2002-2005 (c) GetJealous.com, All rights reserved. http://www.getjealous.com/potteringabouttheworld/rss.xml This is our little travel blog to keep you all updated with our shenanigans. We are doing a trip round the world, starting in India for a month, China for a month, then 3 months in South East Asia, then Australia and New Zealand. The plan is to work in Australia, save up that dollar bill and go on to South America and then hit the States. Very slow start but now we will be avid posters! http://www.getjealous.com/potteringabouttheworld http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2722309&go=potteringabouttheworld Arrived nice and sweaty on the bus and had to go through immigration, seriously questioned about my passport, jump on the subway and make our way to Hong Kong Island. It's the day before Laura's birthday so Jan and Brent brought sparkling wine and crackers to our room and we headed out to the peak. Got a tram to the top, so ridiculously busy! Far too many people but the view from the top was stun... http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2722309&go=potteringabouttheworld Mon, 30 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2721600&go=potteringabouttheworld After a long bumpy ride in a van arrived in the party town of Yangshuo. Gabbed some Chinese hamburgers (amazing) and a coke from the most picturesque McDonald's in the world.  Pottered around the markets, lost Laura, this is an issue because Laura's sense of direction in possibly the worst I've ever come across. After fretting and shouting her name in the streets we went back and to our surprise... http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2721600&go=potteringabouttheworld Fri, 27 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2721598&go=potteringabouttheworld So. Hung. Over. Said our good byes to Eric, Tim, Ryan, Richard and Bridgette and met Amy who was joining us for this bit. Trudged to the mega fancy train station and sought out some food for the 24hr journey. Georgia was having difficulty reading a dumpling menu so a lovely old Chinese man offered to translate and then she sat down with the family and had a jolly chat with them. His wife didn't u... http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2721598&go=potteringabouttheworld Wed, 25 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2720440&go=potteringabouttheworld Decided to be proper lazy tourists and get the hop on hop off city sightseeing tour bus, only cost £3!  Started at the bund again to see it in daylight, went to the old town where there was some nice markets and bridges, pottered around a bit and bussed it back to peoples place. Decided the Marriott Hotel was where we should've been staying, most beautiful hotel I've ever seen! Met our new l... http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2720440&go=potteringabouttheworld Mon, 23 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2720437&go=potteringabouttheworld Chucked our bags on a rickshaw and walked behind them to the bus station.  Ordered some breakfast, and as always, we were cutting it pretty fine to get the bus, had to ask for 'Dabang' which means take away, i had to get a head start because i couldn't run in my sandals, the others had to leg it.  Arrived in Shanghai and subwayed to the hostel.  Shanghai Went out for lunch at this pl... http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2720437&go=potteringabouttheworld Sat, 21 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2720435&go=potteringabouttheworld Arrived eventually, all a bit grumpy, went out to eat and sort our food moods.  Eating this lovely tasting dish with a strange fish/chicken texture meat, turns out to be frog.. Can tick it off the list but won't be doing it again.  Had a cheeky nap and then headed out to the lake, ate some really nice food for dinner watching the boats and that. Big light and water show, lights all over the c... http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2720435&go=potteringabouttheworld Fri, 20 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2720434&go=potteringabouttheworld Early private bus to the grottos, massive stone carvings done by buddhists ages and ages ago. The heat was intense and the Chinese tourist groups were out in force. Someone somewhere is going to have a beautiful picture of the mountains and on the bridge is Laura throwing up into the river and me patting her on the back. I started to use an umbrella like the Chinese do, protecting my pale skin. ... http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2720434&go=potteringabouttheworld Thu, 19 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2719852&go=potteringabouttheworld Had a lazy start this morning. We were booked onto a bullet train (really fast), got half way there and Eric had to go back to get his passport, silly billy. Laura was pretty  worried he would miss the train, but being the machine he is of course he made it.  Train went 299km/h, Tim about wee'd with excitement. Arrived and napped then headed out to the market. Tasted loads of amazing street fo... http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2719852&go=potteringabouttheworld Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2718896&go=potteringabouttheworld Xian day 1 Woke on the sleeper train by screaming chinese train lady, bundle into a van and arrive at the hostel. Relax in the travellers cafe waiting for our lovey dorm.. We are sent to the basement that smelt like a soggy dog and there are no windows. Great! We get ready and then it's  Power walk time, 1hr 30mins Randy style, to the goose pagoda (my former home).  There was a Buddhist schoo... http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2718896&go=potteringabouttheworld Sat, 14 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2718895&go=potteringabouttheworld Slept till mid day. Went for a bike ride on old fashioned bike with no gears and baskets at the front, we looked like we were in a scene of 'call the midwife'. Looked round Shoaling temple- got in for student prices by showing our driving licence (majority of Chinese can't read English).  Walked round the streets of Pingyao, really pretty lanterns at night, it's an old town with lots of little s... http://www.getjealous.com/blog.php?action=showdiaryentry&diary_id=2718895&go=potteringabouttheworld Fri, 13 Jul 2012 12:00:00 GMT