((^)) Happy Birthday, Gpanda ((G))
 

Lest anyone think this is not Asia travel-related, please let me pose this question:
Why do many of my friends who have visited China say that it was a good experience and they were happy they went, but would not go back? Also, have any Asia travelers on this forum had problems (I'm seriously asking this) with the air-quality and breathing well in China or in India?

Now that those questions are out of the way, I'd like to extend a warm birthday felicitation to Gpanda. Gpanda, your presence here makes this forum what it is. I am so sorry I couldn't be in MA this past weekend to help you celebrate, but you know there were circumstances beyond my control. I wish you health, happiness, prosperity, and wonderful and safe travels in the coming year and always!
((L))
BC

Many happy returns of the day (that's how they bless birthdays in India). :)

Happy birthday GPanda!

Now to the question at hand- given that China has no air quality controls its no wonder they have the worst smog on the planet!

Happy Birthday Andy. :D

Happy birthday Gpanda! I hope you have a relaxing day celebrating.

TR

Happy Birthday and many more years and travels.

Happy Birthday Gpanda! Hope you have a great day!!

bookchick-I went to China (only Shanghai, though) this summer for the first time and DH and I are very anxious to go back and see more of China and go back to Shanghai, so I'm not sure of the answer to your first question! I have hayfever type allergies, but didn't have any breathing troubles while there. I may have taken Claritin while I was there. I was in India about 5 years ago and while I noticed the poor air quality in the cities, I didn't have any real breathing difficulty.

Happy, happy birthday Andy!

Happy birthday, Andy.

I spent 16 days in China and would definately return. Beijing has so much to offer and we were there for only 4 days. The air quality in China and India are bad, but no worse than the air quality in Thailand during the burning season in Feb. From my reading, China's air quality is really bad in the spring when the sand blows in from the Gobi desert, although I was there in Nov. and it was pretty bad then, too.

Happy Birthday!!!!

BillT, ShelleyK, and Florida1, thanks for your responses...and, uh ;)

BC

I have mild COPD and found that I had terrible breathing problems in India,more so in the smaller cities as everyone burns wood. Most families cook over an open fire three times a day so add that with the car/tuk tuk fumes and it can be tough. That being said I just 'sucked it up' and would not have traded the experience for anything. Just went a little slower.

I was also in Beijing and although you could see the air (pollution) it was not as bad for me as India was.

Cambodia was tough for me as well because of the smoke from burning, so I guess it depends upon your 'trigger'

Live42day, thank you for sharing that. I have a good friend who visited her daughter in India in April. Her daughter's been living in India for a couple of years now and is a travel writer. My pal traveled the country with her daughter, and my pal has had some asthma issues, and told me that in some venues she had to breathe through a handkerchief. She's not been to China, but the sharing of her experiences in India has given me pause and a great deal to think about.

BC

Happy birthday, gpanda! Sweet sixteen and never been kissed????

Was in HK in 1998 for a few days and didn't see much smog. Spent a month there in 2008 and it was hazy all the time, although I had no trouble breathing ( I have asthma).

When we arrived in Delhi last fall, I smelled something dreadful which I later identified as the odor of a burning landfill, but I wasn't in respiratory distress. Once we got out of Delhi, I was fine. When we went back three weeks later, it didn't bother me at all. Everything is relative . . .

(picture the candles on the cakes(pies) at Similan)

Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Panda,
Happy Birthday to you!

I don't know how to add flowers to my song, but I do know how to add a big smile! :))

Carol

bookchick, if you dont have any lung or major breathing issues you will probably be fine. My husband noticed it but he was okay.

Unfortunately I do have some breathing issues, but I'm a long way off from being booked into any particular cities, so all is good. Thanks again for your honest assessment of the situation.

BC

just for the record.... i personally bought him 3 seperate birthday pies last week and he has not thanked me for even one of them!!! is anyone surprised?

I'll come out of the woodwork briefly just to wish the panda a very happy birthday and many more trips to Asia.

I guess that's why he hasn't appeared on this thread...still eating pie. Should Andy's pancreas spontaneously drop out of his body and fall onto the floor, Bob, we all know who'll be at fault...

BC