Blogs from Henan, China, Asia - page 3

26.5.14 Destination: DENGFENG Distance: 149 Kms SubT. 1,116 Kms Bal 10,867 Kms Road Condition: tricky roadworks 50%, balance OK Weather: fine, dust and coal dust smog Time in Saddle: 7.75 hrs Av Speed: av. 18 kph. Av Cadence. 68 Rpm Elevation: 1060 m up; M down Calories burned : 5648 Today was the hardest day yet. Road with Swiss and Italian fellows today, hoping they may have been slower that the OZ group I had been riding with. A forlorn hope, they were just as strong. Managed to hang on, I hope I am getting stronger. At times I have my doubts! The first 25% was through reasonably scenic landscape, much like I am used to in Oz. Afterwards it all went downhill, literally and figuratively. Roadworks are happening each day, the extent is amazing. 30+ ... read more

My first trip to China was in the frenetic two months before the Beijing Olympics. Five South Australian ESL teachers provided a summer school in the small rural city of Zheng Zhou (population 6 million). Four intensive weeks of 10 hour days, with an enthusiastic bunch of hardworking, Chinese English teachers. This, my first impression of China was confirmed again in 2012. Teaching in China is a pleasure. Apartments for foreign teachers are good, small and basic. Western toilet, kitchen with hotplates, stove, microwave and sink. Hot water for shower. Air-conditioning, TV, Internet point, bookshelves, hardest bed I’ve ever slept on. Also couch, chairs, tables, one each of plate, cup, knife, saucepan etc. There are birds in the gardens, herons, swallows, sparrows, European magpies, sandpipers, and ones with top fans and others with tail fans Class ... read more

A quiet start to the day. Packing is easy. More and more we’re able to rely on the boys organising their own gear. Some of the clothes still haven’t dried so the plastic bags we bought yesterday come in handy. Tina picks us up – but the driver couldn’t make it so his brother is driving the 50 minute trip in creeping heavy traffic to get to T2. Tina helps us with the tickets then we make our goodbyes and offer tips. The security screening is the most thorough we’ve seen – and this for an internal flight. Full pat-down with hand scanner for everyone. The airport is accommodating to foreigners, with main tourist destinations having English announcements, and dual language signs. We grab lunch at a cheap cafeteria that serves only chinese foods. A bowl ... read more

Big day today, We have lots to do, and it will all be physically challenging! I have been dreading this walk! We are going to watch the Shaolin Monks perform in their performance area in the Shaolin Temple area. We got mini buses to the main area, then that is the end of being spoilt. We set of for the performance. It was unbelievable. They are so graceful, yet so strong, and some are very young. The school has about 8000 students being taught Kung Fu there. Fabio and Gloria went on a volunteers, they both did really well. Fabio won! After the performance we set off for Dharma cave where a nun has been living and meditating for four years. It is wwaaaaaaayyyyyyy up towards Wuru Peak on Song Mountain. It was such a hard ... read more

Well, I suppose I should begin by apologizing and thanking those who encouraged me to continue blogging. So thanks to Mom and Tucker, I am gonna give it another go. I hope you continue to read, I am gonna give one or two updates a month. As many know, I spent the intervening months since my last post and now taking care of law school applications. I fell into a nice groove studying for the LSATs. Since I only work 25 hours/week, it left plenty of time to study, exercise, and ensure my mental health leading up to the test day. Pretty phenomenal how one test can determine so much. Five points on the test can mean the difference between a top 50 law shool and a top 5. I scored a 169 to those who ... read more