So I decided to take a week out for the mid-autumn festival to visit the city of shanghai, I flew there from Yantai which luckily only took an hour and a half and I was glad of that seeing as there was turbulence for the entire time. As a nervous flyer that wasn't fun. Found my hostel nice and easy this time yay! Lovely little place right in the center of shanghai however the beds let it down there is definitely a theme over here with bad mattresses this one had springs digging in your hips. I treated myself to full English most days of my holiday just because I could although it was of course the Chinese version of our beloved meal but it was good enough. I certainly did enjoy the use of the ... read more

Hangzhou Tuesday - Setting off from Shanghai town center I got the metro to the main train station to make my way to Hangzhou 30 minutes to get there 20 minutes in a queue finally at the desk and managed to explain what I want perfect time to pay and then the girl behind the desk asks for my passport and it all falls apart as I have left it with the reception at the hostel for safekeeping what a dope! Never mind headed back to shanghai and went to see the Pearl instead I’ll try again tomorrow. Wednesday – not taking any risks today tickets have been booked online passport is in my bag and I’m out of the hostel by 6:15am nothing is stopping me today!! I get to the station pick up my ... read more

Today I ticked something off the bucket list I officially claimed the Great Wall of China! If anyone tells you it's a long straight wall they are lying through their teeth! I have no idea how many steps I climbed but I know I was high enough to be terrified to look down. The steps in some areas where around 3 stones deep and giving that I have the smallest legs in the world I was practically climbing them like a child would a cube in a soft play area.... Very attractive. Having used the metal handrails to drag myself to the top of each flight of steps I soon found that I had transferred the rusted metal stains on to my dripping face where I had been wiping it on the way up wipes at ... read more

After writing my last blog I decided that it just wasn't right to miss an entire day and seeing absolutely nothing so I got myself ready and headed down to the harbour area I had been told the light show was not to be missed so armed with my raincoat and umbrella off I went. The harbour was packed despite the weather and across Victoria harbour the lights danced across the ginormous buildings each with their own designs all following the corpus of music playing in the background. Just as I thought the show was over I turned to find a new one starting on the side of the arts centre on Kowloon harbour where I was standing it was amazing had me completely mesmerised for easily 20 minutes before I realised I was kinda soaked ... read more

How can something seem so far away and before you know it, it’s knocking on the door saying c’mon you ready! Five months ago I made a huge decision to follow my dreams on an 11 ½ hour flight all the way to China. I had wanted to travel Asia for as long as I could remember but plans always on hold for one reason or another. Well no more! I decided your nearly 30 Gemma just do it! So off I went to STA Travel and they presented me with this cool idea of teaching English while I travelled. Perfect let’s do it! Now as a rather analytical person this was the point I had a million questions how do I get a visa? What injections do I need? How much is everything? Absolute madness!! ... read more