Japan, Land of the Rising Sun. Karaoke, karate, sushi, sashimi, ninjas and noodles. What rot, it’s the land of the constant bing-bong! On the trains, the subway, in the shops or on the streets, wherever you go there is some form of noise to accompany you. So with a bing and a bong and a bow from immigration, the Japanese adventure began. After a nice flight with JAL (naturally good service, bad films) we disembarked a bit dishevelled at Narita airport and headed off to the Japan Rail offices to pick up our train passes ready for some efficient times ahead. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well, it's been a long time since I wrote a blog, or at least it feels like it. Apart from a brief trip to New York for work at the end of March, I've had a long summer of no holidays and work, work, work. Still, as autumn nears and the nights draw in, it's time for the holidaying to begin. First up was a quick trip up to Scotland to do some walking, being a bit fond of the old mountain vistas it was nice to get a chance get out of the flatlands and get some scenery. Destination was [View Full Entry]

---

---

Over the last six months I’ve been lucky enough to see some of the best mountain ranges in the world. The Swiss Alps with their chocolate box pretty villages, the cactus friendly San Bernadino Mountains in California, Whistler in British Colombia and of course, not forgetting the Himalayas in China. The biggest and wildest range of mountains I’ve ever had the privilege to visit. But I’m sure if you took a designer or architect and asked them to build a set of mountains, they would take the form of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park, the geometry and design of [View Full Entry]

---

---

Take ten Korfballers, a flight across the Atlantic and a few inches of snow, and what do you get? Yep, it's the SnowDrifter Tours trip for ten glorious days snowboarding in Whistler, B.C. Awesome dudes! This year’s motley crew arrived in dribs and drabs over the ocean, some choosing to visit Vancouver for a couple of extra days before hand. I was part of the late crew going directly to Whistler and the rendezvous was as the Creekside apartments at the foot of Whistler Mountain, site of the 2010 Winter Olympics, not that they like to go on about it much… [View Full Entry]

---

---

Christmas was coming and the goose was getting fat, but I couldn’t really give a Figgie pudding myself as I was off to San Diego to visit my most AWESOME brother for the Christmas festivities. Luckily, my brother (did I mention he was AWESOME) invited me out for my first Xmas stateside. Leaving a dark and gloomy Olde London town, I checked in and sat back for 10 hours of the finest air travel money can buy (in my dreams). Finally my lovely little twin prop landed in San Diego, always a fun landing and my most AWESOME brother (right, enough [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well, I made it back from my second epic adventure around China, and finally have found a moment to tell you the story of our Tibetan trials and tribulations. And of course show you a few more of some of the 1300 or so photos I managed to take in 3 weeks. If you have the time and patience, read on… The trip to Shanghai didn’t get off to the best start with fog delaying our departure, but as with my last trip to China, on arrival in Shanghai we took the marvellous Maglev in to the heart of the city. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Ni Hao my most Honorable friends, I finally reach capital of my most beloved Motherland of China where I pay my respects to Father of great nation of China, Tongzhi Mao. Your friend Xiao Hong Ma Lie has had great fortune to see new peoples stadium for Olympics and new opera house built for our great people. I also visit great square of peace and most beautiful forbidden city. Such a visit fills my heart with joy and pride for great Motherland. Your humble friend, Tongzhi Xiao Hong Ma Lie. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Ni Hao everyone, a quick catch up to show you some of the many (500+) photos I've taken of Tibet! So far the journey has been a bit exhausting as we have travelled huge distances in a very short time. In a Tibetan walnut shell it has been: London-Shanghai (lovely BA delays nearly spoiled the whole thing) Shanghai airport - Shanghai on the lovely, lovely Maglev (430kmph!) Shanghai - Lhasa on the new Qinghai railway (2717miles and highest point 5700m) Top Tip - take your own loo roll! Lhasa - Nyningchi (near the border with India, 350km) Lhasa - Shigastse (half [View Full Entry]

---

---

My most honourable friends, the time has come for me to wave sad goodbye as I depart from these shores. This week is most illustrious week for I, Tóngzhì Xiao Hóng Ma Lie will embark on journey of enlightenment and re-education in my adoptive motherland of China. The gracious and wise authorities have seen fit to grant me permission and I just receive notification of my permit to visit XiZang where I spread joy and harmonious thoughts and great wisdom of Chinese nation. My long march will begin on Saturday when I board peoples train to Lhasa and travel across most [View Full Entry]

---

---

Aware that you all may be fed-up of receiving these emails now and bored of my holiday snaps (as if you could ever be!), I’ll keep this one brief. I went to Geneva for the weekend, hired a cheap car, got upgraded to a 4x4 for free, so was happy about that. Stayed with some friends in Geneva, didn’t see the city, went mountain walking (climbing more like) in France, Portes du Soleil area and also went to Yvoires on the shores of Lake Geneva. It was beautiful/pretty/spectacular/French/Swiss/Apline/Heidi/chocolatey all at the same time. Oh and I flew from City airport for [View Full Entry]

---

---