GuiZhou Summer 2014 (moved from old blog)

 A quick trip to GuiZhou

GuiZhou is a neighbouring province to Yunnan, whose borders are only about 5 hours away on the train. Several places had been recommended to me and so, when very bored in the office, I began researching and planning a mini trip.

It is not really near any other big tourist places so its relatively unknown, which means there is almost no information about places to go on the Internet. Most of our trip was guess work but it all worked out alright, I'll get to that later. 

We nearly missed our train, raced though the station, flew down the platform and threw ourselves onto a train. About 2 minutes later the train moved, we got to our seats a little stressed and more than a little tired.

Our first day was a rainy one but we were in the amazing MaLing Gorge, luckily, as we managed to stay out of most of the rain. Lots of the paths had overhangs so we stayed relatively dry. The humidity was crippling so coats were just not a good idea. The gorge is only about 15 minutes drive from the train station and we found it more by accident than anything else. To avoid the people yelling at us in the station for taxis we just got onto the nearest bus, which helpfully drove over the gorge and pulled over to let us off. A few minutes a walking and we were there. 

To make things even easier, the Chinese have built a glass lift down into the gorge so the whole thins can be done with very little walking. High heel friendly nature sights are becoming more popular. 

The gorge has a river running through it so we walked up one side of the river, crossed over a slightly scary and rickety looking suspension bridge and walked back up the other. The whole walk only took about an hour but we stopped for plenty of pictures. Slightly annoyingly the pictures really don't do the place justice as the rain stopped them from coming out as nice as it really was on the day. Every site I had found on the Internet with any information about the gorge referred to it as the Lost World of China and I think I would agree. A dinosaur would not have seem massively out of place here. 

As it was raining I think we were the only people in the gorge, which was fantastic. It did mean however that getting from the gorge to the hotel I had booked was looking like it was going to be almost impossible. We asked at the ticket booth about buses and taxis and she just kept saying impossible. Then she shouted over to the guy in the little shop next to the office and told him he had to take us to our hotel. 10RMB each. He had to make 2 journeys but he didn't seem all that bothered. 

Our hotel was so much better than expected. I had found it through another travel blog I had found, and googled a phone number. No idea what we were going to I was a little nervous but I don't think I am exaggerating when I say it was the best hotel I have stayed in. 128RMB for a double room I have paid more for rooms in hostels. We definitely fell on our feet with that one!

On the second day I had hired two drivers to take us to the scenic area. We still had slightly overcast weather but no rain, which was lucky as there was absolutely no cover in the park. We jumped on a golf cart looking thing and blasted round the park at break neck speed. We stopped about 5 times on the high road for photo stops but then sped through the lower parts. We were finished in the park after only a little over an hour. The drivers had given us their phone numbers and told us if we finished early we could call them and they would take us somewhere else. 

We called them and they drove us to a lake. The lake itself was not all that impressive but the drive there was through some very impressive dinosaur worthy scenery. We got to the lake but didn't stay very long as it was just a dock really. 

We went to find a place for some food and bumped into the drivers. One of them decided that the cook was too busy and was taking too long. So he went into the kitchen and just helped out. The food was fantastic and we stuffed ourselves silly with it. 
Then back in the car to the train station.

Tom's first visit: summer 2014 (moved from old blog)

 Duck, duck, duck and more duck.

Beijing has one or two things to offer in the sightseeing department. So we got to work and started working down the list. Naturally we saw Tian'amen square and the Forbidden City. In itself a mammoth task, taking most of the day. The city took us hours and luckily wasn't too busy, so we managed to get a few decent pictures with only about a thousand other tourists in them. 


After those two we were fairly shattered but still, we headed down to WangFuJing food street to see people eating bugs and other weird things on sticks. Unfortunately the amount of things on sticks have greatly diminished from only a few years ago and the street was just one long shopping alley full of novelty chopsticks and silly hats. Still some of the stalls had food but nothing like what it used to be like. 
Of course we did a day on the wall. Climbing the damn thing nearly killed me, steep steps in nasty humidity and heat does not make for a relaxed wander about the wall. The weather was hot and humid so the visibility was slightly poorer than it could have been but still a very impressive sight. Not to mention much easier than my first visit in the snow nearly 4 years ago! To get to the wall we took the cable car/ski lift up and the toboggan back down. There were loads of idiot Chinese guys in front who thought it was funny to stop and go really slowly. They got what was coming to them when a chain of people (including Tom) slammed into the back and one lost his flip flops. I nearly died laughing!
Otherwise Tom did lots of shopping, after a few bartering tips and team pressuring. Tom would stand and try to get a cheaper price and I would walk off saying "oh look they have some here." It was a well rehearsed and successful system!
Tom flew home on the Monday and I on the Tuesday, sadly to work on Wednesday. Holiday over!

Tom's first visit: Summer 2014 (moved from old blog)

 Barnes in Beijing (again)

 Monday morning rolled round and we had a 07:30 flight to Beijing. Amazingly we got a phone call at 4:40 from a very grumpy Chinese taxi driver telling us he was running late. Not a nice wake up call! Anyway we were at the airport with plenty of time so it wasn't a complete disaster. 
Only for the one night though, as we went straight to Qingdao for a mini trip to the coast and to visit Sam. I love the bullet train and was feeling a little guilty at not getting Tom a train journey somewhere, so we hopped on the bullet to the coast. 
Qingdao is one of the places I am considering to moving to after I finish in Kunming. I loved the place after my first visit so thought a repeat might be useful for finding out if I really like it there. 
I do!
We only had the on night and two half days in the city but we managed to visit Sam, wander the pier and beaches and get to the beer factory museum. A fairly hectic and fast paced visit but the highlights were all checked out. 
The hostel was on a little pedestrian street with a food alley way behind it. The seafood available here is among some of the best in China; or so I have heard. Other than the seafood, I am still convinced that the food in the Northern parts of China is much better than that in Yunnan. So naturally I gorged myself on street food and snacks every time we walked past some.

 We stayed in the Sanlitun hostel again and I had splashed out and booked us a twin room. Luxury for hostel living! 

We met Sam on the Monday evening, and it seems no matter how many times we see each other or talk, it is still strange seeing someone from home in China. We met him for a drink in an Irish bar and a  quick walk about the harbour. It was a beautiful night so sitting on the waters edge was just what the doctor ordered, a nice chilled evening after the recent chaos of Kunming and school. 
Tuesday brought an epic trip to Marks and Spencers, the map was a little misleading as it was about a 30 minute drive. Anyway, I left Tom with a drink in Burger King and treated myself to loads of new (and not glittery/pink) clothes. 
An afternoon train back to Beijing and we could begin our Beijing sightseeing adventure. 

Tom's first visit. Summer 2014 (moved from old blog)

 The day the brother arrived

Me and my biggest kids

After 4 years living in China; Tom finally made it out to visit. I think we were all beginning to wonder if it was ever going to happen.

I could only get a week off work so he spent a week wandering about Kunming whilst I was working. It was a pain but it meant I managed to get a week in Beijing. 



Me and Tom with the medium sized kids

 
Sunday has my favourite classes so Tom came into school with me and we messed about with the kids. Lessons weren't exactly the best I have ever taught but they were up with the most fun. 
My favourite part being pairing Tom up in a paired relay race with a boy half his size. they had to clamp a ball between their noses and race down the corridor. Entertaining for me at least, being the judge. 
Sunday night we went out to a  restaurant near my house and had an early night. Hideously early plane to catch in the morning so we attempted to get organised and hit the sack.
Next stop: BEIJING!



Me and Tom with the smallest kids doing kung fu.