Sep 26, 2009 - Stair Mountain - Day 10

We woke up at 7am to ensure some climbing before the temperature increased.We woke up at 7am to ensure some climbing before the temperature increased....

Sep 25, 2009 - The Not So Fun Day - Day 9

Alfie kindly took us to the train station at 3am to catch our train to Tai’an (the town at the bottom of TaiShan – mountain).Alfie kindly took us to the train station at 3am to catch our train to Tai’an (the town at the bottom of TaiShan – mountain)....

Sep 7, 2009 - Qingdao

Unfortunately in my last couple of days in Beijing i developed a slight case of food poisoning which, rather than passing by itself, simply got worse as time went on, ending in fairly severe stomach cramps by the time i was in Qingdao. ... My tine in Qingdao was largely spent in and around the old observatory hostle, a great location on top of a hill with a balcony bar area overlooking Qingdao. ... I met two Swiss guyswho, when i asked about Qingdao as a city, told me they had spent a week in Qingdao but had hardly seen much of the city because they loved just hanging around the hostel. ... Anyway, i was lucky in that i'd previously heard of an International Clinic located in Qingdao Hospital. ... Unfortunately i only decided to go there on my last full day in Qingdao, 81 yuan later [around 8 pounds - give or take] i'd had a consultation with a doctor and had paid for some strong anti-biotics to kill the likely cause of the stomach problems. ...

Mar 19, 2009 - Qingdao

We spent 2 days in Qingdao, and it was really strange. ... Washed down with a few beers too! Our last morning in Qingdao was spent packing up and having a lie in really. ... Our train to Shanghai was at 3.We spent 2 days in Qingdao, and it was really strange. ... Washed down with a few beers too! Our last morning in Qingdao was spent packing up and having a lie in really. ... Our train to Shanghai was at 3....

Jul 21, 2008 - Qingdao - China's Switzerland But Not Really

We flew China Southern into Qingdao and caught a ride to the Beijing airport with Jeffrey as he drove Rebecca’s parents to catch their flight back to Canada. ... Qingdao, at first glance, seemed to fit this bill. ... Some of the German architecture remains, and Qingdao makes a big deal of their ‘better late than never’ attempts at conservation, restoration and promotion. ... Presumably due to this German/Bavarian history, the Chinese refer to Qingdao as “China’s Switzerland”. ... Qingdao is situated on the coast of China, almost half way between Beijing and Shanghai. ...

Apr 4, 2008 - Shandong Personalities # 2

Apr 3, 2008 - Theres no apostrophe on the Chinese keyboards

Which leads me to do something I hate. Quick update: Fukuoka, 6am in the morning - Shimonoseki - Goodbye Japan - 28-hour ferry ride - Qingdao, China - no money - ATM out of service - Jonas in the shower - Jonathan sitting next to a guy playing World of Warcraft in a Chinese internet cafe. ... See, I cant find the accent either, so thats spelling going wrong as well.Which leads me to do something I hate. Quick update: Fukuoka, 6am in the morning - Shimonoseki - Goodbye Japan - 28-hour ferry ride - Qingdao, China - no money - ATM out of service - Jonas in the shower - Jonathan sitting next to a guy playing World of Warcraft in a Chinese internet cafe. ... See, I cant find the accent either, so thats spelling going wrong as well....

Apr 3, 2008 - Shandong Personalities

Shandong Personality Profile 1 Name: Liu Cong Age: 20ish Occupation: Finance Student at Shandong Agricultural University Favorite Hobbies: Climbing Tai Shan every other Monday and accosting foreigners in order to practice speaking English. ... Favorite Tai Shan Mountain Legend: When babies are born in the vicinity of Tai Shan, their grandmothers take them to have their fortunes told. ... If it is determined that they are in fact one of the children of Bi Xia (Goddess of the Azure Clouds, who lives on Tai Shan) they will never be allowed to climb the mountain, because Bi Xia would keep them there forever. ... Has one classmate who is a child of Bi Xia and thus never able to accompany her friends on Tai Shan outings. ... Favorite Moment During the Hike: Coming across the filming of one of his favorite TV shows, "An Artist's Life" at the summit of Tai Shan. ...

Mar 31, 2008 - Step Forward for Civilization

Qingdao (east coast of China, former German concession port, brewers of Tsingtao beer): In the mall I went to pee and discovered this sign above the urinal: "Step Forward for Civilization" (The original Chinese essentially reads "Do the right thing and don't pee on the floor. ... ") Of course, I couldn't resist taking a picture, but my attempt to be discreet failed when the flash unexpectedly went off and surprised everyone else currently peeing.Qingdao (east coast of China, former German concession port, brewers of Tsingtao beer): In the mall I went to pee and discovered this sign above the urinal: "Step Forward for Civilization" (The original Chinese essentially reads "Do the right thing and don't pee on the floor. ... ") Of course, I couldn't resist taking a picture, but my attempt to be discreet failed when the flash unexpectedly went off and surprised everyone else currently peeing....

Jan 30, 2008 - To Chengwu by bus.

Up at 7am, and left the hotel at 8am. It was so funny, and there were faces all staring out the bus window at me in my socks!! Foreign travelers really do some weird things, I think!! Finally we arrived at Chengwu at around 9. ... It is very, very cold, in Chengwu Back in the hairdresser's shop, we were chatting with the son of the hairdresser. ... He is 17 years old and his Dad is 35.Up at 7am, and left the hotel at 8am. It was so funny, and there were faces all staring out the bus window at me in my socks!! Foreign travelers really do some weird things, I think!! Finally we arrived at Chengwu at around 9. ... It is very, very cold, in Chengwu Back in the hairdresser's shop, we were chatting with the son of the hairdresser. ... He is 17 years old and his Dad is 35....

Jan 29, 2008 - Final day in the countryside - not a very active day today

I'm falling further behind on my entries so to try and catch back up t o spped the next few days may be a bit shorter than they have been, but I'll do my best.I'm falling further behind on my entries so to try and catch back up t o spped the next few days may be a bit shorter than they have been, but I'll do my best....

Jan 28, 2008 - Day 2 in the countryside, a bit of a struggle

One thing to note here too that I forgot to put in yesterdays entry is that I found over here I often am referred to as "nikki's sister" or even by Nikki herself "my sister".One thing to note here too that I forgot to put in yesterdays entry is that I found over here I often am referred to as "nikki's sister" or even by Nikki herself "my sister"....