China - I am here at last, can I come home now please? :-)

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Well I finally arrived but there is so much to tell already that I am tired just at the thought, lazy I know, so firstly I will uploads some photos and video and then I will write my blog.

Right so that's done. Where to start on whats happened so far?? I feel I may have started this a little late on in the day as I am expecting a Skype call in ten minutes and then need to go and get some grub, although I am not particularly hungry, but so far I have only had 1 meal a day, no breakfast and I will either have a late lunch or early dinner. I don't know why, perhaps its the heat?

So I wont go into my arrival to China at Guangzhou Airport it was traumatic and frustrating enough at the time. Put it this way - do not assume that because you are flying into an International Airport that there are any helpful signs in English or even 1 person who speaks English. I now know why they are so desperate for English teachers here. The worst thing though is with Chinese people it is all about saving face so if you ask them something they do not know, they will not let you know that. So when I was asking how to get from Arrivals to domestic departures (because there were three signs all telling you to go to different places) each person would just point aimlessly. After a long, frustrating walk (with 19kilos on my back) in every direction possible and to all three buildings that the airport is made up of, I finally made it to departures but then no desk would accept me and I was sent on yet another wild goose chase from desk to desk getting more desperate by the hour, but the more upset I got the more they laughed at me - Nice!

Anyhoo will finish this tomorrow as I am now off to eat, drink and be merry!

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Photos

Yangshuo
1st night at the start of West Street, this was at the beginning of May Day weekend so it was extremely busy.

Monkey Janes rooftop bar
here you get a good mix of chinese and Westerners with an awesome view as well

Monkey Janes rooftop bar
another view

Beer Pong at Monkey Janes
the bar at night is centred around this game, its very entertaining to watch especially as the chinese girl beats them all hands down.

Restaurant balcony
I didnt realise their menu was centred around western food until too late so I ordered a hamburger, of which I had two bites before realising it was unlikely to be beef or anything else I recognised for that matter, so I ate no more and paid through the nose for it, live and learn!

Bobby lookalike
This was the last thing I expected to see, however I have been back everyday since to say hello to my Bobby lookalike and although shy at first he let me shower him with attention today :-)

Comments

[anonymous]

Bobby was sent from heaven to look after you honey. Love Mum xx

[dad]

ET phone home
time to set up a skype call, me thinks. love and miss you. Dad xxx