Sep 3, 2010 - Day one in Chengdu and Meet the parents

End of first day in Chengdu. ... Chengdu is teaming with people, reminding me of Tokyo’s Ginza. ... Can you imagine planning a wedding when you don’t know how many people to expect? From what I am over-hearing, I have a feeling all of Chengdu will be talking about it. ...

Sep 2, 2010 - Arrive in China

Have finally arrived.Have finally arrived....

Sep 1, 2010 - Busy day, with meals out.

Out to lunch today, to meet Rony at the Dynasty Hotel.Out to lunch today, to meet Rony at the Dynasty Hotel....

Aug 31, 2010 - Dinner with Sally.

She is looking well, and is looking for an apartment to rent in Zhaoqing. ... This was surely going to be a challenge! The first one was 'when did I last put credit on my phone' so I took a guess, knowing that I left Zhaoqing on July 8, and did not put money onto the phone in the few days before leaving. ... Well, does she not know how many days there are between my arrival in Zhaoqing, at the end of August 2005, and then end of the year. ...

Aug 30, 2010 - First class for term 1.

I was surprised to find that when I woke this morning, it was only 8am.I was surprised to find that when I woke this morning, it was only 8am....

Aug 29, 2010 - Back to Zhaoqing for another year.

The wake up call came way to early this morning, after a night of tossing and turning. Once I was about to get on the bus, Mandy sent a message to him, to let him know about what time I would arrive in Zhaoqing. ... The trip to Zhaoqing was slower than sometimes, because there was still a lot of roadwork happening, specially between Sanshui and Zhaoqing. ... But we arrived by 5pm, so it was not too bad.The wake up call came way to early this morning, after a night of tossing and turning. Once I was about to get on the bus, Mandy sent a message to him, to let him know about what time I would arrive in Zhaoqing. ... The trip to Zhaoqing was slower than sometimes, because there was still a lot of roadwork happening, specially between Sanshui and Zhaoqing. ... But we arrived by 5pm, so it was not too bad....

Aug 24, 2010 - Opeartion Badger - The Final Chapter

Well, we’ve been going for eight months, and even though we have sliced about a month off its length, it feels like a very long time.Well, we’ve been going for eight months, and even though we have sliced about a month off its length, it feels like a very long time....

Aug 23, 2010 - Three Week Noodles In a Stinky Chinky

Onwards then to Beijing. ... After Beijing we headed down the coast past Shanghai and into Hong Kong. ... Even though Hong Kong is sort of technically part of China – but not, compared to places like Beijing it feels like what Hawaii is to New York or Washington. ... Somehow more of a culture shock than people crapping in the street in parts of Beijing. ... Even in the cities but especially in the countryside, no one understands any English at all, nothing is in English (public transport etc) no restaurants have English menus and this included lots of Beijing (apart from the really touristy areas around the Forbidden City) getting a bus is a nightmare because everything is in Chinese and you literally have to guess what bus you want etc. ...

Aug 21, 2010 - Hong Kong/Helsinki/London/Leicester

We were 40 minutes late leaving Hong Kong and twenty minutes late arriving in Helsinki. ... Thanks must go first to the Chan family in Hong Kong for helping in the planning, the smooth running and the advice for the trip. ... As well as for organising things for us in Hong Kong, showing us around, the Oyster cards and phone, you made the trip so much easier. ... Thank you too, to Geoff Chau and his family who gave us a taste of Hong Kong, Geoff did a great job of taking us around for the day and feeding us sticky tofu and well as giving up his one day off on a Saturday to give us a real nice time. ... Thanks to his mum, dad and Joe for showing us a Hong Kong breakfast out another memorable experience. ...

Aug 20, 2010 - Yves Saint Laurent Sale

Yves Saint Laurent are few of the most desirable styles in the stylish world.Yves Saint Laurent are few of the most desirable styles in the stylish world....

Aug 20, 2010 - Hong Kong

That is one of the things about Hong Kong hotel rooms are so small, because land is at such a premium. ... Another strange thing about Hong Kong we noticed last night, was that despite it being the cleanest and most sterile country we have visited, even in the nicest restaurants the punters wash all the utensils before they use them and the staff bring out bowls to put the water in to do this. ... We then got the tube to Admiralty station, in order to get the Peak Tram, that as its name suggests takes you to the peak, which is a large hill behind Hong Kong which affords great views (therefore photo opportunities) of the place. ... Wandered around the busy streets of central Hong Kong as we had to wait until 6pm to meet the effervescent Mr Chan (Derrick's father) at our hotel. ... The problem with Hong Kong is that there are no pubs on every corner like the UK, where you can just sit with a nice cold drink on a hot day and let an hour drift by. ...

Aug 19, 2010 - Hong Kong

Well a better nights sleep last night, think I was so tired I would have slept anywhere. What a breakfast it turned out to be, my first every dim sum breakfast, with so many dishes to try including octopus and pigs intestine, as well as many shrimp ones, spring rolls and cake, this really was an awesome breakfast and we cant thank Geoff and his parents enough for giving us, in this case literally, a taste of the real Hong Kong. ... The problem with going for a quick drink in Hong Kong, seems to me, that unlike anywhere else in the world there is only one area to go, you cant just come out of the restaurant turn the corner and go in the pub, you have to get on the Metro and travel 30 minutes (in the opposite direction to our hotel) to get to the part of town that has bars. ... So the drinking session turned out to be one bottle of beer drunk rather quickly as I had, had a couple of phone calls from one of the boarders who had got his results earlier and now needed more details in order to try and get in to university and I had to email him asap.Well a better nights sleep last night, think I was so tired I would have slept anywhere. What a breakfast it turned out to be, my first every dim sum breakfast, with so many dishes to try including octopus and pigs intestine, as well as many shrimp ones, spring rolls and cake, this really was an awesome breakfast and we cant thank Geoff and his parents enough for giving us, in this case literally, a taste of the real Hong Kong. ... The problem with going for a quick drink in Hong Kong, seems to me, that unlike anywhere else in the world there is only one area to go, you cant just come out of the restaurant turn the corner and go in the pub, you have to get on the Metro and travel 30 minutes (in the opposite direction to our hotel) to get to the part of town that has bars. ... So the drinking session turned out to be one bottle of beer drunk rather quickly as I had, had a couple of phone calls from one of the boarders who had got his results earlier and now needed more details in order to try and get in to university and I had to email him asap....