Seems a lot of people are feeling the economic pinch, and, as a result, are buying from these fly-by-night and mostly new and unknown Thai sellers who offer "cheap plants" without first reading the details. Many of these unscrupulous sellers are luring new customers by offering CHEAP prices like we've never before seen on Thai plumies, but are waiting to scalp you with hidden charges or just, plain fraud. Here's the lowdown from someone who has been importing Thai plumerias in large numbers for a few years: These Thai sellers who appear to offer very cheap plants and their shipping looks cheap too, until you read the small print and realize the shipping charge is for 2 weeks delivery time (for a living plant??? YIKES!), and that you should write them for a quote on EMS global express mail. Of course, once you're commited to buy the item, you are now stuck with phyto, expensive EMS delivery from Thailand (unless you want to wait two weeks OR LONGER for the shipping they quoted). If that's not fun enough--you risk possible problems with Customs if your seller is one of the many new ones that jumped on the Plumeria Bandwagon to "cash in" and doesn't spray his/her plants or even know how to care for them (Often times these sheissters are not growers at all and are simply buying plants from the Chatuchak Market in Bangkok-- where various and nasty plumeria viruses are running rampant). OH, and did I mention the fact that it might be a year or even more before you know if you got ripped-off and have a cheap, common white plumie---a favorite trick of this type of person? Bottom line---if it looks TOO good to be true, it probably is. Buy from either established US sellers with solid import experience and have been growing these plants here in the USA, or, from a reliable Thai seller that is well established. These folks will have some sort of public accountability for the way he/she does business. Also, with an American seller of Thai plumies, you at least have much more legal recourse to recover your lost funds if something goes wrong. Peace of mind and assurance of a good purchase are worth a few extra bucks paid for that beautiful Thai hybrid. Hope this helps somebody, Brad

My answer for this is also no. Are you looking for reassurance that it's okay to take a trip or a reason (an excuse) why it's not? Millions (it's really tens of millions) of people fly every day and visit major tourist locations outside the US. Let's assume there will be two terrorist incidents in the next few months, which there won't be. You'll be safer in an airplane and visiting overseas locations than you would be driving in your car near your home and/or spending time in any US city, because US crime rates are very significantly higher than foreign ones (in industrialized countries). The US has had more deaths from terrorist incidents in the last 25 years than any developed country in the world. If you want to be safest, it's best to leave here.

Oh, wow, I just went to Wuhan and Beijing last December! I was with a group from my professional organization who gave a talk at one of the universities in Wuhan, so they had arranged guides to be with us every step of the way: pick up, meals, tours, and drop off at the airport. Incredible hospitality and a lot of responsibility. One of the guides was a freshman! Other than a few other Americans or Europeans at the airport, we were the only Americans 99% of the time. So, no, unless you are fluent, and one lady in our group spoke some Mandarin, you will need a guide. After our conference we split up, and most people came back to the U.S. except for the one lady who spent a few days in Shanghai with friends, and then I went to Beijing by myself. Once again, I had a guide for my time there. I stayed at the Grand Hyatt Beijing, and I was able to arrange a private car service through the hotel (Audi with driver) with a concierge to meet me at my gate, wait with me for my luggage, take me to the car and then right to the hotel. I did not want to navigate an international airport where I'd never been and where I didn't speak the language by myself. I think this cost about $100 US but was well worth my peace of mind. I had it a little easier since I was flying within China and didn't have to clear immigration, etc. Then I was checked in at my room when I arrived and didn't even have to stop at the front desk. I chose the Hyatt because of the location to Tiananmen Square and Wangfujing street vendors, and that they would likely have business travelers and a high percent of English-speaking staff, which they did. Then I had a two-day tour through Catherine Lu Tours (Cindy was my guide), and I had a personal guide for those two days. At the end of the tour as part of my package they took me to the airport. I checked out of the hotel and had my bags int the car. So, I had Cindy as a personal guide for the Great Wall and Summer Palace the first day, and then the next day for Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, and Temple of Heaven. She bought all the tickets, etc., so I did not have to deal with any of that. The Hyatt is connected to this underground mall, and I bought some souvenirs and was able to get what I needed. Most of the vendors did not speak English. Wangfujing street is really cool for street food and vendors and since it was just a couple blocks from the hotel I felt OK navigating by myself that first day I arrived. A lot of the street vendors speak some English. They have Didi, which is the Chinese version of Uber that actually took over the Uber China, so it was very easy for all the guides to get us where they needed. Hope this helps!

Great, I was able to reach her. I usually do my own thing, but in this area of the world I'd like to make sure that we are using people who are vetted when we go on day trips and such, and so I am very grateful for your help. Thx for recommending Medellin, too. I have heard more about Cartagena than Medellin, but I have been researching and Medellin looks wonderful, plus has some great day trips to Jardin and Guatape. Look at these photos! Jardin- cute little city and a cable car through the coffee and banana plantations