Jess off to c the world

Dunhuang for me was the part of the trip I was looking most forward to, we just had to get there. I was only around 5hours by train from Jiayuguan but the train times were all really stupid times. In the end our train was supposed to depart around 5am infact it was delayed and departed just before 7 and even then became further delayed so we eventually arrived around noon. Then according to all the information that I could find we wanted to head for Charlie’s café which was apparently across the street from the bus station. Unfortunately the bus station moved 3years ago and the café is no longer opposite it. So after we took a taxi to the bus station we then found out from two German guys that we had to walk ... read more

Life in Baiyin is fantastic! Its been an amazing first month. Just after my last blog Carole arrived, my new flatmate and school buddie. And she's awesome! Been invited out for dinner and lunches calmed down a little, although we still have been invited to some delicious meals both at people's houses and restaurants. Karakoe has become a weekly part of our lifes, Ben and Myself were invited along with Ben's landlord and friends to KTV for an evening of singing and eating, we enjoyed it so much we took Carole and Bob there a few nights later. They have a choice of English songs and for where we are it is a pretty good selection, and it makes a great night out rather than just sitting and talking to eachother. With there only been four ... read more

After leaving Yangshuo at 8 we had an hour drive to Guilin followed by a flight to Xian then a further flight to Lanzhou before finally been picked up by Mr Lee at the airport for the 1hour drive to Baiyin! It was a long tiring day but the drive from Lanzhou to Baiyin was amazing but in a completely different way, like nothing I have seen ever before. Gansu is mostly desert and although from november to march it barely rises above 0'c it rarely rains. Everything is dry but there are some desert shrubs and the mountains are stunning. But as soon as you arrive into Baiyin its completely flat, the city is very modern and beautiful in that sense as you drive in. We were literally taken straight out for dinner, I very ... read more

First stop Guangzhou!! But only for a few hours to wait for my connecting flight to Guilin, my flight was a little delayed but that just made it less of a wait so I wasn’t too bothered. However that fact that it took an hour and a half just too clear immigration was annoying, in the middle of the day when they have flights arriving all the time I understand but at 1 in the morning when we were the only flight! Really! Well at least I didn’t have to wait for my bag to arrive; it had probably been around the carousel a dozen times by the time I got chance to collect it. Anyway all I then had to do was make my way over to the domestic departures to relax for a few ... read more

My last day in China had finally arrived a little too quickly, but it was here and it was going to be a very long day. I had managed to get a whole 3 hows sleep before getting up at 430 for the bus to Shanghai. We had to arrive in Shanghai early to meet two of the teachers flight hence the super early start. But this gave me a whole day to spend in Shanghai along with Shirwa, Marcus, Carlos and Imani. My flight was 1am in the morning so I had to leave for the airport after dinner, Carissa's flight was in the evening so she wasn't able to spend the whole day with us but at least had a chance to take a look around Shanghai. So we arrived in Shanghai around 930 ... read more