Destination: China

Gallery: Hong Kong

Tue, 2 Dec 2008 | By jsherdc | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Suifenhe

Mon, 1 Dec 2008 | By pecosbiff | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Harbin, NE China

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 | By pecosbiff | Photo Gallery

Thurs 27th Nov - Suifenhe, border with Russia

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 | By pecosbiff | Views [888]

Shaken awake from dead sleep and dream about Kathy Kirby (good grief)  by conductor. I talk to my first Russian. Bit dour. Cab to bus station. Phrase book quite good. Extremely helpful boy who works at the station helps me buy my ticket, shows me to ... Read more >

Tags: chocolate, confusion, customs, theft

Wed 26th Nov - Enchanting Harbin

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 | By pecosbiff | Views [657]

Arrive 8.30am in enchanting Harbin. I think Leeds to Beijing's London. It used to be Russian and the architecture reflects this. Leave my bag at the station cloakroom after dear Li Fe has helped me buy tonight's ticket for Suifenhe. Nice cabman takes ... Read more >

Tags: chat, mall, tomatoes

Tues 25th Nov - Beijing

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 | By pecosbiff | Views [642]

Long and tiring day cheered by walking into Devin in the lobby. He is not in a Chinese jail but does have to wait a week for his visa. Not being charged for his inadvertent overstay as charming female official let him off on condition that he 'say beautiful ... Read more >

Tags: angels again, devin (bravery of)

Gallery: Beijing

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 | By pecosbiff | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Train from Lhasa to Beijing

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 | By pecosbiff | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Guangzhou

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 | By mazystar | Photo Gallery

Mon 24th Nov - Beijing

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 | By pecosbiff | Views [604]

Sat in free minivan for Zen Hotel with a dozen Muslims. But the Zen has no dorm room, no English and no cafe so get money back and find friendly rickshaw man who cannot take me himself (Police?) but writes address of far East hostel for me to show cab ... Read more >

Tags: angels, cheese, kitsch, mao

Gallery: Shanghai

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 | By jsherdc | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Xian Again

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 | By jsherdc | Photo Gallery

Sun 23rd Nov - on the train to Beijing

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 | By pecosbiff | Views [690] | Comments [1]

Early stop at Xingxing. photos of station, two Tibetans looking down from a bridge and a snack cart. Wonder if there are awards for this kind of photography?  9.30am. The restaurant car is full of train personnel eating their heads off but for me, ... Read more >

Sat 22nd Nov - Lhasa to Beijing

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 | By pecosbiff | Views [766]

AWESOME!!!! Yusuf called me at 6 and had toast and marmalade ready. Pema collects me at 7 am and we drive to huge modern station. A showpiece, I think. No one minds me taking pics. I am so happy I could burst! So luxurious, this soft class. Flowers, ... Read more >

Tags: red army, soft class

Fri 21st Nov - Last day in Lhasa

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 | By pecosbiff | Views [580]

Awake early from dreadful dream about Chinese vampires. And the day gets worse as I discover I have lost my first journal, the one with all my addresses. Not in the lobby, not in the room, not in Snowland restaurant which is the last time I remember ... Read more >