ADVENTURE IN CHINA!
Train with the Shaolin Monks!
ADVENTURE IN CHINA!
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Prepare yourself for the trip of a lifetime as Steve DeMasco—Black Belt Hall of Fame member (Instructor of the Year, 1998), personal disciple to Abbot Shi Yong-xin and the American cultural ambassador for China’s famous Shaolin Temple—invites YOU to join him for an incredible journey to the other side of the globe from July 1 to July 13, 2008 for EXCLUSIVE training at the Shaolin Temple (Dengfeng city, Henan province) with the legendary Shaolin monks, visits to some of China's most famous and revered cities and historical sites, and an EXCLUSIVE ceremony with Abbot Shi Yong-xin.
Martial artists and non-martial artists alike will be amazed by the historical and cultural feast of the senses that awaits them as the specialized itinerary unfolds:
DAY 1 Depart for China from your city of origin. DAY 2 Visit Ancient Temple in Shanghai. DAY 3 Sightseeing in Old Shanghai. DAY 4 Depart for Shaolin Temple by jet (1 hour 20-min.flight). DAY 5 EXCLUSIVE ceremony with Abbot Shi Yong-xin and Shaolin monks. The Shaolin monks perform for our group in the Shaolin Temple courtyard, and some of our instructors perform for the monks and the Abbot. DAYS 6 – 8 Students from our group engage in EXCLUSIVE training sessions with the Shaolin monks. DAY 9 Depart for Beijing, where we will have free time for sightseeing and shopping. DAY 10 Visit the Great Wall of China. DAY 11 Visit the Imperial Palace. DAY 12 Visit legendary temples and other famous locations in Beijing. DAY 13 Depart for United States, arriving in your city of origin. Through this EXCLUSIVE offer, Black Belt and Steve DeMasco are able to offer this once-in-a-lifetime tour de force for the equally once-in-a-lifetime price of ONLY $4,500.
CHINA ADVENTURE NOW! to secure tickets for you, friends and family members. No applications will be accepted past April 30! Please be sure to read the Frequently Asked Questions below for important travel, health and logistical information! FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do I have to get shots before I go to China? Consultation with your personal physician, as well as official and reputable information sources such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is generally recommended prior to international travel. Can I drink the water in China? It is recommended that you only drink bottled water while in China. Can I eat the local food in China? No. Although the food is fine for the native population, it contains bacteria that foreign travelers' bodies are not used to. While in China, we will be eating in predesignated restaurants specially chosen for our trip. These restaurants feature excellent five-course meals. Our last night in China, we will dine at the famous restaurant where the Beijing Duck meal originated. Can I purchase gifts anywhere we visit? Yes, it is a custom to barter in China—even in the hotels! Skilled barterers can often negotiate bargain prices for rare, interesting and unique items. Should I tip? Tipping is a personal decision. Sometimes the students collectively tip the head tour guide and the Shaolin monk that trains them. As described above, the admission fee covers tipping. How much money should I bring? You are encouraged to bring spending money. Sometimes students will give a small donation to the Shaolin monks, but this is not mandatory.
Yes. Roughly 30 percent of our group each year consists of family members that do not study the martial arts. Some people bring friends, family, students and/or instructors. Will I always have a guide with me? Each luxury bus we travel in will feature an English-speaking guide. Unstructured periods, such as sightseeing, shopping, etc., will not include a guide. Can children go on this trip without his/her parent(s)? We recommend that at least one parent accompany a child. However, in many cases the parent has entrusted his/her instructor to watch over the child. All minors (under 18 years of age at time of registration) must be accompanied by a designated adult. Do we ever get to eat American food? We usually arrange one American meal during the trip. However, in the two major cities we visit (Shanghai and Beijing) there are familiar American chain restaurants. What type of training gear should I bring? Sneakers, training pants and T-shirts.
Yes, you will need your passport to get a Visa. Make sure that your passport will not expire six months before your scheduled departure to China. You will also need your valid passport for the hotels in China. In the past, this trip has used the services of the Washington Passport Service Company at (800) 272-7776. The contact person's name is Planca. Official U.S. Department of State information regarding passports can be found here. What airport will I be flying out of? Your flights to and from China will be arranged to depart from (and arrive in) the nearest large city in your home state. Can I have my own room? Yes. However, this will incur a one-time fee of $750 added to the $4,500 general cost. The one-time $750 fee covers solo-room assignments for all designated hotels during our stay in China. Can I have a private car for my trip and or guide? Yes. Some participants go to all the scheduled locations with group. Some who are familiar with China or have journeyed with us before elect to visit alternate destinations. Such alternate-destination requests must be made in advance to afford us time to make the proper arrangements. The cost of each special request is determined by a number of factors, including but not limited to location, timing and exchange rates. How much is my American money worth in China? The Federal Reserve issues a regular update regarding foreign-currency exchange rates. It can be found here. How do I go about paying for the trip? Minimum non-refundable deposit of $1,500 due upon registration. A second payment of $1,500 is due 30 days after registration. The $1,500 remainder of your $4,500 ticket is due by April 30, 2008. Payments can be made by check or credit card. Checks are to be made payable to SDSS. (PLEASE NOTE: If you request single-room hotel arrangements, a one-time fee of $750 is added to the $4,500 general cost. The one-time $750 fee covers solo-room assignment for all designated hotels during our stay in China.) If I can't make the trip for some reason, what is the policy for refunds, ticket transfers and other arrangements? Because of the logistics involved in reserving flights and hotel rooms so far in advance, there can be no refunds once arrangements are in place. Is there anything I should NOT bring on the trip? Transportation Security Administration guidelines for what NOT to bring on an airplane can be viewed by clicking here.
MORE QUESTIONS? Please e-mail Steve DeMasco directly at sdemasco@shaolindisciple.com NOTE REGARDING E-MAILS: While we always encourage e-mail correspondences from Black Belt readers through blackbeltmag.com, ALL inquiries regarding the details and logistics of this special event will be automatically forwarded to Mr. DeMasco and his team. This is to ensure that accurate and timely information is relayed directly from the event organizers to registered participants and/or other interested parties. 
Steve DeMascoShaolin Temple Black Tiger Form (DVD 8329) Shaolin Chuan Fa Volume 3 (DVD 9549) Shaolin Chuan Fa Volume 2 (DVD 9539) Shaolin Chuan Fa Volume 1 (DVD 9529) |
