Hello from Shanghai! I don't really have an awful lot to say in this blog, as Shanghai is more of a business city than a tourist city so we haven't really done much except wander round and marvel at the amazing architecture, but I wanted Shanghai in my list of places for this trip so I have to blog from it! Here have some photos. Pretty impressive, eh? Highlights include seeing the TV tower lit up at night, wanderig around the French consession area of Shnaghai, and eating parts of a chicken I dodn't know were edible. Feet? Anus? Anyone? No? And I leave you with a loud screech of excitement that I'M GOING TO TOKYO TOMORROW! I'm a wee bit excited, can you tell? Which is good, because it's overshadowing the terror about going to ... read more

After doing a lot more research it turns out we can't get our Russian visas in Japan after all, because you have to have BEEN there for more then 90 days, not just be ABLE to be there for more than 90 days. However it seems that as a British citizen I can get one in Hong Kong, because we're automatically considered residents there, or something. Anyway, the Russian Embassy in Hong Kong has forms on their website specifically for British Citizens who are applying there. So I am reasonably confident that I'll be able to get one there (well, ish, the forms are REALLY scary! Lots of detail required!). However this means I now have to go to Hong Kong (alone!), which I was not originally planning to do, and therefore means that whilst there ... read more

So you know how I said I wouldn't be online/blogging much since Ralph's laptop died? Yeah I lied. Whenever he's in class teaching English I don't really have a lot else to do so I go on the computers at his work. Although I can't go on facebook of course, boo. But I did remember to bring my camera and lead in, so you can actually have photos this time! Anyway so today I almost fainted for the first time in my life! Fun times. We were going to try and go to Beihei park but half way through the subway trip I just felt like I was going vomit, then had a massive head rush despite not having just stood up. So we went home instead. Soooo Beihei park will have to wait for another ... read more

Hey guess what? I'M IN CHINA!!! Sorry to those of you who asked me to update facebook as soon as I arrived, but facebook is one of a long list of sites blocked by the government in China. So I won't be updating for a while! Which is annoying because all the people who wanted postcards sent me their addresses on there... So umm, send me an email or a message on here with your address if you want a postcard? Anywho, I arrived yesterday afternoon after a very smooth journey, no delays etc and was met at the airport by Ralph. Alas my giant rucksack prevented me from doing the whole 'running and jumping into his arms' thing. I totally would have otherwise. He lives in the China Communication University (yes that's it's real name. ... read more

Hello my ever jelous readers! I have recently returned from a fabulous weekend trip to Milan, dahling. (Sorry couldn't resist.) My spanish and italian techer whilst I was at college, Carla, moved to Milan last year so I went to stay with her and her new husband for the weekend. I arrived on friday and saw the duomo, although I didn't go inside, and we went for a walk around some of Milan and had a drink and a catch up. Then we went to the Festa dell'Unità which is the democratic party's festival so there were lost of hippy-ish stalls, bars, bands atc. Was lovely, a really nice atmosphere. On saturday we went for lunch at her husband's parents house and I was shown a billion wedding photos and videos! Then we went to the ... read more