I’m in Hong Kong right now ready to go home tomorrow. I was going to wait until I arrived at home to write this, as I’m still compiling notes, however I was asked why I sounded so jaded about my travels here in an email recently, and my response grew to what you see below.

Jaded? Am I that transparent? Actually I am ‘jaded’ after traveling for what feels like an eternity in this country. I kept telling myself that the next city would be better but, truthfully, it only got worse. I was explaining it to an Aussie on my Great Wall trek, and it sort of came out like this:

(more…)

Xi’an itself is an interesting city. Much like several other European cities there’s a well-maintained city wall that surrounds it. You can, apparently, take a walking tour atop it, and walk the perimeter of the inner-city — fourteen kilometers, taking over four hours — but, level as it is, I have no desires to put myself in direct sunlight, without shade for four hours, in this heat.

I’ve grown a bit tired of the standard Chines cuisine, so yesterday I decided to hit up the Muslim quarter for some good eats and some trinket shopping. A lot of fun, and the food was excellent. I’ve missed a good kabob, and the spicy lamb I had was absolutely amazing. The Islamic breads (I believe they’re a prayer cake of some sort) also seems to be the only non-sweet bread in China. It’s been a month, and I love bread, so I couldn’t help myself.

Today, I’ve visited the Terracotta Warriors and I’d have to say that I was more amazed at the size of what hasn’t yet been excavated, than by what has been. When I upload all my photos in a couple days you too will see what I’m talking about. On television, I’ve seen the rows upon rows of soldiers, and wondered at the work that was put into making them… but never considered the work that continues today to uncover them.

The shear size of the building that houses Site I was massive and awe inspiring. It’s been over thirty years since their discovery, and I’d venture a guess at less than 30% of it being completely excavated. I can’t imagine that they are actually going to continue with the work, I’d have given up by now. They certainly won’t be finished in my lifetime unless they either speed the process, or I grow to a very old age!

Tomorrow, I rest and read my book, while I wait for my long trek south toward Hong Kong for my really long trip home. I can’t wait to start school again.

Hmmm… to sum up Beijing: meh. A bit over-hyped, Tian’anmen Square is big, but just failed to impress me. Maybe because I knew more about it’s history than any of the Chinese tourists who stopped to take photos of their kids waving Chinese flags in front of The Great Chairman Mao. The Forbidden City also left a little to be desired, as much of it was under construction in anticipation of the Olympic games coming next summer.

I’m amazed at how much the Chinese government thinks they’ll get done within the next year here in Beijing and in Qingdao. There’s little chance that they wont, mainly because if you throw enough manpower at any problem… …and manpower they do not lack in this country.

Just outside Beijing, by a three hour bus ride, is The Great Wall, which truly is as it’s name suggests: Great! I toured the less popular part of it in Simutai, and the particular tour company that I used allowed for a 10.5km hike down (?) the wall. They dropped us off at one city, and five hours later, picked us up at another.

The heat was unbearable — I’m used to desert heat where the sweat evaporates — and I downed about three liters of water in the three and a half hours it took me to do the trek. With a lot of up and down staircases, I felt as if I had actually accomplished something by the end of it. At the very least, I have some killer photos to share once I get back!

Hmmm… it would seem that my Qingdao post has been lost. I don’t know what happened to it, but I can’t remember what I’ve written… so until I do remember, I will not make an attempt at it’s recreation. Hopefully the photos will suffice in their description of my time there.

Home to the 2008 Olympic Sailing competitions. Home to Tsingtao beer and the largest beer festival in China — which happened to coincide with my visit.

Here are the photos:

Some images of Shanghai for you all. This isn’t all of them, as the only place that I could find internet access with USB suppot is at a business center at a very expensive hotel in Qingdao… it’s costing me an arm and a leg… but I want the important ones backed up remotely… so enjoy!!!