China Romance

General Discussion and Useful Links => Useful Links And Articles => Topic started by: Pineau on December 22, 2010, 07:28:58 am

Title: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on December 22, 2010, 07:28:58 am: As you can guess from the name a general thread for folks in China looking for something from back home and others that have found something interesting and where they found it....

ARBY'S Roast beef on a soggy sesame seed bun overloaded with sauce that drips between your fingers and down your arms. Havnt found it yet.'

Found two bottles of mountain dew in Beijing Olympic center. I scored a case in the alley behind the Hanting hotel in Shenyang. I occasionally see them in Guangzhou but not often. Mountain dew here is in bottles shaped like old long neck budwieser bottles except they are florscesent green and plastic.

You can get something that resembles steak and potatoes at MEXI WEST Steak House in Guangzhou. http:www.mexicomgz.cn.

No Jiffy Peanut butter yet.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Willy The Londoner on December 23, 2010, 01:43:29 am: I have found a place that sells HP Sauce. Now that is the one thing that really makes a Bacon or an Egg Sandwich

Mind you at 4.5 US dollars a small bottle it means only the slightest hint of the contents of this very small bottle gets into the sandwich. Agh but its the thought that counts.

Willy
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: shaun on December 23, 2010, 08:06:18 am: Willy,

You can buy a used bottle of HP sauce on Amazon for $3.48.

Shaun
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Arnold on December 23, 2010, 06:30:11 pm: On my Trip's , I have yet to see a Panta Express Place :( . One thing I was glad to see in Shanghai was the German Restaurant and real Bratwurst and Sauerkraut .. of course the great Beer was missing though . >:(
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Paul Todd on December 23, 2010, 08:36:19 pm: Arnold if your ever in Baoding they have opened up a new "German" beirkeller here called " Golden Hans". Honestly I'm not making this up. My wife and I went there last week to have a look. All the waitresses are dressed up like big German women if you know what I mean but they don't have the goods to carry it off! Tight lace bodices,headscarf's to match, and full length dresses, the whole works. The food is a sort of barbecue style but they do brew there own wheat beer which surprisingly enough is not bad at all!
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Arnold on December 23, 2010, 10:51:43 pm: Paul , I would love to visit Baoding some day .. as I like to meet up with you and your lovely Wife and besides my other Sister ( MIN ) lives there . I can give you here address and you can say Hello for me . haha

German Restaurants never make it here in Southern Cal for very long anymore . As no new Germans are coming as of late and American's don't really care too much about their Food . Beer alone is not going to keep them open . About 100 miles away from my house there is Alpine Village ( Torrance ) that I visit now and then .
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: RobertBfrom aust on December 24, 2010, 01:16:41 am: Arnold , you make it sound so hard , simply covert half of your workshop into a German beer house and while their V dubbs are being serviced they can enjoy some German food , ha ha .
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Arnold on December 24, 2010, 01:23:12 am: Quote from: RobertBfrom aust on December 24, 2010, 01:16:41 am
Arnold , you make it sound so hard , simply covert half of your workshop into a German beer house and while their V dubbs are being serviced they can enjoy some German food , ha ha .

Oh yeah .. guess who'd be Drinking the Beer ? it would be unsafe to Road-Test them Cars after Fixing them .. if they still Run ? haha
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on December 24, 2010, 03:22:28 am: Sounds like a good place. Baoding. I will have to go there. I hope they have Brats in beer.

There is an Irish Pub in Beijing not far from Tianamin and close to the train station. Call Mally Malones. Live band and singers.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Irishman on December 25, 2010, 02:52:35 pm: Quote from: Pineau on December 24, 2010, 03:22:28 am
Sounds like a good place. Baoding. I will have to go there. I hope they have Brats in beer.

There is an Irish Pub in Beijing not far from Tianamin and close to the train station. Call Mally Malones. Live band and singers.

Ireland's contribution to world culture, Irish bars in every major city!!
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Paul Todd on December 25, 2010, 07:44:30 pm: And a fine contribution it is too ;D The world would be a much sadder place without Guinness in it!
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Rhonald on December 26, 2010, 12:40:24 am: I coudn't agree more Paul with your observation, because when I lick Guinness, I suddenly feel like a Jedi Master ready to take on the world ???

THE PUNISHER STIKES AGAIN
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on December 26, 2010, 09:08:20 pm: I found a supermarket called CARREFOUR. There are 3 of them in Guangzhou. You can find them on the net. They are sort of like wal-mart. They carry some American foods ..I FOUND CORNFLAKES AND CHERRIOS woo! Also across the courtyard is a Papa Jon's Pizzarea ,much better than pizza hut but more expensive. The Pizzas are actually the same size as the ones in the states.
.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: mustfocus on December 26, 2010, 09:15:47 pm: Carrefour is a french supermarket. They're supposed to be on the higher end of things but still quite good (they are in a number of countries in Asia). I've never been in one before but they have a good rep.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: shaun on December 27, 2010, 12:13:12 am: Mike, just think, you get to introduce your wife to Walmart. :o
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on December 27, 2010, 02:28:27 am: Willy, where did you find real bacon? I have not found thin sliced bacon here yet. If i Pick a cut of pork and ask them to slice it for me they hand me back ground pork that looks like sausage.

Bacon, egg, lettuce and tomato sandwich. wow I am drooling.

Fiona tried to make a Denver omelet and it turned out all wrong but was actually quite tasty. Fried up the ground pork, added the chopped onions and bell peppers whey they were soft she added three eggs. Then topped it off with cheese. It didnt quite gel and came out looking like a casserole instead of an omelet but good all the same.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: halfpint on December 27, 2010, 10:28:59 pm: I went to the Carrefour in Shanghai and found the ingrediants to make a pasta sauce, and some spaghetti. I found some italian sausage and pasta sauce, crushed tomatoes, tomatoe sauce etc. Took it back to my girls place, no can opener. Ayi hacked the cans open with a butchers knife. They'd never had to open a can before and were wondering if this was stale food. Maybe it is, lol.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on December 28, 2010, 04:57:42 am: Just got back from the store. I scored some Jiffy peanut butter and some lays potato chips. Something to eat in bed while I watch TV.
Trust mart on Xicha rd guangzhou.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Bee964 on December 28, 2010, 11:40:21 am: Quote from: mpo4747 on December 27, 2010, 12:24:11 am
She already took me to Walmart in Qingdao ......
:o

Ah Yes, but do thet dress the same in the Walmarts in China?

Dave C
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: shaun on December 28, 2010, 12:42:54 pm: Quote from: Bee964 on December 28, 2010, 11:40:21 am
Quote from: mpo4747 on December 27, 2010, 12:24:11 am
She already took me to Walmart in Qingdao ......
:o

Ah Yes, but do thet dress the same in the Walmarts in China?

Dave C

Let's hope not. :o :o :o
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on December 28, 2010, 09:32:18 pm: Don't you find it odd there are several WalMarts all over Guangdong but none in Guangzhou. The closest one to me it in Fohsan which is 1.5 hours from me by bus. Must be some sort of corporate strategy I dont understand. Maybe because carrefourth has most of the market in Guangzhou. But even the carrefourth market is about 45 minutes away.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Willy The Londoner on December 30, 2010, 07:20:52 am: the reason for the walmart not being in guangzhou is because of the Park And Shop stores. They have paid a high price to keep them out of Guangzhou. It has nothing to do with Carrefour. Stay away from the Sams Club in Panyu it is just a glorified chinese store with
no western food sold except for hot dogs and meat.

Pick up a PRD MAGAZINE (pearl river delta) you can usually find them in Starbucks in their magazine rack. Has a lot of info and in the back of the magazine has a guide for western food along with other stuff.

some places to get western food -----

Olivers ----- they have many over GZ i used to go to the one across the street from the Ramada in zhujang new town stop on subway

underground at the mcdonalds by the USA consulate is a deli that carries a large selction of western food quite a great selection used to shop there all the time.

over at haizhu square stop on subway is a mile long street that sells everything with quite a few shops that sell western food in bulk or individual. the shops are outside so if you go there dont look inside the buildings for them.

park and shop and vanguard supermarkets have selections but it varies by market. they have a western section.

2 blocks down from the backside of the grandview mall are a few stores also just tucked away but i found them on my walking excursions around GZ.

Popcorn to make at home when watching movies is sold at Vanguard supermarkets in bulk very good and fresh. when i made at home
and at the house complex everyone enjoyed it. But not all vanguards have it.

Willy
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on December 31, 2010, 07:10:20 am: Hey thanks Willy. I am going to do a lot of exploring in the next couple of weeks.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Arnold on December 31, 2010, 01:58:07 pm: Quote from: Pineau on December 28, 2010, 04:57:42 am
Just got back from the store. I scored some Jiffy peanut butter and some lays potato chips. Something to eat in bed while I watch TV.

I don't know about your Lady , but my LaoPo would NEVER allow this .. eating in Bed ! She is so very firm on this one and believe me I try'd , hence we are all used to doing this in the States .
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: chen yan on January 01, 2011, 01:04:32 am: Quote from: shaun on December 23, 2010, 08:06:18 am
Willy,

You can buy a used bottle of HP sauce on Amazon for $3.48.

Shaun

Willy ,you can buy the HP souce in HK "taste" or "City Super" which are supermarkets ,the same price as Shaun metion.
Guangzhou has a "city super" too, you can find a lot of imported goods there,but I donn't know if the price is more expensive than HK, due to the tax.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Irishman on January 01, 2011, 12:29:01 pm: Willy, I'll be in GZ from January 27th until Feb 13th, I'd be happy to bring you over some HP sauce if you like or anything else Tesco, Asda etc would have in the UK and Irl?
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Willy The Londoner on January 02, 2011, 01:05:28 am: Quote from: chen yan on January 01, 2011, 01:04:32 am
Quote from: shaun on December 23, 2010, 08:06:18 am
Willy,

You can buy a used bottle of HP sauce on Amazon for $3.48.

Shaun

Willy ,you can buy the HP souce in HK "taste" or "City Super" which are supermarkets ,the same price as Shaun metion.
Guangzhou has a "city super" too, you can find a lot of imported goods there,but I don't know if the price is more expensive than HK, due to the tax.

Thanks Chen Yan but to get to HK and back by ferry cost 640 rmb return including taxi to the Port!!! I think my Mrs Chen would put a stop to even a trip to GZ at 119 return so HK is well out of bounds. I think I will settle for the price at my Justco store.

Willy
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on January 02, 2011, 01:09:41 am: What is HP sauce? I cant place the name. Is this a Europe sauce?
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Willy The Londoner on January 02, 2011, 01:15:17 am: Quote from: Irishman on January 01, 2011, 12:29:01 pm
Willy, I'll be in GZ from January 27th until Feb 13th, I'd be happy to bring you over some HP sauce if you like or anything else Tesco, Asda etc would have in the UK and Irl?

Thanks for the offer Irishman. I am basically living a Chinese life and my only slipping back into a western lifestyle is a bacon sandwich maybe once every two weeks or so (hence the HP Sauce) and of course a daily cup of coffee or two.

As Ted is no longer in Guangzhou I no longer travel to there so much. But your offer is much appreciated.

Willy
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Willy The Londoner on January 02, 2011, 01:18:50 am: Quote from: Pineau on January 02, 2011, 01:09:41 am
What is HP sauce? I cant place the name. Is this a Europe sauce?

HP stands for House of Parliament the building that was once the centre of the world. The seat of the British Government.

Each bottle of sauce has a picture of the building showing the iconic clock tower often misnamed as Big Ben.

Willy
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: halfpint on January 02, 2011, 01:19:58 pm: and no eggs or steak should be eaten without HP Sauce!
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Jason B on January 02, 2011, 02:55:48 pm: Well at least not without BBQ sauce.

For Aussies on this site there is a shop in Shenzhen that sells Aussie Beer. VB, Crown Larger and Fosters from memory although I can not remember the name of the store it is a little expensive but sells a lot of western food that I can not get in any other store, namely pasta for spaghetti bolognaise, a dish that Xia just loved as she had never tried anything like this before, so for some brownie points make your beloved some of this, or a steak dinner with vegetables.

I will ask Xia for the name of the store and let you know tomorrow.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: David E on January 02, 2011, 05:03:35 pm: Well...if I could find Branston Pickle in Chengdu...I would probably move there to live ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Martin on January 03, 2011, 10:47:41 pm: HP Sauce is so much better than A1!! Fortunately, HP is readily available at most fine food establishments here in Canada.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Jason B on January 04, 2011, 06:38:43 am: I finally remembered to ask Xia about the store name that sells the Aussie beer, it is called Ole. Maybe in other cities too but I do not know. At least in Shenzhen if I was tempted I could get a decent beer, but i do not mind Singtao.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on January 04, 2011, 08:40:04 am: Ok, I'm dying to try it. I found some real salt cured bacon and I want to see what all the fuss is about HP sauce. Anyone know where to find HP sauce in Guangzhou.

BTW I found the bacon among the lunch meats at a store called guang bai. It is on Beijing road in guangzhou.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on January 04, 2011, 08:54:34 am: Computer stuff and electronics. Fiona is kind of a likes cool techno toys. And she will buy just about anything if someone convinces her she needs it. She showed me a store in Guangzhou that has just about everything. About 5 floors of CDs, DVds, flashdrives, computers, monitors disk drives iphone and ipad knockoffs. If it's new and amazing techno you can find it there. I hate the bus ride there but I am certain to find what I am looking for in that building or one of the surrounding buildings. It is called six in computer town, and is located on.zhong shan liu lu.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Irishman on January 04, 2011, 08:04:16 pm: HP sauce and a nice stew, its absolute heaven on a cold winters evening!
Nice on a rasher sandwich too :)
David you have Branston Pickle in Aussie land to? I thought that was a Brit and Irish delight only haha, no wonder so many of my fellow countrymen are emigrating there during the current disaster that is the Irish economy.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Irishman on January 04, 2011, 08:13:32 pm: Quote from: Pineau on January 04, 2011, 08:54:34 am
Computer stuff and electronics. Fiona is kind of a likes cool techno toys. And she will buy just about anything if someone convinces her she needs it. She showed me a store in Guangzhou that has just about everything. About 5 floors of CDs, DVds, flashdrives, computers, monitors disk drives iphone and ipad knockoffs. If it's new and amazing techno you can find it there. I hate the bus ride there but I am certain to find what I am looking for in that building or one of the surrounding buildings. It is called six in computer town, and is located on.zhong shan liu lu.

Gerry, if its computer stuff get the line three metro to Ganding and go crazy :). Guangzhou seems to be laid out commercially by type of product..so there are areas that are all computers and electronic stuff, there are areas just for paintings etc etc, its really quite practical and convenient to have all the stores concentrated in the one place.
Will you be in GZ over the new year time?
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: David E on January 05, 2011, 12:12:56 am: Yep...every supermarket here sells Branston Pickle...and Heinz Picallili....and HP sauce...and Heinz English Salad Cream.....and Baxters Mushy peas ;D ;D

Lot of Poms here...need their staple food !!, but I draw the line about pre- packaged Yorkshire Puddings...always make my own.

ps...also I can get my absolute favourites...Bassets Liquorice Allsorts !!!
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on April 19, 2011, 10:25:52 pm: Carrefour let me down. I was all excited because I ordered on their website a small oven for baking stuff. They just called and said it was out of stock and they wont carry it any more. Anyone know where you can find a small household oven (about 32 leters) ?

Also i found in one carrefour store one wall reserved for foreign foods. a fair selection but nothing to get really excited about.

I have got to have an oven. I am missing things like Pizza, caseroles, breads, lasagna, potatoes gratin. baked chicken, PIE ! I'm going shopping !
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on April 20, 2011, 09:56:40 pm: Well this town is full of bait and switch. Go to the appliance store that is supposed to have what you want and indeed they have it. But only one, and it is the display model and it is not for sale, and no we dont intend to restock but since your here have a look at this smaller and more expensive model. two Sunling stores, carrefour and another store I cant remember the name of all practice this bait and switch scam. This has been outlawed in the U.S.. If a merchant says he has it then he had better have one to sell you or be ready to order you one and sell it to you at the same price as advertized.

Well I got one on order and hopefully this time it is not a scam. Amazon has parterned with Joyo in China and hopefully the business and service are the same as in the USA. The website has the same look and feel as Amazon.com and they deliver in China (for free ) and the accept Cash on Delivery so I dont need a chinese bank credit card. But the websit is in Chinese so your wife/girlfriend/translator will need to help you the first time.

Check it out.
http://www.amazon.cn/ (http://www.amazon.cn/)
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on April 22, 2011, 08:21:57 am: I can't believe it! It's here already. one day delivery. Guangzhou must be a shipping center for Amazon. It was probably in a warehouse right here in town. Just as ordered. One 34 liter convection toaster oven. First thing tomorrow, Tunafish caserole.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Rhonald on April 22, 2011, 06:00:00 pm: Quote from: Pineau on April 22, 2011, 08:21:57 am
First thing tomorrow, Tunafish caserole.

That is music to my ears......... but by the way........ how do you tune a fish? And does the fish know how to play the scales?
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Vince G on April 22, 2011, 06:06:54 pm: hahahahaha tune a fish
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on April 22, 2011, 08:52:03 pm: This is a special holiday weekend so put on your Oyster Bonnet (With All The Gills Upon It).
I think we have forgot the porpoise of this thread....but once in a whale I'll take the bait...
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Rhonald on April 23, 2011, 11:00:08 am: Quote from: Pineau on April 20, 2011, 09:56:40 pm
Well this town is full of bait and switch.

Sorry, ....you are right, but in my defence, you did employ the words bait & switch first.

Your story, as this thread is meant to be, does contribute for anyone planning on living in China for extended periods. Finding items from our home helps ward off the sickness of missing home while living abroad with our broad.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on April 23, 2011, 08:32:13 pm: Your right . I was just joking with you though. I enjoy your puns and I was looking for a reason to use "porpoise".

The oven is all set up and so far we have had BBQ chicken and a tuna caserole. Both were great and I am making my list of things to cook. Its a nice little oven (counter top size) .It sure gets hot on the outside. Must be really careful not to touch the surface while it is on. Other than that it works good just like the big ones. Just like home (at least in the kitchen).

I found one used from and expat in shanghai but thought I would pay full price and get free delivery and a waranty.
http://www.amazon.cn/ACA%E7%94%B5%E7%83%A4%E7%AE%B1ATO-MR34B/dp/B002MH4H26 (http://www.amazon.cn/ACA%E7%94%B5%E7%83%A4%E7%AE%B1ATO-MR34B/dp/B002MH4H26)
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on April 23, 2011, 08:42:11 pm: My new quest: I am looking for the non-slip appliques for the shower floor. You can find them at any hardware store in the states but so far I haven't seen them here. My shower floor was replaced when the new toilet was installed and the new tiles are super slippery when wet. I dont like the bath mat we are using now because it stays moist all the time and I am afraid of roaches ad fungus.

BTW: the new water saver toilet. Rip up the floor, remove old fixture, install toilet, re-cement the floor and re-tile. 750 RMB installed, what a deal. sure beats a hole in the floor.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on September 09, 2011, 04:24:46 am: I found the famous HP sauce at Oliver's. I tried it and it's ok but I prefer A1 sauce which you can also find at Oliver's. I will get back to it when I run our of A1. I still havn't found any stores that have a large selection of Western food (except Oliver's) and Olivers is way too expensive to shop on a regular basis.

Wal-Mart has one row of dry goods like spagetti noodles and sauces. Potato chips and snacks but nothing to get excited about. And they are priced rather high like Oliver's. I found some hot-dogs and some bacon in the packaged meats section.

Has anyone seen a powered meat grinder in this town? I would also like to find a coffee maker that makes more than a few cups at a time.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on September 12, 2011, 05:06:20 am: Amazon did it again.
Last night I ordered a digital photo frame and a video/mp5 player. That was last night at around 10:pm.
This afternoon after we got back from lunch the delivery guy was waiting at our door. I am sure now they must have a warehouse in Guangzhou. And I want the mention the prices are more than reasonable. They are less than what I can get downtown at the so called discount places. The photo fram is 8 inch display. 1080 video for 288 RMB. cant beat it.

Mom's going to really enjoy the digital photo frame. I am going to load it up with photos from me and Fiona and also download as many photos as I can fit into 4 gig of her grandkids/great grandkids and her family from face book.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Arnold on September 12, 2011, 07:13:36 pm: Funny you bring up Digital Photo Frame . I send Qing one before my third Trip and loaded it with our Wedding pictures and the two Trip before . She and Parents loved it . Too bad it was made in China and I send it back where it came from . Cost ... ? I think the Shipping was almost as much as the darn thing . ???
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on September 23, 2011, 09:51:23 pm: Yes Shipping here is outrageous. I ended up purchasing another one from Amazon in the USA and having it shipped to my mom's house. The total was $30 US.

Now to get the photos to her I loaded up an SD card with all sorts of family photos and my explorations in china and thailand. Yesterday I took it to the post office and sent it in an EMS letter to mom. It was 242 RMB ! Thats over 37 bucks ! I only paid a few of bucks for the darn thing. I wish mom was computer literate. I could have sent her the photos in zip files for free.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on September 23, 2011, 09:57:33 pm: I was out yesterday running an errand on the other side of town and ran across a little grocery store that is full of western foods. I couldn't believe my eyes. The prices were high but not as high as oliver's. I am going back today and I will write down the cross streets of the nearest intersection and post them here.

Also a couple blocks away I saw a Burger King. That's the first one I have seen here in Guangzhou. I will get the address for it as well.

Yesterday I went looking for the store and the burger king and could not find them again. So today I tried again and took Fiona with me. Turns out I was just half a block away. But close don't count. Right?

So this time I took my camera and GPS so I don't give out the wrong directions.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on September 24, 2011, 07:28:51 am: Directions to the Burger King and Western food store.
I thought I would try to make my instructions a little more informative.
You’re going to go approximately to the Guangzhou World trade center complex. South tower. (south west corner outside first level) That is Burger King.
If coming from the north depending on where you are, take one of these buses 191, 233,245, 256, 278, 280, 545, 810. Get off at the Garden Hotel bus stop. You are on the wrong side of the road. You will see a Holiday Inn on the other side and a pedestrian bridge not far away. Cross over the road to the holiday inn side.

If you are coming from the South depending on where you are take one of these buses mentioned (except 810). Get off at the Baiyun Hotel stop. You are on the correct side of the street, just head north.
Head north a few blocks. You will see the Guangzhou friendship store on your right (Big white building) . Turn right… the Burger king is in the southwest corner of that building. 371 Huanshi Road east. World trade center.

Now for the grocery store.
As you are leaving the Burger King turn left and head down that street. Directly in front of you is a big (HUGE) billboard saying TaoJin Road Financial Street, Bank of Guangzhou. Head towards that billboard. You are on TaoJin road. The road bears to the left for about one block, stay on it. You are almost heading west then suddenly the road goes north. Follow it north. . Make sure you are on TaoJin road NORTH. You will see a China Construction bank on the right and a bank of China on the left. Not far now. Starbucks and Hagen dazs and greenery café on the left. Keep going about one more block and you will see the Bank of Communications directly in front of you. On the right side (east) kitty corner from the bank is STORE- X go downstairs into the courtyard and turn right and you will find some western foods. They even have Hersey’s Chocolate syrup and Maple waffle syrup.

Today I found some more in the same area. So if you’re feeling adventurous its only two more blocks away. When you come out of the grocery store into the courtyard look east (right) there is another road there with a rock wall. Go to that road and turn left. Follow it north not very far and you will intersect with TaoJing road east. Turn right on Taojin road and about the third or fourth store on your right (next to the 7 Eleven) has a good collection of western foods. I saw corn flakes and spaghetti sauce.

If you want to skip burger king and go directly to the store I include a photo of the Bus stop just 50 feet south of the store. You can figure it out from there.

By explaining it here I will not forget. I can go there anytime now without fear of getting lost. It helps if you have your home address written down in your wallet. But I really didn’t go through all this trouble so you can find the Burger king. This section of town has much more than burger king. It is the financial district and every bank in China has an office/branch there. This draws a lot of foreigners which in turn draws a lot of western goods and supplies. There are all sorts of shops and restaurants there that you would recognize from back home. And one other benefit for the single guys. It draws many, pretty young Chinese girls that speak good English. Fiona keeps a tight grip on my arm while we are walking the sidewalk here. LOL

I highly recommend a smart phone with a built in GPS so you can analyze where you have been when you get home. I have a Samsung galaxy s that tags the photos with GPS information. Any time I want to remember a location I just step away from the building and check the GPS status and snap a photo of it.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on September 24, 2011, 07:31:14 am: A couple more photos.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on September 24, 2011, 01:35:22 pm: Any where in China I can find a Skype phone (USB handset)?
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on September 26, 2011, 07:51:08 pm: I found the Skype handset. hard to find. It is on computer row. The big store where they sell about everything. It is on the 4th floor. The shop did not have a card so I can't give you his name. But it is hanging on a pegboard at the left of the entrance to his small shop.

I found one on the first floor but the guy wanted 450 RMB (70 bucks) for it. I told him he was crazy and kept shopping. Finally on the top floor I found one. The guy took 85 RMB for it ($12.xx)
I took it home and tried it. It was plug and play and sounds ok for a $12 phone. (not great but it worked). So now I have switched over to Skype.

To get to the big computer store you want to end up at Xi Men Kou. There is a subway station there so you can find it on the map to see which direction you need to go. Take one of these buses. 74, 85, 88, 102, 104, 107, 193. Get off at Xi Men kou, Zhongshang 6 lu. Approximate GPS 23.128869, 113.249036‎ look around and find someone carrying computers or computer supplies.. Follow him or follow where he came from. Your on you own from here.
The photo is zhongshang lu 6 going north/south. The green arrow is approximately the bus stop and the computer shops.
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on October 01, 2011, 04:07:42 am: An expat site for people in Guangzhou. Nice place for information
http://www.gzstuff.com (http://www.gzstuff.com)
Title: Re: Where Can I find it- What I found and where I found it.
Post by: Pineau on September 14, 2012, 11:08:26 pm: I wish I had known about this when I first came here.

Satellite TV for westerners.

http://www.guangzhou-satellitetv.com/ (http://www.guangzhou-satellitetv.com/)