Hello again, long time no blog. The reason for my absence is of course that I have been lucky enough to be teaching again in China.
I have been here for nearly a month and most of that time I have been in Guangzhou again but I have had a short holiday this time after my work and have been spending a few days in arguably the brightest and probably the biggest city in the world, Hong Kong!
I thought that Guangzhou was amazing in terms of the tallness of the buildings and of their Pearl River light show but of course Hong Kong is the mother of all skyscraper neon wonder and I have been having a lovely time here.
I also had a visit to Disneyland – it is one of my ambitions to visit every Disneyland, so far I have done 3 with Tokyo, California and Shanghai (due for completion in 2016) to go.
As well as the bright lights I spent a day on Hong Kong’s Lantau Island yesterday which is a beautiful mountain country park. I went on a cable car ride to see the world’s biggest outdoor sitting Buddha and visit the monastery, on a speedboat ride round the bay and to see some traditional fishermens’ stilt houses, finishing off with dinner on the terrace of a very nice restaurant overlooking Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong.It was like being in a Bond film and was definitely one of the most amazing days of my life.
I will post more of those pics later once I have sorted them out (and found my camera cable which has disappeared somewhere in the packing process!) Here are a few from my trip so far. I am so lucky to be able to do this – I have spent the whole month pinching myself thinking am I really here again. I still really, really love China and hopefully will be back again with work in the Spring.
The first two photos are of the city of Guangzhou at night.
And here is the beautiful Canton Tower in Guangzhou which changes colour every few minutes during the evening light show.
Guangzhou is China’s third biggest city and is packed full of people, I have been staying in a very nice hotel in one of the busiest parts of town, this is what the evening rush hour looks like here.
And here is my gorgeous hotel room – aren’t I lucky! I know some people complain about business travel and living out of hotels all the time but I am still a novice at this and I am like a kid at Christmas with excitement. I am going back here tonight for two more days before flying home.
And a couple of photos of Hong Kong, I have much better ones of the city lights as I was raining heavily the day I took these but until I find the camera lead can’t get to them!
There has been a little bit of shopping (only a bit, more window shopping looking at all the designer shops in malls like this one).
And lots of culture as well, here is a picture of one of the beautiful painted panels in the ancestral hall of a museum I went to.
And lastly a little look at Mickey and Minnie in their Halloween finery.
Will update again sometime next week when I am back in the UK. Am looking forward to getting home to my beautiful village which will be such a contrast to all this but not looking forward to the weather. It has been around 35 degrees here and I have been wandering round in summer clothes.
Take care and thanks for visiting.
Oh, you lucky girl — it looks like you’re having a wonderful time. I’m like you — I used to travel for work and I always enjoyed it. I’d love to go to China but it’s very intimidating to me!
I know I have been having such a lovely time , don’t be at all intimidated by China, it is really easy to get around .All signs are in English as well as Chinese and the people are wonderful and friendly.