Well it's now Friday and we are just about ready to leave. Not everyone as ready as self with checklists. The last 3 days have been spent getting the vehicle ready, putting in a spare battery, wiring spotlights etc.
Today we are packing up food, getting all the camping gear sorted and deciding where it will all go in the Toyota 4wd.
Brother Patrick has been introducing me to friends at the local expats bar, Oscars. We visited there last time Liz and I were in China. Strange barman who wouldn't open brandy to serve unless you bought the
whole bottle.......so a beer it was!
A customer of Paddy's also took us out to dinner last night where we dined on champagne and lobster, and sharks fin soup.
Paddy has a great apartment in the central city, 3 bedrooms at about 140 square meters.
The weather is ok, cool and overcast. I'll fill in some more details later
Sent from my iPhone
John
Friday, April 22, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Shanghai 20th April
Well I've arrived to beautiful spring weather with daytime temperatures of around 20 degrees. The sky is of course a little blurry from the haze, but that's Shanghai for you.
The authorities have decided we can't visit Tibet. It's the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Tibet by the Chinese, and the locals aren't feeling that liberated. So, no foreigners allowed in till later in the year.
The trip is now planned to be via Chengdu and north west over the Tibetian plateau toward Golmud, then on to Urumqi.
The team here is in the last stage of readying the 4wd. In some cases in the first stages of getting ready. I had prepared an equipment list which no one seems to have looked at.
I met Stephan Mangaud yesterday, the young Frenchman who is coming with us. We zoomed around town on his scooter without helmets doing various chores. Quite different from the helmeted and organized regime back home.
Brother Paddy has a lovely apartment in central Shanghai. 3 double bedrooms with 2 bathrooms and ensuite. Large balcony with great views over the local area, no highrises around him. The apartment comes furnished, and being Patrick he has a live in maid. Paddy had the new spotlights and bull bars attached to the Toyota yesterday and is having the off road tyres fitted today. There is still a bit of cooking gear to get, and some food, but we are planning a Friday departure for Chengdu.
David Pay and Stephan will fly up and join us in Chengdu. I don't think Stephan is coming the whole way, as he has to be back here 5 May and Paddy wants to be back on the 11th.
So, not sure what I'll do from the 11th to 21st, I may drive the vehicle back myself with a translator friend! Time will tell- and it is supposed to be an adventure anyway.
John
The authorities have decided we can't visit Tibet. It's the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Tibet by the Chinese, and the locals aren't feeling that liberated. So, no foreigners allowed in till later in the year.
The trip is now planned to be via Chengdu and north west over the Tibetian plateau toward Golmud, then on to Urumqi.
The team here is in the last stage of readying the 4wd. In some cases in the first stages of getting ready. I had prepared an equipment list which no one seems to have looked at.
I met Stephan Mangaud yesterday, the young Frenchman who is coming with us. We zoomed around town on his scooter without helmets doing various chores. Quite different from the helmeted and organized regime back home.
Brother Paddy has a lovely apartment in central Shanghai. 3 double bedrooms with 2 bathrooms and ensuite. Large balcony with great views over the local area, no highrises around him. The apartment comes furnished, and being Patrick he has a live in maid. Paddy had the new spotlights and bull bars attached to the Toyota yesterday and is having the off road tyres fitted today. There is still a bit of cooking gear to get, and some food, but we are planning a Friday departure for Chengdu.
David Pay and Stephan will fly up and join us in Chengdu. I don't think Stephan is coming the whole way, as he has to be back here 5 May and Paddy wants to be back on the 11th.
So, not sure what I'll do from the 11th to 21st, I may drive the vehicle back myself with a translator friend! Time will tell- and it is supposed to be an adventure anyway.
John
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Fwd: Ready to go
All packed and ready to go. One more sleep and a day at work. Hope
to be able to send emails along the way. See you late May.
to be able to send emails along the way. See you late May.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Expedition in China 2011
Well the planning is finally over and I depart Tuesday 19 April for 4
weeks in China. My brother Patrick and I are going on a 4wd trip out via
Chengdu, Golmud to Urumqi.
There are 4 of us going, with a mix of camping and cheap hotels.
Next report from Shanghai.
weeks in China. My brother Patrick and I are going on a 4wd trip out via
Chengdu, Golmud to Urumqi.
There are 4 of us going, with a mix of camping and cheap hotels.
Next report from Shanghai.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Montreal
We had a lovely dinner (steak, which Murray cooked on the barbque in the snow). After dinner we had a spa. John (foolishly) braved the elements and made a snow angel quickly before hopping back into the hot tub very quickly.
In the morning we had a leisurely breakfast. The sun was shining beautifully, and everything looked lovely & crisp. It was around 0 degrees. We wandered around the property taking photos of the icicles hanging from the house, the cardinal bird, and the snow. Murray took us over the road to his mother's house. She is away so unfortunately we did not get to meet her. Behind her house (the old farmhouse) are the barns in which Murray (& his father before him) kept their Jersey cows during the winter. A huge space, all mechanised, now unused.
After lunch we drove into Montreal. We visited St. Joseph's Oratory, a huge church on Mount Royal. In fact there are a number of large churches on the site. We had to go up three very long steep escalators to get to the top church. This is used for State functions. It is a very modern looking interior.
From there we went to the other side of Mount Royal, and parked the car. Walked around past large groups of children sleging and people skiing (on dusk) to the observation site, from where we could see all over central Montreal. By the time we returned to the car is was dark. We drove into the area of Westmount, the upmarket suburb for English speaking Montrealers. We called in to see Marilyn & Murray's daughter Megan and her partner Devon in their lovely apartment, before driving through the city to the St John's Basilica. Megan was amazed at the similarities between John & Marray! Unfortunately the Basicila was closed for a multi-media presentation, so we were unable to go inside.
There is a real push to have everything in French here, and the local "English" Canadians are reducing in number, as many shift away to the English parts of Canada. All the signs are in French, and shop staff tend to only speak in French.
We walked around a few streets in this area of old Montreal, past quaint little shops all decorated for Christmas. Then we drove to another area and had dinner at a very nice restaurant, l'Acadamie. After that it was a one hour drive back home, and soon to bed.
31st January: This morning it is cloudy, 4 degrees outside so positively tropical! We have just had breakfast, and the boys have gone off to the grocery store. Marilyn is preparing for guests tonight - we are of course behine NZ! There are 8 people coming for a pot-luck dinner to celebrate New Year, so we will get to meet some of their friends.
This afternoon we will go into the town of Huntington, which is their nearest town.
In the morning we had a leisurely breakfast. The sun was shining beautifully, and everything looked lovely & crisp. It was around 0 degrees. We wandered around the property taking photos of the icicles hanging from the house, the cardinal bird, and the snow. Murray took us over the road to his mother's house. She is away so unfortunately we did not get to meet her. Behind her house (the old farmhouse) are the barns in which Murray (& his father before him) kept their Jersey cows during the winter. A huge space, all mechanised, now unused.
After lunch we drove into Montreal. We visited St. Joseph's Oratory, a huge church on Mount Royal. In fact there are a number of large churches on the site. We had to go up three very long steep escalators to get to the top church. This is used for State functions. It is a very modern looking interior.
From there we went to the other side of Mount Royal, and parked the car. Walked around past large groups of children sleging and people skiing (on dusk) to the observation site, from where we could see all over central Montreal. By the time we returned to the car is was dark. We drove into the area of Westmount, the upmarket suburb for English speaking Montrealers. We called in to see Marilyn & Murray's daughter Megan and her partner Devon in their lovely apartment, before driving through the city to the St John's Basilica. Megan was amazed at the similarities between John & Marray! Unfortunately the Basicila was closed for a multi-media presentation, so we were unable to go inside.
There is a real push to have everything in French here, and the local "English" Canadians are reducing in number, as many shift away to the English parts of Canada. All the signs are in French, and shop staff tend to only speak in French.
We walked around a few streets in this area of old Montreal, past quaint little shops all decorated for Christmas. Then we drove to another area and had dinner at a very nice restaurant, l'Acadamie. After that it was a one hour drive back home, and soon to bed.
31st January: This morning it is cloudy, 4 degrees outside so positively tropical! We have just had breakfast, and the boys have gone off to the grocery store. Marilyn is preparing for guests tonight - we are of course behine NZ! There are 8 people coming for a pot-luck dinner to celebrate New Year, so we will get to meet some of their friends.
This afternoon we will go into the town of Huntington, which is their nearest town.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Travelling at last
W enjoyed the musical. Great performance from some very talented children. First time ever to wear tramping boots to the theatre, and not out of place.
Went back through the snow - fortunately only 2 streets - to Michelle's apartment and had a relaxing evening.
In the morning (28th) we went to Times Square, now full of visitors, and walked through to Bryant Park and around. Did a little shopping on the way. Back to Michelle's, and had an email to say our flight at 17.30 had been delayed for two hours. Then we got another email to say it was back on time.....
So we finished packing and went down to 8th Ave to catch a taxi just after 3pm. The traffic was gridlocked through Manhatten, and we took over 1/2 hour to get past Central Park. Our driver was good but could not go any faster. We got to the airport at 4.20, and there were very long queues for Air Canada flights. Checked in on the self-help machine, then "pushed in " to bag drop off, as the queue was very long there - and time was running out. Then someone started asking people in the queues who else was waiting for the 5.30 flight. There were a number of people who had to be brought forward to make the flight.
Got through security and to the gate, to find the flight delayed for 1 hour due to mechanical issues. Finally got to take off, and 1 hour 40 later disembarked in Montreal. After goling through customs we emerged to meet our friends. Murray & Marilyn drove us to their home, about 1 hour, in the country. Snow everywhere - though dark so we couldnot see it.
We had dinner & went to bed just after midnight. It was lovely to see Murray & Marilyn again, and a great catchup.
Today (29th) we got up about 8, and left for Ottowa at 10, after a leisurely breakfast. It is a two hour drive, through snow covered county. We walked around the Parliament Building, then had lunch at a Market Produce Restaurant. Then we walked over the St. Laurence River to the Musee Canadien des Civilisations - yes everything is in French and English. We spent time in the Canadian history section. It was very well set out, a lovely museum.
Walked back to the car, stopping for a coffee on the way. By then it was dark, and we drove back to the farm. Arrived about 7pm. Now having a pre-dinner drink. No doubt will update tomorrow.
Went back through the snow - fortunately only 2 streets - to Michelle's apartment and had a relaxing evening.
In the morning (28th) we went to Times Square, now full of visitors, and walked through to Bryant Park and around. Did a little shopping on the way. Back to Michelle's, and had an email to say our flight at 17.30 had been delayed for two hours. Then we got another email to say it was back on time.....
So we finished packing and went down to 8th Ave to catch a taxi just after 3pm. The traffic was gridlocked through Manhatten, and we took over 1/2 hour to get past Central Park. Our driver was good but could not go any faster. We got to the airport at 4.20, and there were very long queues for Air Canada flights. Checked in on the self-help machine, then "pushed in " to bag drop off, as the queue was very long there - and time was running out. Then someone started asking people in the queues who else was waiting for the 5.30 flight. There were a number of people who had to be brought forward to make the flight.
Got through security and to the gate, to find the flight delayed for 1 hour due to mechanical issues. Finally got to take off, and 1 hour 40 later disembarked in Montreal. After goling through customs we emerged to meet our friends. Murray & Marilyn drove us to their home, about 1 hour, in the country. Snow everywhere - though dark so we couldnot see it.
We had dinner & went to bed just after midnight. It was lovely to see Murray & Marilyn again, and a great catchup.
Today (29th) we got up about 8, and left for Ottowa at 10, after a leisurely breakfast. It is a two hour drive, through snow covered county. We walked around the Parliament Building, then had lunch at a Market Produce Restaurant. Then we walked over the St. Laurence River to the Musee Canadien des Civilisations - yes everything is in French and English. We spent time in the Canadian history section. It was very well set out, a lovely museum.
Walked back to the car, stopping for a coffee on the way. By then it was dark, and we drove back to the farm. Arrived about 7pm. Now having a pre-dinner drink. No doubt will update tomorrow.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Stranded
We are still in New York. All flights today were canceled, so we are now on a 5.30pm flight to Montreal tomorrow (28th). There is snow piled up everywhere. It is the 6th biggest ever snowstorm in New York, so one for the history books.
The snow has been cleared on many roads, so is piled up on the sides of the roads in high mounds. We now have winds which are very cold & strong, blowing the snow around. It is -5, with the wind chill taking it to -12. we went out for a walk around the block - Times Square. Had lunch at a 1950's diner, where the staff all sing (they are trying to get roles on Broadway). Lunch was a burger & shake. We walked a little more before returning back to the warmth of the apartment.
Tonight we are going to see the musical "Billy Elliott". We will again put on our boots & hats & gloves to tackle the elements. Fortunately it is only a couple of streets down.
The snow has been cleared on many roads, so is piled up on the sides of the roads in high mounds. We now have winds which are very cold & strong, blowing the snow around. It is -5, with the wind chill taking it to -12. we went out for a walk around the block - Times Square. Had lunch at a 1950's diner, where the staff all sing (they are trying to get roles on Broadway). Lunch was a burger & shake. We walked a little more before returning back to the warmth of the apartment.
Tonight we are going to see the musical "Billy Elliott". We will again put on our boots & hats & gloves to tackle the elements. Fortunately it is only a couple of streets down.
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