I am truly grateful for such a wonderful Universe

Yes, we've only got a few more days and then we'll be off to China. My Mum and her friend, Lillian went this morning and should be in China tomorrow. They will be doing a shorter trip, visiting Shanghai and Suzhou, among other places. So cool, so my Mum will be there first. I am so happy for her. Another awesome happening is our fabulous Suk Anaru and Suk Reihari will be meeting us in Zhongshan, so that they can take us to our Gung's (and therefore our) village. They're so wonderful. Suk Reihari will be there for a couple of weeks and Suk Anaru will remain in China for a month. More wonderful happenings. I met a co-worker, Annie and after she heard that we were to be charged $2,500 NZD for a limo (mini van) to take us from Hong Kong to Zhongshan, she has arranged a mini van and driver for $391.00 NZD. Incredible. Another co-worker, Marg, lived in Hong Kong for three months and shared so much invaluable info with me about Hong Kong and how to batter and have fun. Marg also gave me her sister, Alicia's email address and she has given me such wonderful hints too. Furthermore, customers have given me huge amounts of information, and contact details of their loved ones as well. Thanks to Matua Gray, Linda and Rose and Bob, among others. Even my doctor had titbits of info, such as 'don't buy sacred rocks that are said to be from spiritual mountain-tops, because her Dad paid $100 NZD for a piece of plastic.' And finally, I went to visit my dear, dear cousin Willie tonight. He has been in hospital for 5 weeks with Leukaemia and although I wouldn't want anyone to have such a disease, he seems to be in better health than when I last saw him. As you can see by the photo, he is a truckie. I love him so much. So considering all of these wonderful things, I am so blessed. I am truly grateful for such a wonderful Universe

Cool, now about Guǎngdōng.

Feisty, rebellious Guǎngdōng is China’s fastest-developing province and also one of the richest. For centuries it was isolated from the rest of China by its mountainous topography, forcing the Cantonese to rely on their own pragmatism and innovation for survival.

Situated in the fertile Pearl River Delta on the South China Sea, the Cantonese have always looked outward to the sea for their livelihood. It was along Guǎngdōng’s 800km coastline that foreign merchants first made contact with China and the ancient Maritime Silk Road had its beginnings. Guǎngdōng’s exposure to the outside world and the independent nature of the Cantonese has often been a thorn in the side of the authorities. In early times, Guǎngdōng was thought to be inhabited by barbarians; it was where disgraced officials from the north were sent into exile.

History

As China’s southern gateway, Guǎngdōng has had contact with the outside world for over a millennium. Among the first outsiders to make their way here were the Romans, who appeared as early as the 2nd century AD. By the Tang dynasty (618–907 AD), Arab merchants were visiting regularly and a sizeable trade with the Middle East and Southeast Asia had developed.

The first Europeans to settle here were the Portuguese in 1557, who set up base downriver at Macau. They were followed by the Jesuits in 1582, who established themselves at Zhàoqìng, west of Guǎngdōng. The British came along in the 17th century and by 1685 merchant ships from the East India Company were calling at Guǎngdōng. In 1757 an imperial edict gave the cohong, a local merchants’ guild, a monopoly on China’s trade with foreigners, who were restricted to Shamian Island. Trade remained in China’s favour until 1773 when the British shifted the balance by unloading 1000 chests of Bengal opium at Guǎngzhōu. Addiction swept China like wildfire, eventually leading to the Opium War.

Guǎngdōng was a hotbed of revolt in the 19th century. The Taiping Rebellion (1848–64), led by the enigmatic Hong Xiuquan, who claimed to be the younger brother of Jesus Christ, tried to establish his own ‘Kingdom of Heavenly Peace’ and recruit members to overthrow the dynasty. The rebellion was crushed with the help of foreign powers.

Twentieth-century Guǎngdōng saw its share of hardships and successes, being the headquarters of both the Nationalist and Communist parties and enduring untold suffering during the Cultural Revolution. After 1978, with the rise of Deng Xiaoping and the decision to adopt an ‘open door’ economic policy, Guǎngdōng became the first province to experience firsthand the effects of economic reforms, with Shēnzhèn, Zhūhǎi and Shàntóu set up as Special Economic Zones. Guǎngdōng’s continued economic success has made it a leading export centre for computers, clothing and household items.

from Lonely Planet.

More on Dakong?? hehe it's Dayong, Click on picture to enlarge.

Transport from Hong Kong to Zhongshan

So now what are the options of transport from Hong Kong to Zhongshan, which would take about three hours (by road)? Darling suggested a Limousine, because of a previous tour she had taken with Bubba and Chicks where they rented a taxi to take them on a tour and when it came time to take them back to the cruise ship. The taxi was nowhere to be found, They were lucky to have the help of a local AND they all spoke English there. They wouldn't have made it back in time to catch their ship, if it weren't for that extra help, and we'll be in a part China where Cantonese is the main language. So hence, my sussing out the limo services.

OPTION ONE:
There is a Limo service, Farrington chauffeur limousines (which is really a shuttle bus) with a lot of Hong Kong credentials, such as:

• The International Air Transport Association (IATA)
• The Hong Kong Travel Industry Council (TIC)
• The Society of IATA Passenger Agents Limited (SIPA)
• The Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents Limited (HATA)
• The Hong Kong Association of China Travel Organisers Limited (HACTO)
• Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE)

However, the driver didn't speak English. The quote for the 5 of us from Hong Kong to Zhongshan (one way) was in a limo was HK $3360 NZD 663 OR between the 5 of us = $ 132.00 each.

OPTION 2:
The hotel we would be staying at offered to arrange a limousine service for us (again a shuttle bus). We were to give them two days notice of our intention to hire. The upside is that the driver can speak English. The downside was that we would have to pay HKD 7,250.00 (NZD 1,432.00)
OR NZD 286.49 each.

OPTION 3:
Bus from bus Stop to Zhongshan Hotel HKD 100 (19.80 NZD) per person. The Hotel offered to buy the tickets on our behalf with a 10.00NZD. per person charge on top.

• Public transport : Wing Lee Travel Bus. Company. Tel : 852-2397-0335

• Ticket Selling Place : B shop. 155, Sai Yeung Choi North Street, Prince Edward, Kowloon.

OPTION 4:
The Ferry from Hong Kong to Zhongshan would cost $245.00HKD OR $47.00 each. However, from the Zhongshan pier to the Zhongshan city more travel arrangements have to be made.

OPTION 5 and 6:
By Air and by Train from Hong Kong to Guangzhou. Options that at this time we would not be taking.

Yeehaa, I found it.

Would you believe that SAA-TEEN was SHATIAN 沙田 hehe. I cannot believe it, I think that the sooner I learn how to speak Cantonese the better. About a month ago, I went to see Uncle Anaru and was fortunate enough to be invited to lunch with his cousin, on his Mum's side, for lunch. Meeting Aunty Huhana, her sister and one of her eight children, Karaitiana was awesome. And so was lunch. :) Unfortunately, she spoke only a little English and I spoke no Cantonese. What I found out was that my grandfather came from a really large family, and didn't have only 2 (or3) brothers as we thought, but had about 12 or so siblings. Wow.
Anyway, Aunty Huhana said Zhongshan and then wrote in Cantonese 中山 (I wrote Zhongshan), then Aunt said Shiqi and wrote 石岐 (I wrote Set-Key), Aunt said Dachong and wrote 大涌(I wrote Die-kong/Daa-kong) and finally Aunt said Shatian and wrote 沙田whilst I wrote Saa-teen!!!

So I have been searching and searching AND searching for Set-Key, Die-kong/Daa-kong and Saa-teen :( With my mis-spelling and then trying to read the Cantonese language. I was sooo rapt when I found 中山,石岐,大涌,and沙田. Guangzhou Highway, 105, just past Dachong, still more looking 2 do...