Trip to China (part 1)

I am English learner, so pardon my poor English (I will happy to receive some advice to improve that condition)

In 2009, I 've made my first passport. At that time, me and 2 of my friends had planned to have trip to Phuket Thailand , but becoz of it was  very difficult to arrange same day for holiday for the three of us , and later  my friend married and got pregnant, that plan was canceled. Both of my friends often had assignment abroad from their office becoz they work for international company (so they who hand on experience went abroad).  But   becoz I was only junior staff in the company I worked and its just middle class company , I never had opportunity like that, I had no experience at all,  and also I did not  have the courage to go abroad alone , so I decided not to use my passport. That passport  was idle for almost 4 years.

Since years of 2011, I had joined a team project in the company I work , to develope our production methods of manufacturing. So we did many research etc and in years of  2013, the big bos ask me to join machine survey to China. Well, a little surprise becoz in the initial plan I was not included in the list of survey members (I was the youngest member at the team). So I just had 2 days to prepare everything (they ask me on friday, and we depart wednesday morning). But becoz of that was assignment abroad, so all prepared by the HRD (travel agents who worked for them) such as plane tickets, money exchange  , itinerary  and also our visas,.  All we did only gave some documents and photograph. 

6 persons including me who went to that survey, and 1 person was from machine supplier, so he had arranged all the transportation in China  also the hotels for us becoz he had some China's friend who work in the same company with him. And 2 of my friends had visited China before, so all I need only to prepare my personal needs.  So the informations I need to gather to prepare personal needs when will go to abroad :

1. The weather.    China has four season,  I went in April when it was the the transition from winter to spring. And      we googled the temperature it was 5-15 degree of Celcius. That a little colder than temperature when rainy season in Bandung. So I buy some winter jacket, some sweater, boot shoes  ,gloves, sunglasses (protect eyes from cold), and winter hat.

2. Plugs, becoz  we cant live without mobile phone and we need digital camera .  Some country has different kind of plugs,  many blogs discuss about that, so you just need to google what kinds of plugs of the country you will visit. China has same plugs with Indonesia, so I dont need to prepare.  But if you  needed, some equipments stores such as Ace Hardware has universal plug adapter.

3. Language, if u dont have guide. Most of people in China can't speak English (even just basic ) and can't write latin letter, they use Kanji. So my friend printed the name of all the places we will visit in kanji version . It ll needed when u ask direction or as taxi driver to deliver you to some place. And chinese pronunciation is rather difficult, they will never understand what you say except you understand their language.

4. Food. For muslims is difficult to find halal food in China, so if you very strict about food, you need to gather many information about that. I heard some places provide halal food . I read that Beijing have one Indonesian restaurant , but I dont know about Shanghai, Guangzhou or Zhengzhou and our schedules were very busy so we did'nt  have time to find   such restaurants. So We bring  cup noodles  and some snacks. And FYI, chinese food in China is rather diffirent with Chinese food in Indonesia who already adopt Indonesian taste. Most of us, not suitable with Chinese food in China, except me. May be I have universal taste (or tongue),lol.

5. Habits. Indonesian have habits to wash after pee or poo with water, and all the China's toilets I found  only provide water for flushing in toilets,and no water for others need. My friends who mostly had experiences with that told me to always take a botle of mineral water when go to toilet, or wet tissue.

6. Money changer. China use Rmb money.  Do not change money in the airport becoz it will cost you  more expensive than in money changer such as dollarindo or GMC (Golden Money Changer)  in Bandung. When at GMC  rates for  1 Rmb was 1500 IDR, at the Soekarno Hatta airport it was 1700 IDR.

7. Transportation methods, printed transportation methods map (preferable) or google map by mobile phone (can use wifi at the hotel)

So , on tuesday we got all we need, plane tickects, visas, and money supplies (in Rmb and US dollars). Dont bring limited money, at least you need dollars for critical condition, or  credit card or debit card (atm) who can withdraw cash in abroad. I hear that we can use M**dir* Atm or B*A Atm, but as much as possible avoid use credit card or debit card becoz mostly have diffirent rates , more expensive several % than money changer rates.

On early of wednesday, on 3 am our company car deliver us to the Soekarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta. It took about 2 hours from Bandung to Jakarta by car (in the morning), but if your flight more than 9 am, it may took more hours ,5 hours minimal and can be more depend on traffic condition.Jakarta traffic can be so bad and usually  happend after 6:30 am. At 6, we arrived at Airport and after had some breakfast we check in to Imigration.  Our flight was at 9 am, Jakarta time.