Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco

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Haight-Ashbury
The famous corner

At the height of the Summer of Love in San Francisco in 1967, the Haight district was the magnet that drew thousands of young people from all over the country, seeking a new life of freedom.  These kids poured into the area, overwhelming the existing services.  Local groups were organized to deal with the onslaught.  The hippies were poor, out-of-work, and lacking the most basic necessities like food, shelter and clothes.

Groups like the Diggers distributed free food and clothes and other groups assisted with free medical care and shelter.

Drugs were everywhere, including the ubiquitous marijuana, and what was then a new drug, LSD turned on San Francisco and eventually the entire world to Acid Tripping.  Rock groups like the Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, Quicksilver Messenger Service and Janis Joplin’s Big Brother and the Holding Company put on concerts at the nearby Fillmore or in the Panhandle of Golden Gate Park.

Haight-Ashbury
The Haight scene today

Today the scene has definitely changed.  There are no longer hordes of homeless kids on the street, although you will notice a lot of young wannabe hippie kids strolling around.  There are still groovy cafes, boutiques and night clubs to explore.

There’s always a gathering at nearby Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park, with the ever present drum circle.

Fishermans Wharf, San Francisco

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Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco

Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco is a great place to spend the day, strolling along the waterfront, absorbing the fantastic Bay views, eating fresh, delicious seafood, even take a cruise around the Bay.

You can enjoy live entertainment in Ghirardelli Square, visit the famous home of Ghirardelli chocolate, drop by Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, the Wax Museum, the Cannery, Hyde Street Pier and the National Maritime Museum next to the Aquatic Park and beach where some people actually go swimming in the Bay!


Fishing Boats at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco

Don’t miss the clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl at Boudin’s Bakery or any other restaurant.  If you’ve never had this, you are missing a great treat!

Fisherman’s Wharf is a very crowded place, as most tourists visiting the city come here.  There is little parking in the area, you should take public transport or a taxi here.  You can take Muni buses #15 and #30, F line, Powell-Mason and Powell-Hyde cable cars.

However, there is a fair number of parking spaces the far side of the Aquatic Park, right next to Fort Mason.  If you don’t mind the extra walk you might find a spot there, but note the parking time limits.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

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Hippie Hill Drum Circle in Golden Gate Park.

Golden Gate Park is a fine place to visit on a sunny day in San Francisco.  The largest man-made park in the world, it contains a number of popular attractions.

The recently updated de Young Museum houses a great selection of art from around the world.

The beautiful Japanese Tea Garden is a serene place to relax, when it’s not full of visitors.

The Botanical Gardens is a wonder with more than 6000 species of plants from all over the world, divided by region, including a spectacular cactus garden.

The Conservatory of Flowers, sheltered in a Victorian glass greenhouse, is home to thousands of plants, many rare, from around the world.

Nearby is Hippie Hill where hippies gather every afternoon for a drum circle.  Hippy Hill isn’t marked on maps but it’s very close to the Conservatory, just behind the tennis courts.  If you come down Haight Street to the park, and walk thru the park (following the hippies) you’ll find it easily.

There’s also Stow Lake, where you can rent a boat, a childen’s playground, Dutch windmills and miles of paths to walk, jog or bicycle.

92Alan_Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg at Human Be-In 1967

Golden Gate Park is also where many transformative events occured in the 1960s, including the first Human Be-In, and numerous concerts by the Grateful Dead and other Bay area rock bands.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

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sailboatsgoldengate
Sailing in the bay in front of Golden Gate Bridge

Golden Gate Bridge, that icon of San Francisco, extends two miles across the mouth of San Francisco Bay.  It was built in 1937, and provides the major link north of the city, Hwy 101.

The orange/red bridge, often obscured by fog, is the most photographed bridge in the world.  There’s a toll of $5 for those coming into the city from the north (free leaving the city).

At each end of the bridge are scenic overlooks.  On the north side, Vista Point looks back at the city and on the south side, take the “last SF exit” to get a great view!

You can walk or take a bicycle on the bridge for more outstanding views and a great workout!

Telephone and Internet Access in India

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The country code for India is 91. India is then divided into area codes, known locally as STD codes. See individual city guides for the area codes.

 

In acronym-happy India, a phone booth is known as a PCO (Public Call Office) and they usually offer STD/ISD (Subscriber Trunk Dialing/International Subscriber Dialing), or national and international long distance respectively. These are usually staffed, and you dial yourself but pay to the attendant after the call is over. Metering is done per pulse and a service charge of Rs 2 is added to the bill. Larger cities also have Western-style unmanned public phones, which are usually red in colour and accept one rupee coins.

 

Local phone numbers can be anywhere from 5 to 8 digits long. But when the area code is included, all phone numbers in India are 10 digits long, including cellphones (which usually start with ‘9’). When calling from a landline phone, the syntax varies based on where you are calling to, as India is divided into circles that are almost, but not quite, the same as states. For example, for phone number 1234567 in area code 22 (Mumbai):

 

Calling from Price Syntax Example

Same city Local number 21234567
Same circle Local 95–area code–number 95-22-21234567
Different circle STD 0–area code–number 022-21234567
Overseas ISD +91–area code–number +91-22-21234567
Toll-free numbers start with 1-800 or 1-600, but they are operator-dependent: you can’t call a BSNL/MTNL number from an Airtel landline, and vice versa.

 

To dial outside the country from India, prefix the country code with 00. E.g a US number would be dialed as 00-1-555-555-5555. Calling the USA/Canada/UK over the normal telephone line will cost you about Rs. 7.20 per minute. Calls to other countries, particularly to the Middle East, can be more expensive.

Mobile

India uses GSM and mobile phones are widely available. Major operators include Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), Bharti Airtel , Idea Cellular and Hutch . As roaming charges can be very steep, it makes sense to get a local SIM card: prepaid starter kits are available for around Rs. 500, including several hundred rupees of call time, and local calls cost as little as Rs. 1 per minute. Bring along your passport when applying and get ready to pose for a photo (or bring your own).

 

When calling from a mobile phone, you need to prefix the STD code even for a local call.

Internet

Internet kiosks are everywhere nowadays.Beware of using your credit cards online as many cases have come forward regarding credit cards thefts using keyloggers. Calling overseas is also very cheap if you use the many booths that advertise ‘Net2Phone’ service. Basically it is calling over the Internet. The quality ranges from tolerable to excellent, and the price is very good, with calls to the USA ranging from Rs. 2 to Rs. 5 per minute.

Staying Healthy in India

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Going to India, you have to adapt to a new climate and new food. Most travellers to India will become at least slightly ill during their stay there – even Indians returning from abroad. However, with precautions the chance and severity of any illness can be minimized. Don’t stress yourself too much at the beginning of your journey to allow your body to acclimatize to the country. For example, take a day of rest upon arrival, at least on your first visit. Many travellers get ill for wanting to do too much in too little time. Be careful with spicy food if it is not your daily diet.
 
No vaccinations are required for entry to India, except for yellow fever if you are coming from an infected area such as Africa. However, Hepatitis (both A and B, depending on your individual circumstances), meningitis and typhoid shots are recommended, as is a booster shot for tetanus.
 
Tap water is generally not safe for drinking. However, some establishments have water filters/purifiers installed, in which case the water is safe to drink. Packed drinking water (normally called mineral water) is a better choice. But if the seal has been tampered, it could be purified tap water. So always make sure that seal is intact before buying. At some places, you will have to pay extra to get “chilled” bottle of water.
 
Diarrhea is common, and can have many different causes. Bring a standard first-aid kit, plus extra over-the-counter medicine for diarrhea and stomach upset. A rehydration kit can also be helpful. At the least, remember the salt/sugar/water ratio for oral rehydration: 1 tsp salt, 8 tsp sugar, for 1 litre of water. Most Indians will happily share their own advice for treatment of illnesses and other problems. A commonly recommended cure-all is to eat boiled rice and curd (yoghurt) together for 3 meals a day until you’re better. Keep in mind that this is usually not sound medical advice. Indians have resistance to native bacteria and parasites that visitors do not have. If you have serious diarrhea for more than a day or two, it is best to visit a private hospital. Parasites are a common cause of diarrhea, and may not get better without treatment.
 
Malaria is endemic throughout India. CDC states that risk exists in all areas, including the cities of Delhi and Mumbai, and at altitudes of less than 2000 metres in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kashmir, and Sikkim; however, the risk of infection is considered low in Delhi and northern India. Get expert advice on malaria preventatives, and take adequate precautions to prevent mosquito bites. Use a mosquito repellent when going outside (particularly during the evenings) and also when sleeping in trains and hotels without airconditioning. A local mosquito repellent used by Indians is Odomos and is available at most stores.
 
Getting vaccinations and blood transfusions in India increases your risk of contacting HIV/AIDS-even in many private hospitals.
 
If you need to visit a hospital in India, avoid government hospitals. The quality of treatment is poor. Private hospitals provide better service.

Source: Wikipedia

Internet Access in China

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Internet Access

In China the Internet is readily accessible. Internet cafes (网吧 wǎngbā) are abundant throughout China. Many of them are designed mainly for gaming though and are not useful places to do business. It is cheap (¥1 to ¥4 an hour) to use a computer, albeit one with Chinese software. Internet cafes are supposed to require users to show identification (passport), but this is generally not enforced. Traffic may be monitored.

It may be difficult to find an Internet-cafe with any service beyond simple access. If you need to use a printer or burn a CD, expect to search for the service, paying a fairly high price when and if you find it. The exception is tourist areas such as Yangshuo where these services are fairly readily available, though still at a price.

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Important China Phone Numbers

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Emergency numbers

The following emergency telephone numbers work in all areas of China:
  • Police: 110
  • Fire alarm: 119
  • Medical care: 120 (or 999 in some places)
  • Directory inquiries: 114
Calling these from a cell phone is free.

Area codes

The country dialing code for mainland China is 86. Within the country, the patterns for numbers are as follows:
  • Major cities with eight-digit numbers have a two-digit area code. For example, Beijing is (0)10 plus an eight-digit number. Other places use seven- or eight-digit local numbers and a three-digit area code that does not start with 0, 1 or 2. So for example: (0)756 plus 7 digits for Zhuhai. The north uses small numbers, the south has larger numbers.
  • Normal cell phones do not need an area code. The numbers are composed of 130 to 132 plus 8 digits (China Unicom, GSM), 133 plus 8 digits (China Unicom, CDMA) or 134 to 139 plus 8 digits (China Mobile, GSM).
  • Some mobile phones (小灵通 xiǎo língtōng) work only in one city. These have numbers that look exactly like land line numbers for their cities. They are the cheapest choice, both for cost of phone and for usage fees, but not flexible enough for most travellers. The technology is neither GSM nor CDMA, but basically a wireless phone on steroids called PHS.
Source: Wikipedia

China Geography and Climate

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China ranges from mostly plateaus and mountains in the west to lower lands in the east. Principal rivers flow from west to east, including the Yangtze (central), the Huang He (Yellow river, north-central), and the Amur (northeast), and sometimes toward the south (including the Pearl River, Mekong River, and Brahmaputra), with most Chinese rivers emptying into the Pacific Ocean.

In the east, along the shores of the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea there are extensive and densely populated alluvial plains. On the edges of the Inner Mongolian plateau in the north, grasslands can be seen. Southern China is dominated by hills and low mountain ranges. In the central-east are the deltas of China’s two major rivers, the Huang He and Yangtze River. Most of China’s arable lands lie along these rivers; they were the centers of China’s major ancient civilizations. Other major rivers include the Pearl River, Mekong, Brahmaputra and Amur. Yunnan Province is considered a part of the Greater Mekong Subregion, which also includes Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

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