Day 1 Our last experience of Hong Kong airport was an enforced 12 hour delay due to the typhoon pounding the area. And were flying to Hanoi then too. We had managed to make use of the time so we thought nothing of arriving early for the flight this time. Unfortunately we had spent most of those 12 hours in terminal 2. This time we were in terminal 1. About the same size as Tullamarine with mainly high-end fashion boutiques. Sad times. The Australian dollar may be going well, but not enough so I could afford a Hermes bag. Landing in Hanoi in steamy, humid conditions, I felt sticky from the moment we exited the plane. We had organised a pick up at the airport so the transfer to the hotel was smooth (unlike last time ... read more

Day 1 After the excitement of the physical examination at the airport, the flight was a bit of an anti-climax. One and a half hours after takeoff, we landed at Guilin and then transferred to Yangshuo (about a one hour drive). The scenery from the air looked impressive, but on the ground the limestone karsts were very imposing. It's a bit like Halong Bay in Vietnam without the water. We familiarised ourselves with the place by taking a walk around the town and mingling with the many tourists, although, as usual, few Westerners. We ate a small dinner by Chinese standards and when Dean went to meet the guide later in the evening, Eleanor and I caught up on the latest snooker news and had an early night. Day 2 Experienced one of the best days ... read more

Day 1: The flight was delayed because of fog, so sitting on the tarmac we were served lunch. I hoped this wasn't an example of the food to come because it was very ordinary. Eleanor noted that it was no Etihad, but I didn't have to carry a chicken on my lap, so I was fairly confident that it was a professional outfit we were flying. Landing in the fog (or smog?), we couldn't see anything. 3:30pm and you could cut the air with a knife. My lungs were constricting with the thought of what it would actually be like outside. The fog had penetrated the terminal and I was hoping my asthma pump was within reach. Adding to the mass of chemicals in the air was the stench of cigarette smoke. Ignoring the no smoking ... read more

The slow train to Gyeongju was comfortable and there was some lovely scenery to admire on the way (interspersed with massive apartment blocks that didn't look so pretty). The autumn leaves are out now, so there are various shades of red, yellow and orange alongside the tracks. Gyeongju is described in Lonely Planet as an open-air museum because of all the temples, burial mounds and other historical artefacts to be found around the town, so you can imagine how excited Dean and Eleanor are about staying here. I thought I did the right thing by booking a hotel with a spa, sauna, golf course etc (and it's next to the major temple in the area), however it was built in 1978 and has a touch of 'The Shining' about it. Located in the Barooga part of ... read more

Arriving around lunchtime after another great experience on the Japanese railway system, we found ourselves on the station concourse enjoying the free entertainment provided by a dancing troupe in colourful (and short) costumes. These girls were like cheerleaders, but I'm not sure who they were cheering for. The public transport system???? Is that why the trains are so brilliant? Is there a show on at every station at lunchtime to boost staff moral?? After the show, we hauled our suitcases up and down the overpass stairs so that we could catch a tram to our accommodation. The hostel is good, however it is slightly more frayed around the edges than other places we have stayed. The staff were excellent, settling us in, and pointed us in the direction of a place to eat lunch. We ate ... read more