Blogs from Shaanxi, China, Asia - page 9

Geo: 34.27, 108.9Ráno se probouzíme rozumně, žádný stres, a po snídani vyrážíme na vlakové nádraží, odkud má jezdit autobus k Terracottové armádě. Jedeme metrem k nádraží a hledáme. Ze začátku moc úspěšní nejsme, ale po zeptání se v jednom obchodě nacházíme to správné místo, kde je jeden zelený bus s ohromným nápisem Terracotta army vedle druhého. Nasedáme a vyrážíme. Cesta trvá kolem hodinky a vzhledem k tomu, že během cesty na nás přišel hlad, po vystoupení z busu si vybíráme jednu z mnoha restaurací a objednáváme si kuře K... read more

2.6.14 CHANGWU: Distance: 84 Kms SubT. 1,775 Kms Bal 10,720 Kms Road Condition: Good Weather: blue sky, then thick smog, coal dust, high humidity, 34C Time in Saddle: 4.5 hrs Av Speed: av. 22 kph. Av Cadence. Rpm Elevation: e 1500 m up; 1000m down multiple times Calories burned : Thousands ...... Just discovered total distance is 12,650, NOT 12,150 I thought. So have added on 500 km to balance, damnit! Endeavour to upload photos with most blogs, but often internet is to weak to sustain upload. PLEASE NOTE NAME OF PLACE IN FORMAL BLOG TITLE MAY NOT RESEMBLE ANYTHING CLOSE TO THIS TOWN NAMED ABOVE. I DO NOT KNOW THE NAME OF THIS TOWN'S PROVINCE, AND THE SITE WONT OPEN UNLESS I PUT SOMETHING IN THE BOX. THIS WILL LIKELY BE THE FUTURE!!! NB. Apple ... read more

31.5.16 ( last day of Spring) XIAN:REST DAY Weather: FINE, SMOG THICK. 33C Today is our rest day. Some of group headed off to ride the wall surrounding the city, others to the Terracotta Warriors. I have had a quiet morning wandering local neighbourhoods. The hotel is well located, nearby to the BELL TOWER, a monolithic building in Chinese style, and a large park surrounded by other large buildings in Chinese style. The retail district is extensive with stores such as Zara, Sephora, Uni Glo, Starbucks, McDonalds, Apple. There are myriad local stores much like you would find in any large city. Many restaurants promoting Chinese food. It all looks similar, and I am over it!! Had McDonald's and Starbucks so you can well understand how desperate I have become for other flavoured food!! There are ... read more

After months and months of grey skies, we woke up late feeling rather down by all the gloom. I went to the window and opened the curtains and, lo and behold, blue skies were smiling down on me! Because we were already running very late, I told Jarek, "Let's just go ride bikes around the city wall instead of going to class!" He wasn't sure if I was serious, but I was not kidding. Months and months of grey is hard so I needed to take advantage of the beautiful day! (Good thing, too, because the next day was back to grey.) Jarek agreed... I really am not a bad influence all the time, I promise! It was an absolutely perfect day to ride bikes around the wall! It was a little cool with the breeze, ... read more

Back in February, Jarek and I decided we would find a way to make it to Hong Kong for the Asia Area Women's Conference. We agreed with the owner of a music studio to trade teaching music lessons for plane tickets to Hong Kong. I am not going to go into all the details leading up to this point - it isn't a very fun story and it would take way too long - but because of cultural differences, miscommunications, and a few other reasons we made the decision to stop teaching the class. Like I said, it is a very long story so I am not going to go into that, but what I do want to talk about is what we did during our little "music" class every Saturday for the last couple months. ... read more