Charli's Newer Shinier Site!

2007-09-05

So, first plane was delayed, and so the second one left without me. So now I am stuck in Helsinki for a few hours (after being stuck in Beijing for many hours, to later be stuck in Heathrow for a few hours, until I finally make it to Manchester some 30 hours after I set off to come home). Don`t you love flying.

2007-09-05

2007-09-03 -- Edited on: 2007-09-03 05:18:5

Inner mongolia was quite cool if you ignore the 40 hours I spent on a coach and ignore all the stuff that was meant to be on the tour, but wasn't (though I didn't really want to go to the dinosaur museum, one museum where there's not a single sign in english is enough). We stayed in a 'yurt' (read: big tent thing) it was cool cos they're meant to sleep 6 people, but we only had 3 in ours. And in the morning we went horse riding (though the horses were old skinny ponies who had never been schooled- the chinese method of horse riding is to sit on... well it can't really be called a saddle, and to hold onto the front of it, so the horse just didn't know what to do when we actually tried to give them instructions). Then we drove many many hours to the desert (read: a patch of some sand dunes with a muddy river in the middle), got a twin hotel room to myself, so that was nice too- obviously there's an upside to being the only english person on the tour and not really understanding a word of chinese- though the guide bloke still kept making me turn off my mp3 player when he was talking- and he'd repeat things to me a million times, not seeming to get the fact that, no matter what, i would not understand what he was saying. And yes, then in the morning we rode camels- which was ok.

Because everywhere foreigners are allowed to go in China has to be apprived by the government all the tours and stuff are all very 'we rock, and we want to sell you tourist tat', but all very fake and samey. And I also ended up in a camel factory at one point- instead of doing half the stuff on the tour which was a dinosaur museum and some (more) temples. I really really don't want a camel wool jacket, or a silk bedspread, or a silly mongolian hat. Oh, and the guide insisted on playing this horribly shrill music on the bus at ear-splitting volumes.

2007-08-23

What have I done of late, went for the weekend in Chengde, which is about 4 hours drive from Beijing- but is not in a cloud of smog! Chengde is a town next to a big lake/river, went to visit some lama buddhist temples and yet another emporers summer palace- apparently its meant to be cooler up there (not that I noticed it).

Also seen an acrobatic show- people have stolen their spines! It was really good, though somewhat painful to watch. And I didn't know you could fit 12 people on a bicycle!

Also been to the summer palace in bejing- big garden (and a nice lake we spent an hour in a paddlow on) and lots of pagoda things.

Also been to some markets- visited the silk market again- my haggling skills have improved (or I just don't mind offending anyone anymore).

Hmm, think that is about it. Chinese lessons go onwards- we're writing a little play (in the theme of romeo and juliet- only the chiense version) to perform at the graduation ceremony thing we're having. We;re also going out to the coutnryside this weekend. And I've booked a trip to inner mogolia to sleep in a yurt (big tent) and look at grassland and camels. Ooh, also we're going to see BEijing opera today- people screeching in a language I don't understand! Looking forward to being in a country where I can read the road signs again

Went out for a western meal the other evening. I had pizza- with real cheese on!! I miss cheese :( Someone ordered a dish called 'France bothers the chicken'- it was jusrt chicken and mushroom in some sauce. And someone ordered brids nest soup- which was a castle of mashed potato with eggs inside- disatser when they didn't seem to understand we didn't want raw eggs.

2007-08-07 -- Edited on: 2007-08-07 19:47:2

China. In 2 days. And I'm sat looking at Ilkley Game Ranchs website, not being helped by watching Blood Diamond. I am looking forward to China, just, its not Africa. But heck, its free! china all seems to be culture and looking at ancient walls and temples, no adventure sports to be seen- and the only real wildlife is pandas. Though judging on the amount of cheapo electrical sI've picked up that are of Chinese origin, not sure i'd trust a chinese gorge jump.

May I direct you to Charli in ~~Africa~~China.

2007-06-21

I'M GOING TO CHINA!!!! For a language and culture summer school! Kindly provided by the Uni of Manchester. So, this time last year I was in Africa, just arrived in Durban I think- its get somewhat hazy around this time. I blame Bibs in St Lucia and hanging out with Sandy and Clint too much. But yeah, and now this year I'm booking flights to China :)
Minor note- just realized I don't have a real passport... its still classed as a childs passport, and it expires in a week. This is useful. So, Ł66 and two weeks later and I should have a real passport! And then I can go to China, honest!

2007-06-11 -- Edited on: 2007-06-11 21:40:2

So, I should update more often.
Exams all over, think I passed everything.
I'm doing this SAS scheme, so I'm in school 'teaching' kids. They're actually less annoying than I thought. Though I think I'd get bored of teaching the same thing day in day out if I was actually a teacher.

2007-05-14 -- Edited on: 2007-05-14 13:49:3

In new news: Daft women crashed into my car, apparently I ;came ouf of nowhere'- I was on the road, she wasn't. Poor Cowie has a sizable dent, and the bloke at ADR laughed at her wonky colouring :(

I am allergic to water, I have the most fantastic rash. Fortunately I now have an impressive range of prescription drugs to battle the problem. Maybe soon the itching will stop and I'll be able to sleep.

This time last year (exactly today in fact) I was moving to Hanchi. Yes, it is noted that half of this site is telling you about Africa, and the other half whining about not being there.

Exams start on Saturday. That is all.

2007-04-26

Year ago today Iw as playing with hippos and warthogs and being chased by rhinos and stuff :(

I have had a very 'africa' few days really, drinking savanna and having nutella on toast for dinner.

Am back at uni, boring... thats about it really. Tempted to just book africa for next summer, then somehow I'd have to come up with the money...

2007-04-02 -- Edited on: 2007-04-02 20:44:1

Exactly a year ago today I was on a plane.

And my job of today is: to be an air pirate. Talespin rocks. And I'm fairly confident I could outsmart Don Karnage, though his funky coat might not look so dashing on me.

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