Here There and Everywhere

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-306444072011-12-14T18:40:23.077-08:00Here There and EverywhereHere, there and everywhere, almost, at home with thoughts about different places, mostly China, Vietnam and France. Making friends here there and everywhere; different people, different homes, and different foods. Travel here there and everywhere; nothing lasts forever.Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.comBlogger101100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644407.post-1153157622829366972006-07-17T09:49:00.000-07:002006-07-17T10:35:44.413-07:00City to City by Air Then To Peace Hotel

Early day starts with breakfast of bananas and coconut juice. Liu arrives 6:45 am with news that Kate must go to hospital for five days. Father very angry with doctors. Taxi arrives 7:30 am, city part of journey to airport very slow, but would have been worse at a later start. Zhong constant chatter with driver. Accident at entrance to airport so taxi diverted to International Departures, having

Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644407.post-1153079153154517732006-07-16T12:24:00.000-07:002006-07-16T14:26:39.453-07:00Buying Leather Jackets, Silk Shirt and Tie.

Open room curtains at 7 am for view over very hazy city. Down to breakfast for last time. Buy postcards in Lobby then back to room to write. House boy calls to tidy room and make beds; Zhong chats with him. Zhong writes card for Quang then plays with TV. Liu phones from office then comes to room with more travel details. Took Kate to hospital for further checks; blood vessels in arm suspect. Liu

Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644407.post-1153071637276778472006-07-16T10:23:00.000-07:002006-07-16T10:40:37.286-07:00Food Served At Restaurants; Quality Varied.

Liu fetches car driver to go to lunch. Zhong buys pendants and badges for friends in Huai Hua, Restaurant room empty when we arrive; different one to 1991. Food very poor. 'Sea Cucumber' looks and tastes like big 'garden slugs'. Zhong takes one taste then rushes to washbasin. Back to car for drive to hotel. Liu points out second ring-road under construction. City centre traffic very slow moving;

Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644407.post-1153069977515607922006-07-16T09:51:00.000-07:002006-07-16T10:21:34.456-07:00Climbing Wall - Ambition Achieved

Early alarm call at 6:45 am. Zhong enjoys his streaky bacon for breakfast. Back to room in plenty of time before Liu arrives. Sort out cameras and film for visit to Great Wall. Car due 08:30... arrives 09:00, traffic holdups. £60 for day, more expensive than 1991. Car parked at entrance, showered by adjacent sprinkler. Driver rushes to wipe windows and moves car to dry spot for us to enter. Zhong

Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644407.post-1152905061367324812006-07-14T11:52:00.000-07:002006-07-14T12:24:21.376-07:00Entertainment in Grand View Gardens

Alarm goes off at 7 am. After shower, Zhong phones brother in Huai Hua. Excited converstaion, I must say 'Hello' to brother. Down to breakfast. Zhong wants photo taken by table, but leave for next time. Pocket some sugar from table for coffee in room. Zhong takes laundry bag to service desk. Likes watching Hong Kong Pop on TV. Liu arrives later with 7 cans of coconut juice. We leave 11:30 by YMC

Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644407.post-1152820752232405732006-07-13T12:36:00.000-07:002006-07-14T04:59:02.913-07:00MacDonalds Hamburger and Fries for Supper

Alarm rings at 7 am, have shower then down to Coffee Bar for Western breakfast. First time for Zhong who enjoys streaky bacon. Return to room to prepare cameras for the day. Liu phones from travel agents, no flight available to Changsha on September 6th, must fly on 5th. Liu comes to room 10:30 am with tickets and instructions. Go down to Lobby, put money and tickets in safety box. Change one

Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644407.post-1152810774457194742006-07-13T09:51:00.000-07:002006-07-13T10:12:54.466-07:00Buy Flowers For Hospital Visit

Touchdown uneventful and on time, weather dry, hot, and sunny. Through passport and health controls quickly, then almost one hour wait for case on carousel. See Liu waiting at exit. Walk through green channel at customs, no officials on duty. Liu gets taxi for drive to International Hotel. Streets flagged and postered, 'A more open China awaits 2000 Olympics'. A very excited Zhong waiting for us

Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644407.post-1152794095785733782006-07-13T05:05:00.000-07:002006-07-13T05:34:55.793-07:00Sunrise Over Siberia But Midnight At Home

As soon as waiting room opens, take seat in front of boarding door. A few minutes before doors are open, old lady escorted through, then two mothers with young children, two in pushchairs. Doors open on time, RD about sixth to enter. Plenty of store space for luggage,first to seat row, followed by burly moustached 'foreigner', unknown nationality, might be Polish, drinks many bottles of beer

Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644407.post-1152637941332899332006-07-11T10:02:00.000-07:002006-07-11T12:59:02.406-07:00Getting Ready To Leave

Go to Smiths to buy book to read on the journey; 'CU CHI', about Vietnam war with America and warren of underground tunnels. Go through Passport Control and to boarding gate. Take seat near door to be amongst first on plane, to grab overhead store space. Later board plane, 3 seats either side of single aisle, not very big. Take-off 20 mins late, plane held on runway awaiting air space. Served

Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30644407.post-1152633357759570872006-07-11T08:30:00.000-07:002006-07-11T10:02:34.423-07:00In the beginning there was Adam.

Alarm rings after very little sleep. Shower and breakfast; not ready when Kev arrives one minute to 6 am. Put luggage in car then leave for airport 06:20. Quiet road, see newly risen sun. Mist rising in fields. Arrive terminal No 1 about 07:15, go straight to check-in. Long queues at some stations, but only two people at Lufthansa. Case weighes more than 22 Kgms; no surchange but must have

Greensitemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16017843792437228139noreply@blogger.com0