导游网 www.daoyou.org

卓越见证品质,品质源于专业。导游网提供高品质的北京英语导游服务。

站点导航:

英文导游服务 | 英语口译服务 | 服务流程 | 经典旅游线路 | 旅游租车 | 酒店预订 |美食预订 | 关于我们 |联系我们

7/26/2009

美国游客的十大特点 Lifestyle of American Seniors

英语导游须知: 美国游客的十大特点 Lifestyle of American Seniors

作者:北京英语导游服务中心 
材料整理:北京英语导游 马文丽


【编者按】:美国每年出国旅游超过6000万人次,旅游花费在1000亿美元以上,是世界旅游业最大的客源市场。2001年至2006年我市分别接待美国游客4526人次,4365人次、1346人次、7290人次、7562人次、4308人次,分别占当年接待入境游客的5.34%、5.75%、5.62%、9.66%、7.53%、4.62%。从以上数据分析,我市近年来接待美国游客数量呈下滑趋势,如何进一步开拓美国客源市场,吸引美国游客成为我市旅游宣传促销的一个重要课题。现从《中国旅游报》选编美国游客十大特点,总结归纳美国游客的特点与习惯,为我市进一步开拓美国客源市场提供信息参考。
    1、美国人出国旅游的普遍性
    美国人出国旅游很普遍,一是因为美国人均收入普遍较高,经济条件较好;二是美国人个性开放,从小养成了旅游度假习惯,旅游已成为生活中不可缺少的内容;三是美国全国统一节假日多,除去有以基督教为主的假日,其他民族或宗教也保持自己的假日。再加上许多公司每年都会向员工提供带薪假期。
    2、美国人出国旅游的计划性
    美国人凡事都重计划性,在旅游安排上的计划性更强。他们一般在3个月前制定出游计划。这是因为美国人假期多,旅游公司、航空公司与旅馆非常重视提前"抢人",他们以各种促销措施争取客户,对早期预订的价格给予大幅度优惠,吸引了许多人早早确定旅游计划。美国人很看重旅游产品的价格折扣,已成为他们的消费方式,促成他们提前购买旅游产品。因此各国争取美国游客的促销计划,在每年年初推出富有吸引力优惠措施。用奖励国内机票、酒店住宿或旅游景点门票的方法,吸引美国游客前往旅游。
    3、美国人旅游度假的短期性
    美国人旅游喜欢短期的"迷你"度假,每次3至4天左右。据统计,美国人年均出境次数2.8次,出境旅游年均停留时间16.2天。因为,美国在一年之中,有8次以上3至4天的长周末。这也是为什么美国去邻国加拿大与墨西哥的游客占出境游客的二分之一,每年超过3000万人,去加勒比海的巴哈马、百慕大这些小岛国每年都有500多万人的原因。为了吸引更多的美国游客,我国旅游业者也要设计一些适合他们短期"过境游"的小产品。
    4、美国人旅游消费的超前性与随意性
    美国人旅游消费的能力很强,每年出境旅游的花费约为1000亿美元,所以美国是各国旅游业竞相争夺的客源市场。与美国人在时间安排上注重计划不同,美国人在消费上的随意性很强。据统计,美国人每年在旅游国际机票上的平均花费是1405美元,在海外的平均消费1317美元,两者相加不到3000美元,对美国诸多年收入在6万美元以上的人来讲,只占5%的比例,相当半个月的工资,所以,美国人出境旅游普遍、消费超前和随意也就成为必然。
    5、美国人出国旅游的独立性
    这是指美国游客多为"散客"。美国人独立性强,喜欢自由自在,缺乏"组织性"、"纪律性"。他们出国经验丰富依赖性较少,旅游多以家庭或以情侣为基本单位,不习惯与别的家庭组团集体行动。美国老年人可能组团旅游,年青人则流行自助旅游,自己安排旅游行程。
    6、美国年轻人旅游追求新奇与刺激性
    美国人普遍追求刺激、新奇,有喜欢竞技、冒险、乐于参与的性格。他们热衷运动,认为旅游就是大运动量的活动,尤其一些年轻人喜欢攀岩、登山、滑雪、潜水、狩猎等刺激性大的项目。所以对美国年轻游客,我国旅游产品的设计要有这方面的安排。美国游客不但希望领略东方神秘的历史与文化,更对稀罕、限制多的旅游点充满兴趣。所以他们期望一睹长城与兵马俑,也崇敬布达拉宫与雪原冰峰。
    7、美国中老年人旅游追求自然性
    美国人平时生活工作在现代化的都市中,对城市的高楼大厦产生了厌烦感,他们希望在假日能回归大自然,置身于原始生态之中。美国中老年人士中,一到假期,许多人喜欢到乡间的度假屋,体验自然。美国游客很喜欢中国三峡、黄山、九寨沟这些自然风光与一些古朴的小镇,而对他们看得太多的现代建筑与人造景观缺乏兴趣。
    8、美国游客的历史知识比较单薄
    美国游客的历史知识单薄,对世界历史知之不多。对美国游客介绍中国历史与文化,要尽量以简单有趣的方式表述,介绍中国历史朝代要与他们熟悉的一些历史联系,如与古罗马、莎士比亚、哥伦布、拿破仑、林肯的公元年代对照,否则,他们对中国朝代都会一头雾水。
    9、美国游客讲究卫生
    美国游客出国旅游,对各国的卫生条件有相当的"期待"。"卫生"条件是一个国家文明的重要标志,作为一个向世界开放的旅游景点,没有与此匹配的公共卫生设施是不合格的。美国游客有"厕所情结"并非夸大,美国人家庭中对厕所装修的开支绝对最多。同样,出国旅游,谁也不愿因为找不到厕所而使游兴顿失,不要只因为厕所不干净而使美国游客对当地产生厌恶,后悔到此一游而耿耿于怀,发誓此后再不光临。
    10、美国游客最善于用网络来规划旅游
    美国人旅游计划越来越多地使用网络,从买机票、订旅馆,到旅游行程安排。美国赴海外旅游的总人数中,只有44%是通过旅行社代理安排的。美国旅游服务的网上市场正在快速增长,在线旅游机票和酒店酒店订购业务占旅游预订业务的份额,由1999年为6%,2005年上升到30%。预计到2007为39%。现在美国游客很善于使用旅游搜索引擎,旅游搜索引擎可以比较旅游服务提供商,从机票、旅馆到旅游路线的费用,为消费者提供最佳出行参考,使他们享受更多选择。

美国老人怎样生活
 
文章来源: 北京英语导游服务组 英语导游:张晓萍

 所谓高龄老人,按照美国社会学家的概念是指85岁以上的老人,他们另外将65-74岁的老人称为"青年老人",75-84岁称为"老年老人"。据估计,高龄老人这一组群将以超过300%的速度增长。
 
    按照我国人的概念,"人到七十古来稀",进入老年阶段后便是"养老休闲",被人瞻养的时期。而现今美国高龄老人生活态度却截然不同,尽管他们年龄超过85岁以上,尽管在中国人的观念中他们完全应该躺在床上休息,享受别人的照料,没有必要再去劳心劳力,可他们仍然在以一种积极的态度面对生活。许多美国高龄老人仍然在开汽车结伴远行旅游,跨越城市地区探亲访友,甚至积极帮助他人,尽自己的能力为其它人提供力所能及的帮助和服务??诸如陪人联天,提供生活看护和指导有关技术等等。这里一个最明显的突破便是,美国高龄老人已经开始对传统观念提出挑战,自己不仅是"被照料者"和依赖者,也是提供照料者和作出贡献者。这说明一个无论多么年迈,只要他精神状态好,他对社会都有可以有所贡献,体现自己的价值。
 
    美国社会学家和老年病学家联合进行的研究显示,高龄老人可以通过正式或非正式网络为社会作贡献,并且其参与程度和生活满意度呈正比。通过帮助他人,参与社会生活,他们可以获得成就感与生活的满意感。另外,他们并不反对独居,但希望有亲友住在附近,能经常受到朋友的关爱和社区提供服务。如果老年人能够享受亲友以及知心朋友的关爱和投身于关爱他人的社会援助系统,则可有助于增进自己的健康,克服意志消沉,鼓起生活的信心,改善他们的情绪,他们尤其需要情感慰问和支持。
 
    美国高龄老人的生活方式、生活态度告诉我们,必须纠正人老了便是无用,便是废物一个颓废的心理,必须重新评价老年人的社会价值和社会地位。对老年人来说,单单给予衣食照顾,提供物质生活保障是远远不够的,还必须重视纵予精神上的支持和爱心,必须经常为他们提供社会交往机会。另外,还应鼓励他们为社会作出自己的贡献,投身适合老年人参与的公益活动。老年人应该认识到,自己并非废物一个,并非子女的累赘,只要坚持科学生活方式,只要对生活充满爱心和希望,只要与子女保持亲密联系,同样可以生活得愉快、幸福、享有美好的人生。    

7/25/2009

关于领队的职责 The Responsibilities of a Tour Leader

关于领队的职责 The Responsibilities of a Tour Leader

领队的职责及注意事项(领队必读)就如同每个登山对于都需要地图和指北针一样,每回登山也都需要很好的领导统御,只不过领导的风格和形态,要随登山的性质而异。找个晴朗的周末和几位登山的老伙伴,一同整装攀爬山峰是一回事,和一群不认识的登山者,历经长途艰辛去爬一座没有人爬过的高峰,又是另一回事了。你和老朋友在非正式的情境下,就能做到良好的领导,或许你们本身都不自觉;而后者的清醒则需要较为正式、中归中矩的筹划。无论哪一种情况,领导的本质都是一样的,既是籍以促成大伙儿一同登山的途径,也是确保这次登山之旅安全、愉快、成功的方法。


  登山队的领队


  在筹划登山之旅、沿途做决策方面,登山队的领队负有一份特殊的责任。一个登山队的组织是否正式,要看这支队伍的性质而定,有的可能一丝不苟,有的则毫无条例而言。然而,某些必要的群体功能,是无论用什么方式都得做到的。领队的角色可能由资助机构所指派,也可能以非正规方式临时产生,但是大部分的登山队伍都有个领队,这是个事实。


  非正式的小型登山队,常常不会正式选出领队。每个人在组织策划、分摊工作、团队合作方面都感到与有责焉。所有成员容易就能知道其他人在做些什么,因此协调不成什么大问题。负责筹组这次登时那或是最有经验的成员,或许会被大家默认为团体的领导者,不过不应该表现得太过专断。


  而大规模的登山团体就不能自己领导自己了,如果有个正式指派的领队,队伍的运作会比较好。队员们无从知道其他人在做什么,因此为了确定关键细节都没有被忽略,必须有个运筹帷幄的负责人。大规模的团体或许还需要团队合作方面多所强调,因为成员之间很可能互不相识。


  大部分登山队的领导结构,多半不出下面几种。


  齐头并进式:像是的朋友决定要去登山,组成的团体就是这种。通常他们并不指定领队,不过队员会非正式的分担重要工作;一个人或许负责装备,一个负责交通、食物,如此这般。大部分的决定取决于共识。不过,即使是这种最不正规的组织形态,某位队员往往也会"脱颖而出",被大家视为领导者。这个人会展现出冲劲、良好的判断力、对团体的关心,而且通常最能够激发大家的信心。


  登山召集人当领队:这个是筹组登山队伍的人,也就是当初有着个构想,而后去招兵买马的人。即使登山队伍并没有正式的编制,召集人通常会被视为实际上的领导者。


  最有经验的人当领队:一个团体常常会将领导的角色赋予显然最富经验的成员,并且听从这个人的判断。


  登山俱乐部以及登山学校:如果登山行动是某个组织的计划的一环,通常资助机构会正式指派一位登山的领队。领队的产生常常要经过考核,以确定这个领导人具有某种程度的经验和能力。这种领导结构甚至分层级,一个总领队之下有好几个副领队负责协助。谁是领队不但毫无疑问,而且不是这个团体能够自由选择的,仔细研究整个登山活动、负责装备、交通以及其他的后勤作业,大家全都寄望与这位领队。这种登山活动通常是以教学为目的。学生应该听从领队的指导,不过也应该从中学到如何自给自足。


  有向导的登山:登山队员出钱聘雇能够提供教练领导服务的向导。专业向导常常是登山高手,一手包办队伍的大小食物。向导替他们的雇主做决定,并且负起登山安全的责任。


  领队的角色


  领队的目标,是在可能维持高山环境原貌的原则下,帮助大家完成一次安全、愉快、成功的登山之旅。领队势必要有经验,专业技巧要适合此次登山的性质,但不一定要是队伍中最有经验的一个,也不见得要最受欢迎。 领队的体能要能跟得上大家的脚步,不过不一定要是队伍中最强健的一个。不过,领队一定要有极好的判断力与丰富的常识,并且真心的为整个团队着想。沿路上领队还可能扮演多种角色,


  例如:
  安全的捍卫者:所有登山队伍的最大顾虑就是安全,而安全必须从策划阶段就要顾及。领队应该确定每个人都有适当的装备、经验和体能,而且选择的路线对整体来说,难易适中而且安全无虞。如果队员在中途感到疲惫、失去耐性、激动、没有经验时,他们就会粗心大意。领队会把这种情况视为警讯而提高警觉、注意观察、好言提醒,必要时甚至不断耳提面命。如果登山队必须作出艰难的决定,例如由于天气或者时间必须折返,这种难以启齿的话,往往也要由领队及早开口,以免情况变得危急!!!


  计划者:如果一个团体希望带着适当的装备,在适当的时间到达适当的地方而完成一次成功的登山,很多细节都需要注意。领队虽然不必亲自拟订所有的计划,但是必须负责监督,确定所有的必要准备工作都有人执行妥当。


  专家:有人提出疑问或是需要建议时,给予意见,这时领导者是很重要的一个角色。训练、经验、判断能力,都是做好这个角色的先决条件。要当好领队,你不一定要是队伍中登山技巧最好的人,可是势必要足够的经验,才可能培养出"登山头脑"。除了登山的专业技术外,还需要许多其他的技巧。领队应该多少懂得装备、探险、急就、救难、气候,事实上,就是对于我们在许多章节中所讨论的诸多主题都要有所认识。


  教师:如果随行的队员经验不足,教导登山技巧就成了领队角色的一部分。通常这都是偶尔为之的建议或是示范。不过,如果有些队员欠缺安全行进所需的技巧,或许暂时叫停,当时当场就为他们上点课才是明智之举。很多登山高手发现,当他们传授自己来之不易的知识时很有成就感,不过授业时也应该谨慎。那些新手或许会应为自己技术差而感到很难堪,或是被实际的危险吓得却步不前。这可不是吹牛皮的时候,最好不要直指别人说:"你这样不对";你应该说:"我觉得这样做会非常有用,我作给你看"不过如果有人做出危险的举动则是例外,这时候直截了当的矫正是必要的。


  教练:这个角色和教师稍有不同。教练除了传授知识外,还要加上鼓励和打气,以协助大家克服困难。谁没有过运气坏透了,或是面临莫大困难的时刻?而真正的困难常常是一个人的信心。协助同伴克服困难,不但是帮他个人的忙,同时也可让整个队伍顺利前进。单人教练时要得法,帮助他们发挥最大力量后,看他们露出笑容,是领导过程中所得到的很特别的一种喜悦。


  首先提议者:登山的行进过程,就是一连串的决定:我们该在哪里扎营?我们要走哪一条路?应该什么时候起床?什么时候要用绳索上山?这些决定本身并不难,但是必须及时做出。对于这些问题的答案,领队不一定要独断做出,而是在适当的时机,将这些问题提出来公开讨论。


  仲裁人:讨论一旦开始,分歧的意见就会出笼。集思广益并且将所有的意见做出公开讨论固然很好,但是也可能导致犹豫不决(例如:"我们到底要走哪一条路?"或是引起争辩(例如:"你错了!")。任何担任领导角色的人,无论是否正式指派,都有一定的分量,可以在这种情况下发挥作用。如果登山队所做的决定似乎犯了技术上的错误或是很危险;如果大家火气上升,或者讨论始终漫无重心,往往可以在领队的一言九鼎下获得解决,继续登山。


  环境的保护者:登山的人必须尽力让高山环境不受到破坏,这样后人才能够享受到同样的乐趣。领队应该以身作则,行为举止以及技巧运用对环境的影响要越低越好。如果其他队员并不听从,应该再次提醒,开始的时候可以好言相劝,必要时则要坚持到底。


  领导风格


  领导者的行为特色可以分为两大类。以目标为重的行为和以过程及结构有关:大家该做什么事、谁要去做、如何去做等等。目标为重的领导者,强调的是制定决策和指挥他人。至于人情为重的行为,则是体贴关怀的表现,协助群体成为一个互相扶持、合作的团队。人情为重的领导者,对他人以及别人的意见很重视,做决定时会与大家商量,因此可以凝聚组织的向心力和士气。大多数人的倾向不是其一便是其二,不过这并不是一个非黑即白的选择,两者不可偏废,好的领队会在这两种风格之间取得平衡。适当的平衡点则要看登山队的性质和当前需要而定。


  任何一位领队都必须籍由学习和发现的过程发展出个人风格:学习登山队诸多技巧,发现和队友亲近的好方法,以协助大家成为一个有效能的快乐团队。当领队没有一个简单大公式可套,不过有几个原则可循:


  1。 领队不能够以自我为中心;你所做的决定是为整个团队着想,而不是为了自己。


  2。 你对每一个队员的真心关怀会反应在队员的互相关怀上,因而会让大家的感情更好。


  3。 不假装、不炫耀;诚实面对自己的能力极限。如果不懂,就承认不懂——让大家来帮你解决。


  4。 幽默感助益很大。(比如俺!哈哈!)


  除了上述这些,还要坚持自我。有些人生天性乐观多话,有些人保守内敛,任何类型的人都能成为成功的领队。比起努力效仿某种理想风格来,做真实的自己更为重要。


  领导队员度过危机


  我们都希望差错永远不会发生,可是有时候事情就是会出错:或许是情况变得很危险,也许有人受了伤。这时候,大家的注意力就会从休闲娱乐转移到安全和生存的问题上,而领导者的角色也为之改变。如果这支队伍有个指定的领队,这时候他的领导风格就该变得明快决断。而非正式的小型登山队或许也发现,队伍里会自然产生出领导者。由于显然有协调的需要,大家很自然的就会指望最有经验的队友,或是不知道为什么总是最能激发大家信心的人出来领导。


  意外发生的时候,没有时间进行冗长的辩论,需要的是迅速而有效的行动,而这种行动应该由一位经过训练以及绕富经验的人来指挥责成。注意!!!在这种情况下领队应该尽量谨守"不亲为"原则,只负责指挥他人、保持观察和思考接下来的行动。


  在处理危机时,你的登山队应该遵循3个救难原则:


  1。 救难人员的安全第一:甚至比遇难者的安全还要优先。


  2。 行动敏捷,但是要小心、镇定。


  3。 利用你学过而且练习过的程序;这可不是进行实验的时候。


  大家常以为所有的登山灾害,都是生死关头,而且意外的后果只对于救难人员的应对。大体说来,其实这两个想法都不对。第一,大部分的意外都会造成割伤、淤伤、扭伤,有时候也会有骨折,可是更严重的情况只有偶尔才会发生。第二,决定意外后果的因素往往是救难人员难以掌控的。指望登山领队能够根据他们的训练和经验,拟出适当的计划,而后在情况允许下,以安全而有效的方式执行,这才是合理的期望。


  避免麻烦的最佳方法就是未雨绸缪。领队应该永远保持前瞻,一直需自问"如果这样,该怎么办?"的问题。在营地里,他们想到爬山的情形;在上坡途中,他们想到下坡;在顺利的时候,想到下撤折返。他们会观察队友是否出现初期疲劳征兆、心里默记露宿的地点、注意时间、留意天气有没有任何改变。旅途中,他们总是还未到桥梁就在心里先跨越一次,等于是"预支"麻烦。为了避免问题的发生,或是在问题演变为重大危机以前防微杜渐!


  意外就是出乎意料之外,但是能够以上课、查阅资料、在心理预做演练等凡是事先防范。


  领队就是凡事都需尽量先人一步。

7/21/2009

日全食怎么看?Ways to view a solar eclipse

日全食怎么看?There are many safe and reliable ways to view a solar eclipse

7月22日我国将迎来500年一遇的日全食。7月22日上午8时左右开始,全过程两个多小时,全食最长可达6分钟。
 
观察太阳是十分危险的,因为太阳放射出强烈可见光,红外线和紫外光。紫外光不但可以晒伤皮肤,它也会对眼睛的视网膜迅速造成伤害。人类的眼睛只要直接观看太阳几秒,就可能造成永久伤害,甚至眼盲。如果透过没有适当减光设备的望远镜观察太阳,后果更不堪设想。

日偏食及日环食就不能在没有采取特安全范措施观看。在日全食的偏食阶段,即使太阳的表面被月球遮掩了99% 时,剩下新月形成的光球层,也可以对眼睛造成伤害。不要试图用肉眼观察任何日偏食或环食阶段的太阳。

下面为大家介绍一些科学的观测方法:

墨水观测法
可以取一盆清水,加入墨汁,通过水面的反光看太阳。

针孔投影法
利用两块板子,在其中一块板子上挖一个小洞,让阳光穿过这个小洞投影到另一块板子上。

望远镜投影法
手可不要乱晃,否则太阳的影子会来回跑。并且千万不要拿着望远镜直接看太阳,如果用望远镜直接看太阳,一定要用滤光镜。

注意事项:

日全食影响:无线通讯可能中断 温度会骤降

日全食发生时无线通讯或短时中断 降温16℃-20℃

专家称日全食将影响导航系统

公众观看日全食对天气状况要有足够心理准备

网传日全食将引发地震 专家辟谣称无相关性

7/15/2009

谭荣辉圈点北京家常菜 The Definitive Guide to Regional Cooking

谭荣辉圈点北京家常菜

作者:英国《金融时报》撰稿人 谭荣辉(Ken Hom)

我上次在北京逗留是在1989年。自那以来,北京生活的方方面面都发生了令人惊讶的变化,其中也包括这里的饮食和餐馆。过去我一直认为,首都北京有些土气,在美食方面落后于中国其它地区。不过,那是17年前的事情了,现在我的中国朋友们常常向我汇报这里发生的巨大变化,这足以激起我的兴趣,希望回去呆上一阵子。

"天津百饺园 "
我在香港的中国朋友们一直盛赞"天津百饺园",这是一家专门经营饺子的餐馆,名气不小,颇有地方特色,价格也不贵。这种典型的北方小吃通常以猪肉馅、白菜、盐、姜、大葱和馅儿,然后将这些馅料包进薄薄的面皮中。然后,在水中煮熟之后上桌,吃时还备有许多种蘸料,吃起来味道绝佳。

当我走进这家餐馆时,我知道自己将受到特殊对待,一进门,我马上就看到了一间四面都是玻璃的开放式厨房,厨师们正在里边现包着饺子。我没有注意用俗气的红黄颜色装饰的餐厅,向一位身着粉色宽腿裤、昏昏欲睡的员工索取一份英文菜单(里面满是拼写错误)。
 
我们点了传统的猪肉白菜馅饺子,味道鲜美可口。虾茸豆腐馅饺子很精致细腻、味道清淡,咖喱牛肉馅饺子和麻辣牛肉馅饺子都名副其实,具有浓烈的麻辣味道。不过,最好吃的当属蟹黄馅饺子,肥腴的蟹黄与猪肉混合,让人感到味觉的满足。单单这些便已不虚此行。还有一点我也很喜欢,就是可以自己调制蘸汁儿,餐厅的塑料容器中盛满了各种调料,有腊八醋、、蒜泥、香菜末和辣椒油等等。

"俏江南 "

北京流行的似乎是川菜,那里的人都对一家名为"俏江南"的连锁餐饮店赞不绝口。我来到所能找到的最近一家俏江南分店,想看看究竟有什么值得这么大惊小怪的。它不像17年前的北京餐馆,装修华美、时尚,却不乏中国传统气息——这种餐馆在香港很容易找到。我们要了一个高背椅的隔间,因为觉得这样就餐气氛更为热烈。从附有精美图片的菜单,到似乎是其标识的京剧脸谱,这些显然都与我曾在中国见到过的餐馆截然不同。

我尝了它们的经典菜肴麻婆豆腐,用煎过的豆腐块、牛肉末以及辣味酱料制成。嫩嫩的豆腐块,浸在花椒与辣椒制成的美味酱料中。这道菜与我在成都吃过的一样美味,成都是四川的省会。樟茶鸭肉质细嫩,味道浓郁。虽然我们觉得上汤芦笋口味有些寡淡,但服务员告诉我们:这是为了清一清口。
还有一道菜名字很奇特的菜肴:新派江石滚肥牛,颇为味美。首先,把腌制好的牛肉片,与洋葱和香菜放入盛有滚油的玻璃器皿中,然后在烤热的石头上沥干。让人觉得奇怪的是,这道菜吃起来并不油腻,口感极佳。我们最后点了担担面,细长的面条拌上辣椒油和肉末制成的美味酱料。那一晚,我们感觉就像是到了四川。

"福家楼"和" 面酷"

近来,怀旧似乎成为了北京饮食文化的一部分,许多餐馆努力营造老北京式的环境,推出让人忆起当年的菜肴。在"福家楼 "的菜单中,有"香酥荷叶鸭 "(鸭肚中放入肉馅的脆皮荷叶鸭)和豆汁儿(一种味道酸酸、大豆制作的饮品),可以在进餐时饮用。别忘了传统的炸酱面(你可以在筋斗的面条中,拌入炸酱、黄瓜丝、青豆和多种青菜),而且一定要放些辣椒油,拌在一起。这么一顿让人愉快的午餐,还是值得一去的。

一个来自香港的老朋友,坚持要在第二天给我们当导游,他对美食极为迷恋,而且已经在北京住了十多年。我们午饭是去"面酷"(Noodle Loft)吃的,那是一个以山西菜肴为特色的餐馆,以风味绝佳的面条著称。里面尽是些常来这里吃饭,穿着颇为新潮的年轻商界人士。餐馆的中心是一个开放式厨房,厨师在那里表演制作面条的技艺 ——从厨房的一端到另一端拉面、削面、抖面。不过,这个餐馆可不是只有面条。

我朋友点了许多其它美味菜肴。我们先要了"白切羊肉",口感细腻,而且令人惊讶的是,它非常清淡。爽脆的腰片,浸在美味酱汁里嚼起来嘎吱嘎吱的(注:这道菜叫"香麻脆腰"),而酥脆的花生和黄瓜搭配在一起不太常见,却非常合味(注:是指"酥花生拌黄瓜")。过油的羊肉,用一点陈醋来中和口味(注: "醋椒羊肉")。"鲜桃仁炒百合"对我而言当然颇为新奇。餐馆告诉我们,"小米汤煨鲟鱼"是一道经典的山西菜。不过,味道最棒的是五台山蘑菇与细香葱烧在一起的"葱烧台蘑 "。

最后,我们要了这家餐馆的特色主食:刀削莜面配三种可以自己选择的卤汁:一种是鸡蛋西红柿卤,味道酸、营养丰富;一种是醋汁卤,爽口提神;最后一种是清烧羊汤,虽然简单,却恰到好处。

"凰庭"和"长安壹号"

我在北京吃过的最棒的一顿饭是在" 凰庭"(Huang Ting)。这是对伟大的胡同传统或称"北京式庭院建筑"的一种消遣。唉,在整个北京,胡同正在被夷为平地,这是为了给城市发展以及即将到来的奥运会(Olympics)腾地方,因此,"怀旧 "也就成为了一个主题。

我们在那里享用到的佳肴,味道与香港的一样好。用四川辣椒酱做的炒虾球真是美妙绝伦。个头儿很大的虾美味多汁、肉质鲜嫩,调味的辣酱火候正合适。接着,我们品尝了宫保鸡丁:其实是"宫保鸡丁"的现代版本,味道更为清淡。接下来是浓浓的茶树菇炖乌鸡汤。脆皮金黄豆腐烧香菇非常美味:清淡松软的豆腐拍散,裹着一颗整个的蘑菇,再用油炸。在质地和口感上是一种奇妙的反差。最后一道菜是"榄菜肉碎四季豆 ",堪称是顶级一餐的完美结尾。

最后一晚,我们去了"长安壹号 "(Made in China),这是一家在新加坡、香港或纽约很容易见到的那种外观现代的餐馆,用餐区域分成了若干小房间。我们先要了一些"shao shi"(开胃菜):麻酱拌菠菜,点着少许米醋。然后是烧蹄膀,一起上的配菜是腌黄瓜,吃起来更像是一道美味的凉菜。鸭胗拌香辣花生颇具四川风味。这道菜很辣,吃起来特别让人上瘾。我最喜欢的是猪耳丝拌海蛰、洋白菜、黄色的芥末和芫荽油。

我喜欢那种质地和口感上的反差。然后上的是嗞嗞作响的大虾,烹制得完美无缺、汁水丰富。最后,我不能没吃烤鸭就离开北京。酥脆的鸭皮下面,是肥美柔软的鸭肉,我们把肉卷在薄薄的面饼里,加上甜面酱、切细的葱白和黄瓜条。这可真是天赐美味!
至少,就烹饪领域而言,北京似乎已经获得了"新生"。

谭荣辉著有《中国味道:地方烹饪权威指南》(A Taste of China: The Definitive Guide to Regional Cooking)( 英国Pavilion出版社,9.99英镑)

Taste of China: The Definitive Guide to Regional Cooking
Publisher: Pavilion Books, Limited; New Ed edition (April 1, 2006) | ISBN: 1862057079 | English | 240 pages | PDF | 392KB

和父亲旅行的乐趣 TRAVELS WITH MY FATHER

和父亲旅行的乐趣

作者:英国《金融时报》撰稿人 乔纳森•格雷格森(Jonathan Gregson)

当宾朋们开始在宴会上竞相讲述家庭假日的 "恐怖故事"时,我通常都会保持沉默。我知道,无论他们讲什么,我都能打败他们。因为自1993年起,我每年都和父亲一起度假。尽管他现在已是94岁高龄,但没有迹象显示,他打算停止这种旅行。

我是父亲的旅行社

这意味着我不得不成为一个只有一个人工作的旅行社:选择航班;确保机场人员安排好电动车,能让我们轻松到达登机口;预订酒店(只能订一楼的房间或是有电梯的酒店)和租车。接着,在到达目的地后,我要集地陪、出租车司机、酒店服务员、门卫和文化向导的职责于一身。或者,如果我们订的是别墅,那么我就要同时当军需官、斟酒侍者、副主厨(我妻子做精致菜肴),偶尔还要当管工或电工。

此外,如果有任何差池,永远都是我的错。而且,如果我对在热天登上山顶修道院的做法是否明智有所异议的话,我的提议很轻松就会被驳回。父母的权威还是管点用的。但是,与传统的家庭假日不同,我排在权力等级的最低部。

那么,除了渴望充当圣徒之外,我为什么要进行这样的远征呢?答案很简单:这样做会充满乐趣。另外,拜访你的旅伴还是在二战之前曾去过的国家,会为旅行经历增添一种穿梭时空的感受。

穿越时空的旅行感受
这种感受始于一次印度之旅——那是我的出生地,爸爸的工作时间大部分都是在那里度过的——去重游一些"特别的地方"。他说的不是泰姬陵(Taj Mahal)。相反,他让我组织了一次吉普车自驾游,到印度最东边的地方转转,看一看他曾经工作过的茶园,并骑着大象在卡齐兰加 (Kaziranga)国家公园里游逛,寻找犀牛和老虎,随后继续前行,进入锡金的山区。那儿通常只允许现役(而不是退伍)军官通行。
 
组织这条旅行路线并不容易,即便是对于专业的旅行社。但是,在他1939年徒步走过同样的路线,随后穿过海拔1.8万英尺的加里普山口 (Jelep La)进入西藏时,绝不会比现在更容易。"50多年后再回来,感觉可真好,"他用印地语对一位满脸困惑的边防战士说,"再过50年再见?"退伍以后,他的印地语已经忘得差不多了。

就目前的情形看,要成就这样一项壮举,或许不是那么不可能。当然,老人家对旅行的兴趣有增无减。我刚从比利时旅行归来,转了转伊普尔的战场("那场战争打响时,我还太小"),领略了布鲁日的中世纪魅力。我选择布鲁日作为我们的基地,是因为它地形平坦,无论怎样,坐在运河中的船上,就能看到半个城市。这些考虑现在变得更加重要,因为行动便利如今已是个问题。爸爸自尊心太强,不能接受轮椅。

旅行中的细节安排
这意味着组织者必须安排好行程的各个方面,以便在最大限度地观赏景色的同时,将步行(尤其是爬山)距离降到最低。也就是说,要从酒店(为了尽量减少走路,要订一层的房间,但要能看到运河景色)打车到适当的码头,这个码头离城里最好的海鲜餐馆只有20码,而且我已经订好了露台上的位子。用完午餐,稍事休息之后,我们坐上了我在鱼市(Fish Market)订好的出租车,让父亲在车上睡会儿午觉,我则想着美妙绝伦的格罗宁格博物馆(Groeninge museum)里收藏的希罗尼穆斯•博斯(Hieronymus Bosch)画作。

为了让此类旅行进展顺利,连最微小的细节也要事先计划好。那天傍晚,我处在一种自得的情绪当中。我们提前了1个小时到达多佛的渡口,以打消任何"误船"可能带来的焦虑。上船后,我们被领到一个特殊的停车位,正如事先安排好的一样,就在电梯旁边。驱车到布鲁日的行程不长,不会感到疲倦。酒店房间符合要求— —还有那位女出租车司机,她驱车带我们去了一家比较不错的餐厅,那里能俯瞰Markt广场,而且芦笋和炸比目鱼都还"过得去"。的确,我们俩都情绪高涨,于是动身穿过主广场,直奔一家非常传统的比利时啤酒馆—— Te Garre,它全部由古老的木材和红砖建成。本来漫步只需要3分钟,但在半路上,我们的行动就开始像影片《遥远的桥》(A Bridge Too Far)中的情景了。刚走到酒馆的正门,父亲的腿就软了。所幸的是,酒馆领班并没有把我们当成醉鬼。他先把父亲扶到椅子上,然后把他拉到了最近的桌子旁边。

我们和三位讲佛兰芒语的比利时人坐在了一起,有些困惑的他们正喝着Te Garre自酿的啤酒。我给自己点了一份,但是,由于它的浓度有12%,所以我为父亲选了度数低一些的酒。在我和同桌聊天的时候,父亲低着头休息了10 分钟,以恢复体力。这些同桌像大多数讲佛兰芒语的比利时人一样,喜欢将英语而不是法语作为第二语言。然后父亲抬起头,宣布道: "我并不总是这样,你知道。我年轻的时候曾经徒步进入西藏。
"
整桌人的讲话马上活跃了起来。的确,这就是与老人一起出游的乐趣之一——不只是我父亲,还有我的阿姨们和教父教母,他们可以随心所欲地和完全陌生的人交谈。这种偶遇,往往能加深你对一个地方的了解,远胜于无休止地精读旅行指南。即便如此,我还是拒绝了和新朋友喝第二杯酒,叫了一辆出租车回酒店。我们已经到了极限。

最好不要做的事

对此你需要经常保持警惕。60岁以下的人似乎轻而易举就能做到的事,对再比他们大上一半岁数的人来说,可能就是不可逾越的障碍。距离和坡度必须要事先想清楚。因为一旦出发,就无法回头了。

在先前去意大利托斯卡纳区旅行时,我在这方面弄得一团糟,当时还有我同样高龄的教父随行。我们去锡耶纳的旅途进展顺利,从酒店去锡耶纳大教堂(Duomo)走一段平缓的下坡路,然后继续前行,来到俯瞰碗状坎波广场(Piazza del Campo)的一家不能不去的aperitivo酒吧。教父和父亲看起来都情绪高涨。但然后我们必须从"碗"里爬出来,而要去订好午餐的餐厅,还需经过一段特别陡峭的石子路。走到大约一半的时候,父亲慢慢停了下来。他大吼着:"我不是该死的埃德蒙•希拉里 (Edmund Hillary)爵士。"我的教父应声答道:"我也不是该死的谢尔帕•登津 (Sherpa Tenzing)。"(1953年,希拉里和登津完成人类首次攀登珠峰的壮举——译者注)

控制温度同样至关重要。还是那次旅行,我不得不劝阻教父不要去佛罗伦萨,阿尔诺河流域(Arno Valley)当时遭到了热浪的袭击,许多当地人因此倒下。所以,我现在只在较为凉爽的季节安排此类旅行,而且坚决不去海滩度假。

近来选择的范围越来越狭窄。日程中先是去掉了长途飞行,如今连短途飞行也被拿掉了。游览历史名胜也许会太累,所以我现在直接把车停在法国大教堂的前面,让父亲审视教堂的正面,而我则去欣赏内部的彩色玻璃。一家能看到美景的酒店——比如能看到岩石嶙峋的布雷顿(Breton)海岸线——比客房服务重要得多。这开始变得有点像虚拟旅游。但只要和爸爸在一起,就能有极强的参与感。
译者/梁鸥

(LIFESTYLE) TRAVELS WITH MY FATHER
By Jonathan Gregson

When fellow guests at dinner parties start competing over "horror stories" about their family holidays, I generally stay quiet. Whatever they come up with, I know I can trump them. Because every year since 1993 I have gone on holiday with my father. And even though he is now 94, there are no signs of his wishing to discontinue the practice.

This means that I have had to become a one-man travel agency: sorting out flights, ensuring that airport staff have arranged for an electric buggy to sail effortlessly to our departure gate, booking hotels (ground floor or with lift only) and car rentals. Then, on arrival, I combine the duties of local rep, taxi driver, bell-boy, concierge, and cultural guide. Or, if we've booked into a villa, quartermaster, sommelier, sous-chef (my wife does the fancy bits) and occasional plumber/electrician.

Moreover, if anything goes wrong, it's always my fault. And if I counsel against the wisdom of climbing to some hill- top monastery in the heat of the day, my advice is easily overruled. Parental authority still has some meaning. But, unlike conventional family holidays, I am at the bottom of the pecking order.

So, apart from any aspirations to sainthood (St Super Sagaman of Late Departures, perhaps), why do I undertake such expeditions? The short answer is that it can be fun. Also, visiting a country where your companion had last been before the second world war adds a dimension of time travel to the tourist experience.

T he practice started with a trip to India - land of my birth and where papa spent most of his working life - to revisit some "special places". By which he did not mean the Taj Mahal. Rather, he had me organise a Jeep trip around India's easternmost reaches, visiting tea gardens where he'd once worked and riding elephants around Kaziranga (注:http://www.ndcnc.gov.cn/da talib/2004/WorldBequest/DL/DL-6823) in search of rhinos and tigers before proceeding into the mountainous parts of Sikkim where access is normally restricted to serving (and not retired) military officers.

Not an easy itinerary to organise, even for a specialist travel agent. But then it had been no easier when he walked this same route back in 1939 and then continued over the 18,000ft Jelep La(注:http://bbs6.sina.com.cn/cg i-bin/newsoul/soulview.cgi? id=1053829&fid=573&postdate=2004-03- 17&ver=thread) and into Tibet. "Good to be back after more than 50 years," he told a bemused frontier guard in Hindi, half-forgotten since his army years. "See you again in another 50?"

A feat that, on current form, may not be so improbable. Certainly his appetite for travel is undiminished. I am just back from a trip to Belgium, encompassing the battlefields around Ypres ("I was too young for that war") and the medieval charms of Bruges. I chose Bruges as our base because it is so flat and, anyway, you can see half the town from one of the boats that cruise its canals. These considerations become more important as mobility is now an issue. And papa is too proud to accept a wheelchair.

Which means that the tour organiser has to arrange every aspect of the trip so as to maximise sensory input while keeping walking - and particularly climbing - distances to a minimum. That means taking a taxi from the hotel (with a ground floor room, to minimise steps, but with canal view) to the right boat jetty, namely the one just 20 yards from a restaurant that serves some of the best seafood in town and where I had reserved a table on the terrace. After a brief post-luncheon pause, we grab another taxi I'd ordered in the Fish Market that whisked my father off to his siesta while I contemplated panels by Hieronymus Bosch in the excellent Groeninge (注:网上译名各不相同,http://foto.brugge.be/dl/c hinees.pdf )museum.
For such trips to work out well, the minutest details need to planned in advance and that evening I was in self- congratulatory mood. We'd arrived at the ferry terminal in Dover with an hour in hand, so as to relieve any possible anxiety about "missing the boat". On boarding we were directed to a special parking bay right next to the lift, as pre-arranged. The drive to Bruges was not so long as to induce fatigue. The hotel room had met with approval - as did the lady taxi driver who drove us to one of the better restaurants overlooking the Markt (注:http://travel.lkcn.net/con tent/view/176/28/) where both the asparagus and sole meunière were deemed "passable". Indeed, we were both in such excellent spirits that we set off across the main square towards a very traditional Belgian beer-house - all ancient timbers and red brick - called Te Garre. It should have been a three-minute stroll but halfway there our progress began to resemble A Bridge Too Far(注:http://lib.verycd.com/2004 /11/18/0000026792.html). We just made it to the front door when father's legs gave way. Fortunately, the head barman decided we were not drunks and lifted my father on to a chair before towing him to the nearest table.

We joined three slightly confused Flemings who were sipping Te Garre's house beer. I ordered one for myself but, since it weighs in at 12 per cent, I chose something lighter for my father. He was head-down in recovery mode for 10 minutes while I chatted to our table companions who, like most Flemish-speakers, prefer English to French as a second language. Then his head came up and he announced: "I wasn't always like this, you know. When I was younger, I once walked into Tibet."
This sparked off a lively cross-table conversation. Indeed, it is one of the pleasures of travelling with the elderly - and not just my father, but my aunts and godparents as well - that they are beyond inhibitions about talking to complete strangers. The fruits of such chance encounters can often reveal a lot more about a place than endless perusals of guidebooks. Even so, I declined the offer of joining our new acquaintances in a second beer and ordered a cab back to the hotel. We had already pushed things to the limit.

That is something you need to be constantly aware of. What might seem a doddle for anyone under 60 can prove an insurmountable hurdle for those half as old again. Distances and gradients must be thought through in advance. Because once you've set off, there's no turning back.

I screwed up on this during a previous trip to Tuscany, when I had my equally venerable godfather along as well. Our tour of Siena was going swimmingly, a gentle descent from hotel to Duomo ( http://italy.china.com/zh_ cn/turismo/html/Tuscany/Siena- Duomo.html)and onwards to a well-earned aperitivo overlooking the bowl-shaped Piazza del Campo(http://www.italian.org.cn/ siena_fenxiao.htm). Both padre and padrone seemed in fine fettle. But then we had to climb back out of the bowl, and the route to the restaurant booked for lunch included a particularly steep and cobbled section. About halfway up, my father ground to a halt. "I'm not Sir Bloody Edmund Hillary," he bellowed. To which my godfather responded: "And I'm not Sherpa Bloody Tenzing.(http://www.268.co.nz/nzdetail-1.htm ) "

Temperature control is also crucial. On that same trip I had to dissuade my godfather from going to Florence, the Arno Valley then being in the grip of a heatwave that was laying locals low. So nowadays I only undertake such trips in the cooler seasons and avoid beach holidays altogether.

These days the options are narrowing. First long-haul flights, and now short-haul, have slipped off the agenda. Traipsing around historical monuments can be too tiring so I now park right in front of a French cathedral and father surveys the fa?ade while I investigate the stained glass within. A hotel with a great view of, say, the rocky Breton coastline, is much more important than room service. It's becoming a bit like virtual tourism. But with my papa aboard, it can be extremely interactive.

导游工作的重要性 Being a tour guide is a very important job

导游工作的重要性 Being a tour guide is a very important job
-----------之导游词的创作
 
导游词是导游人员引导游客游览观光的讲解词。

其作用有三:一是引导游客观光游览,二是宣传旅游景点。二者相辅相承密不可分。
 

  只有在掌握丰富的资料的基础上,经过科学系统的加工整理,并在实践中不断修改、丰富和完善,才能形成具有自己特色的导游词。

  导游词一般由三部分组成:

  一、习惯用语。即游览前的"欢迎词"、游览结束时的"欢送词"等。

  二、整体介绍。用概述法介绍旅游目的地,帮助游客宏观了解,引发游客兴趣。

  三、重点讲解。即对主要游览内容的详细讲述,因而是导游词最重要最精彩的组成部分。

  导游词的写作要求是:

  一、强调知识性。

  一篇优秀的导游调必须有丰富的内容,溶入各类知识并旁征博引、融会贯通、引人人胜。

  导游词的内容必须准确无误,令人信服。

  导游词不能只满足于一般性介绍,还要注重深层次的内容,如:同类事物的鉴赏、有关诗词的点缀、名家的评论等。这样,会提高导游词的档次水准。

  二、讲究口语化。

  导游语言是一种具有丰富表达力、生动形象的口头语言,这就是说,在导游创作中要注意多用日语词汇和浅显易懂的书面语词汇。要避免难懂的书面语词汇和音节拗口的词汇。多用短句,以便讲起来顺口,听起来轻松。

  强调导游口语化,不意味着忽视语言的规范化。编写导游词必须注意语言的品味。

  三、突出趣味性。

  为了突出导游调的趣味性,必须注意以下六个方面的问题:(1)编织故事情节。讲解一个景点,要不失时机的穿插趣味盎然访传说和民间故事,以激起游客的兴趣和好奇心理。但是,选用的传说故事必须是健康的,并与景观密切相连。(2)语言生动形象,用词丰富多变。主动形象的语言能将游客导入意境,给他们留下深刻的印象。(3)恰当地运用修辞方法。导游词中,恰当地运用比喻、比拟、夸张、象征等手法,可使静止的景观深化为生动鲜活的画面,揭示出事物的内在美,使游客沉浸陶醉。(4)幽默风趣的蕴味。幽默风趣是导游词艺术性的重要体现,可使其锦上添花,气氛轻松。(5)情感亲切。导游词语言应是文明、友好和富有人情味的语言,应言之有情,让游客赏心悦耳、倍感亲切温暖。(6)随机应变,临场发挥。导游词创作成功与否,不仅表现其知识渊博,也反映出导游技能技巧。

  回、重点突出。

  每个景点都有代表性的景观,每个景观又都从不同角度反映出它的特色内容。导游词必须在照顾全面的情况下突出重点。面面俱到,没有重点的导游词是不成功的。

  五、要有针对性。

  导游词不是以一代百、千篇一律的。它必须是从实际以发,因人、因时而异,要有的放矢,即根据不同的游客以及当时的情绪和周围的环境进行导游讲解之用。切忌不顾游客千差万别,导游词仅一篇的现象。编写导游词一般应有假设对象,这样才能有针对性。

  六、重视品位

  创作导游词必须注意提高品位,一要强调思想品位,因为,弘扬爱国主义精神是导游员义不容辞的职责;二要讲究文学品位,导游词的语言应该是规范的,文字是准确的,结构是严谨的,内容层次是符合逻辑的,这是对一片导游词的基本要求。如果再在关键之外适当的引经据典,得体地运用写诗词名句和名人警句,就会是导游词的文学品位更为提高。


关键词: 英语导游 英语导游词创作

Being a tour guide is a very important job. In many cases, the tour guide is a traveller's first impression of a foreign country. In other cases a tour guide may be responsible for teaching tourists about the culture and sites in a city or town. In addition, many tour guides hold the responsibility of teaching tourists about safety. Even if you are only responsible for taking a tourist from the airport to his or her hotel, it is your responsibility to make the short trip interesting, informative, and safe. The following pages will help you learn some important vocabulary and phrases that you can use with your English-speaking tourists. Check your understanding as you go.

导游常挂在嘴边的英语口语 English for Tour Guides

导游常挂在嘴边的英语口语

        Any urgent thing? 有急事吗?
  Good luck! 祝你好运!
  Make it. 达到目的,获得成功。
  I'll be seeing you. 再见。
  I wonder if you can give me a lift? 能让我搭一程吗?
  It is raining. 要下雨了。
  I might hear a pin drop. 非常寂静。
  Don't get loaded. 别喝醉了。
  Stay away from him. 别*近他。
  Don't get high hat. 别摆架子。
  That rings a bell. 听起来耳熟。
  Play hooky. 旷工、旷课。
  I am the one wearing pants in the house. 我当家。
  Get cold feet. 害怕做某事。
  Good for you! 好得很!
  Go ahead. 继续。
  Help me out. 帮帮我。
  Let's bag it. 先把它搁一边。
  Lose head. 丧失理智。
  He is the pain on neck. 他真让人讨厌。
  Do you have straw? 你有吸管吗?
  Don't make up a story. 不要捏造事实。
  Absence makes the heart grow fonder. 小别胜新婚。
  She make a mess of things. 她把事情搞得一塌糊涂。
  He has a quick eye. 他的眼睛很锐利。
  Shoot the breeze. 闲谈。
  Tell me when! 随时奉陪!
  It is a small world! 世界真是小!
  Not at all. 根本就不(用)。
  Let's play it by ear. 让我们随兴所至。
  Wait and see. 等着瞧。
  Why so blue? 怎么垂头丧气?
  What brought you here? 什么风把你吹来了?
  Hang on! 抓紧(别挂电话)!
  Leave me alone. 别理我。
  Chin up. 不气 ,振作些。
  You never know. 世事难料。
  I stay at home a lot. 我多半在家里。
  She'll be along in a few minutes. 他马上会过来。
  I'm not it a good mood. 没有心情(做某事)。
  He is a fast talker. 他是个吹牛大王。
  Daring! 亲爱的!
  She is still mad at me. 她还在生我的气。
  I'll get even with him one day. 我总有一天跟他扯平
  Hit the ceiling. 大发雷霆。
  She's got quite a wad. 她身怀巨款。
  I don't have anywhere to be. 没地方可去。
  I'm dying to see you. 我很想见你。
  I swear by the God. 我对天发誓。
  Nothing tricky. 别耍花招。
  You might at least apologize. 你顶多道个歉就得了。
  Price is soaring, if it goes on like this, we shall not be able to keep the pot boiling. 物价直线上升,这样子下去,我们锅里可没什么东西煮饭。
  None of you keyhole. 不准偷看。
  You don't seem to be quite yourself today. 你今天看起来不大对劲。
  Do you have any money on you? 你身上带钱了吗?
  What is your major? 你学什么专业?
  My girlfriend and I broke up. 我和我的女朋友吹了。
  It was something that happens once in the blue moon. 这是千载难逢的事。
  I'll kick you out. 我将炒你鱿鱼。
  I have to be late and keep my date waiting. 我不喜欢迟到而让别人久等。
  There is nobody by that name working here. 这里没有这个人。
  He neither drinks nor smokes. 他既不喝酒也不抽烟。
  He pushes his luck. 他太贪心了。
  Nuts! 呸;胡说;混蛋!
  I can't make both ends meet. 我上个月接不到下个月,缺钱。
  It is of high quality. 它质量上乘。
  Dead end. 死胡同。
  Would you mind making less noise. 能不能小声点。

美国餐馆小费一定要付15%吗 Why I MUST tip the tour guide ...?

美国餐馆小费一定要付15%吗

在美国餐馆,结帐时给服务生留下15%小费是显规则,要是对服务特别满意那么小费的比例应该达到20%。您别嫌给的小费多,在美国做餐馆服务生也真不容易。
当个服务生不仅要手脚麻利、服务到位,而且要眼观六路、耳听八方,脸上时刻挂着微笑,瞅准时机又恰到好处地与客人打个趣,为就餐中的客人们助兴。到了结帐的时候,如果有一位客人主动要求伸手要账单,而且其他客人都闷头喝水或顾左右而言他,那么把账单递给他自然没有错。

如果账单送过来了,桌上没有人主动伸手,这账单递给谁就有点学问了。在这个场合,"女士优先"完全不适用,不管有几位客人,只要有一个男的,那么就把账单递给那男的没商量,就算账单被某个女士的截了去,也不算失礼。

如果有两个以上的男士,那么这时服务生就要回忆一下,当时点菜的时候是哪一位客人点的葡萄酒。因为酒不是给自己一个人喝的,所以点酒的人一般来说就是付款的客人。如果有两位以上的客人参与了点酒或者其他分享的菜肴,那么就把账单放在桌面中间,最好与这两个潜在的付款人大致相同的距离,由他们自己采取主动。

在美国,餐馆里一般看不到客人争相付账的情形。但是如果遇到一桌华人,那么也可能会入乡不随俗,几个人同时站起来手里拿着美金票子或者是信用卡片在服务生眼前喊Its me、its me的话,这时训练有素的服务生会这样恭维客人们:Oh, youre all just so wonderful, I wish I could take all of your money(哇,你们太棒了,我真想把你们每个人的钱都收过来)!


如果这一招无效,那么服务生应该略微后退,为眼前这场君子之争留出足够空间,然后脸上挂着微笑说:I cant wait to see who wins(我倒是要看看谁能胜出)!

服务生费尽这许多心机,就餐的客人们付出些代价也是应该的,但是这还不是在美国餐馆一定要付15%以上的小费真正原因。很多人都以为他们付出的小费都进了直接为自己服务的侍者腰包中,其实这是一个误解,因为美国大多数的餐馆都有一个tipping out(小费再分配)的过程。

如果一桌客人消费是200美元,那么20%的小费就是40美元。这40美元要按比例分给其他服务人员,比如6-8美元要分给直接跑堂助手(bussar);给酒吧员分 3-4美元;给传菜员(food-runner)分2-3美元;给领座员(hostess)分2-3美元,等等。

所以最后在前台的服务生自己可以拿到手的小费也就是20美元左右,相当于客人消费额10%。而且,美国税务机构IRS把客人消费额的8%算作服务生的应纳税的收入。

这么算下来,如果一桌消费额为200美元的客人只给留下了10%(20美元)的小费,那么这位服务生其实不但什么都没有拿到,还亏了本。所以,小费给到15%以上是必须的。否则,难堪的侍者难免会给吝啬的客人难看。

延伸阅读:在欧洲旅行 该怎么给小费?

据德国媒体报道,到德国和欧洲旅游,你知道住旅馆,就餐,坐出租车,应该给多少小费吗?当然,在有的国家是必须的,在有的国家则是有的给有的不给。在此,我们作一个简单的比较。

德国

在德国中餐馆当老板或打工的人,实际上大多根本不知道德国就餐者的小费标准。就是因为小费本是个灵活的东西。实际上,德国就餐的小费有个不成文的规矩,那就是5-10%。你在中餐馆当过跑堂,一定会说,哪有人给这么多?问题就在这里。实际上随意性很强,许多人根本不给。欧元登堂后更给了许多人借口,凑凑齐就行了。

那么到理发店理发呢?有时你会看到一些人给小费,而大多数人不给。住旅馆呢?还有坐出租车?你给过小费吗?可能你根本不知道还要给小费。其实,德国给小费的不成文规定跟下面介绍的奥地利是差不多的。只不过没有人会勉强你。

有时你就要看别人给多少了。比如高速公路休息站洗手间,原来一般是给20芬尼或50芬尼的小费,现在你会看到那放小费的瓷盘里放着的都是50欧芬。何止贵了一倍。你不给?如果盘子面前坐着一个打扫卫生的人,看着你,可能你还丢不起这个脸。

奥地利

在餐馆饭店,跟德国一样,通常给5-10%是合适的。在宾馆里,提箱子的,每件行李要给1欧元,给打扫清洁的女工,每天1到2欧元,这些钱要在你离开旅馆时直接塞给宾馆员工。给理发师和出租车司机的小费在5-10%之间。奥地利说的是德语,但方言里小费不叫"Trinkgeld",而叫Schmattes或者Schmatt。

意大利

在饭店里(餐馆),客人一般最多给10%的小费。在咖啡馆酒吧,一般酒台上放着专给你放小费的小盘子或储钱猪。在旅馆里,通常每周给打扫清洁的女工5个欧元。坐出租车则不一定要给小费,把车钱凑成整数就行了。

西班牙-葡萄牙

饭店餐馆同样通常是5-10%的小费。一般是在跑堂的找了钱后,客人把所给的小费留在餐桌上。坐出租车,一般是凑齐下一个50欧分或整数欧元。人们视为特别不讲礼貌的是:把2欧分5欧分这样的零钱作为小费留在桌子上。

法国

在餐馆或咖啡馆,通常给10-15%的小费。假如已经对餐费和饮料费加计了服务费,可以适当少给一些。小费应该放在桌上,然后走人。旅馆里不一定非给小费。但客人也可留些小费在床头柜上。给出租车司机的小费是10%。

土耳其

在这个国家,如果你听到人家跟你说"Bakschisch",意思就是让你给小费。餐馆里通常是10%。一点小费都不给被视为不懂礼貌。旅馆里的规矩跟德国和奥地利一样。坐出租车,客人应该凑成整数,但最多不超过10%。

希腊

餐馆里的规矩是10%左右,在Taverna则不得超过1欧元。住旅馆的客人临走时要亲自把一定的小费交到旅馆员工手里。出租车价格总是要比实际打得宽得多。

英国和爱尔兰

在英国吃饭要给10-15%的小费,在爱尔兰则不超过10%。假如帐单上已经开出了"服务费",客人就可以适当少给一些。在酒吧里坐在酒台旁,则不需要付小费。住宾馆,要给提箱子的员工1个欧元。坐出租车要付整数。

让我们再看看在欧洲以外的一些地区应该如何给小费,算是一个简单的比较。

北非

在餐馆和宾馆,一般要给15%的小费。在埃及坐出租车,假如是13镑,就要给15镑整数。在服务业方面,比如擦鞋,要事先谈好价格。

美国和加拿大

在这里上饭店是必须给小费的:净价格上要加上15-20%。要人送皮萨饼上门同样如此。有时小费直接打在帐单上。在加拿大,提箱子的人为每件行李获得1加元,在美国则是1至2美元。每住一个晚上要给清洁女工1至2美元。上理发店,坐出租车,都要给15%的小费。

日本和中国

日本一般不给小费。如果坐出租车路线太短,可以给一点钱作为补偿。

在中国,通常也是不给小费的。按德国有关方面的介绍,在中国的旅游点吃饭,则要给约10%的小费,给旅馆清洁工2至3元。每天每个人要给导游1美元。其实,现在中国也在发生变化。比如,如果你住进一家宾馆,提箱子的人把箱子送进你的房间后,经常会东摸摸,西弄弄,不急着离开,实际上当然是示意你给小费了。

客人对此事是如何看待的?导游朋友们请阅读以下问卷调查结果,了解客人心理:


Why I MUST tip the tour guide ...?

------------------------------
I think this is the perpetual question, since some of you will be travelling or vacation during the year end or taking holidays.

I think tour guides, either freelance or full time, don't they have a fixed pay scheme or whatever? They earn commission when I buy stuff from the places they bring me to?

Is the tip included as part of the tour guide pay package?

Shouldn't the tip BE a reflection of how the tour guide perform?

And should parents pay tips on behalf of their children?

I'm just confused over this issue ... as tour agencies insist that I pay tips & some even fixed the rate, well in most cases, the tip is fixed & compulsory.

Is all of this fair?

**********************

Replied by Paul

Not to downplay local tour guides but I think the situation is just simply amazing ... if like this, I also want to be tour guide ... 

Most if not all get very low basic pay and rely on the tips to make up the bulk of their take home.

It's included in tour package if explicitly stated. Parents have to pay for their kids.

Tips should be a reflection of their service but often doesn't work out that way when service isn't up to par or when the tipper is stingy.

Just take it as part of the costs of the package or DIY and go free and easy if you really don't want to pay the tips.

Being a tour guide is not an easy job as you think.
 
**********************
blueberry_berry
Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 403
True...Being a tour guide is nt an easy task & job.

Being a tour guide, they ned to remind those passengers to bring along their passport wif them whenever where they r & either. They still ned to arrange for hotel room, timing for meals & so on...If some of the passengers got any complains, they aso ned to settle the problems.
***************
w3nGaL
Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 257
Personally i dont mind to tip tour guide whom are friendly, approachable and knowledgeable, willing to share experience. basically, he/she should make me feel that the trip is worth it.
*******************
stars87
Master Member

Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,947  eh bro ? i think its a matter of respecting culture.

e.g Japan has no culture of tipping. you try tipping someone for what they do over there, people get offended by your tipping.

its an industry culture. live with it or be prepared to be ostracized by it. either way your call.

on a side note, i do agree that, tipping in the actual sense of the word being a additional reward for exemplary service shouldnt apply to the travel industry. they should label the Bus captain and the Tour guide's money as a fee. its more appropriate. its probably a deliberately designed misnomer to soften the blow to consumption. 
******************

一位经验丰富的美国导游带团生活揭秘On the Job: A Seasoned Tour Guide Tells All

导游带团生活:一位经验丰富的美国导游揭秘
 
导游工作不是您想象的那么容易!
 
On the Job: A Seasoned Tour Guide Tells All
 
供稿:感谢 Alice Lee (ID:520) 供稿

 导游网(www.daoyou.org)是一家总部设在北京的英语导游服务机构,我们的自身定位是非营利的导游服务机构致力于中国文化在全球的传播。

  导游网(www.daoyou.org)是与全球各地的导游服务机构合作。我们还是美国纽约导游互助服务小组的成员单位,积极参与全球导游服务行业的规范制定。

  我们拥有北京英语导游服务精英,并以专业的英语导游服务在北京的英语导游服务中处于领先地位。

  为向客户提供更好的全方位的英语导游服务,我们与优秀的英语导游建立了长期的合作关系,获得了得天独厚的人才优势,此外我们还与多家国外导游服务机构建立了英语导游服务的长期合作关系,从而进一步增强了我们的英语导游服务能力。

  导游网(www.daoyou.org)始终秉承"以客户为中心、以质量为基础、以导游为本"的理念,把服务质量放在首位,从而确保为客户提供高质量的英语导游服务。

  导游网(www.daoyou.org)始终是您了解中国文化和中国导游最佳的选择!

洞悉英语导游服务真谛,更多了解导游服务请阅读以下文章:

On the Job: A Seasoned Tour Guide Tells All

We interviewed Cherie Anderson, owner and president of Professional Tour Management Training in Lake Forest, California, to get her insights on what it's like to be a tour director. Ms. Anderson has led tours across the globe. When she is not busy touring, she is training others how to become tour guides. In the following interview, she also explains some of the benefits formal training can provide.

What is the difference between a tour director and a travel agent?

Tour directors are actually out in the field leading the tours. Travel agents work for an agency selling the tours and making the reservations.

The two roles are completely different one is hands on visiting various countries, dealing with people and logistics while the other works mainly in the office.

As a tour director, I don't work in the office at all. I don't sell the tours and I don't market the tours. I am hired to travel with the tour group. For example if I am doing a tour in Australia and New Zealand I meet the tour group in Los Angeles and we fly together to New Zealand. I return 3 ½ weeks later with the group and go home. I avoid the office. Travel agents have to know computer codes, the computer programs and all that other clerical work, that's not what we do as tour directors.

Most people who are interested in the tour directing and tour guiding don't want a desk job. I know I never did. If you want a steady 9-5-office job then becoming a travel agent may appeal to you but you won't find that as a tour director or tour guide.

How did you become a tour guide?

I was in education, sales and a variety of other jobs before I became a tour director. I actually found my way into this industry by volunteering on a cruise ship as a children's activities counselor. That job led to working as a cruise host on the cruise line. Tour operators would hire me to escort their guests on cruises to all their various destinations. That experience eventually lead to escorting tour groups for international tour operators.

How did you evolve from a tour guide into teaching courses on how to be a tour guide?

In 1993, I realized there was a need for a college course that would provide direction to those who were interested in tour guiding, tour directing and cruise hosting. I decided to combine my education background with my career in tours and developed my course, "Get Paid to Travel".

In the United States there is very little available to educate people on how to be a qualified and successful tour guide and/or tour directors. Most people would apply to tour operators and state in their applications that "I love people and I love to travel." But that doesn't mean they are qualified to lead a tour, especially overseas. Tour operators need to feel comfortable that the people they hire know the procedures, briefings, documentation, safety and behind the scenes work that goes into being a successful tour guide and tour director. That is exactly what my course offers. I had to learn all the procedures the hard way!

I approached the local colleges about teaching my course and found a lot of interest. That led to credit and non -credit classes in tour management and cruise hosting. In the beginning I was working with 15 major colleges and now I work with over 1,200 online.

Why did you decide to put your course online?

September 11th hit the tourism industry hard. Everything slowed down, it was frightening. At first no one wanted to travel. After the initial shock of 9/11 wore off, the travel industry gradually picked up but things had changed. People now wanted to travel domestically. Many of the International Tour Operators had to build up more domestic tours to stay afloat.

I took advantage of the tourism slump to re-work all of my teaching material and offer it as an online course. I also wrote my textbook, Tour Director Training Guide. It took a while to put together but the slump lasted a while so I was okay.

How has September 11th impacted the tourism industry?

As I mentioned more people wanted to travel domestically. Tour operators added domestic tours to their itineraries. In that sense it worked to the advantage of the new tour directors. Tour directors could now be trained domestically which is easier for both the tour director and tour operator. After gaining experience they may be placed on international tours.

Another thing that really impacted the tourism industry is that the economy fell after 9/11 and it hurt the incentive market. As the economy tightened up companies shortened their trips and looked for ways they could still offer incentive trips but more economically. For example, an incentive house before 9/11 might rent out Sea World for the night would instead offer a "dine around" and take their guests for fine dining.

You've mentioned several times Incentive Houses, what exactly is an Incentive House?

The incentive houses work with Fortune 500 companies in planning their company trips. The trips may be a reward for their employee's job performance, training, meetings, team building, a convention or an introduction to new products. Tour directors, often called "travel staff", are hired to travel to the destination and make sure their guests receive VIP treatment.

The incentive house will then hire a DMC or Destination Management Company which is a company located in or near the trip destination. They hire local tour directors and tour guides to assist the guests by meeting them at the airport, covering hospitality desks, taking them to attractions, leading city tours, assisting with dine-a-rounds, taking them on car or boat rallies, assisting with parties and events and so on. DMC work is fun and a great way for new tour directors to start getting experience and networking. I cover the job responsibilities in my training. My new tour directors have been very successful starting with the DMC's.

If someone came up to you and asked you how to get into the tour guiding business what advice would you give them?

Take my online class "Get Paid to Travel". It's convenient because it's online, it's offered through the colleges and it's in expensive. The course costs around $100. It's a six week course that offers students resources to all the employers, what they are looking for, the necessary tour procedures, what to cover in their briefing, what to do if there is a medical emergency etc. In addition I offer my students a list of potential employers and how to gain experience in the industry.

The other thing I would tell someone interested in becoming a tour director is; don't quit your day job. It may be very competitive to become a tour director or guide and it will take more than a "passion to travel and love of people" to land your a job. Get experience wherever you can. You can work as a step on guide for a local tour operator, work locally for destination management companies or volunteer to docent at a local museum or historical site. There are lots of ways to gain experience in the field that will vastly help you land a job with a major tour operator.

Finally I tell my students to network. Often a tour director or a guide will be offered a job and when they are not available, the tour operator will ask, "Do you know anyone who can do the tour?" Word of mouth recommendations go far in this business so it's a good idea to build up a network within the tour guide community.

What kinds of career advancement can a tour guide look forward to?

The future opportunities are amazing.  Tourism is the largest and fastest growing industry in the world. The baby boomers are beginning to retire and many of them say they want to spend their retirement traveling.

Tour directing can also lead to other opportunities. I've done lectures throughout the US doing seminars and workshops for a number associations and companies.

I've turned down jobs promoting hotels, cruise lines and countries.

Tour directors have become product managers (developing tours), vice presidents and presidents of tour operations. This kind of work also develops excellent leadership skills for other careers.

Do you have to be an expert on any given subject before you get hired as a tour director?

It depends on what kind of tour operator you are working for. Most U.S. domestic tours include a lot of history. It might be difficult to get a job giving tours of Gettysburg if you're not familiar with the Civil War. However, the internet has made research much easier, so if you tell a specific employer that you have had my tour guide training and are willing to do as much research as possible on the Battle of Gettysburg, you may have a good chance at getting hired.

When I lead an international tour, local guides deliver the narration. I don't need to be know the history of Australia or wherever the tour may be. I'm also not bilingual, my local guides help if I need an interpreter. My job is to manage the tour group, not deliver the narration.

How difficult is it to juggle a family life while being a tour director?

You can work locally for a destination management company, receptive services or lead local tours, which will allow you to be home at night and still be a part of the tourism industry. However, if you work for a domestic or international tour operator you might be gone for several weeks and then home for a few days or a few weeks.

Some families may like that set up, for others it's not really an option.

Would you say that the work for land tours is pretty much year round or is it more of a seasonal job?

There are high and low seasons, but tourism is year around. I lead international tours so we are busy all year round. For example, when it is winter above the equator, it is summer below the equator. In the fall we usually started our South American, Australian and New Zealand tours. In the winter when the domestic tours slow down the domestic tour directors and guides may work for the incentive houses and destination management companies to keep busy. They're busiest in the winter and spring. There really are opportunities all year.

You mentioned tour directors are always busy doing work behind the scenes. Do you even get to experience the "fun" of traveling?

Of course we have fun! We get to experience all the things that people pay thousands of dollars to do. Some people think that the tour group is with you 24 hours a day, but they don't want to be with you all the time! The tour group wants time to themselves and go off on their own. So you may have some days where you are working from morning until night but then there are other days when you may have a half day tour. When this happens you can go off and explore the destination on your own. Not to mention we participate in all the fun evening activities that are planned for the guests. For example, the evening might include a night out at the Moscow Circus or Shanghai Acrobats. As the tour director you get to be part of these incredible events. It really is a fantastic experience.

Do tour directors usually freelance or do they work through a company?

I would say that most tour directors and guides freelance. Most people start out working for several companies. When I started as a tour director I worked for a couple companies. After the tour, operators received the evaluations from the tour members and saw that I could do the job, they kept me busy from there on out.

Can you draw any parallels between tour guiding and other types of employment?

There's a lot of carry over. Teachers, mothers, actors, health care workers, administrators, managers, I find almost any responsible career has carry over that will help. I think I've used every skill I've ever had in tour directing and guiding. We do it all, we're teachers, caretakers, lecturers, sales people, administrators, actors, customer service reps, we do it all. Most people think we are mainly a host, we are much more than that.

Do you have certain qualifications or any restriction you're looking for before you let someone take your classes?

My courses are offered through public education, everyone is welcome. I find most skills can be learned if the student will follow my instructions and say exactly what I list in the lessons.

I've had students I didn't think would be particularly good tour directors or guides and they turned out to be excellent. I've had others I thought would be excellent and they couldn't show up on time or cancelled at the last minute.

If they are not responsible then they shouldn't be tour directors or guides. It's not the type of job where you can put on your voicemail and hope that will cover for you. You have to actually be there and on time. Better yet, be early!

What would you say your typical student is like? Are they usually college age or adults?

Most of my students are mature. It's a great job for those that are 'mature'. They have experience and maturity is an asset since most people on typical escorted tours are mature, 70% are over 50.

I like seeing younger people in the training too. There are so many opportunities now! Tourism is the largest and fastest growing industry in the world, yet most people know very little about it. There are also specific tours where young people are desired for the tours such as: Contiki Tours or many of the adventure, camping, or Alaska programs.

I trained a young man years ago that became a tour director and now has worked for years as an assistant cruise director for Princess Cruise Lines. He's on his way now to Europe to join the ship for his next assignment. He loves it. There's opportunity for all ages.

Is there any other kind of work experience that is particularly helpful?

Narration is important for domestic tours, so public speaking skills are very helpful. If you have worked as ski instructor, camp counselor or other kind of activity that you have led a group of people that may help your chances.

Volunteering as a docent is also very helpful. In California the mission docents are very knowledgeable of California history.

Customer service skills are important, sometimes handling tour members under stress can be challenging. You need to be able to think and make decisions.

You have to think on your feet, obviously, when there's a crisis or other emergency situation.

Yes, you'll be making the decisions for the group. Even though the tour is set up a year in advance, things change and there are challenges. It's up to the tour director to decide what's best for the group.

In my training I give information on handling challenges and emergencies and I have to say, they often seem to happen in the middle of the night.

We do the best we can when there's a crisis. In my experience most things that happen may be a hassle and inconvenient but not fatal. Yes, you definitely have to be able to think on your feet.

Perhaps some minimum CPR training would help?

Yes, first aid and CPR are important and some companies require an updated card.

Are there physical demands?

Yes. Often there is a lot of walking. On some tours like in China, it may be miles of walking, which I love.

Active tours have become so popular that it may really be to your advantage to be in shape.

You don't have to be real strong, but we do have long days and jet lag on international tours. And as I said emergencies seem to happen in the middle of the night. You should be able to function occasionally without a lot of sleep.

Since it's difficult to replace tour directors before or during a tour, the tour director should be healthy.

Why do you think people typically pursue the tour industry?

Some because they are retired and want to do something new and fun.

Other people go into it because they are tired of the day-to-day routine job. They are looking for something that is more fun and less routine.

In some cases the kids are grown, out of the house and now there's time for mom to travel and have some fun.

Most go into it because they love travel. Since our job is strictly on tour with the tour members, there's lots of travel!

What would you say the average entry-level pay would be?

It varies a lot, depending on the tour operator, type of tour, and destination. Normally, on escorted tours, we earn salary, commission and gratuities. Most tour directors should be making between $200 and $350 a day with experience.

The entry-level destination management companies are starting out their newly trained tour directors at about $15-18 per hour. Experienced tour directors are earning $20-25 per hour, earning time and a half after 8 hours.

Experienced travel staff working for incentive house's are now making $350 to $400 a day when working for the major companies.

You mentioned some of the benefits. Is there anyway to get things like medical or retirement?

Some of that's changing. In the past we had to buy our own medical insurance. However, in the last few years there have been major lawsuits over companies hiring us as independent contractors. The IRS determined that we are in most cases employees. The lawsuits cost the major tour operators millions of dollars, so hopefully it will change things. We're sill in the wait and see mode right now.

Are there any particular jobs in the industry that people consider more glamorous or popular than others?

I'm sure most would say international tours are more glamorous. Most of my students say they want to go international.

Some of our major tour operators will start their new tour directors on domestic tours before assigning them to international tours.

Actually I have students that prefer the incentive market. They stay at four and five star hotels and work as a team. The income can be just as good and sometimes even better than on escorted tours.

Do companies help the guides with the transportation costs or anything like that?

Absolutely. It's like any other job that requires travel. All of our travel expenses are paid including flights, hotels, meals, and tips. The company will give the tour director funds to cover their expenses and the tour expenses before they leave home.

Can you summarize quickly some of the advantages of taking classes, like your, versus somebody who just goes it on their own?

As I mentioned the tour operators get a lot of resumes from people that say they are qualified because they love travel and people. By saying that it may tell the tour operator this person thinks the job is being a host. It's much more than that.

The job includes safety, legal aspects, specific procedures, documentation, narration, challenges and emergencies. What are they going to do if someone gets ill or dies on the tour. Unfortunately that's part of our job too.

Another big advantage to the training is being able to locate the employers and types of employers. Some people still think we work for travel agents. There are lots of different types of employers offering careers locally, domestically, and internationally.

The training will help you be successful and get hired. I hope my students learn from my mistakes and hard lessons what works and does.

Your job does not end when the tour ends, correct?

If you're talking about the end of the day, after the tour members get off the coach, you're right. There's lots that goes on behind the scenes. These are responsibilities the tour members don't know anything about. I cover it all in "Get Paid to Travel", the online course. It's not really difficult, you just need to know what is expected.

Do you have a favorite story you might want to relate?

My favorite stories are from my students on their first tours. They tell me I'm right there on their shoulder the whole time. I also enjoy the fact that they get most excited about the challenges during the tour and are so impressed with their own skills when they handle challenging situations.

One young man said, "I want to tell you that everything you said is exactly right." What I stress is that you have to know your job, you have to be direct, and you have to stick to procedures. He said he had tour members that when he told them what time they were going to be departing the next day they said, "No, we want to go later." So he changed the time to just 15 minutes later. He than had the others in the tour very upset because he changed the time just because others wanted it. So you have to know the psychology of the group, too. You make the decision, you stick with the decision, and you never ask for a vote. It's not a democracy. People take tours because they want to be led, they don't want to deal with decisions, that's why they're on an escorted tour.

I have another student who was up in Washington State and he called one of his first tours the Red Cross Tour. Within a couple of days he had a woman who slit her knee open and had to have 20 stitches and a man who had to be taken by helicopter to a hospital because he had a heart attack. These are sort of typical stories and things we talk about in class. When the students start working they find out this is what really happens! This is the reality of it all.

I have a student, who is now over in the Alps working for Tauck Tours. Her first tour was with Dominico and they sent her to the East Coast. She was to lead a tour from New Jersey to Myrtle Beach. She prepared all the narration and when she arrived, she was told, "Now you're doing the tour from New Jersey to Niagara Falls!" And she had tour members from Germany, the United States, and England. She had to translate documents, do the tour in two languages, and prepare the narration until two o'clock in the morning. So, it's a job! When the new tour directors get back, I always ask, "How did you like it?" They all have said they absolutely love it! They absolutely love it.

If you could give people your best advice before pursing land tours as a career, what would it be?

Research the job and responsibilities. It's not for everyone. We're not a host, we are on the tour working. With the Internet you can research and learn a lot about the career. If you find it is the career for you, than you'll absolutely love it. Most tour directors will tell you they can't imagine having a 'real job'.

If you do want to be a tour director or tour guide, be persistent. Get training and experience. Get your resume out there, network and be persistent. The jobs are out there. It took me about one and half years to get my first job in travel. It doesn't need to take that long, that's why I started my training. The students leave the course with information it took me years to learn.

如何选择导游服务?How to Choose a Guide in Beijing?

如何选择导游服务?
北京英语导游服务放心选择

转自:天涯社区 北京英语导游服务联盟

英语导游服务是现代企业经营中经常接触到的,但是大多数企业并不完全清楚如何选择导游服务机构。据我的观察,选择英语导游服务有以下几条标准,以下关于选择英文导游服务的标准仅为我个人的意见。

1、看规模。选择英文导游服务时要看其专业英语导游服务人员的比例。
2、看经验(看看英语导游的从业时间)。
3、比客户。看一个英语导游是否有实力或服务是否有保证,只要看看他们服务过的合作客户就能看出个大概。
4、服务的响应速度。一家有实力有经验的英语导游服务机构在接到客户需求时会较快地提供服务的响应速度,实力差、人员结构少的导游服务机构通常反应速度较慢。
5、直接联系导游。通常的服务机构不敢这么做安排客户直接联系导游,因为这是行业秘密,与你谈的价格是一个资深导游的服务价格,实际上带团的时候安排的是另一个导游。这样他们从中间不知不觉地就赚取了利益差价。在实际服务中,服务质量也受到了影响。所以,用专业的服务机构,他们通常直接会告诉你导游的电话,EMAIL地址,这样你预订了服务之后,他们保证不会偷梁换柱。

以上文章为北京英语导游服务联盟度假观点,欢迎参与讨论。

如何选择

北京英语导游服务
北京外语导游服务
北京英文导游服务
北京翻译导游服务

导游联盟告诉您如何选择英语导游服务
  "这么多导游服务机构,应该选那家呢?"在您选择英语导游服务时,可能会有这样的疑问。的确,目前市场上提供英语导游服务的机构很多,下面尽可能客观地为您介绍一下英语导游服务行业以及如何选择英文导游服务。 (北京英语导游服务)

1. 英语导游服务质量
   一般说来,选翻译导游服务机构应首先看导游服务质量。 英文导游服务和任何其它产品和服务,都存在质量差别。比如同为汽车,有奔驰和桑塔纳的区别; 同为广告创意,有的令人拍案叫绝,有的愚蠢可笑。导游服务也是如此。好的翻译导游服务应该准确、流畅,做到"信、达、雅",如杨绛翻译的《名利场》;而差的翻译导游服务则往往存在各种错误:意思翻错,文字晦涩难读;自己造词;内容删减;有的语句意思甚至与原文截然相反 。如果留心,在公园、古迹、网站、广场等到处都能看到莫名其妙的翻译。这种差的翻译非但不能帮助您与外界沟通,反而会对您起到误导作用,甚至耽误您的重要业务。影响客人在了解中国文化的过程中受到误解。翻译导游就起到了关键作用。(北京英语导游服务)

2.北京英语导游服务市场

   目前国内北京英语导游服务市场还很不规范,北京英语导游服务公司良莠不齐, 能够真正提供高水平英语导游服务的英语导游服务的机构还很少。很多翻译导游服务公司没有合格的导游人员,他们自身根本无法判定英语导游的水平,当然无法提供高质量的翻译导游服务,只能将接到的团找一些水平参差不齐的英语导游来做,起到中介的作用,赚取中介费。而这些导游因为缺乏质量意识,采用低水平的导游服务,也没有丰富的导游服务经验,所以导游服务费用较低,英语水平很差,这样的英语导游就如同伪劣产品 ,虽然价格很低,但是不但无用,反而有害。所以我们提醒客户,在您预订服务的时候,一定要问清楚导游服务机构,导游是谁,导游的学历、专业、毕业院校、带团经验、记下他们的联系电话、电子邮件地址。以便随时与导游沟通而非中介的办公室人员,这样扯皮的事情还是尽早防范。(北京英文导游服务)

3.导游服务人员
   北京英语导游服务行业的主要从业人员是英语导游。高水平的英语导游则往往是在大学本科的基础上, 从事过2年-5年以上英语导游服务工作,在自己熟悉的领域有较丰富的经验,对导游服务的理论和实践理解较为透彻,掌握了更多的技巧,语言运用非常熟练。具有较高的语言天赋,对英文有着比较深刻的理解,行业知识和语言知识都比较丰富,英语导游服务能够达到准确 、流畅的要求。同时还具备细致认真的特点。 (北京外语导游服务)

4.诚信
   诚信是一个导游应具有的最基本的品质。客观地说,导游服务是一项比较辛苦的劳动,语言水平较高、熟悉专业领域而又乐于从事导游服务工作的人才并不多见。所以一定要聘请专业的英文导游为您服务。(北京翻译导游服务)

5.电话或Email直接向咨询
   经过电话或Email咨询,您可以基本判断出导游对客户作出承诺的是什么样的人,其业务熟悉程度甚至其英语导游本身的语言水平,并可据此判断其承诺的可信程度。

6.根据其以前的服务作出判断
   英语导游往往需要对客户的服务项目保密,但有一些服务项目属于可以公开类别。您可以索要导游的服务项目,来判断出其英语导游服务质量。

搜集:北京英文导游服务之星 王璐一

How to Choose a Guide

Many travelers relish their independence and like to make all their own arrangements. But if your itinerary includes an activity such as climbing, paddling, skiing or fishing in a remote or unfamiliar area, consider hiring a guide. Using experience and inside connections, a guide can help you get the most out of your trip.

Guides can be hired by a single person, families or friends. Because you aren't traveling with a tour group, a guide can customize a trip to match your interests. You also have the freedom to hire a guide for part of your trip and do the rest on your own.

Benefits of Hiring a Guide
A guide can help provide local connections and information you would have a hard time finding on your own. Using his or her local knowledge, a guide can safely lead you to the best places for wilderness exploration, backcountry travel or mountaineering while tending to such details as transportation, food and lodging. In some remote areas, the translation skills your guide can offer will be extremely helpful.

What to Look For
Guides may work for a company or independently. Here are some good questions to ask when evaluating a guide:

How many years of experience does the guide have, and how much experience does he or she have in the region you're visiting?
For a mountain guide, ask if he or she is certified by the Chinese Guides Association. The CGA is the only organization in China that offers a comprehensive training program for mountain guides that is recognized by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA).

What is the guide's safety record and policy?
What kind of medical or first-aid training does he or she have?
Can the guide provide references from previous clients?
What's the cancellation and refund policy?

The Details
Let your guide know about any health concerns, handicaps or diet requirements you have. Also, talk to your guide about your goals for the trip so he or she can make sure your expectations are met in a safe manner. Ask some final questions about the trip:

What exactly is included in the cost? What isn't included?
What's the level of physical activity?
What should you bring, and what is provided?

Finding a Guide
Often, companies that offer organized tours also offer options for solo trips. Learn about climbing, cycling, hiking, paddling and wildlife trips offered by CGT Adventures.

Also check regional guidebooks for recommendations on hiring guides, or inquire at the region's tourist office.
 
北京英文导游服务
relish  
D.J.['reliʃ] 
K.K.['rɛlɪʃ] 
n.
1 滋味, 美味; 乐趣
2 (大量的)享受; 快乐
3 调味酱汁, 泡菜酱
vt.
欣赏, 享受, 爱好

北京英语导游服务
guidebook  
D.J.['ɡaidbuk] 
K.K.['ɡaɪd,bʊk] 
n.
旅行指南

下周三北京市民能看"日偏食" Observe total partial eclipse in Beijing next Wednesday

百年难得一见 下周三北京市民能看"日偏食"  

来源:青年报   2009年07月15日 07:22

中国境内500年一遇的"大日食"22日光临最佳观测带位于长江流域———

    7月22日上午将发生本世纪可见时间最长的日全食,其最佳观测带位于我国长江流域。这次日食也将是从1814年至2309年在中国境内全食持续时间最长的一次日全食,最长可超过6分钟。记者从北京天文馆获悉,虽然大多数市民无法亲临现场观看日全食,但是由于本次日全食期间我国全境均可见到偏食,届时本市也将可能在9时31分左右看到月影覆盖日面72.9%的日偏食。

    ■天文馆副馆长博客

    "备战日全食"

    北京天文馆副馆长景海荣最近很忙,组织日全食的观测活动,他在博客中推出的3辑"备战日全食",更是获得了6万多的点击量。"很多朋友都来问日全食的事情,所以就把自己的一些感受在网上和大家分享一下。"昨天下午,景海荣在接受记者采访时表示,"备战日全食"的博客还会继续更新下去,内容则可能是一些关于日全食的随笔。

    "就这一两天,天文馆的剧场里都将播放一个日全食的介绍片。"据景海荣介绍,该片将主要介绍此次日全食的发生、观测地点等知识性内容,片长两分钟左右,在正式的节目前播放,"片子已经做完了,正在做后期。"此外,在22日当天,天文馆的大屏幕还将直播日全食的情况。

    ■北京看偏食千万别盯着

    "因为北京在日偏食的时候,将有大半个太阳被挡住,因此即使没注意的市民也会感到天突然暗了下来。"对于本市发生的日偏食,景海荣提醒市民,"最多扫一眼,千万不要直接盯着看,因为偏食时的太阳光也是很刺眼的,观测时一定要用专业的设备,否则很可能会损伤眼睛。"至于本市的"最佳"观测地点,景海荣表示,只要是能看到太阳的地方就可以,"不一定要专门跑到天文馆来看,除非要了解一些日全食的知识。"

搜集:北京英语导游 王娟

日全食之旅升温 广东旅游业界疾刮"追日风"

2009年07月16日 00:29 来源:中新网

中新网广州7月15日电(记者 莫非 通讯员 林月明)7月22日中国将出现500年一遇的大日食奇观,广东旅游业界迅疾刮起了一股"追日风"。记者15日从广东各大旅行社获悉,各旅行社已在华东、湖北、重庆、四川等可看到日全食的区域推出了诸多"追日"线路,方便"追日族"观看日全食。
 

  据某旅行社称,目前报名17日—21日出发华东五市线路的游客人数已近1000人。最令人期待的是,7月19日,由该社组织的荆州武汉日全食双卧6天团,来自广州及珠三角的132名"追日族"将浩浩荡荡奔赴荆州地区日全食中心线五里圃附近观测日全食。据悉,该团亦创下了广东"追日团"的最大规模。

  22日将发生的这次日食,是从1814年至2309年在中国境内全食持续时间最长的一次日全食,最长可超过6分钟。据中国国家天文台预报称,中国可观测到这次日全食的地区包括西藏东南部、云南西北部、四川、重庆、湖北、湖南北部、安徽、江西北部、江苏南部、浙江北部和上海。长三角地区的湖州、常州、无锡、苏州、杭州、嘉兴、绍兴、上海、宁波、舟山10个城市位于日食带内,适宜进行日全食观测。

  这场堪称21世纪中国人可以看到的最壮观的天象引发了广东诸多天文学爱好者和游客的关注。他们纷纷打探哪里是最佳观测点,同时亦通过旅游的方式到达日全食观测区域一睹日全食的风采。为了满足广大"追日族"的需求,广东的一些旅行社已在华东、湖北、重庆、四川等可看到日全食的区域推出了诸多"追日"线路,如华东5市、灵山梵宫双飞4天1799元,华东5市、乌镇双飞6天2499元,华东5市、周庄、扬州瘦西湖双飞6天1899元、重庆武隆天坑双飞4天2499元等。

  某旅行社负责人表示,由于在上海、杭州、苏州等地看到日全食的时间是7月22日早上9点左右,所以,17日—21日期间出发华东5市线路的游客均能在上海、杭州等地看到日全食。22日当天,将安排导游叫游客早点起床,然后带他们到附近的公园或者广场等空旷地区看日全食。到目前为止,报名该社17日、18日、19日、20日、21日出发华东线看日全食的游客人数已经近1000人。

  记者从报名表中看到,最小的"追日族"仅3岁,最大的"追日族"则高达72岁高龄。他们中有的来自科学馆,有的是学校的老师及同学,还有很多是携带小朋友出游的亲子团。正在带小孩报名出游的黄姓市民告诉记者:"非常幸运能去看500年一遇的大日食奇观,所以一定要带小孩去一起观看。"

  此间专业人士表示,看日全食,最容易对眼睛造成伤害的时段是日全食由暗变亮这个过程。如果不利用特殊的眼镜或设备,直视日全食将可能造成永久性视力下降。除了食甚的5分钟可以用肉眼观测,建议游客其余时间一定要戴上观测镜看日全食。

搜集:北京英文导游 王娟

More than 500 foreign stargazers to observe total solar eclipse in east China 

导游网 www.daoyou.org
 
    BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) -- More than 500 amateur astronomers from overseas have booked their hotels in Haiyan County in east China's Zhejiang Province to see a total solar eclipse this month, Zhu Jin, chief of the Beijing Planetarium, revealed on Tuesday.

    The foreign stargazers, from the United States, Denmark, Germany and other countries, together with Chinese amateur and professional astronomers have chosen the county because it will be the best spot on the globe to see the July 22 eclipse.

    The county is at the highest point on the coast of Hangzhou Bay and the local rainy season has already passed, which will promise a clear and open view of the eclipse, which is estimated to last for nearly six minutes.

    The Haiyan County government and Chinese Astronomical Society (CAS) are ready for receiving domestic and foreign observers. The county has set up several observing posts.

    China will be the only country where this solar eclipse can be seen in its totality - when the moon comes fully between the earth and the sun and blocks its rays. The most recent solar eclipse in China occurred on Jan. 26 this year.

  ***北京英语导游服务***
stargazer  
D.J.['stɑ:ɡeizə] 
K.K.['stɑr,ɡezɚ] 
n.
占星师,空想家,天文学家

  ***北京英语导游服务***
total solar eclipse  
日全食

  ***北京英语导游服务***
eclipse  
D.J.[i'klips] 
K.K.[ɪ'klɪps] 
n.
1 (日、月)食
2 消失, 黯然失色
vt.
1 (日、月)食
2 使黯然失色; 使蒙上阴影
partial eclipse 
 偏食
solar eclipse 
 日食
total eclipse 
 全食

  ***北京英语导游服务***
amateur  
D.J.['æmətə] 
K.K.['æmə,tɚ, -tɚ, -ə,tʃʊr, -tʃɚ, -,tjʊr] 
adj.
1 业余的, 非职业的
2 外行的
n.
1 业余爱好者
2 外行, 生手

  ***北京英语导游服务***
astronomer  
D.J.[ə'strɔnəmə] 
K.K.[ə'strɑnəmɚ] 
n.
天文学者;天文学家

  ***北京英语导游服务***
planetarium  
D.J.[,plænɪ'teəri:əm] 
K.K.[,plænɪ'tɛriəm] 
n.
1 天文馆
2 天象仪

  ***北京英语导游服务***
Chinese Astronomical Society  
中国天文学会

  ***北京英语导游服务***
totality  
D.J.[təʊ'tælɪti:] 
K.K.[to'tælɪti] 
n.
1 整体;全部
2 总数;总额
3 <天>全食(的时间)

  ***北京英语导游服务***
ray  
D.J.[rei] 
K.K.[re] 
n.
1 光束, 光线
2 射线
3 微量, 丝毫

7/14/2009

北京英语导游服务 Beijing Tour Guide Service

高端英语导游服务 First-class guided tours
 
欢迎您来到导游网!
 
导游网(www.daoyou.org)为全世界的公司客户提供全方位、高质量英语导游服务,我们专精于商业性的英语陪同翻译,能提供高水平的翻译导游服务
 
我们的英语导游都有着资深工作经历,至少都是本科和研究生学历,并在下列领域具有特殊专长:
 
法律
财务
技术
医学
商业
 
我们在上述领域一贯保持优势。每一个导游服务项目都由最合适的、高素质的资深英语导游来完成。
 
再加上我们使用的导游技巧和对客户需求非常灵活的适应性,使我们可以提供专业和可靠的英语导游服务,这也是我们长期客户所看重的价值。
 
如果您有特别需要,我们的英语导游水平可以认证。如果您需要我们为您服务超过5天以上,我们可以参加由你们提供的当场面试或电话面试。
 
我们还提供全球的口译服务。
 
如需要即时英语导游服务报价,请与我们的英语导游服务代表联系。
 
First-class guided tours

With us you will have the insider knowledge, we will explain those fascinating facts that are not in the guidebooks, we will show you some of the most famous sights in the world, and help you experience the excitement of Beijing — so you can get the most out of your trip.

Our strength is the personalised service that we provide, and the quality of our guides. You will be shown around Beijing by registered tour guides — trained and tested for their knowledge, entertaining manner and personable skills. Whether you are travelling on your own, with family or with a group, we can make you an itinerary to suit your needs.

We will provide you with customised tours tailored to your interests and requirements, led by experienced, entertaining and knowledgeable guides.

Any of our tours can be customised, but here are some suggestions of what you might like to do in Beijing and also some exciting trips further afield. If you are in Beijing for a week or only have half a day free, we can provide you with some unmissable experiences.

7/13/2009

北京近郊发现怪异山坡:水往高处流 车向坡顶溜

北京近郊发现怪异山坡:水往高处流 车向坡顶溜

来源:山西新闻网
供稿:北京英语导游服务中心会展部 王紫薇

水往低处流、顺坡溜车的常识日前在北京丰台王佐镇千灵山的一个怪坡处被颠覆。在这个看似北低南高的坡道,竟出现了水往高处流、车向坡顶溜的现象。

两市民偶然发现怪坡

最先发现怪坡特性的是两位市民赵冰和王磊。据他们介绍,前两天他们去千灵山玩,抵达这里的时候正好要接一个电话,就把车暂时停在了路边,谁知道电话还没打完,就发现车在向坡顶的方向溜车,而且越溜越快。

溜到坡顶时速20公里

记者在这个怪坡进行了一次体验。首先将车停在北侧坡底,挂上空挡,松开手刹,感觉到车子稍微停顿了一下,就开始向南侧坡顶溜去,等车快到坡顶的时候,车速已经超过了每小时20公里。车自动爬高的感觉确实令人惊奇。

随后赵冰也给记者演示了水往高处流的怪象。站在路中间,将矿泉水倒在路中间的黄线处,水先是在黄线处聚集并向东西两侧扩散,随后就逆着坡向南侧高处流去。当赵冰倒水的时候,远处一辆汽车驶来,车顶先从坡顶露出,随后是车身。这边水向高处流,那边车一点点露出,对比鲜明。

怪坡成因期待专家勘测

据了解,像千灵山这样的怪坡在世界各地均有出现,针对这一现象,王佐镇相关负责人希望相关专家能够进行勘测,如果确有价值,这条路将被原样保留,可以让市民亲身体验向坡顶溜车的感觉。

据《北京晚报》

秀水市场总经理辞职 China market sued over fake goods

秀水市场总经理辞职

2009/07/14 02:29    来源:北青网 蔺丽爽 搜集:英语导游 刘易涛

  本报讯 昨天,两个涉嫌销售假冒杰尼亚服装的摊位被封,拉开了秀水街市场第四次调整业态的序幕。据透露,秀水计划改造248个易涉假摊位,预计到2010年3月改造完成。另据了解,在秀水街市场担任4年多总经理的汪自力刚刚辞职。

  ■减少普通服装、箱包摊位

  昨天上午,秀水市场主办方在日常巡检中发现两家涉嫌仿冒杰尼亚系列品牌的商品,交由来市场访问的意大利著名品牌杰尼亚知识产权顾问保罗·奥兰迪先生,经过当场鉴定被证实为假冒品。

  市场主办方根据鉴定结果,对两家涉假摊位分别予以了警告、封摊处理,并宣布了第四次调整业态计划,这次调整涉及248个摊位,其中,一层、二层要拆除100多个摊位,调整为"精品屋",还有部分易涉假摊位整改为精品童装。

  ■ "订制服装"有望成为新特色

  以卖便宜的仿冒名牌成名的秀水市场,没有了"假名牌",拿什么特色吸引顾客光顾呢?"我们的主要目标顾客没有变,还是在华的外国人和游客",秀水市场董事长张永平表示,秀水计划建成面积超过1000平方米、北京最大的订制西服、旗袍、礼服等成衣摊位。

  量身订做服务在国外是高档服务,一般人消费不起,而在秀水订制一套西服只需几百元到一千元,这些特色服务是"有吸引力"的。

  ■秀水原总经理辞职

  此前,尽管秀水市场一再寻求商品结构调整,仍没有避免遭遇"知识产权"官司的困扰。仅今年上半年秀水市场的商户,就被知识产权代理公司以商标侵权为由四次告上法庭,十余名商户面临200万元人民币的索赔官司。

  "这次下决心调整业态,就是要摆脱知识产权官司的困扰,"张永平接受采访时表示,"要将容易售假货的摊位清理出市场。"而此前一日,在秀水街市场担任4年多总经理的汪自力刚刚辞职,其电话一直处在无人接听状态。

  据透露,新任的代理总经理余谈阵是一名律师,曾经做过秀水市场案件的代理人,目前在北京市合川律师事务所任职。

China market sued over fake goods

Five world-famous luxury brands are suing a popular Beijing shopping market - accusing it of selling fake goods.
Burberry, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel and Prada have begun a joint action against the operator of Beijing's Silk Street market, industry sources say.

Five stallholders at the market, a popular tourist destination, are also being sued in the case.

The five companies are said to be seeking a 2.5m yuan ($310,000, £174,583) compensation payout.

Cheap copies

In a suit filed at Beijing's Number Two Intermediate People's Court the five companies argued that the market operator had the power to prevent the sale of counterfeit products.

They also argued that despite promises to "weed out" the sale of pirated goods the market's management were facilitating such sales by failing to take action against them.

Lawyers for the companies brought six boxes filled with pirated goods that they claimed were purchased at Silk Street.

However, the market's management denied the claims, saying it had done its best to ban sales of fake goods, adding that it had revoked the licences of the five stalls involved in the case.

The market is one of the capital's top tourist destinations, with visitors flocking there to pick up low price copies of designer goods.

  英语导游词典
fake  
D.J.[feik] 
K.K.[fek] 
vt.
1 伪造, 篡改, 对…做手脚
2 仿造
vt. & vi.
假装
n.
1 骗子
2 赝品
adj.
假的, 冒充的

  英语导游词典
Burberry  
['bə:bəri] 
n.
雨衣,防水棉布

  英语导游词典
Chanel  
D.J.[ʃɑ:'nel] 
K.K.[ʃə'nɛl] 
adj.
(女式服装)夏娜尔式的(尤指一种无领直统茄克衫)

  英语导游词典
stallholder  
n.
摊贩

  英语导游词典
compensation  
D.J.[,kɔmpen'seiʃən] 
K.K.[,kɑmpən'seʃən] 
n.
补偿[赔偿]物, 补偿[赔偿]金

  英语导游词典
payout  
D.J.['peiaut] 
K.K.['pe,aʊt] 
n.
支出

  英语导游词典
intermediate  
D.J.[,ɪntə'mi:djət] 
K.K.[,ɪntɚ'midiɪt] 
adj.
中间的; 中级的

  英语导游词典
counterfeit products  
仿造产品

  英语导游词典
weed out  
v.
清除

  英语导游词典
revoke  
D.J.[ri'vəuk] 
K.K.[rɪ'vok] 
vt.
撤销, 取消, 废除

  英语导游词典
flock to  
成群结队地走向…

7/11/2009

北京明茂陵下周五开始大修 十三陵将建影视基地 Mao Tomb (Ming Tombs)

北京明茂陵下周五开始大修 十三陵将建影视基地 

昨日,十三陵特区办主任张勇表示,明茂陵将于7月17日启动历史上最大规模的修缮;定陵地下文物库也将在本月内开建。目前,明十三陵文物保护规划已经报北京市待批。

  茂陵系明十三陵之一,是明代第八位皇帝宪宗朱见深和皇后孝贞王氏、孝穆纪氏、孝惠邵氏的合葬陵墓。

  投1200万恢复茂陵原貌

  十三陵特区办主任张勇表示,准备已久的茂陵大修工程将于本月17日正式启动。据悉,此次修缮预计将投资1200多万元。修缮中将本着修旧如旧的原则,对茂陵地面建筑进行全面修缮,包括对明楼、宝城、陵墙、陵门、棱恩殿、三座门、月台等遗址进行全面清理,恢复茂陵原貌。

  十三陵特区办表示,茂陵修缮完全尊重历史,能使用旧有材料的均不会更换。其中,明楼和宝城修缮工作量最大。明楼上半部分的木结构损毁塌落比较严重,需要进行落架大修,工作人员会对所有构件进行拍照、标号,以求修复后的明楼最大可能地保持原貌。

  定陵地下文物库明年完工

  同时,定陵地下文物库也将在本月启动建设。目前,有关地下文物库的前期准备工作已经完成,库房建筑面积2400平米,地下两层、地上一层,预计将于明年完工。定陵地下文物库建成后,用于珍藏定陵出土的4000多件文物。

  相关新闻

  十三陵将建影视基地

  打造明文化创意产业,将发掘巩华城历史价值

  本报讯 (记者蒋彦鑫) 十三陵将着力打造文化创业产业集聚区,建设明文化影视基地、明文化体验中心、数字化文博基地等。

  在昨日召开的十三陵明文化创意产业集聚区建设暨旅游产业发展研讨会上,昌平区政府提出,十三陵特区现保有500万人次的年接待量、近3亿元的年旅游经济收入。但目前主要依靠门票收入,缺乏文化内涵挖掘,旅游产品自主研发能力不足。

  为此,今年,十三陵将通过建设文化创业产业集聚区,建设明文化影视基地、明文化体验中心、数字化文博基地等,下一步将建虚拟十三陵和数字体验馆,争取年底前初具规模。

  昌平区政府提出,将发掘巩华城的历史价值,启动相关的建设工程,有望将其打造成影视基地。巩华城在昌平沙河镇东,明永乐时曾在此建设行宫,作为皇帝巡狩和后代子孙谒陵停留处。

  数据显示,在今年金融危机及流感流行的不利形势下,十三陵上半年游客接待比去年同期增加22万人,总接待人数达214万人次。

Mao Tomb (Ming Tombs)

Maoling was crafted after Yuling, the tomb of Chenghua's father.

It is merely equipped with the basic structures of a Ming tomb; a front gate, a sacrificial hall, a burial area with sacrificial stone vessels and the memorial tower on the "Square City".

The mausoleum is dilapidated except for the surrounding wall, which has been repaired several times since its construction in 1487.

The mausoleum is closed to the general public.

The Emperor in the Middle Kingdom

Chenghua is united with his hidden son A troubled upbringing

The eldest son of emperor Zhengtong aka. Tianshun did not exactly have an easy childhood. First he was Heir Apparent, then just three years old he was imprisoned in the imperial palace; then again he became Heir Apparent before 10 and finally in 1465 at the age of 18 he was enthroned as the eighth Ming emperor with a reign title of Chenghua.

He was a mild-mannered person, fond of the arts and himself a good calligrapher. But his difficult upbringing left its mark; he became rather indecisive and was prone to stuttering. He died at the age of 40 after ruling for 22 years.

The reign of the 12

The empire was however fortunate by being in capable hands in his early years. A council of 12 regents set out to amend the wounds of Chenghua's father's waging war, leaving suffering peasants to fend for themselves and, later, purging over 1.5 million alleged opponents and their families.

The Great Wall at Simatai The council rehabilitated those that had been unjustly punished and provided ample relief to draught stricken areas. The military was completely reorganized and celebrated successful campaigns against the Mongols and the Jurchen from Manchuria.

The Great Wall in the north was rebuilt and reinforced and by 1479 it defended the empire for a length of well over 5,000 kilometers.

A wicked nurse

But all was not well back in the palace.

Chenghua never became comfortable around women. His former nurse and now principal concubine, Wan Guifei, had given birth to a son who died early. She took out her sorrow on all the other imperial concubines by arranging the death of their offspring.

Along with her favorite eunuch, Liang Fang, and aided by the evil eunuch and chief of police, Wang Zhi, Wan Guifei also sat out to plunder the empire. They amassed enormous wealth and sold titles to other officials so that they in turn could also enrich themselves at the expense of the common people.

All this took place with the emperor's silent consent. He was unable to muster the necessary authority to put an end to this massive embezzlement which gradually led to a decline in prosperity and growth.

The Great Wall at Jinshanling Peasant uprisings became more frequent as a result of the exploitation and the Ming gradually began to rely upon military power to rule the country.

A lost son

When one of Chenghua's concubines, surnamed Ji, became pregnant the first empress hid her and managed to conceal the birth of what was to become a future Ming emperor.

The boy was entrusted to the palace gatekeeper and when the heir was five years old, he was brought in front of emperor Chenghua who was moved and happy to have an heir.

Concubine Wan Guifei however took a gruesome revenge by immediately having the gatekeeper and the young heir's mother, concubine Ji, murdered.

Concubine Ji was later rehabilitated. When her son ascended the throne he gave her the posthumous title of Empress Ji and had her reburied with the rank of an imperial empress in Maoling, the tomb of his father, emperor Chenghua. She still rests with him there today.

The Posthumous Emperor

Ruins of Memorial Tower Maoling - the fifth tomb, right?

Indeed! Chenghua was buried in Maoling, the fifth mausoleum in the imperial Ming burial grounds around Mt. Tianshou north west of Beijing.

Construction of Maoling began in September of 1487 after the death of Chenghua and was completed in about seven months.

Divine Merit SteleThe entire tomb covers an area of 256,000 square meters and is located at the foot of Mt. Jubao ("treasures-gathering"), a little west of Yuling, his father's mausoleum.

Ordinary

Maoling is nothing out of the ordinary. It was beautifully decorated when built but that has long disappeared and by now the tomb lies rather dilapidated in need of some tender love and care.

The layout is almost a copy of neighboring Yuling. Following the front divine merit stele, it has a front gate, a sacrificial hall, a wall and gate separating the front and back sections, sacrificial stone vessels, the memorial tower on the "Square City" and, of course, the tomb mound itself.

The front gate was a 3 by 2-room structure with only remnants of the side walls still standing. The surrounding wall however remains intact.

The front gate of MaolingParts of the back and side walls of the sacrificial hall are extant as are parts of the dividing wall between the sacrificial section and tomb section of the mausoleum.

The stone vessels and their altar remain in place as does the memorial tower, however in a poor shape.

Empress for a month

Emperor Chenghua is entombed in Maoling along with his three empresses, surnamed Wang (died 1518), Shao (died 1522) and Ji (murdered by concubine Wan Guifei in 1475).

Empress Wang was from Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. She was promoted to empress in 1464. She died in 1518.

Empress Wang Empress Dowager Ji was from Hexian County, Guangxi Province and a daughter of a local official from a national minority. When pregnant with the later emperor Hongzhi she was maltreated by the evil concubine Wan. She was murdered by Wan in 1475 and laid to rest in Jinshan Hill, west of Beijing. Emperor Chenghua bestowed her the title of Imperial Concubine when he learned that she was the mother of his son. When he ascended the throne, her son granted her the title of Empress Dowager and had her remains reburied in Maoling.

Empress Dowager Shao was born in Lin'an County, Zhejiang Province and was the grandmother of Emperor Jiajing (1522-1567). She was promoted first to Imperial Concubine and then highest ranking concubine. Her grandson Jiajing made her Empress Dowager when he became emperor in 1522. She died the same year.

Chenghua actually had four empresses and not just three. The first, empress Wu, was however dethroned by Emperor Chenghua after just one month for beating the evil concubine Wan Guifei.

Chenghua was infatuated with Wan Guifei and made her his favorite concubine. When he became aware that she was behind the murders of all subsequent heirs to the throne he avoided her but did not curtail her stranglehold on the imperial palace.

One can wonder how prosperous the empire would have been if Chenghua had been as keen as empress Wu to realize how wicked Wan Guifei really was and would have had the guts to expel her from the palace?

7/09/2009

公交首次推出全程导游服务 Beijing Bus Sightseeing Tours

公交首次推出全程导游服务 Beijing Bus Sightseeing Tours

2009/07/04 21:23    来源:法制晚报    搜集:英语导游 马丽文

  本报讯 为使外地游客"吃喝玩乐"一路搞定,801路公交车昨天推出"导游服务",乘务员兼做导游,向乘客介绍沿途景点和特色商业街。

  据了解,这是北京首个"导游服务"的公交线路。801路公交车从祁家坟开往颐和园北宫门,沿途经过中关村、清华、北大、颐和园等经过20多个景点名胜、特色商业街,备受外地游客的青睐。

  针对暑期来临,外地游客、学生等来京参观者增多的现象,乘务员根据工作积累总结出801路沿线的各处景点名胜,形成801路"导游服务"的特色线路。

7/08/2009

天安门邮局今日开业迎客 Post office opens at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing

国庆前夕正式启用

天安门邮局今日开业迎客 邮编"100060"

著名导演张艺谋出任天安门邮局名誉局长

2009年07月08日14:09 

  日前,记者从北京东区邮电局获悉,天安门邮局将于7月8日正式对外营业,向中外游客提供邮政服务。这是邮政部门首次在中国的象征——有589年历史的天安门,设置固定邮政服务网点。为庆祝建国60周年,邮政部门特意启用"100060"作为天安门邮局的邮政编码。

  天安门邮局位于天安门广场东侧路,以展示和出售各类明信片和集邮品、制作个性化明信片及订制个性化邮票等邮政业务为主要服务功能和特色,营业时间从每天的早9时至晚18时。天安门邮局将特聘国庆60周年庆典焰火晚会总导演张艺谋为名誉局长。

  在天安门邮局开业的当天,纪念国庆60周年系列邮品——《共和国史诗》大型纪念封、《祝福祖国》纪念邮册、《国旗升起的地方》明信片和《鼓舞》纪念册,将在开业典礼现场首发。此外,天安门邮局还邀请了著名油画《开国盛典》的作者、油画大师刘宇一先生,以及历次国庆邮票的设计者——周令钊、卢天骄、万维生、陈晓聪、张磊和周秀青等六位邮票设计家,在现场与集邮爱好者互动。(胡丹丹 )

Post office opens at Tian'anmen Square in Beijing 
 
    BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- A post office at Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing opened on Wednesday to provide services for both domestic and foreign tourists.

    The China Post post office, on the southern end of the road on the east side of Tian'anmen Square, covers about 50 square meters. It is the first fixed post office at the square.

    Temporary post offices have previously been set up at the square during festivals.

    The office opens from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. It sells postcards and provides other mail services.

    Song Pingjiao, director of the Beijing Dongqu Postal Bureau, said the post code of the office was 100060, to mark the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.