Blogs from Yangzhou, Jiangsu, China, Asia - page 2

Yangzhou has a history of almost 2,500 years, being founded in the Spring and Autumn Period when it was called Guangling. It was called Hancheng during Warring States Period (403-221 BC) (Perkins). In 590 AD, the city began to be called Yangzhou, which was the traditional name of what was then the entire southeastern part of China. Situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, Yangzhou is located in the middle of Jiangsu province. The place is famous for its natural scenery of lakes and gardens. The famous Grand Canal that stretched more than 1,000 miles linking the southern part with the northern part. The Grand Canal, aside from being known as the longest man-made canal, played a very signifi... read more

New photos on: http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg311/draftwrite/ …..Christmas is approaching but not with the same avaricious fanfare as in Western countries but the Chinese are catching on to the commercial aspects of the Season of Goodwill & there are tonnes of tinsel to be seen, fake Christmas trees, gigantic in some cities, but the big-arse, (literally), illuminated white reindeer under which you used to walk to the escalators at the Living Mall have thankfully been removed in favour of some very large, but more tasteful, coloured chandeliers. The Chinese versions of Christmas songs endemic at this time of year, are still, even now, bizarre, irritating or both..... ….I haven't been a prolific blogger recently, anyway I think a few people are catching up on the backlog & I have been busy trying... read more

New photos on: http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg311/draftwrite/ Using a few photos from the new phone. Not great quality but I sometimes snap things I'd miss with the SLR, like the new beer in the first picture or the sunset when I don't have the "real" camera with me. …..Xiao Wei delivered a baby daughter, 3.4kg. It must have been a great relief as she looked ready to deliver about 3 months ago. As Chinese people are concerned about the quality of the powdered milk from local suppliers where possible they prefer to use imported products. As a paediatrician she has done her research & luckily the nationality of the chosen product is that of my Dutch friend, Klass. who enlists some friends to order & send some. It arrives from Holland almost on time so I take it to ... read more

New photos on: http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg311/draftwrite/ …..the manbag is, to some people, a contentious issue. It's just another name for a handbag after all & might look a little, well, effeminate. I tend to rely on cargo pants to carry around the increasing amount of life's essentials, phone, electronic translator, pens various cards etc. However Chance Neale & I, at La Mian for a quick lunch on Friday, discover a Real Man's manbag. I already mentioned to Chance on the bus that, having left my camera at home there would almost certainly be something worth photographing. Luckily I have my tablet with me. Sorry, the picture quality isn't good but you can probably see from the photo at the top, you don't kick sand in the face of a man with a bag like this..... …..talking ... read more

New photos on: http://s251.photobucket.com/albums/gg311/draftwrite/ …..a visa to go to China? Should be easy but my friends from Melbourne, Bruce & Kerry have been working hard for theirs, for their planned trip at the end of June & into July. They've jumped through a few hoops while I've been trying to organise trips & accommodation & plan travel from Chongqing, through Hunan & down to Guilin before they fly back. They were originally asked for a complete list of ALL places they would be staying over the 3 weeks they'll be here, which sent me into a spin as I prepared to, overnight, book all the accommodation then compile all the information to send for them to persuade the authorities it would be safe to let them in. However the next time they went the provisional itinerary ... read more