July 18th, 2009 | by admin | published in latest posts, on the road
A few years ago while sitting on a train I decided to calculate just how many hours I had spent on trains during my time as a tour leader here in China. Total time was 2,184 hours or the equivalent of 91 days. (Although to be fair I did include the two times I traveled [...]
May 21st, 2009 | by admin | published in latest posts, places
There have been few times in China when I have asked myself the question – where are all the people???
With approximately 20% of the world’s population, busy towns and cities are the norm. So, 7.30pm Friday night at a restaurant quite close to down town in Hezhou, north eastern Guangxi province, I was left wondering [...]
May 10th, 2009 | by admin | published in eating & drinking, latest posts
Something you learn when living in China is that when you are invited for dinner you shouldn’t really finish all the food on the table. Traditionally, it is impolite if the dishes are empty as it may be considered that the host didn’t provide enough food for you.
Celebrations are often extreme examples. A recent [...]
May 6th, 2009 | by admin | published in latest posts, other stuff
Swine flu seems to be the hottest topic around at the moment. China is of course in the thick of the controversy with its very enthusiastic quarantining.
Here’s hoping it doesn’t go the same way as the economically devastating SARS.
Memories of being greeted by border authorities wearing head to toe white spaceship type protective outfits clumsily [...]
May 2nd, 2009 | by admin | published in latest posts, other stuff
It is like Yangshuo has been slipped a couple of steroid pills with the arrival of May holiday crowds. Transformed from a sometimes busy tourist town into a thronging beast that is nearly bursting at the seams.
Town is buzzing chaotically. Traffic diversions attempt to control the vehicles as the masses wander the streets shopping, snacking [...]
May 1st, 2009 | by admin | published in latest posts, other stuff
In the natural world thousands of animal and bird species migrate each year, heading for greener pastures, warmer weather, etc . Here in China there are mass migrations of people 3 times a year, more commonly these are referred to as “Golden Weeks”.
By far the biggest migration is during Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) [...]
