Blogs from Asia - page 13020

Well, this was our last full day in China and we got up early and was at the Forbidden City about 15 minutes before it opened. There was still quite a crowd, but nothing like the other days we had tried to come. We didn't realize that the tourist tours would start this week and it is intimidating to see all these tour buses disgorging all these keen people to see everything possible in a short time. The smog is unbelievable compared to 2 weeks ago when we first got here. We are ready to get home and get back into real life again. The biggest three buildings of The Forbidden City ( the ones you see in movies) are closed and being restored for the 2008 Olympic Games, so that cut down quite a bit ... read more

There is such a lot to tell you since my last entry and so little time so this will be a bit of a whistle stop tour through the last week. After the Dalai's teaching we went to our placement with Nyima the Gap rep, and we were very glad she was there. The nunnery is in a very small rural Indian village about an hour and a half from Dharamsala so we definately stood out! We got to the nunnery and found there was hardly anyone around so say and had some chai to wait till the Head nun returned. We got talking to (through Nyima because they didn't speck much English, or Tibetan for that matter, and spoke Hindi only) four exceptionally cute nuns who were around ten. We tried to break the ice ... read more

Walked towards the centre of Singapore via Raffles hotel. I then went down Orchard Road where the road is just full of shopping malls, each mall had very similar shops. I did come across 4 Marks and Spencers which sold everything including the English food. I tried to get on the Singapore night time visit of the zoo but it is fully booked for the next 3 days so no time left there. The temperature seems to be cool but they reckon it is 33C, I find the humidity is higher, hopefully this goes the further north I go.... read more

I feel that thus far in life, I've fulfilled most of my dreams. Not to say that I don't have a longggg list of things to still accomplish...but to date I feel pretty content. Living abroad has always been in the Top 5. Now that I am here in Japan I am realizing why it is that I craved this experience. There is something so educational about being uncomfortable. You can be the most laid back, open, adventurous person alive (which I strive for...) and still feel uncomfortable in a new environment. Tokyo is one of the easiest and hardest environments EVER. So far I have felt ok with only understanding 1/10th of what people are saying to me. The food is yummy, people are nice and the subway is fine as long as you have ... read more

Three days in transit from Thailand to Laos: the first five hours spent on a ‘VIP’ minibus (VIP simply denoting very low ceilings and the inability to open the windows) broken only by a stop at a remote warehouse filled with cashew nuts. Night in Chiang Khong, with Laos dimly visible through the haze on the Mekong. Crossed the border by means of a small boat (mockery made of airport efficiency when in transit between countries, anyone was allowed to stumble past) and were welcomed by a very steep hill. A trifle embarrassed to see a Canadian grandmother shoulder her rucksack and stride off as we panted behind. Two days then spent slowly drifting down the Mekong through the haze. The river runs between sandbanks and mountains with tiny villages perched up high over the water’s ... read more