Beijing Railway Station bells

The video below is of the bells ringing at Beijing Railway Station at 9pm one evening. The sound carries for miles and made standing in the square just outside very atmospherical! I remember this evening well as I’d just got back from seeing the Great Wall of China, exhausted, hungry but absolutely buzzing from seeing such an amazing landscape!

Street food in Beijing, China

This video is only a short snippet of when a lady in a food van on one of the streets in Beijing, China was making up a pancake! Honestly, I have absolutely no idea what the ingredients really were but my guess is that there’s some eggy paste in there, plenty of salad/veg and possibly some meat of some kind! As you’ve probably guessed, I just love trying food; not knowing what was in it made it even more intriguing! It was so cheap too! Costing about 50p (GBP) or less!

Traditional Chinese dancing at an opera house in Xi’an, China

Getting to see some traditional Chinese dancing while in China was something really unexpected and such an amazing evening! The ticket actually included the most divine dumpling banquet (much needed after a long day touring seeing the Terracotta Warriors) and the dancing itself was to such a high standard. Costumes were immaculate and I never saw a dancer put a foot wrong! There were some musical acts, some very comical too!

Terracotta Warriors Pit 1 fake scientists?

While visiting Xi’an, I got to see the Terracotta Warriors which was a real highlight at the time. The warriors are a huge army that was buried and only discovered in the last century. At the site, there are three pits with Pit 1 being the largest and housing the most warriors and horses. In one corner of the pit there are some scientists who are dressed in white coats and seem to be slightly bored! In fact, I questioned whether they were real at all since there wasn’t much equipment around them and many of them seemed more interested in the passing tourists. It made for a fascinating atmosphere having the scientists conveniently placed there, but I very much doubt they weren’t just actors! What do you think?

I’ll hopefully get round to uploading some more videos and photos soon enough, but in the meantime, why not check out the latest batch of photos that I uploaded from Berlin on Flickr here.

History

Alghero is full of history. It’s said that Alghero has been present in some form since the 4th millennium BC. Today you can see buildings that date back to the 16th century including the stunning cathedral and the fortifications of the 12th century that were also rebuilt in the 16th century.

Cattedrale di Santa Maria

The Cathedral can be found in the heart of the Old Town of Alghero. When I visited, the outside was being renovated so there was scaffolding, but this didn’t alter the experience inside. With parts being of Catalan-Gothic style, and others in Late Renaissance and Neo-Classical styles, the cathedral has a fascinating mix of history built into its structures.

Cattedrale di Santa Maria: front

Cattedrale di Santa Maria

One of the most prominent features of the cathedral from the outside, besides its stunning entrance, is the bell tower.

Bell tower of Cattedrale di Santa Maria

Horse and cart tours

By far one of the most pleasant and convenient ways to see the Old Town is by horse and cart. There are a few different routes to choose from, but each present a treat to be shown the hidden treasures of Alghero up close by your guide.

Horse and cart tours of Alghero

You’ll be relieved to know that these large carts do not often fill up entirely, but if they do, the horse is aided with a hidden motor. The Old Town’s tight turns and sudden, steep hills could prove to be torturous for these gorgeous equines otherwise!

Our horse taking us through Old Town in Alghero

Entertainment and culture

Open air theatre shows

Alghero is blessed with a couple of theatres. One indoor and one open air. The indoor one seemed be closed when I visited, but the open air theatre was a delight to visit. I managed to catch an Italian monologue called “Il Mondologo Di Arlecchino”. Despite not knowing very much Italian, it was a very funny show and very interactive too! The girl under the various guises was fantastically talented.

An Italian Monologue: Il Mondologo Di Arlecchino

Open air theatre in Alghero

Wine tasting

Naturally, with Sardinia and Alghero itself producing some fantastic wines, you should take the opportunity to visit a vineyard for a tour and some wine tasting. I didn’t get the chance when I was out there but there are some great reviews of vineyards not too far from Alghero that include an experience not to be missed.

The Neptunes Caves

I didn’t get a chance to see these due to bad weather making the seas rough and the caves unsafe, but this is a major visitor attraction in Alghero full of magnificent structures inside.

Neptune's Caves

Relaxation

I’m sure I don’t have to remind you about how ideal the location is of Alghero for catching some true Mediterranean sun, and how perfect the beaches are, but there plenty of other truly relaxing past-times in this quaint Sardinian town. If you can’t face a day lying on a beach (they can get pretty crowded), there’s a whole host of boat trips to choose from.

Boat trips around Sardinia

I was lucky enough to have a trip out on the Andrea Jensen which is run by a British family incidentally.

The Andrea Jensen boat trip

The views from the traditional old boat were stunning, and you could do nothing but stop and relax whilst on board. The other guests on the trip were very friendly and we were treated to a great lunch, stop offs for snorkeling and the chance to see some stunning cliff formations up close – not to mention we were invited to help with the rigging and ropes if we wanted to!

Helping with the ropes on the Andrea Jensen

Entrance to Neptune's Caves from the Andrea Jensen boat trip

Sunsets

I think I’ll be giving myself a reputation as a sunset-chaser as this rate, but the sunsets in Alghero are not to be missed. You can catch them whilst having a stroll along the night market or dining at one of the many shore-front restaurants in Alghero.

An elderly couple enjoy one of Alghero's sunsets

Sunset in Alghero, Sardinia

Sardinian cuisine and fine wine

Some of the traditional food in Alghero might be easy to predict due to its seaside location; much of it includes fresher-than-fresh seafood.

The Angedras Restaurant

Review websites gave fantastic ratings for this upmarket restaurant in Alghero, situated on the edge of the Old Town – and quite rightly so as I was very impressed by its range and standard of food. I tasted a fresh mussel and clam ‘soup’ and one of the best steaks I’ve had in a long time (alright, I’d had almost entirely seafood up to this point, so it was time for a change!).

Mussel and clam soup at the Angedras restaurant

Steak at the Angedras restaurant

The wine was lovely though – I had a lovely red called Carignano del Sulcis Reserva (2007) which originated from Alghero, too.

Carignano del Sulcis Reserva 2007 - wine at the Angedras Restaurant

I can’t mention the Angedras Restaurant without commenting on its fantastic locale for the sunsets. It isn’t every day when you can witness a stunning backdrop at the same time as fine dining.

Sunset at the Angedras Restaurant

Unusual Sardinian food

Beware that another speciality in Sardinia is suckling pig. In case you’re not familiar with it, it’s a pig that is slaughtered while it is still suckling on its mother’s milk – so aged between 2 and 6 weeks old. In many places it is said to be speciality due to its unique taste and texture. Although, as you can probably imagine, for an animal-lover like me, it was a bit distressing seeing roast suckling pig in the displays in many cafes.

Suckling pig in a cafe in Sardinia

Other unusual foods I found whilst in Sardinia included horse meat, snails and frogs legs! I can’t say I’ve tried any of the above, but the latter two I am determined to try one day!

Italian influences

As with many places in Italy, there is a fantastic selection of delicious cured meats to sample almost everywhere you go. A selection of these meats with local cheese and/or melon is a highly recommended starter or even light lunchtime snack.

Selection of Sardinian cured meats and cheeses

You can also find a whole range of pasta and pizza dishes to cater for almost anyone’s palete.

Seafood spaghetti

And let’s not forget my personal favourite, the Italian coffees. Along with the usual cafe lattes and cappuccinos, there was one coffee I sampled called a marocchino. I can’t emphasise enough how you must try this coffee! It is basically a very small cappuccino, but with a shot of chocolate syrup added. Best consumed slowly to savour the delicious tastes and to make the whole experience last as long as possible!

A Marocchino: a small cappuccino with chocolate for the ultimate caffeine and chocolate kick

Wines of Sardinia

Along with the aforementioned wine I had in the Angedras Restaurant, I took the opportunity to sample several other local wines – much to my delight as I can’t say I sampled a single bad one! Below are a couple more that I would recommend:

Vermentino Di Sardegna, 2009, Argiolas

Oleandro, Alghero - rose wine

If you’re interested in a lovely break away for a long weekend or a couple of weeks, then I highly recommend Alghero, and specifically the Angedras Hotel for a superb break.

The Travelling Limbo: clouds over Vietnam

Just back from another trip, and I love how:

1. my wallet contains a confused mix of coinage
2. the bottom of my bag houses a unique blend of the world’s sandy beaches [and also receipts from places I can barely read nor pronounce]
3. my hallway looks like a car boot sale [it's normally immaculate]
4. I’m at ease living in just a few versatile outfits [and I haven't worn jeans for months]
5. I don’t quite trust whether my watch’s time is on the correct time zone [or know what 'correct' is]
6. I have lost track of weekends
7. I have more postcard-esque first hand photos than most postcard shops
8. I catch myself saying “thank you” in the incorrect language
9. I hoard sweeteners for coffee and tissues as I’m still uncertain as to where I’ll be able to buy them next
10. even plain home cooking tastes exotic [but everything is more fun when eaten with chopsticks!]

Although, I’m not so keen on how:

11. I’m missing out on that Bank Holiday “just cheated my way out of a day’s work” feeling
12. I make friends roll their eyes as all my sentences begin with “when I was travelling…” or “when I was in…”

But I wouldn’t swap any of the above for the world! It’s a lovely feeling

Traditional Cornish village: Polperro

Sunset and a little boat on the beach in Cornwall.

A little boat anchored near the shore of a Cornish beach.

The journey to your accommodation in Cornwall can be a little hair raising! Here’s a snap of a typical road down to a rural spot where the space between overgrown hedges is just about big enough for one car, but is indeed two-way and has plenty of blind bends, hills and ditches to keep you on the edge of your seat! My advice? If you use a sat nav, make sure you manually set it to take you via the most main roads possible – not like I did! Needless to say, the road trip down to Cornwall was thoroughly enjoyable, especially in the sunshine!

The narrow roads around rural Cornwall - pray you don't meet an oncoming vehicle!

The first place I visited was the Eden Project – well worth a detour if you’re in the area! I’m not sure there are places like it anywhere in the world. You can see tropical flora in real rainforest conditions in one dome, and Mediterranean plants and flowers in another. Kids love it, especially with so many exotic plants, waterfalls and the younger ones can enjoy an enchanting setting for a story telling session too.

The Eden Project, Cornwall: the different domes contained plant life in exotic climates

The Eden Project, Cornwall: entrance to the Rainforest

Eden Project, Cornwall: baby bananas growing naturally

The Eden Project, Cornwall: a giant bee decorates the garden outside.

If you get out and about, I highly recommend you visit one of the many beautifully historic harbour villages in Cornwall. Polperro was well preserved, partly due to the fact you simply can’t drive there; you park up and then have a choice between walking down, taking a very cheap tram or enjoying a ride on a cart pulled by a shire horse!

Polperro's narrow, pedestrianised streets

Polperro, the traditional Cornish harbour was like a little hidden paradise

Once in the village, there are plenty of places to stop for a cream tea, some souvenir shopping or to enjoy the views with a pint and some local seafood. Naturally, boat trips are on offer in good weather and lots of delightful spots for some photography.

Polperro through the eyes of the Hipstamatic app on the iPhone

Polperro through the eyes of the Hipstamatic app on the iPhone

I stayed in a lovely little village on the south coast of Cornwall, which had a shop, church, an extremely good restaurant called the Blue Plate, and a little pub on the shore appropriately called ‘Inn on the Shore’.

Inn on the Shore, really was on the shore!

The beach was partly stones, but still provided an idea place to go running and for a stroll. The other visitors on the beach had a fantastic time, children and dogs especially!

The beach provided a fascinating array of rocks, along with a lovely place for a stroll.

On the beach: sunsets in Cornwall are stunning.

Cornwall offers stunning sunsets, but these not unique to the south coast. Make sure you bring a good camera! My iPhone camera was surprisingly good, as was the app Hipstamatic I had installed on it which provided great effects for capturing quaint villages and sea views alike.

A natural black and gold effect from the sunset on the beach in Cornwall - taken with an iPhone camera

Hipstamatic view on an iPhone of the beach in Cornwall

Winifred: a little boat on the beach in Cornwall

Keep an eye out for the rainbows! With the hilly backdrop you’ll find a mix of weather (typical English weather, yes!) so it can frequently form patches of rain and patches of bright sunshine. Combine that with a sunset and you have an idyllic setting to relax in.

The view from where I stayed: ocean, sunset and a rainbow. Magical.

Rain in the distance on the beach with sunshine behind means plenty of rainbows in the sky!

Other activities you can enjoy in Cornwall include horse riding, hiking, surfing and plenty of wildlife centres to keep the kids entertained! It’s also a perfect place to enjoy a spot of camping.

A map of northern Vietnam including Halong Bay

Halong Bay cruise ship: the Paloma

Just one of the many stunning views from the cruise ship of Halong Bay

The best part of the trip, is that they pick you up from where you’re staying in Hanoi (where your plane is most likely to land) and drop you back afterwards. You can usually leave extra luggage safely at the hotel with reception, so you can travel very light.

Seating outside on the Paloma cruise ship gives you great views of Halong Bay

Twin room accommodation on the Paloma Cruise ship on Halong Bay

There are many cruise ships to choose from in Halong Bay that cater for all budgets. Beware though, the older they are, the more sacrifices you’ll have to make. I chose one that was fairly new on purpose as I was advised they can get a little rough around the edges quite quickly!

Outdoor dining on the top deck of the Paloma cruise ship in Halong Bay

Sunbeds on the top deck of the Paloma cruise ship in Halong Bay

The cruises in Halong Bay usually include meals. The Paloma didn’t disappoint! We were treated to lunch, dinner and breakfast. All were set menus (probably as June was a quiet time of year, meaning fewer guests and so less choice), but they included several dishes so you can pick and choose what you prefer.

The Paloma dining room

Seafood soup as a starter for lunch

Deep fried squid or crab for dinner on the Halong Bay cruise

On the first day we were taken out on a trip to see the floating fishing villages after lunch. You don’t have to but I highly recommend touring the villages by kayak! You can really get a taste of village life from a vessel similar to theirs.

Kayaking through the floating villages of Halong Bay, Vietnam

Kayaking in the warm water around Halong Bay lets you get up close to the floating village buildings and truly experience the atmosphere

Kayaking also lets you see views of Halong Bay's thousands of islands you'll never get close enough to see in a larger boat or ship

Halong Bay is made up of nearly two thousands islands, many of them have been given descriptive names. The one below is called the Yen Ngua Islet or the Saddle Islet as it is made up of two large rocks joined together to form a saddle shape. Boats can actually pass underneath the tunnel that has been formed.

Yen Ngua Islet or the Saddle Islet in Halong Bay

Yes, even here in Halong Bay the locals wear those pointy hats! At the Yen Ngua Islet or the Saddle Islet in Halong Bay

Half way through Kayaking we stopped and explored some buildings. There were several shops selling souvenirs (paintings of Halong Bay and lots of handmade items) but also a floating school that we were allowed to take a look around. It was holiday time so unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to meet the local kids, but the photos on the walls of them were adorable!

Inside a Halong Bay school classroom

Photos of Halong Bay school children - adorable!

Photos of the pupils on the wall of a floating Halong Bay school

Back at the cruise ship, that afternoon we could take a swim around the ship in the deliciously warm sea. But watch out for jellyfish; they’re dinner plate-sized!

The Paloma cruise ship anchored in a quiet bay in the afternoon, a perfect place to keep the boat in calm waters for the night too. And, of course a perfect place to have a swim around the ship!

That evening there was a sunset party scheduled by the crew where we enjoyed a glass of red wine and some pineapple while we watched the gorgeous sun set behind the Halong Bay islands.

Halong Bay sunset

Halong Bay sunset from the top deck of the cruise ship

After the sunset party was a brief Vietnamese cooking lesson! Alright, it wasn’t so much a cookery lesson as it was a lesson on how to roll spring rolls! We managed to achieve this in startlingly different competencies but the chef fried them all for us nonetheless and supplied us with dips to taste the finished products!

Vietnamese cookery lesson on how to make spring rolls!

Once we had finished dinner, we were invited out to the passenger boat at the back of the ship to join the crew in some squid fishing! By this time it was pitch black outside which was perfect conditions because the squid are lured simply using a flash light on the surface of the water. Other than that, we each had a simple bamboo cane with string on the end and a fish-shaped hook; no bait was needed at all, just a gentle up and down movement to make the fish-shaped hook look like it was a real fish swimming in the water.

Squid fishing: squid caught were placed in a bucket and probably served up as tomorrow's food!

Squid fishing: the rods extended into darkness as we fished at night!

On offer the following day was a very early morning tai chi lesson on the top deck, but unfortunately the weather changed from idyllic to stormy over night so we were allowed an extra hour or two of sleep!

Halong Bay in a storm: the rain just added to the atmosphere and allowed for some stunning photographs

It actually didn’t matter too much about the weather since our itinerary included visiting a cave on one of the islands. This cave was fascinating as it was huge and the locals had named some of the formations including the 12 Chinese zodiac animals, some symbols of good luck like a turtle and even a Buddha and the Virgin Mary!

Some of the stalagmites and stalactites inside the Halong Bay cave - I think there was a Buddha shape in this photo, but I can't just remember where!

Inside the Halong Bay caves with what the locals called a statue of the Virgin Mary in the distance made from a massive stalagmite

If there’s one place I go back to, it will be Halong Bay without a doubt! I’m actually getting itchy feet to back right now having written this blog! But it will have to wait a little while until I’ve seen some other places first.

I tried to find my exact cruise online – the Paloma may only be available to book from Hanoi right now – but there’s a trip identical to the one I took here on Intrepid Travel if I’ve triggered your itchy feet for Halong Bay too!

As usual, click the photos to view them in a larger size

Vietnamese watching the world cup on a big screen outdoors

A bare Vietnamese house.. but with a small TV to watch the World Cup!

Where are you watching the World Cup?

Click on the photos below to enlarge them or view more in the set.

8. Choose a room with a view when booking your hotel

Views from floor 27 of the hotel

Views from floor 27 of the hotel

When you book your hotel room, especially if it’s online, there is usually a ‘comments’ section where you can write a few requests. Make sure you add in ‘high floor’ or ‘good view’ where possible! Or work out from the hotel’s review photos where the best rooms are and request those. I was lucky enough during my stay in Hong Kong to move rooms up to the 27^th floor of the Island Pacific Hotel. It had some renovation going on – one little complaint and my friend and I were moved up to one of the twin executive suits! Extra room and stunning views out of two sides of the harbour.

7. Get a real taste of life in Hong Kong on foot

Feral cats being fed

Fascinating interwoven tree trunks

A local lock smith called Lee Kee!

If you visit Hong Kong, you’ll no doubt find yourself walking a fair bit around the streets to get from A to B. Because of its density, everything in Hong Kong is very close together so walking simply makes sense. You also cannot fail to see some amazing sights at the same time, even if it is just an alley full of feral cats being fed by a local, the local plant life and a glimpse into Hong Kong life after hours.

6. Walk up to the Big Buddha, Lantau Island

Big Buddha, Lantau Island

View from the Big Buddha, Lantau Island

I highly recommend that you make time to visit Lantau Island and make your way up to the monastery and then see the Big Buddha. I managed to fit this in by arranging my final night in Hong Kong on Lantau Island as it’s right near to the airport that I’d be needing. I chose the Novotel based on the great reviews, and was blessed with room that overlooked the cable cars that take you up to see the Big Buddha! Perfect!

Glass bottomed Crystal Cabin cable cars give a unique view!

Unrivalled view from the cable car across Lantau Island

When you get to the ticket office, you can choose what type of cable car you ride in. We chose the Crystal Cabin – a great decision unless you suffer from vertigo! But I absolutely LOVED it! You could see for miles around (yes, including down below the cabin!) and with such a long journey through very green hills, the views were breathtaking.

5. Enjoy the surroundings of the Hong Kong Convention Centre, Hong Kong Island

Hong Kong Convention Centre

View of Central from the Hong Kong Convention Centre

The Convention Centre gives you several unique views of Hong Kong. Firstly, all around the Centre there are chances to snap iconic photos of Central, the Star Ferry and even behind the Centre of the infamous Bank of China – a building that makes Hong Kong’s skyline instantly recognisable.

Inside the Hong Kong Convention Centre

Inside the Hong Kong Convention Centre

Inside the Convention Centre you have the chance to view the scenes of the Handover back in 1997. It also hosts many important events throughout the year and the building is impressive in itself just to wander around and admire the architecture and resident sculptures and displays.

4. Take an Open Top Bus Tour

Touring the streets of Hong Kong is easy by bus!

Yes, I know it’s so ‘touristy’, but honestly you can get a great view of the entire of Hong Kong this way, and fast. You can get on and off as you please and gain a little bit of background knowledge to the landmarks and many cultures. The company I used was the Big Bus Company which actually runs in many cities around the world, but there are many different companies to choose from.

The old court house from the colonial era

Luckily, they provide you with headphones and a super-trendy, waterproof poncho if you decide to be a die hard tourist and sit on the top deck regardless of the weather! But jokes aside, if you’re short on time in Hong Kong and want to see as much as you can like I did, the buses are a great way to achieve that.

3. The Harbour Front

Piña coladas come highly recommended at the Deck n' Beer bar!

One of my favourite places to view the skyline of Hong Kong, both at night and during the day, was simply along the harbour front. During the day I managed to find somewhere called Deck n’ Beer a short stroll away from the Avenue of Stars. It does drinks and has seating just inside if it rains – oh, and the piña coladas are superb!

Hong Kong Symphony of Lights with the Star Ferry in the foreground

The whole area along the harbour front there is walkable, however. It’s also a great vantage point to view the Symphony of Lights which is a must-see! Here you will experience a show of lights and sounds, along with some commentary. Each of the main buildings in view are given a little introduction and a chance to strut their stuff with their illuminations – very impressive! It is slightly cheesy, but regardless of this, it’s worth it to see the huge buildings synchronise such massive collections of lights with each other.

2. Star Ferry

Hong Kong Star Ferry

Inside the Star Ferry, Hong Kong

It has been said many times before, but this has to be one of the cheapest and best value for money cruises in the world! It costs around HK$2.20 for the cheapest ticket between Wanchai and Tsim Sha Tsui and you can choose between the upper and lower deck to sit. The Star Ferries themselves are old and so like stepping back in time,  and it’s a treat to be able to see the skyline of Hong Kong from such a great vantage point. Actually, the terminals themselves tend to have bars and restaurants in that overlook the harbour with great views too!

1. Victoria Peak, Hong Kong Island

View of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak

Lastly, but most importantly, you must venture up Victoria Peak if you get a chance! You can walk up, but for those who aren’t so brave, there’s a tram that takes people up the 30 degree slopes. The views are spectacular from the tram, let alone from the peak itself! As you might expect from such a developed city as Hong Kong, there is an entire shopping centre complete with restaurants that cater for almost all palates, along with photographers ready to snap you to capture the moment.

Mist creates an atmosphere at the top of Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

Don’t be put off by bad weather; I went up when it was actually quite a humid day with mist pouring down the slopes which is quite typical of the Hong Kong climate. This actually added to the dramatic scenery below and created a unique experience with skyscrapers disappearing into the smokey atmosphere above. It wasn’t cold either; it was like being inside a dry ice cloud! It’s fun spotting the landmarks below, but also keep an eye out for the eagles that soar in and amongst the buildings! They add to the majestic landscape of Hong Kong beyond the skyscrapers.

After a chance meeting with a writer for Rough Guides books in Renmin Park in Chengdu who gave us some advice on an idyllic beach in south China, we researched some accommodation in the area and booked a flight this time (it was further plus the train routes weren’t very direct) and stayed at Dameisha Beach Resort in Shenzhen from the 24th to the 28th May.

As before, don’t forget that you can click the photos in the post to see more from each set.

Arriving at Shenzhen airport

The first thing that struck me was how huge and busy Shenzhen was! I hadn’t really researched the city since I was planning to travel straight out of it upon arrival. I learned later that it is famous for shopping, and you can see why with some of the most impressive shops I’ve seen in China.

This brings me to the fact that the further south you head in China, the more developed the cities seem to become. Taxis had screens in the seats (as above – this was a series of Mr Bean clips, probably picked due to the lack of reliance on language in the episodes), buildings were lit up like Christmas trees and shops were noticeably cleaner and had more presentable shop fronts and furnishings. On noticing this, I wonder what it might have been like further north of Beijing.

However, beware as I had a bit of a scary moment in terms of taxis from the airport. With any city, make sure that you get the right type of taxi. If in doubt, ask someone or stand at a taxi rank. Never accept a lift from a man who doesn’t have his vehicle right there in view. This is because a taxi that wasn’t licenced to pick people up from the airport, and was designated to a different zone, picked us up. I’m very glad I wasn’t alone as we had to be ‘traded’ from the first taxi to another on a busy roadside. I’d seen it happen to a couple of people in front of us, so it was fairly common. But at night, in a foreign country where the taxi driver and you only have a phrasebook to communicate, it can be very worrying. Needless to say, besides a hiccup with the 2nd driver being lied to about our agreed fare, all was OK in the end and we arrived safe and sound at Dameisha.

Dameisha Beach Resort, Shenzhen

Upon arrival at a gorgeous, brand new hotel in Dameisha, I hit the beach. I’m not a sunbather in the slightest but the beach was an amazing place to people watch. With the mountains behind and nothing but blue sea and sky in front, it was gorgeous! Chinese people enjoyed jet skiing and swimming classes by day, and the local kids came out at night to congregate on the beach.

As a cool, refreshing drink in between bouts of sun, I highly recommend buying a young coconut as above. For an extra Yuan (about 10 pence GBP), the shop assistant will chop it open and give you a straw. Inside, the coconut milk is more like delicately flavoured water than familiar coconut milk. Make sure you choose a coconut that has been in the fridge for the best cold drink!

A common sight in beach towns are the seafood restaurants with live fish outside in tanks. To a foreigner like me, this is like a mini aquarium right there! I haven’t (yet) ordered some live seafood for my dinner, but it looks very tempting. Even if I AM torn inside when I see live fish right underneath posters depicting pictures of the dishes they could become!

Leaving China from Shenzhen

From the beach resort, it was only a taxi ride to Hong Kong’s border crossing so this makes an ideal stop off before leaving China officially. Although Hong Kong has now been handed back to China, if you have a Chinese visa, once you enter Hong Kong you are actually leaving China and cannot re-enter unless you have a special multiple entry visa for China. That’s important to note as you should choose your onward travel from Hong Kong carefully – for me this ruled out travelling by train from Hong Kong to Vietnam; a preferable route that many had recommended.

This concludes the China part of my trip. After this I spent a few days in Hong Kong. Keep an eye out for my future updates covering the bustling city!

Don’t forget you can click on the photos below to view more!

Panda Reserve in Chengdu, Sichuan

I’d never seen pandas in real life before, and if I had, it must have been when I was very young and visited a zoo back in the UK. I took a taxi from Chengdu to the Panda Breeding Centre where I saw some of the most adorable creatures ever! Pandas are so playful when they’re active, and mesmerizing to watch with their inquisitive features.

The babies played with each other and enjoyed tumbling over each other in their well-kept yards. The adults on the other hand liked to sit and eat their bamboo canes. It’s important you get to the reserves as early as you can after they open as the pandas are fed first thing. After that they tend to sleep with the heat of the day and you can sometimes miss seeing them if they go indoors to their shelters.

Other animals in the reserve included red pandas which were also fascinating to watch. They were very active and constantly teasing each other! They weren’t as cute as the other pandas, but great to see up close. There were also several peacocks around, black swans on the lake and hundreds of fish as shown above.

Endless tea drinking in Renmin Park, Chengdu

After meeting another Brit in Chengdu who mentioned this park, I decided it’d be a good idea to check it out. I’d heard that Chengdu was famous for its tea houses where the Chinese would enjoy elaborate tea drinking traditions and sit and ponder life for hours on end with their tea. Renmin Park is an ideal place to discover this ritual. You can watch people in paddle boats or read a book while drinking the practically bottomless supply of tea – which by the way, comes in almost any kind you can think of from green, to lemon, to chrysanthemum and more.

Around Chengdu, Sichuan

As with a lot of China (and probably Asia as a whole) there tend to be a lot of similar shops all based next to each other selling identical products. As a marketer, this makes no sense to me as it seems natural to avoid direct competition to such a grand scale. But this is how many markets have developed in China due to ‘districts’ that specialised in certain products such as linen. People are used to going to certain districts for certain types of items. It certainly means the consumer can barter and shop around very easily for the best deal or product.

Well, that’s Chengdu – I highly recommend including it in your itinerary should you visit China! The next installment will be Shenzhen and the beaches of China.

Travelling to Xi’an on a Soft Sleeper Train

This was my first overnight train trip in China, and was actually quite a fun experience! I opted for a soft sleeper (rather than hard sleeper) cabin from Beijing so that my friend and I had our own room with bunk beds, and most importantly, our own little bathroom. Don’t get me wrong, the beds are still pretty hard, and it’s not the most luxurious place to sleep in the world… BUT! The views are amazing!

I woke up with the sunrise at about 5.30am and am so glad I did as I caught a glimpse of some amazing mountainous views and rural villages of China as shown above.

Terracotta Warriors

The Terracotta Warriors were well worth the trip, but not as stunning as I thought. They are very hyped up, and I won’t say ‘over hyped’, but it was all very ‘perfect’ there in the museums and pits. There were even archaeologists working away very conveniently in view. Even the guy who discovered the warriors due to digging a well was there to sign books for $30 USD a piece. I did love seeing the detail though, such as the horses bridles, the differences between the ranks of warriors and why their armor was made the way it was.

Opera, dancing and dumpling banquet

The tour guide at the Terracotta Warriors was really sweet and she told us about the opera house back in Xi’an. She even booked it for us for that evening. along with a Xi’an speciality – a dumpling banquet – with her staff discount. It was AMAZING! Some of the best food in China, besides the Peking duck at Da Dong Restaurant in Beijing! I highly recommend finding this and booking it – it worked out to be about £30 GBP each.

Around Xi’an

There were some fascinating views in and around Xi’an, especially since it has a large Chinese Muslim community that has had influences on everything including the food – I highly recommend a hot pot of mutton. It might not sound appetising, but trust me, it’s well worth the mess you get into, and as with a lot of China it’s incredibly cheap and delicious!

Xi’an was where I realised the Asian habit of keeping song birds in cages on the streets! The street above was lined with birds, many of which looked familiar as birds you’d find in the UK. I’m not sure what I think about this on a personal level since I’m an animal lover – I’d much rather see these birds in the wild.

Well, that’s Xi’an, stay tuned for the rest of China