After two weeks away, we arrive back in Shanghai to discover spring has most definitely arrived. The trees once more appear fully dressed, the temperature is consistently above 20 degrees and the outdoor “free flow, all you can eat” Sunday brunches/lunches have re-appeared. This has an inevitable, detrimental effect on weight. After Friday night’s necessary … Continue reading
The explanation for why Bronwen now has three fish bite marks on her legs is a good one: “The tourists here feed bread to the fish,” explains our tour guide, “and because your wife is so white, the fish mistook her for white bread”. Little consolation for Bron, peacefully snorkeling her way through the many … Continue reading
On the Tao Philippines website, the booking procedure includes an extra step which asks: ‘Are you sure you want to do this? It’s not for everyone’. Looking back, the last four nights of our holiday at the all-inclusive luxury resort on Lagen island, with its air-conditioned rooms, cocktail bars and large pool, couldn’t have been … Continue reading
Two things never to attempt in Nanjing on a Saturday night: Hailing a taxi after 10pm. Never mind the fact that the taxi’s colour indicator is the opposite to that in Shanghai (where green means available for hire); there just aren’t any available taxis. Even if there were, you’d be fighting with far more savvy … Continue reading
Along with what felt like half the population of China – or certainly of Shanghai, Chong, Isaac and Rachel joined me and Bron on a visit to Hangzhou on Thursday, April 4th, to celebrate our one year anniversary of living in China. Although the majority of our fellow visitors were probably there to celebrate Qingming … Continue reading
Hong Kong offers those tourists not willing to go the extra mile a glimpse into Chinese life. But to suggest to the locals that they are identical in behaviour or culture to their mainland neighbours is akin to calling a Scouser a Manc (OK, not quite that bad). The Hongkongese speak Cantonese, not Mandarin; they … Continue reading
