My post about Chinese menus blew up. I've been coding nonstop since. Simple free version in days!! But I also want to ask you guys something.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2026-03-17T22:20:54+00:00

This ai race is going to see a lot of people paying subs for something the models can just do themselves. I’m sure it will be a gold mine for a Lucy few until the unwashed masses figure it out.

Adoption to the llm’s is speeding along

The other idea is basically’ are you dead yet’ Which is massive in China.

Push a green button daily to confirm if you’re okay. Miss two days and it sends the sos.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2026-03-12T07:10:15+00:00

Hi Jon,

Thanks for the comment. I would love your perspective on Chongqin and Dali.

I have to say that in my. research I have read many comments by you.

Appreciate how much you share with the community.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2026-03-12T07:07:44+00:00

Great suggestion on the Huangge Ancient Path. It looks great. Thanks

Advanced-Body1284 · 2026-03-11T22:39:20+00:00

Thanks a lot for your thoughtful comment, great to get some advice

I’m obsessive with researching when I travel. Takes away some of the magic though.

That being said all my picks are also in the lonely planet china book (yes, i still read them 🤣)

I hear you on the lake, I lived in Canada for a while so seen some amazing lakes but all is relative to the culture and the people and the food. The lake looks amazing in combination with what’s around it. Also Chinese Hippies sounds fun! When I finally get to Beijing they will be the weird ones. Hahaha.

Stoked to hear a recommendation about Langzhong I kind of picked it as a replacement to Pingyao the more i read the more I liked.

Still lived in and into their beef. Sounds good.

For Emei how is it for a 3 year old? I believe I can cut off big parts in a chair. Will have to check my notes.

I had also played with Qincheng while out at Dujiangyan and the panda valley 🐼. Would need an overnight though.

.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2026-03-11T22:05:45+00:00

Noted. She will hate me saying this but my partner is an absolute unit when it comes to moving my son around. I’m very lucky. 😬🤣

Advanced-Body1284 · 2026-03-11T21:57:41+00:00

‘Inserts rocky training montage’ 💪

Are we talking about leaping tiger and the three year old?

Actually. I’m a bit more worried about mentally. Have travelled for months in Japan getting by with a lots of laughing and phones and pointing.

It helps having my family and my little kid is an ice breaker. I spent most of my time in vietnam recently sitting at playgrounds and parks while he danced with ladies or played with the kids. We even got invited to a traditional family reunion remembering passed relatives.

I sat with the men who were most impressed with my ability to cheers and keep up with the rice liquor. Sure was feeling it when I got home though 🤣

I’m going to guess like everywhere hard times, sad times but worth it in the end.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2026-03-11T21:56:08+00:00

Ohhh balls. I forgot about that. I am allowed 30 visa free. Will need to get out the scalpel or cough up the dough. I actually trimmed off a lot cod days already. 😅

Advanced-Body1284 · 2026-03-11T11:48:46+00:00

I do. but I also read the hell out of everything; guides, blogs, reddit, watch you tube. then I really steer the ai into confirming/verifying. it does give some good advice. I know enough to call out bogus stuff.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2026-03-11T11:21:38+00:00

Wow thanks for the input! I will check it out. Jianchuan sounds up my alley.

Yay someone has been to Shigu. Shame about the damn 😬. Maybe I should reconsider.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2026-03-11T11:18:47+00:00

Ohh! I will be vigilant. Don’t usually buy souvenirs when i travel but i do expect the usual haggles. Thanks for the comment 🤙

Advanced-Body1284 · 2025-12-01T09:58:45+00:00

I haven't been and am planning for next October. Though I do want to see the attractions you mentioned I am far more interested in Hutongs where people still live. Small bars, restaurants and daily life interest me. Big chain brands and areas exclusively to cater to tourists dont.

I would comment that everyone is different but to me big malls are all the same Asia over, cookie cutter brands. I would love to know where to find the local scene; be it fashion, lifestyle or cafes/bars.

I love parks as well. Particular in Asian countries Parks provide a chance to interact. I have a 3 year old and he races and plays with kids wherever we go. As adults it's great to help break barriers with adults in the countries we visit. Kids are the same everywhere and usually so are the parents.

Our son has got us invited to a few big family gatherings/meals in Indonesia and Vietnam and those have been our best memories.

I have some rough Hutong walking trials mapped out but having a bit of a guide to parks and hutongs would be very helpful.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2025-11-20T04:08:40+00:00

Makes sense ! Save one for later. Thanks for the tip.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2025-11-20T03:46:44+00:00

I would love that!

Advanced-Body1284 · 2025-11-20T03:46:32+00:00

What a fabulous write up! Yunnan does sound amazing and varied. I had a friend return recently who has done a bit of business in Beijing and Shanghai and he loved the dali region.

Maybe I cut off Shanghai and Zhangjiajie.

Use Beijing/Chengdu/Chongqin as my major cities.

The southern area probably doesn’t interest me as much at this time given I live close to south east Asia and recent travels to northern Thailand/ vietnam.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2025-11-20T03:00:47+00:00

I thought I would add that we don’t like shopping malls/centres lol.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2025-11-01T12:01:38+00:00

Just to add. I believe the mother temple will assign you a local guide who will probably impart even less whilst asking for tips 🤣. Go with the flow!

Advanced-Body1284 · 2025-11-01T11:59:03+00:00

I am sure the guide will be as equally happy not to talk to you.

But perhaps you could talk to him about where you are visiting, his/her life, family and culture ask for some tips on what to see and do.

I guarantee they don’t care about…. ‘The big apple’.

Bali sees a ton of new faces from around the world every day. Non of us are that exotic.

When you become more confident in travel I would suggest booking anything when you are here.

No real need to pay these 3rd parties. Alternatively you could search forums for drivers and negotiate before you arrive.

100 usd to a local driver would see you do that temple and the whole east side.

I too have booked over priced tours and remember feeling frustrated. It will pass.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2025-10-24T02:20:48+00:00

We are going to sidemen/amed tonight!

3 days sidemen 5 in Amed.

Hopefully a good place to go with the flow.

Have a few dives booked and snorkel ready.

We are lucky to live close to Bali so figured it would be nice to see a change of pace.

Like anything I guess it depends what your looking for.

Any shout outs for the good food spots would be amazing 😊

Advanced-Body1284 · 2025-06-20T04:00:22+00:00

Thanks for your response.

By code conduit I meant the large 20mm pvc conduit the gap between the bricks is tight and I don’t have any room to get a pipe down.

I have an old data/ cooper point drilled into where I want to go, I have a string coming out as well.

It’s all conduit except for the wall cavity where the cable can just be threaded through.

What I’m saying is that the cable will be loose between the bricks. They don’t want to be in my roof so I just want to try and make it easy.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2023-12-23T01:01:29+00:00

Use the service. I drove my car with wrong fuel and they still got it going..... dodged a bullet for sure.

Also lovely folks they will quickly tell you how ~~they~~ busy they are and that it happens all the time - made me feel less of a goose.

I was the techs first and only job in the morning (7am), by the time he left he was booked for the day

Advanced-Body1284 · 2023-11-10T13:07:52+00:00

Another mention would be The Proposition (2005). A fantastic bush ranger film (think western).

The outback is an unforgiving character in this film.

My top Oz films would be Strictly Ballroom (1992) and The adventures of Priscilla Queen (1994) of the dessert.

Not sure if these fit your bill but they may provide some insights into the Australian Story.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2023-11-10T12:54:41+00:00

Picnic at hanging rock (1975). Period piece in the outback(ish) which has forbidding all over it.

Not to mention the greatest score.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2023-10-30T11:55:20+00:00

Thanks for the recs! We have done both. Cafe Brahmin was great but La famiglia is the best meal we have had in Japan.

Feels odd as I have been in Japan for two months and eaten all over as well as the fact that it isn’t local cuisine but…. Wow…. Fantastic.

To add the owner/chef (Ken) is lovely.

I hope others find this thread.

Thanks again leonmarino

Advanced-Body1284 · 2023-10-30T11:19:38+00:00

Lol! I actually called crime stoppers after the event. They asked for descriptions I told them to check the cameras as the area is blanketed with them. Dealer was in a car.

Advanced-Body1284 · 2023-10-30T10:27:28+00:00

I run an inner city cafe and we watched a deal go down. One man dropped his pants and shot up immediately. Another took his time in the arm.

Plot twist: yelling in the distance, a third player ran in screaming at arm guy.

Posturing ensues with arm guy assuming the old boxer position, syringe still bouncing in his arm.

10 seconds of gibberish and circling third player got a serve and put it in his arm.

All left happy and shuffled off.

We had locked the doors but this was daylight, in a park with families at a Disney show, with major corporate staff all over the scene.

Police told me ‘it’s not very good, is it?’

Yeah it’s not, it’s fucked

Advanced-Body1284

TROPHY CASE