Wednesday, 22 February 2012

China Doll - David Bowie

Inspired by the Chinese lady I met last Thursday on the way to Portland, as promised to her, here are a few photographs from the second China trip in 2008. I am hoping to publish this during transit through Beijing Airport.

The Beijing Bird's Nest, Olympic Stadium
is it really nearly 4 years ago?

Cloisonne Manufacture

The Great Wall of Scunthorpe

Confucius say "for every step up, there is a step down"!

Lucky Charm Tree

Peking mi Duck?

Just like the local Take Away! Me eating out with ALL my pals.

The Great Corridor

the longest covered arcade in the world.

Silk Production. The cocoons are steeped in boiling water

before the single thread is spun to a bobbin.

Not even the inventive and inscrutable Chinese have been able to devise a way (human or mechanical) to spin single thread from a double (Siamese Twin) cocoon. However, what they realised is that the silk was pliable enough to stretch from a 2 inches cocoon to the size of this table, from there the required number of layers are turned into the most warm and comfortable duvets imaginable.
Temple of the Great Harvest

3 images in Tianamen Square

Chairman Mao Portrait

and a Policeman (or 2) on every corner.

PS - Arrived safely Incheon, South Korea at 18-00 local, dark so nothing doing tonight but early start tomorrow with more detail. Incheon is 9 hours ahead of Weymouth.

Tuesday, 21 February 2012

Here I Go Again - The Hollies

Within a couple of hours of leaving home a new country/region has joined the readership in the shape of French Polynesia our 165th member. Heading in their direction today I could almost carry the welcome personally, if only. Many thanks for joining in, hope you enjoy the read (particularly at the beginning of a new adventure) and that you pass on the link to all your families and friends.

In addition, after a long absence, the beautiful country of Seychelles appears back on the radar. I have extremely fond memories of these fantastic islands as on my 3 separate visits there during 1966/67 realised a true Paradise. Welcome back and please stay with us!

As there is unlikely to be another opportunity to gain Internet access again today it's an early post along with a few photographs from my first Australia trip in 2008. It is hoped that some of there are seen again if indeed I make it to the continent, but of course priority there will be given to 3 little boys and their parents.

A breakfast date with Lesley at 09:00, should set me off on the right foot, then National Express to London Heathrow and the 17:40 Air China flight to Incheon, South Korea via Beijing. Hope to talk again soon.

Agile Wallaby

Great Bowerbird

'Bower' of the above, not a nest but an ornate and pains taking way of attracting the 'girls'.

Bar-shouldered Dove

Hello-Goodbye Lizard

A few of the birds of the Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory.

Kori Bustard

Little Corella

Magpie Goose, just one of what could well have been 100,000?

Pheasant Coucal

Before our arrival there had been on rain in Alice Springs for 19 months, now the Todd River was in full spate!

Along with Pink-eared Duck, one of the highlights of the Alice Springs Sewrage Works was lots of Sharp-tailed Sandpiper.

The Olgas sister to Ayre's Rock

If you're out with Bob who needs Crocodile Dundee?

Ayer's Rock (Uluru) they say you either fall under its spell or not. For me it was hook, line & sinker!

Breaking Wave Rock Formation, Uluru

Aboriginal Cave Paintings, Uluru

ARE WE THERE YET?

drill down10.00%BoliviaBolivia
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drill down10.00%Cayman IslandsCayman Islands
drill down10.00%CameroonCameroon
drill down10.00%MauritiusMauritius
drill down10.00%KazakhstanKazakhstan
drill down10.00%HondurasHonduras
drill down10.00%FijiFiji
drill down10.00%MartiniqueMartinique
drill down10.00%MacaoMacao
drill down10.00%AfghanistanAfghanistan
drill down10.00%GuyanaGuyana
drill down10.00%SeychellesSeychelles
drill down10.00%French PolynesiaFrench Polynesia
drill down10.00%SurinameSuriname
drill down10.00%BotswanaBotswana
drill down10.00%Saint LuciaSaint Lucia
drill down10.00%GhanaGhana

Seeing Afghanistan back among the readers has to be down to my exceptionally professional new dentist Sara Banuri who I have to thank for sending me off with a clean bill of health. Thanks Sara see you soon.