Lighting out for the territory nce more in the Middle East. The more I travel the more I want to travel and the longer that I am out of England the happier I am. At present in Iraq and having a wonderful time. really fallen in love with the country and the people. Very glad I came and

Gallery: Suifenhe

Monday, 1 Dec 2008 | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Harbin, NE China

Saturday, 29 Nov 2008 | Photo Gallery

Thurs 27th Nov - Suifenhe, border with Russia

Thursday, 27 Nov 2008 | Views [783]

Shaken awake from dead sleep and dream about Kathy Kirby (good grief)  by conductor. I talk to my first Russian. Bit dour. Cab to bus station. Phrase book quite good. Extremely helpful boy who works at the station helps me buy my ticket, shows me to ... Read more >

Tags: chocolate, confusion, customs, theft

Wed 26th Nov - Enchanting Harbin

Wednesday, 26 Nov 2008 | Views [571]

Arrive 8.30am in enchanting Harbin. I think Leeds to Beijing's London. It used to be Russian and the architecture reflects this. Leave my bag at the station cloakroom after dear Li Fe has helped me buy tonight's ticket for Suifenhe. Nice cabman takes ... Read more >

Tags: chat, mall, tomatoes

Tues 25th Nov - Beijing

Tuesday, 25 Nov 2008 | Views [559]

Long and tiring day cheered by walking into Devin in the lobby. He is not in a Chinese jail but does have to wait a week for his visa. Not being charged for his inadvertent overstay as charming female official let him off on condition that he 'say beautiful ... Read more >

Tags: angels again, devin (bravery of)

Gallery: Beijing

Tuesday, 25 Nov 2008 | Photo Gallery

Gallery: Train from Lhasa to Beijing

Tuesday, 25 Nov 2008 | Photo Gallery

Mon 24th Nov - Beijing

Monday, 24 Nov 2008 | Views [538]

Sat in free minivan for Zen Hotel with a dozen Muslims. But the Zen has no dorm room, no English and no cafe so get money back and find friendly rickshaw man who cannot take me himself (Police?) but writes address of far East hostel for me to show cab ... Read more >

Tags: angels, cheese, kitsch, mao

Sun 23rd Nov - on the train to Beijing

Sunday, 23 Nov 2008 | Views [608]

Early stop at Xingxing. photos of station, two Tibetans looking down from a bridge and a snack cart. Wonder if there are awards for this kind of photography?  9.30am. The restaurant car is full of train personnel eating their heads off but for me, ... Read more >

Sat 22nd Nov - Lhasa to Beijing

Saturday, 22 Nov 2008 | Views [681]

AWESOME!!!! Yusuf called me at 6 and had toast and marmalade ready. Pema collects me at 7 am and we drive to huge modern station. A showpiece, I think. No one minds me taking pics. I am so happy I could burst! So luxurious, this soft class. Flowers, ... Read more >

Tags: red army, soft class

Fri 21st Nov - Last day in Lhasa

Friday, 21 Nov 2008 | Views [519]

Awake early from dreadful dream about Chinese vampires. And the day gets worse as I discover I have lost my first journal, the one with all my addresses. Not in the lobby, not in the room, not in Snowland restaurant which is the last time I remember ... Read more >

Gallery: Lhasa, Oh Lhasa

Thursday, 20 Nov 2008 | Photo Gallery

Thurs 20th Nov - Lhasa, Tibet

Thursday, 20 Nov 2008 | Views [641]

Cry off the trip to the Potala Palace which is seriously high up. Go to the Bank of China instead to change money and discover that Nepali rupees are unwanted in town. looks like a lousy day but Ahmed back at the hotel says his dad will probably change ... Read more >

Tags: buddha, tibetan looks

Wed 19th Nov - Tibet

Wednesday, 19 Nov 2008 | Views [434]

Tsampa for breakfast and a good warm at yak dung stove. Gave Derbyshire postcard to nice lady. Off to Lhasa on the Freindship Highway again. We climb and we climb and come to a first beautiful and intensely blue lake. It is high and very cold and pretty ... Read more >

Gallery: Mountains, passes, lakes

Wednesday, 19 Nov 2008 | Photo Gallery