TONGLU First things first - Facebook is currently banned in China so I think i will be suffering major withdrawal symptoms! might be good for me though, maybe I'll stop thinking about myself in terms of status updates ;) Sofia bought me a brilliant Edward Monkton Travel Journal for my birthday which has already proved really handy; without it I think I would have forgotten half of the things I experience in the last two days. I think this entry might prove quite long though, so you have been warned! I left Glasgow at 1305 on 2nd November and really was very excited. I appraoched the Emirates desk to check in grinning like a loony and was relieved to find that my luggage was just under the 30Kg limit - I'd had visions of having ... read more

Finally, it is here. The night before my trip. I'm really excited - it's finally real. I've been working in the shop for the past month (well, apart from a cheeky week in Tunisia!) and have barely had time to even socialise so I haven't really been thinking too much about going away. Now though, it is actually real. I've packed my suitcase - might be slightly over the baggage allowance, downloaded loads of songs, bought some books and treble checked I've got my passport! I'm not even dreading the flight as much as a normally do because although it will be a very long journey I'm flying with Emirates so the entertainment and food should be good. I'm also going to take some herbal sleeping pills so hopefully will be knocked out for most of ... read more