Blogs from Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China, Asia - page 2

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Asia » China » Zhejiang » Hangzhou March 22nd 2014

Hello Everyone It’s been a month since the last blog but not much has really happened in that time that has been overly exciting to write about. I’ve been covering some classes for people on holiday which have all gone well. For most of April I will be covering holiday at the other center in Hangzhou the Wulin center where I did the first lot of Winter Phonics Camp. It has made me slightly stressed as I have to plan lessons for classes I don’t know but I guess once they are done, they are done and if they are good I don’t have to worry about planning that lesson again. I got my confirmation a few weeks back about my transfer to Guangzhou. So my last day at the Xiaoshan center will be Monday 12th ... read more
On the pretty bridge
Leifeng Pagoda
Leifeng Pagoda

Asia » China » Zhejiang » Hangzhou February 1st 2014

18hrs of Phonics AHHHH!!!!!! Well apart from covering the lessons I had a few weeks back I haven’t actually done any real work since arriving in Hangzhou, that was until I got a message from my centre manager saying that the other centre (the one thats actually in Hangzhou and not fake Hangzhou like us) needed someone to take a Level 2 winter camp phonics lessons. Now there has been numerous meetings and emails and chats in our staff room about the phonics winter camp but I took no mind to it at all because it was all sorted and arranged before I even arrived so I wasn’t involved with our centres. So the fact I was given the opportunity to get involved was a little daunting at first. I was asked on the Saturday when ... read more
main meal take 2
Dessert!!!
The Gang

Asia » China » Zhejiang » Hangzhou January 22nd 2014

Always look on the bright side of life Work So after beers with the FT crew on Monday 13th I had one more day of work before my weekend started. Now since just after I arrived I’ve been covering Casey’s lessons and then last Sunday when Casey managed to make it back I covered Rebecca’s classes that day as she’s been really ill. They have been a great experience and although somewhat chaotic because everyone has their own routines but it was great teaching kids, learning new lessons and generally having fun with the students and the content of the lessons. I don’t think I’ll every come home from a day of work not singing one of the songs from that day. Having only heard one song twice so far I already know it word for ... read more
IMG_2360
posing :-)
Taking it all in

Asia » China » Zhejiang » Hangzhou January 16th 2014

Again I’m super sorry for the delay but again it’s been a crazy couple of weeks. Pretty much topped off with having my phone stolen and over here in China you have no hope of ever getting it back again so I haven’t been able to contact anyone. I know it’s only a phone but it was the one way of keeping in contact with people back in the UK, it had numbers in it I’ll never get back, photos that can never be replaced. So yeah there were a lot of tears. So now to back track back to Christmas eve and making my way to Hangzhou. Christmas the true story I booked my train tickets and had to get the 0830 train from Shanghai Hongqaio train station, you can’t book your taxi in advance ... read more
My desk
The board before the changes
Merry Christmas

Asia » China » Zhejiang » Hangzhou December 31st 2013

Geo: 30.25, 120.17Ok so this is the third time I am regretting not packing any Strepsil-type medicine. I got a sore throat in India, in Taiwan and now in China. So I think it will happen again... As a result I am in one of those mood where I would love to just roll from my bed to my sofa and just stay there with the TV on and a good cup of tea. Well, clearly you can't do that in an hostel. Instead I got woken up at dawn by a couple in my dorm and they took forever to get ready...when I finally got up, at 9am which is not that late at all, I had to face the cold living room. I didn't stay there. Instead I went to crab some food and ... read more

Asia » China » Zhejiang » Hangzhou December 30th 2013

Geo: 30.25, 120.17The lake is not that big so I decide to rent a bicycle to go around it. Wise choice. I had an early start because I couldn't book a bike and wanted to make sure I would get one from the hostel as it is much cheaper than in town. Around the lake there is a wide collection of Pagodas, temples and gardens. And views are so lovely that they are considered as the definition of classical beauty in China. The lake dates back from the 8th century, all of it is man-made even the island in the middle. Two famous poets, Baidi (9th century) and Sudi (11th century) added their touch to the making of the lake by added two causeways. They are very nice to cycle on, they are lined with willows ... read more
the not-so-long bridge
mini stone pagodas
morning view from Leifeng pagoda

Asia » China » Zhejiang » Hangzhou December 17th 2013

Geo: 30.25, 120.17And so that concludes the Malaysian part of my travels and how amazing it was. As I sit on the plane back to Hangzhou unable to sleep as it's a 4 hour flight of incessant turbulence, I got to thinking about just how much has happened over the last 6 Weeks (gotta do something whilst candy crush reloads right?!). I've met people from China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Norway, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, America, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Bangladesh, Japan, South Korea, Austria, Indonesia, India, Canada and possibly more that I can't remember. Each person had a really interesting story to tell and came from totally different walk of life, I've met civil engineers, lawyers, bankers, export industry workers, marine biologists, musicians, carers, tour guides, oil and gas workers, NGO workers, ... read more
They have a Christmas tree!

Asia » China » Zhejiang » Hangzhou December 7th 2013

The Venetian merchant Marco Polo visited Hangzhou in the late 13th century. He referred to the city as "beyond dispute the finest and the noblest in the world" - and this first-ever travel blogger knew his stuff! “ Heaven above, Suzhou and Hangzhou below." This is the Chinese equivalent of “Heaven on earth.” I went to Hangzhou for a three-day weekend at the end of November and it was very nice. Not exciting, but nice. I'm glad I went. First, where is it? Hangzhou is located in north western Zhejiang province, at the southern end of the Grand Canal of China which runs to Beijing, in the south-central portion of the Yangtze River Delta. In short, it is one hour by speed train southwest of Shanghai. The city centre is built around the eastern and northern ... read more
typical bridge
lone trumpeter
West Lake Gardens

Asia » China » Zhejiang » Hangzhou October 10th 2013

Thursday, October 10 - Sunday, October 13 Zhejiang, Hangzhou and Shanghai, China Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home. I can't tell you how excited and proud I was to present Hangzhou to Rachael. If nothing else can be said of her visit here, it is that the weather managed to cooperate completely over the course of the entire thing. Following a 2-days typhoon, Hangzhou was a sunny and beautiful 18°C/65°F both days, allowing for very successful traipsing. It was dried up and clear, and the air felt incredibly clean and fresh in our Beijing-ed throats and lungs. Hangzhou turned out to be quite possibly the best part of the entire expedition. Hangzhou, I've learned, is really unlike any other major city in all of China. Nothing has made me appreciate this place ... read more
Boats!
Bikes!
Climbing mountains

Asia » China » Zhejiang » Hangzhou August 28th 2013

Hi All, I walked from the Leifeng pagonda to the Lingyin Temple which was a bit further than I expected but you do walk past some beautiful gardens along the way. I must admit I was a little bit tired once I got there. The temple was originally built in 326AD and it name translates into "Temple of the Soul's Retreat" and it has been destroyed and rebuilt no fewer that 16 times. The only original parts are the two stone pagodas outside the main hall and there is also a stone structure just outside the entrance. In the main hall there is a 20 metre high statue of Siddhartha Gautama. I got fairly lucky as there was a ceremony going on with all the monks chanting and banging drums and bells. On the walk up ... read more
Lingyin Temple (4)
Lingyin Temple (33)
Lingyin Temple (31)




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