Sigh, another dilemma.

[rijnhard@fosstodon.org]

@Gina if you do Guangzhou, then a few travel tips for China, because it's literally its own planet.

A vpn that is KNOWN to work in China, setup beforehand. Sufshark with wire guard and region set to Japan worked mostly.

Alipay is a must, setup ahead of time, don't use a virtual card unless you can print a bank statement for it.
Didi for China (separate app) for uber-like.
Amap, maps in English that work.

And you good to go.

[rijnhard@fosstodon.org]

@Gina also if the staff at the coffee shop till/counter ignore you, look for a QR code, scan it with Alipay and order through alipay.

Most things work like that.

[rijnhard@fosstodon.org]

@Gina side note, deepseek was better than chatgpt for helping me adventure about shanghai. But still sent me looking for a mall that closed in 2015.

Oh and either a translation app that is known to work in China, or Google translate with Chinese downloaded for offline use ahead of time. The general English level isn't great.

[aamfp@fosstodon.org]

@Gina
Tōkyō 😇

(I'm biased: Japanese wife)

[mike@fosstodon.org]

@Gina I'm voting familiar and easy. You'll have plenty of time for hectic when you get back.

[krisfreedain@fosstodon.org]

@Gina personally, I'm usually very thankful for new experiences in life - especially with travel 😊

[gina@fosstodon.org]

Welp, guess I'm going to chill and eat a pad thai. Thanks all!

[notzed@fosstodon.org]

@Gina pad thai is nice bit its a bit of a made up dish https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pad_thai

Grab some (issan style) larb, som tum, or tom yum. If you've the palette for it at least (violently HOT and salty)

[gina@fosstodon.org]

@notzed it is, but it's just so good. Although I'd also go out of my way to find a good khao soi 🔥

[notzed@fosstodon.org]

@Gina went there with a mate who was born there but left at 10, we were a bit dissapointed in the heat and sweetness of the food till we learnt of the eastern heat visiting his relatives in Khon Kaen. The warm beer sucked everywhere tho.