Well, Auckland was certainly a different city from any of the Oz cities - it doesn't have the big city feel of Sydney or Brisbane and neither does it have the sights of the Barrier Reef or Ayers Rock compared to Cairns or Alice but it does have the Sky Tower (think CNN tower in TO) and the free city bus to enable you to take in the sights of the city via a bus loop (and a refreshing breather from the heat).

I spent the first day just getting to grips with the geography of the city - my backpackers was right in the CBD area and had a lively bar attached which was great the first night but by the 2nd, I had tired of feeling the bass upstairs in my dorm. I've had a number of good experiences with hostels. Generally, they haven't been wildly "party" but there is always something going and it's great to be able to either tap in or out of whatever is going on...anyway, I thought it best to get out and about the first day, so I went out walking - I've been doing a lot of walking when I get to a new city, it's a great way to get a feel for the place your in - I hit the information booth down by the Quay and managed to book myself onto a wine tour (yes, alright I brought some wine and had it shipped home, how could I not?)out on Waiheke Island for Waitangi Day (6th Feb) and then a 'majestic' island tour for the next couple of weeks.

There's Maori culture, Sheep Show, Caves, Glaciers plus the TransAlpine train included - all of the things that I would want out of a tour. So far, so good.

Gotta keep this post short but will update sooner....

NZ is a cleaner, (if it's at all possible) more spacious than OZ. It seems to have rolling hills, lush greenery with glades springing up everywhere, lakes and mountain streams: let's just say that I suddenly understand how LoTR, Avatar and the Last Samurai were shot here...It's beautiful and the locals are passionate about their country.

Just back from climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Apparently 15,000 steps up/down and the views are amazing - I so could have taken some great photo's but they don't allow cameras up on the climb. For today the weather forcast was some chance of showers. How could it have been cloudy but overcast and NOT raining all day? And then, you've guessed it on our descent it absolutly poured down! Even my waterproof hiking boots were water logged (so much for waterproof!)

Going up, you walk the Opera House side and there is a slight "tour' of the workings of the bridge and a historic blurb - build it 1932, 9 years to complete, 16 deaths during the construction - that kinda thing. I choose the (most expensive) twilight climb. Which meant that I went up during the evening and came down when it was dark - with the city lights eluiminating my descent. Comeing down, you view Luna Park and in the distance, the Olympic Park and the Blue mountains. Absolutly beautiful! A couple of slow moments so that the "company' can caputure those kodak moments (at a charge, and yes I brought 2 photo's!)

Check them out at www.bridgeclimbphotos.com and use the unique access code: AW7P-WV33

The company is slick and organised with a healthy view on the H&S aspect of things. With the wind howling even through the traffic, it's comforting to know that you are secured to the safety wire at all times...

I've spent a couple of nights now at/on 2 of Sydneys most iconic buildings - last night I was at the Opera at the Opera House and tonight, I did a twilight bridge climb. It seems a fitting end to my Oz adventures and I'm not sure that either NZ or Sth America will live up to the experiences that I've had on this part of my trip. Left to do? Bondi Beach, although after the Gold & Sunshine Coasts, I'm beached out. I think after that, I'll be ready to move on.

My philosphy on this leg of my journey has been "this is the moment" & in relation to Ayres Rock, Barrier Reef, SHO & the Bridge and I'm glad that I've done all of this - don't know how the bank manager is going to feel! - but I truely feel that I will rememeber this for the rest of my life!

I'm not sure how that worked out but as you can guess, I ended up at the Sydney Opera House this evening. La Traviata is about Love, Honour and Death. Wicked sets and there was some singing too...lol.

The Opera House isn't like any of the theater's in the UK, inside it's practical and works to the acoustics but not as "wow" as Royal Albert Hall. I think that I took about a thousand photos of it from the outside though, so all in all an iconic building.

Enjoying Sydney, there's plenty to see and do with plenty of places to hang out at too.

Gonna post a bigger post after the bridge climb - hope I'm up for it - in fitness terms. lol

LATER: Just wanted to add that the Opera at the Opera House was amazing. I sat in the Stalls with a view of the subtitles (I'd been told at the booking office that I should try and make sure that I had a view of the subtitles) and it was really cool because the orchestra were in a pit under the stage but they also protrouded from underneath. The solo's songs of Violette and Alfonso were a little hard to hear as there didn't sem to be any mics on either the actors or hanging from the ceiling but when the whole cast sang, it was difficult to differenciate the song from the music such was the production.

I could have gone to see Tosca but given that I'm no Opera buff, I'm pleased I went to see La Traviata - how wrong can you go with a Love Story? Roll on Valentines Day!

...namely, how many steps to the top of the bridge? I'll let you know tomorrow when I've done the climb - I keep trying to tell myself that it's good practice for Macu Piccu but I do have an underlying fear of heights and here I am getting ready for a bridge climb. Am I crazy or just up for the experience? - even I know the answer to that, it's all about the experience!!! lol

Just a final update about Brisbane - I've spent a relaxing week staying with "family" and it's been really enjoyable. It's made me feel really special to be welcomed into a home and allowed to hang during the normal day to day tasks of working, shopping, cooking and laundry. It's also great to beable to talk to people who are away from their homes and families but who have made the decision to come to Australia to study. I think it's a difficult time for Indian students at the moment as there are racial tensions spilling into other cities from Melbourne but Rimpy and the guys are open to the experiences and skills that they can gain here and are young enough to have the drive and ambition to work and study hard. It kind of reminds me of stories that Dad used to tell me of his early immigration to the UK. I can only imagine how hard it is but this kind of investment, in themselves and their furtures, will hopefully pay off for these youngsters. I don't think I could do it and I admire them immensely.

Anyway, I've left Brisbane and the comforts of home to arrive in Sydney and although I'm looking forward to being in a "real city" where there is plenty to do, I think Brisbane will be on my list of returns...until then, I'm off to bed so that I am ready for my big climb. until after then.

Arrived late last night but have managed a 4hr walking tour and think I have a handle on the Brisbane highlights. All I can say is: "finally, a real city". I've seen Starbucks, Wagamama & HMV - shame that I won't be shopping here...! Brisbane seems like a laid back kind city - then again it is Aussie and on the coast (so read into that the MANY luxury white beaches & blue seas of Fraser and Whitsunday Islands right on your doorstep!).

I'm also hoping to catch up with some "family" whilst I'm here - it'll be nice to share some of the trip and this city with someone who actually lives here. (I think that I'm also running out of steam with the YHA & dorm sleeping, so a good homecooked meal and crashing out on the couch seems well timed).

i still have a couple of weeks in Oz and then I hit New Zealand but my thoughts are also turning to S America and I've decided to do a 2 weeks spanish language course when I hit Santiago - I had some difficulty in Japan/Tokyo, not knowing the language that I figured that I really need some language skills whilst I'm travelling there... I've met so many travellers whose 2nd language is not English and yet they speak very well and it does embarrass me that we don't make that much of an effort with other languages. What I have discovered is that to remain fluent (ain't ever gonna be me and spanish) is that you do have to continue to speak it - perhaps frequent visits to Spain once this trip is finished???

Back to Brisbane - it's hot here. I am different shades of tan. My face and arms are slightly different from my shoulders given that I am wearing t-shirts most of the time but then I have tan lines around my swimming costume too. I'm wearing sf30 but the Australian sun burns through that quite quickly unless there is constant re-application. It's not a humid heat but but it still reminds me of HK in that I have to seek refuge in shopping malls/cafes etc. It's such a hard life!

In the short time that I've been here, I really think Brisbane is the kind of place that I wouldn't mind living in. Perth, Darwin, Alice and Cairns, although beautiful were too small with the West and NT states being too wet season for me even though that was the first thing I was told: "you've come at wet season". So far, Cairns was brill but I think that had to do with the Reef and not so much the city but Brisbane seems to have it all - the buzz of people working, theater and art - They even have a wheel of Brisbane (think London Eye) and a South Bank! Further down the coast it's known as the Gold Coast and yup you're right. It's golden! People at the YHA are saying that Sydney is better but I quite like this almost "smaller" city feel.

Austrailian Day coming up on the 26th Jan - It's a Bank Hol and everyone seems to be planning BBQ's and picnics either on the beach or down in the parks and gardens. I'm not sure that I've ever done that in the UK, not even in August and I really like the feel of this kind of lifestlye. I'm raving about it ain't I??? OK, one thing I'm not sure that I like are the Bats. Yup, even in Cairns, I noticed flocks of Bats flying around in the twilight. Really thought they were big birds at first and didn't think you'd find them in a larger city but they are here in Brisbane too! I went on a water taxi during sunset last night and there were loads once the taxi hit the suburbs. I really wanted to get a photo but the lights weren't right but think huge bloodsucking bats and you'll have the image of what I saw!! Apparently, they are not dangerous at all but I exaggerate to make a point!

OK, next update likely to be from Sydney - look out for photos on flickr (just not of the bats!)lol.

Obviously, there are tours a-plenty from either Cairns or Port Douglas but it's choosing the right one out of the many isn't it? I picked up 2 recommendations from the YHA and couldn't decide which one to go with - so I'm doing both.

I'm not a very strong or confidant swimmer - I always want to know I can put my feet of the floor of the pool - but then I figured that if I was going to dive anywhere, it was going to be here. So the first tour was a snorkel and dive yesterday (Sat 16th Jan). Big breath!

Slightly rough sea out to the reef; surface wind is picking up, making the waves a little bit rough but I put on the very flattering "sting suit" - head to toe in lycra and there are pictures to prove it! - and in I jump. First reaction is to panic, even though I have mask and breathing tube on. Yes, the water got into both and I panic some more. I'm supposed to be staying close to my snorkel buddy but I head back to the boat convienced that this is the end of the dive. The crew are very encouraging though and they hand me a noodle and I tentatively make my way back into the sea. This time, I think I have mask and tube in place properly and so I begin to dip my head into the water and "Oh My Gosh!", it's beautiful.

The water was slightly murky because of the wind but the reef's colours and marine life is all there for you to 'sea' (gettit?). It took me awhile to get my confidance up to keep my head in the water with the waves crashing over my mask but I soon got the hang of spitting out the saltwater without removing the tube. I did drink quite a little bit of it all though and I don't think that helped me feel too good on the way back to Cairns later that day (that's not a public story to tell though!). The fish seem to come up real close even when you are snorkelling and some of them are huge! I did manage to get a waterproof camera the day before but between me just pointing and shooting and the fish moving, I'm not sure how good they will come out - figers crossed!

We moved on to another reef later that morning and the crew knew I was nervous so kept asking if I really wanted to dive. I'm not the kind of person that does something if it REALLY scare me - bungyjumping, skydiving etc - but when I have a little fear, I always think that's a good thing and do it anyway. So, imagine it. Here I am breathing deeply, suited up, with weights and a tank weighing me down. Our instructor, showing us the 3 basic skills we need before we get into the water (this isn't a PADI dive, just and introduction to diving).

On the boat, of course I can get water out from my mask and breath out the water if it gets into my regulator. So we are ready. To the edge of the boat and hold on to mask and regulator and step off the boat and jump into the sea. Panic. I'm thinking to myself: "hold on a second, take a breath and just do it". So I do. Again panic but again the instructor is really good with the 3 of us and just plays about in the water, getting us to practice our 3 basic skills - the final one being to equalise under water - and so down we go.

I've never really understood people who dive - I still don't - it's loud and you really shouldn't be able to breath underwater. The experience, however was amazing. We saw a couple of huge turtles. One was nibbling on the coral and then went up to the surface to take a breath before diving again. We checked out the clown fish and admired the colours underwater. I managed to catch sight of the stingray (?it didn't seem big enough but it was one of those that swims along the bottom of the sea floor) and most importantly, just as we were about to surface a reef shark swam right by us! How cool is that???

I have another dive/snorkel arranged for tomorrow and am just as excited about this one - it's on a different part of the reef. No desire to do PADI and get into the diving, this is more than enough.

Wow, what a busy few days I've had.

My last post was from Katherine on route to Alice Springs. The infamous Ghan train takes 48hrs Darwin to Adalaide via Alice Spings. The Darwin to Alice is a 24hr journey & I figured that I'd do this via recliner seat rather than sleeper berth. Fine plan I thought, but unfortunatly at about 3 hrs out from Alice Spings, the diver came to an abrupt stop. An announcement came over the speakers that the tracks had been washed away by the torrential rain (which I had slept through) and that we had to return to Tennants Creek! We had to do the return backwards as this was a single track and then Great Southern Rail would arrange to send everyone onto Alice Springs by coach and continue back to Darwin.

42hrs later, I arrived in Alice. GSR were brill. They put on complimentary meals, transfered us quickly and efficently and got us to Alice at 4am the next day. They put us up in 3* hotel which was an upgrade from my YHA booking. It could have been worse - the whole compartment on the train were jovial and everyone was chatting, sharing books, DVD and games to help entertain each other.

I guess the day that I missed in Alice was unfortunate but by the time, I'd rested and breakfasted 3* style I knew I still had time to wander around the "city" before my early morning pick up for my Urulu tour the next day. There's nothing in Alice - You could do it in about 3hrs (as I did) - it's a gateway to the mountains and national parks around the "city" and into Urulu.

Early the next morning (5.30am) I boarded a 4wd to start my 5day tour. I've had a great time on this tour. The tour leader, Georgie and the group were great. We had been told that due to the rain, the normally dry Todd river was flowing and an old wives tale is that if you've seen it flowing over 3 times, you're considered a local. We headed out past the McDonald Ranges and hit the road for our 3/4hrs drive to Urulu. Lot's of information: Mt Conner is bigger and older than Urulu but given it's not a monolith, doesn't attract as many vistors. The Aboriginals have only just had the Rock returned to them and they consider themselves as caretakers. We walked the base walk, which took about 2hrs - and lots of photo's - and headed off for a sunset view.

It's the wet season in the NT but even Alice and Urulu have had a larger than normal amount of rain this past week. I did wonder if the rain is following me from Darwin! It's just I was expecting desert and instead I got lush green and overflowing rivers everywhere.

That evening we camped out 'bush'. We had a 12year old in out tour - travelling with his father - and he constantly pointed out the scorpins, spinders, centipeds etc. I enclosed myself head to toe in my sway and spent a hot/sweaty night under the stars!! Up early the next morning to catch the sunrise. Brill! In 5 days we saw: Valley of the Wind; walked the rim of Kings Caynon - catching a swim in the Garden of Eden halfway around - found gorges and creeks to swim in, slept under the starts and lived 'bush', watched for shooting stars & got bitten by the mozzies. Can't have it all I guess!

Of all the places, our tour group went out a dinner upon our return to Alice. I avoided the Koo steak at dinner but I did spend the night dancing in Bojangals... Check out the video of 'Daniel' shuffle dancing with the pros on flikr if you can.

I've flown into Carins and the next thing is to do a tour of the Great Barrier Reef - my other 'must do'. I'm planning on bus/train down to Brisbane after that b4 hitting Sydney. Do I do the bridge climb or not? Undecided right now but thinking I might...What do you think?

So it seems that Darwin is not so busy on New Years Day - most of the shops are shut over the festive period and those that are open are open on 'laid back' hours. Still it was nice to wander around the Central Business District (to which the Aussies affectionatly shorten to CBD). Darwin's up and coming wharf area was deserted but it was nice to see that there was a lifeguard on at the wharf lagoon. It rains in Darwin - as it's the wet season and cylon's are a-plenty - so I spent most of the day sheltering from the wind and rain.

Plenty of places to eat/drink but as one person from the hostel said to me, Tuesday nights are the busiest rather than Sat, so I was stuck in a small city with a cinema to entertain me. Thank Goodness for Sherlock Holmes being released beteween Xmas & NY!

I arranged a 3 day tour of Kakadu National Park. Famous for it's waterfalls, jumping crocs, aboriginal rock art, bushwalking/camping & general wildlife. It was great to get away from the "crowds' and see the natural habitat but again the rains plauged us and we managed to get rained out of Litchfield National Park as the roads were impassable due to the overflowing rivers.

Still it was nice to do a tour with others and moan about the mossie bites with the rest of them!

So today, I am on a 24hrs train journay to Alice Springs on the infamous Ghan train. I pick up a Aryes Rock tour 2 days in (so excited about this) and it occurs to me that as I move around the country, my mobile phone number will change with the state codes and that I'll move further ahead in time difference from the UK - Family take note. Once I hit South America, I'll be behind the UK in time difference, how weird is that?

So, there's plenty to do in the 'big' city of Perth but given that I'm from a bigger city and that it took me 5 days to 'do' Tokyo, I managed just about everything that Lonely Planets advised in 2 days! Now all that's left to do is celebrate NY and then leave for Darwin in the morning without a hangover...I can do that!

Seriously, Perth is a lovely town. It's situated right on the Swan River which leads out to the ocean. So there are numerous walks along the riverfront (sights to see are the Swan Bell Tower where the bells are famous for being the most musical in the world?!) and sea beaches to explore. The City Centre is a mixture of shopping malls and plazas with the occasional historic building thrown in. The Perth Mint is still churning out money; The Art Gallery's have a good selection of Aboriginal works; Northbridge, where my hostel is, has a huge selection of restaurants and bars. You can walk from my hostel to the city centre in about 10mins so that should give you an idea of how big the city is...

What I've loved about the city is the free transit buses (aka Blue/Red/Yellow CAT) which travel in a loop around the city and are a great way to see the city in the comfort of air condition when it's +38C out there. Also, loved Kings Park. I wasn't until I saw the WW1/2 War memorial & Bali (2002's terrorist attacks) Memorial that I realised Australia has this kind of history too. I suppose that you are only ever aware of "your" history and it's not until you see this kind of stuff that you actually realise it happens everywhere and to everyone.

I didn't manage a wine tour - I think that I should save that for the east coast, New Zealand and Chile. But I did fit in a Pedi and an Chinese Massage (a girl has to have some home comforts on NYE. lol). I think that's what I'm missing about 'home', just having a routine where I can kickback and relax. There's actually a kitchen in the hostel and everyone else cooks proper meals and there's a lounge where they watch the (only 4 channels!) TV but to tell the truth, when I 'potter' at home, it's being able to do all of that in my PJ's and you can't really do that in a Backpackers with 12 other people using the facilities. Oh well, so what? I like my home comforts and I won't actually have them for the next 6/7 months. I could be in worse situation right?

Australia certainly has a laid back charm. I've been working towards being more laid back for a number of weeks now. Maybe this would be good place to try perfecting that. Unfortunately, I'm paranoid that I'd be missing something somewhere else...don't you sometimes get that feeling?...and by that logic am looking forward to hitting Darwin and Alice Springs (well Aryes Rock more to be precise). What I do find it funny is that after Tokyo, with the designer, groomed and beautiful people, I find that the Perth-iates (sp?)have a beach/surf kind of look. Due partly because of the weather, it's certainly less formal and more relaxed and, this could just be something that the Virgo in me will rebel against, but I wonder if it's worth a try just to see if I can do the board short and surf lifestyle..?

The other thing I find amusing is the ease with which I absorb the accent of where ever I am. I know it's an effort to fit in and be understood but have you ever noticed that "water" is a really difficult word to be understood no matter where you are - you can't say "warter", you have to say "waater". My English accent really comes on strong when I need some help at the train station or somewhere where I need a little bit of help - how fickle am I? lol. We'll see how I do on my flights and train journey over the next few weeks...

Anyway, lovely people, I shall sign off now and go on a final Blue CAT ride and head back to the hostel and get ready for the NYE party/BBQ. Hope that 2010 is a good year for all of my nearest and dearest - wow, where does the time go? Didn't we celebrate 2000 only recently - keep those NY resolutions realistic and see you all in June.

Love and Hugs
B

So I arrived at my backpackers hostel late last night and completely forgot that today is a bank holiday in Christian countries. I think I was just used to Tokyo being "open" all the time. Obviously all the shops are open but I'm not in the mood to hit the shops for Christmas sales given that I will have to carry around everything I buy and my rucsac is already too heavy.

I've been leaving little bits of myself in all the countries that I have visited so far:
India - some indian suits and loads of toiletries at Pingla
China - my walking boots which are no longer functionable but hey, China can fix everything
Tokyo - finally left my downjacket which I was carrying around all of China but when it came to using if for the cold, it was too light to be of any use! Hence, the (fake)North Face jacket.

Anyway, shopping is out. It's too hot to do anything else - it's 39C high today with a forecast of 40C tomorrow - so I am hitting the internet and trying to search for trains and/or planes in/out of Alice Springs...I can only guess that Alice Springs will be hotter than Perth which is on the coast!

There seems plenty to do and see in Perth - in one hot day, I've already been to see the Bell Tower, hung around the shopping area (alright, I did buy a Austrialin SIM, couldn't have done that in Japan or China!) all courtesy of the free Blue Cat bus. It's good being at the Backpackers place - there is a large kitchen where I could cook my meals; they have a very nice garden, with hammocks to relax in; I'm in a dorm with 4 other gals which helps me to socialise and most importantly, they have TV and DVD's. It reminds me of my trip to Vietnam and Cambodia with Kalvin & Helen and it was so nice to relax after a hard day sightseeing with a movie. The hostel also have really good guidance on where to go and what to see, including tours. Should I go on my first wine tour here? I was saving it for Chile but apparently, the Swan valley has some of Australia's best wineries...what a dilemma to find myself in!

So, Tokyo was a good city break. I spent most of my days wandering the big city and exhausting myself - when you have a city as big as Tokyo, there's a lot to do. Tokyo's history has been distroyed by WW2 and bombs but there are numerous replica's and "not original" builds so there is still much to see. Although managable as a foreigner (Tokyo has a brillent Metro and Train system), it is quite difficult to engage with people as you wander the street or in the shops and resturants. Not having the "different language" skills also means you miss some of the interaction of evesdropping which is half the fun when you are people watching.

It's so different from China. China also has a deep historic culture but I wonder if the fact that because in Japan, there is noone telling you what to do or what to say (as in China with communism) the difference in the air is that of freedom. (Economic? Cultural?). It strikes me that I may be able to interperate that 'freedom' as commercialism because although neither Christmas Day and Boxing Day were bank holidays, but there were so many people on the streets shopping. Have you seen the flickr video of people crossing at Shibuya?This wasn't Oxford Street, Boxing Day sales busy. People were out for the lights and dinner kind of busy. I love that about a city and it felt good to be somewhere that had that buzz.

I hear Perth has a small town feel to it - I'll let you know once I've had some time to settle in to the city. What I liked about Tokyo (and I wish that I'd got out of the city but there just wasn't enough time!) was that the women were beautiful, the men were polished (I never once saw their underpants under baggy jeans or unecessary show of skin/tattos) and the city was slick and tidy all of the time. My Roykon was so traditional - I'd just read Memories of a Geshia - it had sliding doors, tamini mats (sp?) and a weird wheat bead type of pillow and was a sharp contrast to the city. Yet it was just what I needed. I missed the social aspect of the Tour group, although I think that had something to do with it being Christmas and missing my famiy. I realised that I've never been "away" for Christmas before but it wasn't a big deal to have noodle soup for Christmas dinner and Sushi for Boxing Day. I suppose the other thing this trip has shown me is that you can eat dinner on your own. Although, Tokyo doesn't do it alone, it does it as a couple - they were all over the place being romantic. I don't know whether that's Ahhh or Uck!

I'm glad that I got to do some "differnet" things - 23rd Dec was the Emporer's birthday and the Imperial Palace was opened as he made a number of appearences during the day. Otherwise, you only get to wander around the Imperial Gardens. I managed to wander around the Golden Gia - small stand only bars around the red light district. I didn't feel confidant wandering into these local type places and ordering a pint but with the doors open, it felt as if they were spilling into the steet and that I was part of the regular crowd.

Wandering around a city and cramming in as much as I did in 5 days has exhausted me and I would really like to "chill out" but I figure Perth is going to be a-buzz over New Year and I want to see how it's done compared to London. I should be able to arrange the train trip to Ayres Rock over the next few days - that's something that I've always wanted to do, so am really looking forward to the tour that I have booked.

It's weird coming into Perth and hearing everyone speak "english". I've had almost 2 months of people speaking a foreign language and I don't have to learn how to say either Hello or Thanks. Bonus for me! I almost want to speak a foreign language just to stand out but I figure my ethicity will do that for me.

I arrived late last night having spent 6 days in Beijing - 2 with the tour and an additional 4 days on my own as other members of the tour departed.

On the first day, we arrived in the afternoon and managed to get to the Forbidden City. It was cold but the palaces are still in good condition, with only some minor repairs over the years.

The next day, we headed off to the Great Wall. Given that it is off season, it wasn't very busy and we were able to walk from tower 6 to tower 20 and then back to tower 4 where we caught a slide down to the bottom. Yup a slide. It may be the Great Wall but what's a little bit of commercialism??

It was so cold that a few of us took the cable car up, so I cant really say that I have climbed up or down the Great Wall but I have climbed along it and I did get some great photos.

I even managed to return to the Great Wall as part of a city tour a few days later. It`s always been a dream of mine to see the Great Wall and I couldnt really pass up the opportunity to go back. It was a different section of the wall which included some Ming Tombs but it felt to me that this section made for better photos - you decide once I`ve posted to Flickr...Unfortunately, this section is totally commercialised with a Black Bear pit (!?) and a rollercoster ride to the top. The wall was slightly more scenic but it was a much shorter section.

Back in Beijing, I obviously, did Tiennamman Sq, and the Chairmans Mausoleum, Temple of Heaven, Pearl Market (at where I brought nothing!)and managed not to eat Starfish or Scorpions at the all night Market.

Will keep this post short and sweet as this japanese keyboard is difficult to use. Should have photos on by next week. Merry Christmas to you all.

Am currently in Xi'an but had to post briefly about the terrocotta warriors.

Absolutly amazing! After digging for a well in 1974, a local farmer found some clay fragments in the ground. He notified the Goverment and they took 5 years to unearth what is currently on show - 3 pits and the location of the Emperor's Tomb. The farmer, Mr Yung, is now a minor celebrity and at 80 is often found willing to sign his autograph to gift books within the gift shop.

After unifying China, the First Emperor (he has a full name but he is refered to as the First) decided that he wanted to rule in the afterlife and that he wanted his army with him. He decided to create his life size clay army. Each soldier is different in face, being based on his soldiers at the time. Infantry, Calvary with carriages and Archers were created and fired in huge kiln's. They were buried around the First Emperor's tomb in pits which were covered with reeds and wood ceilings.

These are falling into the warriors as they are being exavated but the Chinese have decided that they will no longer unearth the Pit's until they have the techology to recover the army properly. In the largest Pit (1), all of the paint has erroded from the uncovered figures and they fear that they will lose much of the impact of the warriors if they unearth Pit 2 & 3 too soon.

They have also refused to unearth the Emperor's tomb as they fear that the techology isn't capable of retaining whatever is in there. They have taken out 2 bronze(?)chariots which were completely damaged. It only took 3 years to repair them!

Check out Flickr for some photo's.

Xa'in has been a good break from the trains and boat travel and we hit Shanghi today (after another 13hrs sleeper train). I'm looking forward to hitting a "big" city but I know it will be a culture shock no matter how much I'm preparing myself for it! As far as our travel goes, none of the places we've been to, seem to have the impact that London has during rush hour but it isn't the season for tourists and that may have something to do with why I feel as if I'm not in a busy country - hey I was expecting something from a country with a population of 6bn - I guess to get that feeling, I have to compare Shanghi or Bejing rush hours with Ldn or Delhi.

Am expecting some time at the internet cafes of these big cities. So should be able to keep you informed about the Great Wall - so excited. Speak to you all soon...

We left Guilin 3 days ago and spent a night on a sleeper train for 13hrs and then on a coach for 5hrs. All in an effort to catch the "cruise ship" which would take us up the Yateze River. Cruise ship is slightly passing the boat off as a luxury but don't get the idea that this is all plain sailing! I defintely heard (but did not see) the rats, the toilet and shower room was only just bearable - as long as you didn't use it - and the bed was harder than the sleeper bunks on the train with the wind blowing through the gaps in the windows. My new North Face coat came in handy in keeping me warm and all in all it was worth it when we came past the 3 Gorges Dam. It was night when we got to the Dam and there wasn't much to see as we had to pass through the 5 locks that allowed our cruise ship to navigate over the Dam.


The 3 Gorges Dam and the Locks are a feat in engineering. There are 5 locks in total which allow a boat to rise over 170ft from start to finish. I had images of a canal boat going through a quaint lock as per at home but think bigger. We're talking big cruise ships and cargo boats fitting into the lock at the same time and the water levels rising by 35ft per lock. It takes about 3hrs to get through the whole thing, which at night when it's cold and dark, you only bother with the first 2/3 locks and then assume it's the same from there on in. Still, it was worth it. The actual Dam is supposedly the largest in the world and it's a shame we didn't actually get to see it. That's because after the locks, we continued up stream and in the morning we decanted into a smaller boat and went for a ride along the actual gorge. I'm not sure whether it's just the Dam that's called the 3 gorges but the river crawls through the mountains and winds around the base of the mountains in natural beauty.

There's not much else to see in this part of 'town' - a replicated Ming town is built along one side of the river, but it's totally touristy. It was nice to be off our 'cruise ship' and spend the day appreciating the natural beauty of this part of China. However, we were soon back onto the ship and heading back to Wuhan. An uneventful early afternoon and evening on the ship where noone dared to use the facilities and when we arrived in town at 7am this morning, the whole tour group was ready for a hotel room with hot running water. We have a 'free' day today, a chance to shower and rest but Ann and I decided to check out the internet and go find the Walmart. It's advertised here but I think it's just a ruse and she will be sorely disappointed but you never know what you will find here... Wish us luck as we go in search of some familiarity.

I find it quite funny that McDonalds, Coke and KFC are here but not Starbucks or FaceBook. I suppose that China regulates on a business bases and why not? There's also an abundance of Christmas decorations and Santa's on display. Why did I think that China and Japan would not celebrate Christmas? Apparently, ever the non-Christians celebrate Christmas. I suppose it's all about the buying and giving of presents and that's no longer exclusively Christian.

I still have 10days left on this tour. We hit Xain tomorrow (terracotta warriors - whoo hoo) and it's all big city's after that. apparently Shanghai to Beijing is a 17hr train ride. It's weird but I wouldn't be doing this kind of travel on my own and without a tour leader but as a group, it's not such a bad way to travel. By the time, you've done your instant noodle dinner, played cards, read your book, it's time to get ready for bed - they turn out the lights at 10pm most nights and the more we travel on trains, the easier it is to sleep on the top bunk with the sounds and movement of the train over the track either keep you awake all night or they sooth you to sleep. I'm still kept awake!!
Until next time...

So can you believe that From Delhi to Hong Kong takes 5 hours? That's about as long as the "express train" takes from Amritsar to Delhi. By the time I reached HK, I was exhausted. Esp as I didn't sleep on either the train or the flight.

Leaving Julundhar was tough. I felt such at home with the Sandhu's, after my Pingla stay, that I didn't really want to leave. However, I have plans to keep, so I zoned out in Delhi, just going from the train station to get to a hotel and then to get some food before leaving for the airport. Having reached HK, I immediately found the hotel and dumped my bags. Our tour meeting was due at 7pm that night but I really wanted to hit the old haunts and check out HK, abit briefly, before meeting the tour group. I walked down Jordon Road and right down Nathan Road to the pier and caught a Star ferry straight over to the other side. I reminded me of my commute to work (but in reverse as HkD lived on the island and now I was staying Kalwoon side). I wandered up to Lang Kwi Fong which is quite changed but it's still the same. It's the bar/club area of HK and every single bar/club has changed but it's still the bar/club area.

I took a tram to Causeway Bay and then back again before hitting the Metro. I just figured that I should do all the modes of transport while I could! Ricky, our tour guide, told me that since the handover, there has been little change in HK. China sees it as an open market and HK residents still differenciate themselves with a HK id card rather than a Chinese Passport. I visted the Jade Market, Temple Street (night) market and tucked into big bowls of noddle soup at meal times. After 5 weeks of Indian food, the rice and noddles make a refreshing change but I figure after 18 days of the tour, I'll be sick of the sight of rice and noddles. There's always sushi in Japan right?

The tour group is made up of mainly younger travlellers who are either finishing/starting their long trip and the odd couple who are just on this tour. My roommate, Ann, is just on a 3 week holiday. She is from Toronto and I'm sure to meet up with her when I finish off my world tour!

We had the rest of the next day in HK, and I found the post office - "Mum, look out for a postal package" - and managed to get my money changed at Chungking Mansions. Yup, that's still there. Right next to it used to be Mad Dogs, my second job the first time I stayed in HK with HkD. I started off as a bouncer-in (my job was to encourage people to come in to drink but I ended up talking to the pimps from next door most of the time)and then I became a waitress...in reminising, I have fond memories of Mad Dogs, not because the US Marines used to frequent the place but because we used to have such fun working there. It's now Murphys Bar. OK, so I went in. OK, so I had a glass of Guiness. OK, so it looked exactly the same...but that is only because it's down in a basement and there is only so much you can change down in a dungeon!

By 4.30pm, we were heading off on the Metro to the train station. We were due to get on to a 13hr sleeper train to Guilin. And it looked comfortable. The sheets were clean and it seemed as if 6 of us would bunk up and enjoy our brought dinners, chat and sleep. The first two things went without problem. Sleeping on the other hand...It wasn't that the bunks were hugely uncomfortable or that they were dirty or and anything bad but there was no way any of us got any sleep. We have 4 more nights on sleep trains!

We arrived in Guilin and checked in with a hearty breakfast and then we headed off into town for an orientation walk. The town is fairly geared up for the tourists and there are bike hires, cave tours and bamboo boat trips. We took a bamboo boat trip but now the boats are not allowed to be made from bamboo anymore as they are cutting down the really old bamboo and not replacing them. So now the boats are made out of plastic pipes. we went down river - there might be some photo's on flickr - and stopped for a kodak moment. We didn't linger as it was so cold but headed back on a 1hr trip back to the hotel. By the time we got back to our hotel, we arranged to meet up for dinner with our guide as he wanted us to experience Beer Fish, the local speciality. I had the first real Chinese food last night - Duck in Ginger sauce, Lemon Chicken, Sizzling Beef, Mushrooms and bamboo, pac choy. It was all so Yum! Today we went on a bike ride to see the Half Moon Hill. Hill is an understatement but it did make me realise that I'm not ready for Macu Piccu. I'll have to work on being able to climb the 500 steep steps up to the half moon - a hole created in the centre of the limestone mountain.
Guilin seems strangely fimilar and it's because I've seen photo's before but also because it looks like Hanlong Bay in Vietnam.

Tomorrow we have a free day and I intend to go for a massage and heavy lunch before we hit another sleeper train for 13hrs. Except after that, we have 5hrs bus ride to get onto our 2 night Yateze River boat. Our guide has warned us not to expect too much comfort and he also mentioned RATS! How did I possibly think this would be a nice holiday!! Nice is the Raddison in Jalundhar at which I was being wined and dined in, last Saturday night!

Still I'm here for the experience and the experience is turning cold. Bejing is apparently -10 with snow. So today I brought a coat for 20pounds. I think it's a fake North Face but if it is fake, it's a really good one! Thank goodness for the leggings and tights that I brought for under my jeans. I think the changes in temps will be a little bit difficult for me to manage as once I hit Oz in Jan, it's going to be hot again. One of the reasons for doing the timing on this was to have 3 summers in a row but I didn't really think about the 3 weeks in between India and Oz.

Obviously, I'm not going to be finding a internet cafe on the Yateze River and with no phone until Oz, you lovely people will have to contend with a blog silence. Speak to you all from Shanghi.
Love B

but not without a quick post as a big "thank you" to the Sandhu family of Julundhar who took me in for my final few nights and showed me the other side of India. Do you know it is wedding season in India and in my whole live i've only been to 7 weddings and now that has increased by the three nights I was in Jul. to hit duble figures! In the whole month i've been here, it's been friday and sat nights in with a book but 3 nights in Jul. and it was out every night.

I think I got to see how the other half of India live and it ain't half bad...are there any suitable boys out there who could give me that lifestyle? (Suddenly, the 'talk' I get about settling down doesn't seem so bad if that lifestyle can include a cook. driver, kitty parties and more...)

None-the-less I leave India with a little sign of relief but knowing that cultually, China is likely to be just as strange and this time, I don't have the language to help me along. I suppose I should thank goodness for the tour idea! Totally inspired if you ask me but then again there was all of that planning............

I imagine that I will return to India, not anytime soon obviously but I have met some amazing people here. The residents at Pingla certainly left an imprint on my heart and getting to know family has been a huge bonus. Suddenly, I can appricate M & P more, kinda understand their love for 'home' and remain in awe of the fact that when they got married, they did this - in reverse but that doesn't make the culture shock any less I'm thinking.

For my part, it makes me miss everyone at home and in giving up the phone - I should have another number in the New Year - I feel slightly out of touch, so keep commenting to let me know what's going on at home dear famiy and friends.

I'm keeping this post short as i should be arranging a taxi to the airport rather than sit at a cybercafe and I do want to reply to some of your comments.
Hugs until China.
B

There is an internet connected computer in the main office of Pinglawara!!! In all of my 3 weeks, I've been hunting out Internet Cafes and noone told me that there was a computer I could use in the main office. OK, it's 10kms from my Manawala complex but noone mentioned to me that there is a 'teachers' bus which leaves the Manawala complex at 2.30pm everyday!!! Are these people too busy with the 'compliments' to let me know the important stuff!!

Oh Well, you lovely guys get an additional posting as I discover these things. I have tried to post some photo's again and there are a few here in my scrapbook, which you might have to hunt for. Otherwise a few of you know my flickr account, so share that between you as I seem to have better luck uploading direct to there.

OK, so what's new? I did a day at the male ward and realised that there is only so much that I can do as a carer. The MH experience isn't really necessary as they have their routine and it's not really for me to come in and start saying "we don't do that in the UK", "you should do this" or give any points of advice. The long and short of it is that we don't do any of this in the UK without Government or Charity help & Pinglawara is doing it all on the whim of their founder who helped people in need based on his religious faith. So if there isn't too much management or orgaisation or medical/mental treatment, it's not for wanting to do something where Pingla fails. It's in the fact that the people they help aren't deemed important by the very people who work with them (staff). The organisation is hiarcharical - on numerous occasions, I hear people saying "we must get permission" and I don't undestand why grown up's like my LOM need permission but apparently they do.

There are those who are driven to improve the future of the residents and it's a joy to share ideas with those people and get them enthused about working with individuals. I'm assuming that in 5-6 years, Pinglawara will have created all of the infrastructure it needs - there is a brand new state of the art deaf school due to open on 12 Dec - and will start thinking about it's vision and staffing. I do think it's encouraging that Bibiji seem to be more open to recieving Volunteers from abroad and this could be the exact thing that will help train the caring staff who themselves are often uneducated and from poor families.

So, I've returned to the Deaf school as it prepares to move buildings. There seems to be a complete review of the syllubus going on as well. I think they really want this to be a new start for them. I've picked up some sign and am amusing the children by encouraging them to be MY teacher rather than I theirs.

I've now been to the Golden Temple each time I'm in Amristar proper and it a great ying and yang feeling in comparision to being at Pingla. I'm not sure it's made a complete believer but I'm still open minded on that front plus I have a number of faiths to discover as I travel so who knows on that front...

It's felt like a long time since I left the UK and it's weird to think this is the first month and I have another 7 to go - as I approach the end, there's a part of me that just thinks I should go home now. I think I've had all the experience I can handle. Then I think about getting to see the Great Wall and I get all excited again. Here's to that new adventure which is only a week and a half away!

Have no idea if the photo's are uploaded or not - camera battery ran out at crucial moment - you might find them in the scrapbook section or check out my flickr account.

At least I now know how to upload photo's so you might get some more next week.
Love B

Gosh, I'm missing the internet at Pingla!

Otherwise, things are going OK. Been busy in the female ward this past week: a proper 6 day working week. In that time I did true Sewa. Apparently, "true sewa" is in the cleaning of communal toilets (yuck), backbreaking digging and gardening and serving food. I did resent the fact that I, with all of my MH experience should be cleaning out toilets which were - I can't describe them for you - anyway, by the time I finished, I did have a strange feeling of achievment. Is this what Sewa truely feels like? Great! Glad to have experienced it but never again. I just assumed I'd be put to better use within the female ward. Hopefully, I won't have to re-experience this in the male ward this week.

3 weeks in and India is making a lot more sense to me. I'm understanding why Mum get's up at 5am to bathe and do her prayers. Why wouldn't you when the call from the Guardwara starts at 4.30am? It's making sense of the fact that you don't take off your Kucha when you bathe. Why would you when you have to have a bucket bath with cold water? I still can't make any sense of why they honk their horns at every possible opportunity...maybe there is no sense in that!

It's also making sense when everyone expresses their opinion about you to you. It's only really the staff at Pingla and not the whole country but they do seem to have an opinion about everything. Generally, with me, it's the way I look - from hair to face to weight (apparently I'm fat), to explaining in great detail the message of the Guru's (I want to tell tham that I have read a book or two or that I don't believe in God but I think that would tip them over the edge about us British Born Indians and I don't want us all tarnished with the same brush!!) Apparently, I don't speak modern Punjabi, I wear "old" fashion clothes and generally almost everthing about me is "wrong". I've tried expalining that that is because I'm not wholly Punjabi but NRI but I guess you have to leave people with something to laud over you!!! I'm finding my tolerance for arugements waning and generally I just nod my head in agreement. That's nodding up and down, not side to side (lol).

I did get my camera out alot this week - the Special Needs children won medels and cup at their special olympics in Jullundhar. It was Children's Day yesterday and we had a public school come and perform for us. So was hoping to give you some photo's of the Pingla residents today. I think you should find them in my scrapbook.

Thank you all for you comments. I have 10days left at Pingla and after the highs and lows of the past few weeks am looking forward to having a organised tour planned for China. I'm bound to post before then, so keep reading and commenting. With love to you all. B

Thank you all for my amazing comments:
Simran: I have no idea how the postal system works in India so you may have to wait until China.
Cassie: Cold and Dark, well it get's dark about 6pm here which if I'm not mistaken, now that the clocks have gone back in the UK, means it's lighter here for later than there (hee hee).  We're also in a heatwave but it's "too cold" for the teachers at the school!!
Madeline: welcome to the blog (Debbie/Hartej - you have some postings to do)

Well, I found an internet cafe in Amritsar and I just have to share my trip to Jullundhar and the Humindarshaib Paart Ive just attended. 

Jullundhar was great.  I got the direct bus and was fully intending on it being one of those local buses but when I saw the "delux" bus parked right next to the normal bus, I couldn't help but spend the extra money on the AC, Video version.  It was all of 30Rs more and well worth all 50p of it!!  The last time I was there, it was for a family wedding (you know who's) and I didn't have time to really see the city.  I arrived late evening and left within 24hrs, so not much chance to see the city this time either!  I did get to see the old market as Banjhi has some shopping to do.  I met the Atwal side of the family who invited me to the paart they were having the next morning to bless the new farming season.  I met the Mumbi in-laws (i've realised there is no way for me to describe the relationship as it's far to distant and requires in-laws as well as first cousins!) who have a Paart for their new granddaughter - Muhal (sp?) - I arrived last night and sat listening to the paart at the very top of the Golden Temple until I felt it time to go and find the family.  As I left the temple, they were arriving but thanks to mobile technology, we touched base and listen to the prayers some more.  At 4am this morning, I went to watch the Granth Shaib being brought into the temple.  I never really thought of myself as religious but the History of the Sikhs that I've just finished reading has Guru Nanak saying that he was not looking for God in idols but in the trees, his heart, his intergity and being and the Golden Temple is the one place that I believe it to be true.

It's been nice to see the traditions of the Golden Temple with people who explain what is going on because although I think I know what is happening, it's slightly different by GT standards...I'm planning on returning as there the temple has NRI rooms at the Guru Gobind niwas - AC & hot water included in the 300rs price.  That's a bargin in Amristar.
I also hope to get to Jullundhar again and spend some time with family.

School is good.  Picking up some sign language and working with the kids using computer technology (no internet though).  Next week is a week of Sewa in the female ward.  Have made some friends in the male ward - don't worry I go to visit the Babaji's who are about 70/80 and they tell me of their history.  There's something about Punjabi old men with their white whiskers which I like.  Their stories are unique and it's them rather than the cute kids that I think I'd like to take home with me.  Memories of Dad I guess?

Anyway, need to head back to Pingla for an afternoon of sewa - might fall asleep after my 4am start.  Hopefully will update you all soon.
Again thanks for the wonderful wishes with your comments.  It's so nice to know that some one is reading this blog. lol
Hugs and kisses to you all.
B
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