Dec 3, 2009 - Days before my trip @ PEK

[4 Nov/09] 我的旅程进入了1个月的倒计时，可对于这次旅行的准备工作却刚刚开始。 周日去图书大厦，想买几本关于印度文化和宗教的书，最后只收获了两本旅行指南类，一本游记类，一本跨文化研究类的书籍。看来要在我出发前恶补目的地的常识，只有求助万能的wiki了。 那天正巧北京百年不遇的下了那么早的一场大雪，穿着秋装的我抱着一摞书走在街上，手已经冻得没有知觉，于是乎跑步取暖。 十几年前，一个雨天，我背着70L的大包结束了一次旅行，手里也是捧着一摞书，是旅途中买的图册。那应该是我刚开始做驴友的年月，满中国的转悠，囊中羞涩的我整天为要不要参观买门票的景点而思想斗争，同样斗争的还有要不要买那种厚的可以当板儿砖防身的风景画册。恰巧那次旅程——也许是我budget control的比较成功，抑或是碰到了什么打折促销——我居然买了3本画册。担心画册在背包里压坏了挤烂了浸湿了晤中暑了，我愣是一路抱着他们回了北京。北京的老天爷似乎也要考验我的虔诚，好死不死的下雨裹乱，我只能一手撑伞，一手配合着胳肢窝抱着三本请来的神仙。一路有惊无险的坚持到家门口，一个踉跄，手里的书们四散飞去，仰面躺在了一滩滩积水中。 同样的地方，盛夏换成了初冬，雨天换成了雪天，白天换成了傍晚。正当我忙着与北京第一股寒潮做斗争的时候，突然脚下地面的摩擦系数清0，我的双脚一起向前方水平面45度方向运动，接着就是收腹挺腰，0.[4 Nov/09] 我的旅程进入了1个月的倒计时，可对于这次旅行的准备工作却刚刚开始。 周日去图书大厦，想买几本关于印度文化和宗教的书，最后只收获了两本旅行指南类，一本游记类，一本跨文化研究类的书籍。看来要在我出发前恶补目的地的常识，只有求助万能的wiki了。 那天正巧北京百年不遇的下了那么早的一场大雪，穿着秋装的我抱着一摞书走在街上，手已经冻得没有知觉，于是乎跑步取暖。 十几年前，一个雨天，我背着70L的大包结束了一次旅行，手里也是捧着一摞书，是旅途中买的图册。那应该是我刚开始做驴友的年月，满中国的转悠，囊中羞涩的我整天为要不要参观买门票的景点而思想斗争，同样斗争的还有要不要买那种厚的可以当板儿砖防身的风景画册。恰巧那次旅程——也许是我budget control的比较成功，抑或是碰到了什么打折促销——我居然买了3本画册。担心画册在背包里压坏了挤烂了浸湿了晤中暑了，我愣是一路抱着他们回了北京。北京的老天爷似乎也要考验我的虔诚，好死不死的下雨裹乱，我只能一手撑伞，一手配合着胳肢窝抱着三本请来的神仙。一路有惊无险的坚持到家门口，一个踉跄，手里的书们四散飞去，仰面躺在了一滩滩积水中。 同样的地方，盛夏换成了初冬，雨天换成了雪天，白天换成了傍晚。正当我忙着与北京第一股寒潮做斗争的时候，突然脚下地面的摩擦系数清0，我的双脚一起向前方水平面45度方向运动，接着就是收腹挺腰，0....

Nov 5, 2009 - Getting started

We've spent the last few hours grappling with this blog technology, so many options - but I think the long lead up has not exactly inspired Anna who is busily delivering unwanted drinks from the water machine.We've spent the last few hours grappling with this blog technology, so many options - but I think the long lead up has not exactly inspired Anna who is busily delivering unwanted drinks from the water machine....

Nov 4, 2009 - Xizhou and an American dream

We did manage to get on the right 18 seater and also to give the driver the note written for us by Min (one of hosts) to drop us off at Xizhou before Dali. ... Xizhou is about 30 kms north of Dali and is full of heritage listed Bai mansions. ... Today we have come down to Dali to go to the bank and i am writing this in an Internet cafe. ...

Nov 2, 2009 - Disney world at Lijiang

Dear all Well after a long day flying, first to kunming and then to Lijiang we are here in northern Yunnan province. ... The naxi are the minority group around this area though there are lots of Han Chinese too.Dear all Well after a long day flying, first to kunming and then to Lijiang we are here in northern Yunnan province. ... The naxi are the minority group around this area though there are lots of Han Chinese too....

Nov 1, 2009 - Smelling the Roses

Wow. Much has happened in Zhuhai since I last updated you on the comings and goings of my life. ... last Monday I had my first day volunteer teaching at Jinfeng Elementary school in the Jinding part of Zhuhai. ... I will put up some pictures.Wow. Much has happened in Zhuhai since I last updated you on the comings and goings of my life. ... last Monday I had my first day volunteer teaching at Jinfeng Elementary school in the Jinding part of Zhuhai. ... I will put up some pictures....

Oct 30, 2009 - Report from Xi'an - terracotta warriors and Tang dynasty performances

Hello again Wonders being achieved here with this fast internet connection and no one breathing down one's neck to get onto the computer. Xian is amazing. ... Our hostel (Shuyuan $24 night for room with ensuite) is right up against the Ming wall (1500s?).Hello again Wonders being achieved here with this fast internet connection and no one breathing down one's neck to get onto the computer. Xian is amazing. ... Our hostel (Shuyuan $24 night for room with ensuite) is right up against the Ming wall (1500s?)....

Oct 30, 2009 - Xiangfan - Staying with the Wang family

Any we are now actually in Xi'an but this entry will be about our time in Xiangfan staying with our Sister in law's family. ... Xiangfan was wonderful. ... Xiangfan is a relaxing and clean city with old city walls and a wide clean river with wonderful walkways along the river and the moat that surrounds the old city. ... We spent the last couple of days in a lovely town called Xiangfan on the Han river, two hours by bullet train north of Wuhan. ... What was most special for us about Xiangfan was staying with the Chinese branch of our family - our sister in law's family. ...

Oct 23, 2009 - Hong Kong: Livin' On a Prayer

Hong Kong under the Canter's wings has been the perfect break and recovery. ... The two main attractions in Hong Kong seem to be the views and the shopping. ... On Thursday night we went out to an amazing waterfront dinner where we had the perfect view of Hong Kong's nightly light show, when all the skyscrapers dance. ...

Oct 23, 2009 - Report from Shanghai

Dear all We are now in Wuhan in central China but thought i would send you all a brief Shanghai account and John's report made at the time before progressing to Wuhan. ... I liked Shanghai. ... The Shanghai museum is an absolute knock out - see John's report below. ... On our last night we went modern Chinese which could have been a high end Melbourne restaurant with things being a bit Shanghainese, a bit of the rest of China and a bit of nod to the rest of the world. ... We stayed in a great place in Shanghai in the old French concession. ...

Oct 23, 2009 - Latest Happenings.

Hi All, So last time we talked I got you all caught up on Macau and everything.Hi All, So last time we talked I got you all caught up on Macau and everything....

Oct 23, 2009 - Report from Wuhan

Today we visited the Wuhan Provincial museum and were totally bowled over by the a series of rooms displaying the contents from the tomb of the Marquis of Ji, a lord from around this area who was buried with all the goods he needed for his travels to the next world including a panoply of cauldrons, musical instruments, tables, weapons, armour, chariots, AND. ... We are in Wuhan in Central China, a big city on the Yangtze. ... But if you want air pollution, try Wuhan. ... mouth of the Han), one of the towns that have come together to make Wuhan. ...

Oct 22, 2009 - Goodbye China

We spent our last few days in China in Kunming. ... MS and I spent our time wondering around the streets of Kunming checking out the parks where we did a lot of people watching. ... We were enticed by the smells coming from some local cafes but as there were no pictures to point at and only Chinese menus we were getting a bit frustrated.We spent our last few days in China in Kunming. ... MS and I spent our time wondering around the streets of Kunming checking out the parks where we did a lot of people watching. ... We were enticed by the smells coming from some local cafes but as there were no pictures to point at and only Chinese menus we were getting a bit frustrated....