China Trail unfolds

Well I think I have been here about 3 weeks. What's new!The job I came to do finish the first week so haven't been working. It has rained every other day and I mean rain you get soaked to skin in no time so my mac from England has been very useful. We have had small floods and the rivers have been high so no swimming or boat rides. I have thought about changing my flight and heading off early to New Zealand but probably will stay now as I have a teaching job. It comes with accomadation and food and will pay 50 Yuen (5.00) per lesson which is ok will start with 2 lessons a day for the first week.I have been trying to keep fit so have been doing Badmington, Ping Pong, Cycling and running up my 5 flights of stairs, now that is a good workout. In the evening I like to go to the park to watch the older people dance in the dark with loud Chinese music it's very atmospheric. The food is great and I could eat all the time Dumplings, noodles and tofu are my favourite and there are good kebab places where everything is on skewers and cooks in front of you, chickens feet, pig penis and just about every part of every animals body is available but meat can get a bit pricey if you are on a budget.

Yangshuo

The view from the swimming pool Hong Kong is so high rise!

Well finally arrived after too many days travelling, arrived in HK on Sat night and stayed at a nice hotel on HK island. I think the trip took it out of me as I was feeling lousey and shakey. Had to stay an extra day to try and feel normal, decided to travel to Shenzhen of the Mon morning which was a taxi ride to train station then 40 min train to Shenzhen, through train staion and customs where I had to fill in 2 medical declaration forms and had my temp taken for swine flu. I then had to sit in the station for 5 hours to wait for my train.

It was in a hard sleeper which has 6 beds two lots of bunks. There was 3 chinese adults and one baby so quite hard to sleep. The journey took 12 hours and I arrived in Guilin at 0700 then a bus ride to Yangshuo 1 1/2 hours.

I love yangshuo the photos I've seen don't do it justice very atmospheric with the mountains appearing from behind every building and from around every corner. The roads are chaos, a free for all but seem to be pretty safe I don't think anyone could imagine this unless you've see it.

This is Owen College where I am based.

I've started learning chinese at my college which is good fun and everyone is very helpful.

I work 2 hrs Mon to Thurs which normally means a taxi ride to the sticks where the small schools are. You teach 2 classes for 40 mins the classes are mad because the children really don't understand alot so do not pay attention unless you are playing games but they do seem very sweet.

5 Days to go, can't wait!!
Leaving Poole on the bus Friday for Heathrow