Goos in Singapore/ LDS China, Olympics, Chengdu & Yangtze River Cruise

Hi,
The Goos are some people I liked in Hawaii and who may actually remember me, so needless to say, I'd be disappointed not to see them in Singapore in late August while I'm in USA. Please let me know how I can visit with them via email while I’m still in China.

Updates on LDS China - Got to church in Shanghai and Beijing, but through determined efforts. And the stringent China government rules* compel the church to abide by them or lose it’s current status in China. Too complicated for a visitor to fully grasp the concept.
Met some cool people there, and liked Shanghai and Beijing. All expatriates of (China) Shanghai meet at 9:30am while Beijing meets at 8:30am ("country" LDS - Beijing outside 5th Ring) and 10:30am ("city" LDS). So glad to be at church, a familiar environment where I could revert to English exclusively.

One of my China goals was to seek out the best learning Mandarin environment for KC and hoping it would be Beijing, Tainjin or Chengde (but I was told "Qingdao German" coast is a great learning environment that is both pretty and pollution free, and somewhat like California) - the best place to learn standard Mandarin without the interference of the local while learning Mandarin. I beg to differ regarding “er” in Beijing Mandarin. which is not close to standard Mandarin. I’ve been impressed with the Mandarin that some Americans studying in Beijing universities have acquired. The nagging issue of this city pollution is in the forefront, and though major strive have been made during the Olympics, (and they are seeing some success of late, and Saturday there was clear sky- 6 days before the Olympics), it may only be a short term goal.

I'm in China in Chengdu with the pandas, soon floating down stream on the Yangtze River cruise [from Chongqing to Yichang], followed by Xian (Terra Cotta warriors) and Olympics in Beijing. Greatly desired, but surely unable to fulfilled, a trip to PingYao where ancient China is preserved while the rest of China cities are in full throttle to resemble the world's major cities. WHY? (sigh)
Best regards to all, K

Updates: placesisee.blogspot.com
From Singapore's Philip Loh, a BYU Alumni
Date: Fri, 1 Aug 2008 22:02:33 -0700 From: martphil@yahoo.com
Dear BYU Alumuni:
You are cordially invited to attend a Fireside on 29 August @ 7:30 pm with Pres. & Sis Goo, formerly Dean of International Student Affairs @ BYU Hawaii. Pres. Goo is currently serving with his wife as Hong Kong China Temple President after retiring @ BYU Hawaii. They will be here on Church assignment over the weekend and but for the love they have for the international students; now alumni, they would like to meet the Alumni on a personal basis. We plan to have Pot-luck dinner for the evening, so please confirm what you are bringing by 25 August.
We would like to thank Bro. & Sis. Josiah Chan for their hospitality to open their home for this event. (Details followed)
Attire: Smart Casual
Regards, Mahalo! Philip

* Insert China LDS (are they affecting other churches) rules:
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Rendezvous: Kim&Bob @Beijing

Hi,
Sorry to hear about Bob's mother-in-law's passing.

We were looking fwd to visiting with you in Beijing. I bought you an umbrella and 2 fans to ease the heat and humidity, so now we'll give them away to someone else.
As for us, it turned out, we got here early from Shanghai and the tour company was able to accommodate us- which we were glad for.
Hotels are hard to come by (outside the tour, especially beginning August1), but we made some contacts, and we have a place to stay in August.
At the moment, depending on the outcome in the next day or so,we may do option: 1)we may fly to Chengdu (and using it as a base, and there to Llasha, Tibet and Xian) to see more of southwest China. We have an August 17 flight to USA.
Or Option 2) By a miracle, I got connected with a British company and get hired as a host for their ajor Olympics sponsor (Omega Watch), and work during the Olympics. If that were to happen, I would have to revamp our original plas, travels, and schedule and move heaven and earth to reschedule and make many calls to Singapore and US so we/ I could stay. Regardless of the outcome, this experience initiated great interests for me to be involved in the Olympics curcuit. 2010 in Vancouver, Canada (love that place) and 2012 London - absolutely love the city - both there cities I have visited several times through the years, and it would be such a blast to be recruited for the events!

Either way, we experience Olympics in some form or another.
Sorry we missed you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
kim28@vzw.blackberry.net
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 2008 20:38:00 +0000

(from Kim) Hi Kate
Sorry for the late reply. Bob and I had to return to USA because his mother in law died on Wednesday. It was so nice to meet you. Enjoy Beijing and keep in touch. Kim
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

My tour guide, his cell phone and the hotel I'll be at:
候小磊: 13911778789 in Be ijing
北京:准5* 萨尔利兹酒店 - 5*(Sariz International in Haidin Shi- 4th ring, west side, subway line 10, 3 to last stop)

(from Kate) I'll be arriving Jul 23 Wed and spending most of the time at the Forbidden Palace - asking the guide to leave us there for the entire day- and we'll find our way to the hotel ourselves.
Tour guiding is almost unnecessary in Beijing with the exception of Great wall and a couple of other attractions as most are within the city.

Are you at Courtyard Marriot?
3-18 Chong Wen Men Wai Street, Chongwen District
Beijing, 100062 China
Phone: 86 10 67081188 Fax: 86 10 67081808
Sales fax: 86 10 67088019 Toll-free: 400 888 5551
What's Bob's or Kim's last name? Time share under whose name? Let's get together and do a few things. We could use some real English and you might need some Mandarin to get the most out of China through my interpretation.