryside. The creeping commercialization which has already swallowed other section is manifested here in the presence of a toboggan ride (41 Yuan, including mandatory insurance) that zips riders down from the legendary landmark amusement-park style. Around the base of the wall, a market has sprung up, selling everything from “I climbed the Great Wall” t-shirts (in both English and Chinese characters) to faux Communist paraphernalia.

Also visible is the underside of the Great Dragon of the East. While foreign tourists and upper crust Chinese enjoy the wall, peasants from the countryside sit inside the gate and sell water, snacks and cold beer for a small mark up. There aren’t many, but enough to remind the casual observer that they exist.

As long as there are tourists, the Great Wall will continue to draw attention. As the Olympic torch briefly outshines it, the Wall should remain high on every traveler’s to-do list. As Beijing rapidly modernizes for the games, globetrotters in search of a complete view of China should check out the wall. The Olympics, after all, will be repeated in four years; the Great Wall will be an icon forever.

Asia is one of the most exciting travel destinations. The history is unmatched and very mysterious. The people in Asia are warm, loving people, eager to make visitors feel welcomed. Although the various regions are different as far as environment, climate, cuisine, and even culture, it is all fascinating. What you find there is a beautiful blend of old and new, which is just one of the many aspects that make Asia a top destination for millions of people every year.

Take Bali , Indonesia . If you love to shop, then this is your paradise. You will find magnificent clothing stores that offer casual wear, tailored attire, silverware, antiques, jewelry, shoes, handicrafts, and much, much more. In addition, Bali is a haven for leather where you can buy anything from jackets to shoes to handbags. Then, there are the creations by local artisans such as paintings, fabrics, and wood carvings. Best of all, the prices in Bali are unbelievable. In addition to shopping, Bali is also a beautiful place with a real Asian feel.

Beijing , China is next on our list of best places to visit. If you enjoy entertainment, Beijing would make the perfect destination. The official capital of China was reestablished prior to the Ming Dynasty in 1421 at which time Gugong, the Imperial Palace , or more commonly known as The Forbidden City, was constructed. It took more than 200,000 workers and 14 years of hard labor to complete but the result is astounding. As far as places to visit while in Beijing , there are far too many to mention but we would recommend you start with the Forbidden City , which has 8,700 rooms and hallways. Then, there is the Halls of Harmony, built on a raised foundation of marble and the Imperial Flower Garden, which is one of the few places of greenery within the walled compound of the City.

Next, for those who enjoy climbing, there is Mt. Fuji in Japan . You can climb anytime from July 1 to the end of August. Just remember, you need to be in good physical condition but the effort is definitely worth every step. Mt. Fuji is the tallest mountain in Japan , reaching a staggering 12,290 feet. Actually a volcano, Mr. Fuji offers a number of wonderful hiking trails, with many stations where you can catch a bus or car to leave the mountain. Located just 60 miles from Tokyo , after climbing you can go into the city for fun nightlife and shopping.

In addition, we recommend you visit the quaint town of Puri in the Indian state of Orissa. There, you can enjoy the Festival of Rath Yatra, which is an annual event that in part has to do with moving the gods through the streets of the city. Thousands of people pull three gods by ropes, each in beautiful ornate chariots that are massive in size. In addition to this festival, you will discover wonderful food, interesting culture, and beautiful scenery.

Finally on our list of places to visit in Asia is Hong Kong, which is actually divided into four specific sections to include Hong Kong Island , Kowloon , New Territories , and Outlying Islands . The southern tip is comprised primarily of Kowloon and the most developed area of Hong Kong Island is a place called Victoria Harbor . In fact, the population there is so dense that this too is divided into two sections. Hong Kong is a bustling city that is actually quite modern, although the Asian culture can be seen everywhere. This city offers wonderful shopping, as well as entertainment, dining, or you could visit some of the learning institutions. The biggest island in Hong Kong is called Lantau yet it only has a population of around 45,000 people. One of the main attractions of Lantau is the Po Lin Monastery. There, you will find a bronze Buddha standing 85 feet tall.