Whoa, Bosco, Looks like the invisible hand will be working overtime in Malay banking.<g> Talk about a lack of "transparency" but that is just a pesky perception, nothing more, I suppose.
Speaking of banks, I have a more personal and practical concern...In our upcoming travels what to do about trading currencies, etc. Do we take TCs and/or cash, and how much of our mad money show we switch. And should we switch into Renminbi or to FEC or both?
We will be overnighting in Beijing, having the serendipitous good fortune(?) of arriving during the 3-day celebration of 50th anniversary of the People's Republic. We arrive Sat noontime, Oct 2nd, which should give us plenty of time to venture out, hopefully finding our way to Gate of Heavenly Peace. Needless to say I am concerned what to wear, what to say, and how to pay. We'll no doubt try to be at party central for presumably a great fireworks show. I mean just what should a Guaylow wear to the biggest Communist Party of the century ? And how does one say "Pardie On, Dude! (err Comrade!)" in the common dialect?<g> Seriously.<g>
Too early the next morning we pass on from there to Lhasa via Chengdu. Will the decadent Imperialist trading currency that we are likely to be carrying have any clout in the Autonomous Region of Tibet ? Or like the Thai far to the south, will the locals prefer a more common lucre ? Note all accommodation and major transportation expenses are prepaid, we are only talking food, shuttle, entertainment and trinket monies here. |
