Rat on the Road's Guestbook

You captured Odessa well
Hi, I was assigned to Odessa for 6 weeks for the 2007 election. I loved it. I was there when President Victor... (senior moment).. came and opened the Opera House that had been closed for about 20 years for renovations. The operas are often in the afternoons and very cheap. When I went the House Manager gave me a private tour, pointing out interesting features of the decor. Thanks for bringing me back to Odessa. I'm sure you often lunch in the Athena shopping centre buffet. That place was built by the Greek government. It's the Jewish diaspora, who were driven out of Odessa by the Nazis, who are paying for most of the refurbishments in Odessa. Cheers, Sheila

What a time to move to Ucraine!
And what a difference it must be from living in Asia

it's time to move on again.
Bon voyage and enjoy smelling the flowers. Looking forward to the news!

Chicken bits and hocking up
We joke that you can tell you've been in Asia too long when you tuck into a plate of chicken feet and bones/gristle without blinking an eye! We often wonder where all the mucous comes from as well...the only time we have put a Chinese person to shame with hocking up was when we had really bad colds and chest infections. THEN we were able to do it!

Good summary...
I would add that there aren't many overt political statements such as red flags and pictures of leaders as there are in Vietnam. Shanghai is more the economic capital; the statements made by the architecture and markets speak this loud an clear. I visited in 2009, a year before the World's Fair, and they were just clearing the hutongs for the site...a year later they had completed all the pavilions and other infrastructure...they really move fast!

I am envious of your lifestyle, and hope to one day do the same! Thanks for sharing your minibreak travels, looking forward to your explores of the area.

Lovely
oh how we loved Suzhou!!! thanks for bringing lovely memories Guys B&T

Bookmark
Yep - looking for a place like Hornbill Huts !! Thanks

If you build it, they will come
Great to at last get the inside goss on your move to Lingang. You may recall when you were considering the move from HCMC to Lingang I suggested you check out whether it was populated before you rushed in. I'd seen an item on 60 minutes that included Lingang and plenty of film footage of empty streets of this "ghost city". Delighted to hear you are upbeat and enjoying life there and looking forward to its future. "If you build it, they will come" is a Chinese ethos as well, certainly if it reads "If you build roads, they will come."

animals!
I loved reading this blog, and it has made me more determined about planning a safari trip soon. I was looking forward to more zebra/animal jokes, so was a bit disappointed on that front... :)

Exploring Africa
What a great trip! Really enjoyed it.