GREAT WALL Hi Canuck. I've been to Mutianyu twice and Jinshanling, but only in winter...each time a very different experience. There was no toboggan ride at Mutianyu when I was there so I guess this is an added attraction. I recommend Jinshanling when you next visit...a bit further out but very spectacular.
A TOBOGGAN RIDE Wow. What part of the Great Wall did you go? Was it Badaling? I haven't heard of a toboggan ride and I haven't been to Badaling, but I've been to other parts.
Hi Dave,
We went to the Mutianyu part of the Great Wall. It was wonderful! It was about an hour from Beijing. We didn't know about the toboggan part of the ride until we arrived, and it was a no-brainer for me. It was one of the highlights for me. What parts of the Great Wall have you visited? I'd like to go during the summer/fall the next time I go.
Cheers,
Kate
Banana heaven on a plate Hello, LOVE these banana crepe things too, and been searching for the stretchy dough recipe forever and found one just today... so here you go. Best of luck
Ingredients:
1 lb. unbleached white flour (3 1/4 cups)
1 tsp. salt
1 Tbsp. white sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 Tbsp. milk
3/4 cup water
1/2 cup cooking oil (safflower, palm or peanut) or ghee
1/4 cup butter, melted
Sweetened condensed milk and sugar to serve (optional)
Preparation:
Sift flour into a bowl. Mix in sugar and salt. Form a well in the center and stir in beaten egg and milk. Add water, stir to mix.
Turn out onto a table and knead until elastic, about 5 minutes. Form into a ball and allow to rest for at least 30 minutes, covered with a damp cloth or plastic wrap.
Roll the dough into a long log shape. Divide into 16 portions (a kitchen scale is useful) and shape into small balls. Brush each with oil, return to the bowl (stacking is ok) and cover. Rest for another 30 minutes (or longer).
Take one portion, spread a little oil on top with fingertips and flatten with your hands or a rolling pin.
Pick up the flattened dough by the edge closest so that your left hand is holding it with the thumb under the dough and the fingers on top and with your right hand hold it with the thumb on top and the side of the index finger underneath. Rotate and stretch the dough in a forward, circular, clockwise motion, slapping the far end on the table. Continue to rotate several times, until it becomes almost see-through. Then lift the dough at one point with two fingers in such a way that it drapes down like a piece of cloth and using a circular motion, spin the dough loosely into a snail-like round. Set aside on a greased surface.
Heat a griddle pan well covered in oil over high heat. Flatten the dough snail again into a approximately 5-inch round. Fry, lowering the heat to medium. Turn to brown both sides, brushing with butter.
Remove from the griddle and serve hot with curry or drizzle with sweetened condensed milk and sugar. Serve the sweet roti rolled up in greaseproof paper and if desired beat lightly in the paper with a rolling pin to flake the bread before serving.
Serves 4.
why is the world so big...... The world is so big so that you would be able travel to every culture to show them that Love and Hope is possible if they use their "HEARTS" before they use their minds. You have become the perfect Daughter in every sense you could possibly be and you make me so proud of your confidence to accomplish what you have set your goals to be. I knew your future was going to be the brighest star in the sky the moment you opened your beautiful Blue eye's and smiled up at the world...you didn't even cry! It was that moment I knew my world was complete and you haven't looked back since,lol
I have been telling perfect strangers where you are and what your doing and they are so captivated by my stories they call you "Wonder Woman" I know boy are we old....nah your just that inspiring!
So as I write your heading onto another airplane for another touch of culture shock and surpirises. I admire you so much for having the heart to "go for it" and make the best out of what your dealt with and no matter how frustrating the world can be, you always find a way to turn it into a Smile.
Wander on Little One and I'll be walking beside you when I meditate and seek out your aura, I miss you ever minute of the day until I hear Skype ringing and my heart skips a beat because then I know I have connected with you, its funny how that works for me huh? Have lots of fun in Singapore and enjoy the spender that is everywhere along your path in life.
All My Love
Dad
homesick hugs :-) I TOTALLY know how you are feeling!!!!!!! You are never alone when you carry your family and friends with you in your heart :-) As much as we miss you, we are even more in awe of your courage to follow your dreams and live the adventure! We live vicariously through your stories of life on the other side. Be safe and have fun, Hugs Me!
Thanks! I couldn't believe how stupidly homesick I was Thursday night. I was never that homesick kid. I can remember my mom telling me stories about how when I went to my first GG camp I couldn't get rid of her fast enough to get on the bus while my friends were still in tears.
I'm so glad that I'm doing this. When else do I have the flexibility to?
*hugs!* :)
Mmmmm Yummy You must try and supplement your protien in one form or another, I would imagine vitamins are pricey not to mention whether or not how accurate the label is??? As for Octopus it just tastes like your eating rubber as far as consistancy goes but lacking in flavour, try and get a live one to eat they are the most fun,lol Some how I don't see that happening little one but give it a shot anyway its good for a laugh. Take care BG and talk to you soon.
Luv,
Daddio
Mmmm...tentacles! I meant to bring vitamins, but they're on the kitchen counter. Well done, I know. I've eaten meat during my times off and have still eaten tofu to get my protein. I also have the peanut butter that Santa left in my stocking. I bought some crackers, and they've gone quite well with the PB.
As for the octopus, my goal is to suck it up enough to try a live one while I'm here, just for the experience. Gotta try and take in the culture, right?
Love you too, Dad!
No....... You can't bring Kimchi back with you, first off you would have to hide him/her in your back pack to see if he/she travels well (if he/she is anything like Pooters was he/she most likely is) then try and sneak it into all the different countries you plan on hitting when your done there. Cool colored eyes though huh?,lol thought I would spell the word correctly for you, ha ha in all honesty I think it should be spelled the american way anyway! Lots of Love Honey to you and Kimchi....you could have called him/her "Hello Kitty" like all the chinlea do here, as we got a picture of this green cat that is missing that sort of looks like that older larger Grey male thats been around all summer but this one is new I think, hope they find him before Willey the Coyote does! Love Ya
Route maps for anywhere in the world email-- http://www.rome2rio.com/ This was so cool to get this in the timely fashion that it did, mind you it would have been better to have had it sooner that way you could plan which direction to go and when. This site is so neat it has air/rail/driving/ and even a booking calendar that shows you which airlines fly where and when and even how much it costs....now isn't that cool everything in one neat package. Hope it helps in your decisions as to which way your coming or going. Gotta Love the School of Pizza, I know I have it backwards but it's funnier this way. Enjoy the people my BG and you will find things becoming easier by the day, don't forget to smile they are not used to them....lol
Love Ya
Daddio
I'm leaving on a jet plane..... Don't know when I'll be back again....but when you do you will be all that much richer with a lifetime of memeories and stories that will last until your next adventure. Plus it is nice to be the first to sign your guest book BG. It's freezing rainy snow here today, you know the kind of day you just want to snuggle under the covers around a roaring fire. Enjoy yourself and always be careful. Love You
Dad
I'm missing you already..... I miss you when your busy and don't get home until we are almost ready for bed, and we don't get a chance to catch up and for you to tell us how your day was. I fear I will go crazy without being able to hug you and squeeze you for a couple of months...maybe you better leave Kitty for me to snuggle until you return to us happy and more whole then you have ever been before. I am glad your following in our foot steps and travelling while you have the chance, being young only goes around once so make the most of it while you can and learn what others in life have to do to make their lives work for them. Live Long and Prosper in Knowledge Little One, grab it by the short ones and don't let go until you have it down to a fine art. I Love You so much my Little One and can't wait until we see each other in person once again, so don't make it to long please. After all we can only hold your Bro off for so long,lol
Daddio
Packing I went last summer for 5 weeks, backpacking in Europe.
I read all the blogs and posts about what to pack and what not to pack and that being said, the only real way is to learn from experience I think.
Because I was moving around a lot I started to hate my heavy pack towards the end of the trip. Bring as little as possible.
Brief run down of what I had:
- clothes (1 pair pants, 1 pair shorts, 1 dress, 1 skirt and 4 shirts, 3 pairs socks, 1 bathing suit, 1 pair sandals, 1 pair walking shoes, 1 pair fancy shoes (as i was going to be with family for fancy dinners)
- laptop, camera and associated cables and chargers
- toiletries (travel bottles of shampoo and conditioner, moisturizer, makeup, medications)
- small bottle with laundry detergent
- umbrella & rain jacket
- purse
- water bottle
Think I might be missing something but that's basically it. Also, my backpack had a smaller zip on daypack that was useful as well
I know I picked up a lot along the way so that really added to the weight
Why watch all those tv programs and movies about exotic destinations when you can just visit them yourself?
I feel as though I constantly have the travel bug. So far, my travels have taken me to different parts of Canada, the United States, Mexico, England, France and Switzerland. This time around, I am going to teach English at a Winter Camp in Korea. While I'm that far away from home, I'm hoping to explore other parts of Asia.
Feel free to leave your comments on my blog entries. Share your experiences and places you recommend visiting, and others to stay far away from. Also, take ... full info
Dancing Dave
David Hooper
GREAT WALL
Hi Canuck. I've been to Mutianyu twice and Jinshanling, but only in winter...each time a very different experience. There was no toboggan ride at Mutianyu when I was there so I guess this is an added attraction. I recommend Jinshanling when you next visit...a bit further out but very spectacular.