cfc Posted November 4, 2012 Author Share Posted November 4, 2012 ^The "Vegas" thing didn't dawn on me, either, until I sorted through my Wuhan photos. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Farmer Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 One need not wonder anymore how Lightning Racer would have looked had CCI built it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philrad71 Posted November 4, 2012 Share Posted November 4, 2012 Robb and Elissa also arranged for us to be "backdoored" by the Hidden Anaconda Fixed! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 I'm so glad you guys (like yourself and Larry, Robb and Elissa) are keeping 'track of' (hah) what everything was called, where it was... and wasn't sometimes, heh heh. Fact is, I sort-of greyed-out after the first few or so, and totally forgot names, locations, park names..... sad. I will post what pix of 'them' I got in my TR, but still - Thanks for keeping it all in order, Chuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 ^Thank Larry for it. I'm using his list for the names of the rides in the more obscure parks. I'm glad he found his notebook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nrthwnd Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Thank you, Larry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Johnson Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Strange that the X-Car coaster is called Hidden Anaconda, while the Chinese characters call it Flying Dragon. Usually the names are pretty close to the English translation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 I've found that Chinese costers tend to have multiple names. For example, the new GCI at Knight Valley is simply called "Wood Coaster" on the sign out front, but the GCI Web site lists it as "Mountain Flyer." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erik Johnson Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 I've found that Chinese costers tend to have multiple names. For example, the new GCI at Knight Valley is simply called "Wood Coaster" on the sign out front, but the GCI Web site lists it as "Mountain Flyer." The Chinese characters are translated correctly as Wood Coaster. My guess is that GCI wanted a bit less of a generic name for Wood Coaster for their website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 By whatever name, Wood Moutain Flyer Coaster is a damn good ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacoaster09 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Were all the S&S launch rides down on this trip... I don't get it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 (edited) ^Beijing's was broken down and didn't run at all while we were there. Wuhan's wasn't finished. But we did ride the one in Shenzhen--and it was great. Edited January 28, 2013 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vacoaster09 Posted November 5, 2012 Share Posted November 5, 2012 Oh the one at Happy Valley Shenzhen (aka Bullet Coaster with blue and white colors). I can't wait to see your report on that and the Vekoma Stingray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 5, 2012 Author Share Posted November 5, 2012 (edited) ^Oops--I confused Shenzen with Shanghai. We did ride the blue-and-white one. Edited November 6, 2012 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jray21 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Great report! I really need to go to China the next time TPR goes to China! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon8899 Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 A good-looking park this time! Rode my first SkyWheel this year and the upside-down hangtime is awesome. What troubles me is that the chinese now built their first "SkyWheel made in China", with luck they got a license and technical support from Maurer (<- I know: Good joke!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted November 8, 2012 Share Posted November 8, 2012 Happy valley Wuhan reminds me of how Happy Valley Shanghai was for the last TPR China trip. They must still be making a ton of money to be able to buy real rides, yet that one was totally unfinished as well for its grand opening season as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 8, 2012 Author Share Posted November 8, 2012 ^^A Chinese-made Sky Wheel would be absolutely terrifying. At least their knock-off Mine Trains are decent. ^Robb and Elissa made the same point. I'm glad that the Happy Valleys actually spring for "real" versions of rides (well, except for the Spinning Mouse coasters). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 (edited) Chapter 10: More of What You Crave: Culture (sort of) in Shanghai! Our stay in Wuhan was brief. Next stop, Shanghai, a rather cool mix of East and West. Here's where we picked up a new Chinese guide, who proved to be, well, a bit odd: Tom. Tom was obsessed with counting. Boy, could that guy count! He could've been the Chinese Count von Count. "Ah! Ah! Ah!" He especially loved following Elissa while she walked down the aisle of the bus, counting behind her: "Vun coaster enthusiast! Two coaster enthusiasts! Ah! Ah! Ah!" It was amusing and more than a little creepy. Well, we made it through Shanghai, at least, where we visited a bazaar, checked out the view from a rather odd looking tower (which also had a coaster), rode a Maglev train, and took a nighttime river cruise. Here's a look. This segment of "22 Days in China with TPR" is brought to you by Generic Shop . . . . . . a division of the LAMEX Corporation. If you shop here, you're lame! Our first stop was this bazaar, where lots of nice people were ready to sell you strap-on roller skates, laser pointers, "authentic" Rolex watches, and probably "pretty, sexy ladies," if you looked hard enough. Fortunately, there was a McDonald's where Elissa could find refuge from the Chinese Count von Count. Yes! Civilization at last! Tom is the one with a dead panda on a stick. All you street peddlers leave me alone! I don't want a freakin' Rolex! All I want is some freakin' tea! Where can I find some freakin' tea? Old meets new in Shanghai--it is a cool-looking city. Elissa says, "My god! McDonald's delivers here! 'Ooo, sweet mystery of life at last I've found you!'" I think this was called the Pearl Tower. I'm not sure because everyone referred to it as the "Anal Bead Tower." This was a bit disturbing, as it resembles my parents' old Chirstmas tree topper. Just is case you've forgotten what year it is. We had to wait a bit to experience . . . . . . the "visual feast." This elevator shaft looks like something from Fritz Lang's "Metropolis." Behold the "visual feast"! Our hotel is the building with the "crown." Better watch that first step. Save me, Jeebus! Hmm--I hear there's a credit around here somewhere. And here's the sign, but I couldn't get a picture of the coaster itself. It was a pretty decent little ride--like a mini version of Euro Sat at Europa. One last look at downtown Shanghai. Here's another sign of civilization. OK, all you train geeks (and you know who you are)--it's time to ride the Maglev to the airport and back. How's that, Matt and Jeff? Yep--pretty fast (about 187 miles per hour). Er . . . noted? We had dinner at this floating restaurant--it was good. Larry really liked the "Panda on a Stick." Delicious! And now, Shanghai after dark. We needed some beer to wash down our "Panda on a Stick." Here's our hotel again. The "Anal Bead Tower" sure looks purty at night. There were all sorts of cool boats out on the river. Ours was a bit "generic." Time to head back. For some reason, barely pubescent boys are aroused by this aperture. I'm not sure why. This is, evidently, some official, government-type edifice. "It is now time to put my superior Chinese counting skills to the test! Let's see . . . yi, er, san . . . OH MY GOD, I'VE IMPALED A PANDA FETUS!" That's all for now. Edited November 9, 2012 by cfc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jew Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 The tower looked interesting---the credit was down for rehab during the last TPR China trip! I also made the mistake of buying Elissa a fake Mont Blanc pen from one of those peddlers ("watch your speeed!"). They are like vultures. Took five more minutes to get rid of them after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperShawn Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Loved the numerous Count references in this chapter! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jray21 Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 Loved the cultural pictures! It was really interesting to see Shanghai. It looked pretty nice. Amy would love the glass floor tower, me, not so much. Can't wait to see more! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 The tower looked interesting---the credit was down for rehab during the last TPR China trip! I also made the mistake of buying Elissa a fake Mont Blanc pen from one of those peddlers ("watch your speeed!"). They are like vultures. Took five more minutes to get rid of them after that. They were following the group right up to the steps of the bus and were quite relentless. Larry did score a laser pointer, cheap, from one after the river cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larrygator Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 The tower looked interesting---the credit was down for rehab during the last TPR China trip! I also made the mistake of buying Elissa a fake Mont Blanc pen from one of those peddlers ("watch your speeed!"). They are like vultures. Took five more minutes to get rid of them after that. They were following the group right up to the steps of the bus and were quite relentless. Larry did score a laser pointer, cheap, from one after the river cruise. Negotiations went sometime like this. Street Vendor: 80 Me: No, 20 Street Vendor: No, 70 Me: No, 20 Street Vendor: No, 60 Me: 20 Street Vendor: 50 Me: 20 Street Vendor: 40 Me: 20 Street Vendor: 35 Me: 20 Street Vendor: 30 Me: 20 Street Vendor: 25 Me: 20 Street Vendor: 20 Got it for about $3 USD. I'll never use it but better to waste $3 than $11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoasterFEV Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 The tower looked interesting---the credit was down for rehab during the last TPR China trip! I also made the mistake of buying Elissa a fake Mont Blanc pen from one of those peddlers ("watch your speeed!"). They are like vultures. Took five more minutes to get rid of them after that. They were following the group right up to the steps of the bus and were quite relentless. Larry did score a laser pointer, cheap, from one after the river cruise. Got it for about $3 USD. I'll never use it but better to waste $3 than $11 Fact: Larry is 10x a better negotiator than Universal Dan Another Fact: Dan's housekeeper at the Shanghai Westin got herself a piece-of-crap $11 laser pointer for a tip! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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