Jan 22, 2015 - Hong Kong

Having flown many times between the UK and Hong Kong, this was the smoothest flight ever, shame about the lack of leg room for Stuart who could barely walk afterwards! Our hotel was brilliant, good location, welcoming staff and with amazing views of the harbour, as you can see - also THE best breakfasts. We noticed a sign in the lift saying "When there is fire, do not use the lift" WHEN?? We went to Lantau Island to see the Giant Buddha which is in the Po Lin Monastery, had Dim Sum (not great) and tasty noodles for lunch, in the Monastery,...

Jan 7, 2015 - 3 maanden plus deel 1

Dag lieve allemaal, Ik kom er dus achter dat ik echt al heel lang geen verhaal meer heb geschreven. De tijd vliegt hier echt voorbij. Ik zit hier nu alweer ruim 3 maanden. En nog steeds geen saaie boel hier hoor. Tja de korte versie is: Ik heb mijn visum gekregen. Ik dans, squash en fluit nog steeds. We hebben inmiddels een optreden met orkest in de metro gehad. Joyce (zus Bart) is langs geweest en we zijn samen naar Hong kong gegaan. Bart is in de tussentijd in India en Europa geweest. Ik ben zelf en paar dagen op stap geweest naar de...

Jan 7, 2015 - Inmiddels 4 maanden verder, deel 2

Deel 2 DECEMBER Terug in Shanghai was het wel erg stil zo zonder Bart. Ik heb lekker veel gesport en de weekenden volgepland. Zo ben ik bij een Kerstmarkt geweest met Caroline en Leticia. Met gluhwein en bratwurst en twee Chinese meisjes van hun werk. Leuk om eens met Chinese meiden te kunnen praten. In het begin waren ze erg verlegen, maar na een tijdje werden ze steeds losser. Leuk om te zien. We hadden een Italiaans kerstdiner van Italiaans collegaatje van Bart georganiseerd door haar geboorteprovincie. Heerlijk eten! Ik heb ook een...

Jan 5, 2015 - Coming Home: The Great Wall and Wrapping Up

We began our epic (and grueling) journey home yesterday, with a boat ride from Koh Yao Noi, a flight from Krabi to Bangkok, 6 hours in the Bangkok airport and a 5 hour flight to Beijing. This was possibly the best thing to happen to us, as going directly from 90 degrees in Thailand to -5 in Iowa could've been QUITE the shock to the system, but luckily we have some 25ish degree weather to enjoy for our last outing in China! To be perfectly honest, I didn't enjoy China all that much the first 8 hours out (I know, I was such a pro on the...

Dec 25, 2014 - Six Hours in Beijing

Some things from our post-14 hour flight and 8.5 hour, Christmas day layover in Beijing. 1) I've never been a minority in my life and it was SO. AWESOME. Nathan and I were gawked at everywhere we went. 3 Chinese girl asked for their photo with me because I was the first white girl they'd ever seen. #CelebrityStatus 2) During Chinese sign of peace at Mass, we all bowed to each other and I want that to come to the U.S. LOVE.  3) The fact we were in a communist country was SUPER apparent and I honestly felt uncomfortable with it almost the...

Dec 19, 2014 - The Secrets of the Forbidden City

I had a dream of visiting this place for long time but due to some financial constrain I couldn't visit this place. But last August my dream came true. I visited "The Forbidden city". It is an exclusive tourist location in China.I learnt a great history of this place Situated right in the centre of Beijing, China, this is an imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty and has served as the home for various Chinese emperors and their households as well as the political center of the Chinese Government. It is said to have been built in 1406 to...

Nov 20, 2014 - Hong Kong Revisited

After shelving the idea of hitting Hong Kong Disney the first day in favour of some shopping, we first up tried to find Debenhams store after Megzy looked it up on the internet. Made our way from Tsim Sha Tsui East station, changed at Grand Theatre and walked along the designated road only to find an office block. On a second inspection of the web site, it is mail order only!!!!!!!! Grrrrrrr. Megzy intends her first trip to be a shopping trip rather than sightseeing so I suggested a bus trip over to Stanley Market on Hong Kong Island. A...

Nov 19, 2014 - Shanghai

It's been a couple of years since the last time I was in Shanghai and I was keen to see how high the new Shanghai Tower is now. Last time I was here it was level with my room on the 95th Floor of the Jin Mao Tower. It now towers over both the JM and the Shanghai World Finance Centre. I think it's now at full height but not quite completely finished. Had to get picked up for at 6am for a drive to a suplier in Hangzhou then got stuck in the Shanghai traffic for over an hour on the way back making for a 12 hour day. Stayed on the Peoples...

Nov 14, 2014 - Hong Kong

Home, I do enjoy getting back to Hong Kong and really like to stay at the Langham Place Hotel where the club lounge serves alcohol from 6am to 1am if you feel the need. Did the usuals, shopping, lunch at Delaney's, dinner at Gaylord and a trip to the top of Victoria peak.

Oct 31, 2014 - Halloween en Chine

La recette de la soiree d Halloween (english version below) - Prévenez 3 douzaines d'invites une bonne quinzaine de jours a l avance - Laisser reposer et chercher des costumes. - Complétez votre collection grandissante d object s de deco lies a votre soiree sordide - 1 semaine avant installe la deco et surtout faites le petit a petit pour ne pas effrayer vos enfants - preparer le punch 6 jours avant et goute pendant 5 jours sous le prétexte de savoir s il faut l ajuster ! J-24h, c est le moment de sortir vos costumes sans les enfiler pour...

Oct 20, 2014 - Tongli

Une échappée a Tongli, l'une des jolies villes d'eau autour de Shanghai. Avec nous; Beatrice, Gerald, Cleli, Esmee et Thimotee. Sans aucun doute, la Chine comme on l'avait imagine. ___________________________________________________________________ Day trip to Tongli, one of the lovely water town near Shanghai With us: Beatrice, Gerald, Cleli, Esmee et Thimotee Without a doubt, China like in our dream

Oct 20, 2014 - Day 4: Summer Palace

Day four began with our new tour guide meeting is in the lobby. Her name is Juni, and she is delightful. Our first stop in a long and very eventful day was the Summer Palace. From what I gathered, this was built by the emperor as a place to escape the summer heat of Beijing (40C is hot as balls). It's absolutely gorgeous. Juni told us that in China, dragons represent men, and the Phoenix represents women. During the time that the palace was built, the empower was a young boy (7 or 8 years old). He had a female advisor called the Dragon...