I am finally home and my gap year is finished after all this time!
I shall start from where I left off, so we spent 2 nights in Hangzhou. The weather was a little rainy actually but we stayed in a really nice hotel with a great breakfast. We had a bit of confusion with our hotel and though that we were in a hostel nearby but we got there eventually. We spent our day there walking along the West Lake, where we saw a Pagoda. The area was generally very pretty even if the weather was a bit glum. We walked for about 2 hours and our final destination was an Ajisen where we had our vegetable ramen as awlays :)
The next day we moved on to Beijing and took the 300kmph train for 6 and half hours. The journey felt pretty long. At first we though our hotel was pretty far away from everything and we got a very expensive taxi (well £5 but expensive for China anyway!), but in the morning we found a nearby subway after all and also an Ajisen! We were so happy lol.
We went to a theme park which was a hilarious rip off from Disneyland. It had a very similar castle and characters and the slogan was 'Disneyland is too far away, please come here!' we went on quite few rides. Some of the indoor rides you walk through weren't that great but we went on a few fun rollercoasters.
We also met Marlon's dad for dinner three times in the evening. The best meal was at a great sushi place with a famous japanese chef who had come to China. I had some reeeally tasty veggie sushi. I don't think I will ever get bored of sushi!
We also saw the famous sights of the Forbidden City and Tia'na men Square. The square had pretty high security unspurprisingly. The first time we tried to go to the City we were too late for the day so we went back the day after. It was very big and we didn't see half of it in the two hours we were there. The weather was a lot cooler in Beijing and I finally used my jeans. It was almost cold!
The most surprising thing was that Marlon actually ended up coming back with me to London to try and apply for a uni course! Its great having him here. I guess that's the very end of my gap year and I start university in a couple of days now. I am very ready to start but am so glad I took a gap year. From France, Finland to China it was all a challenge but all fantastuc too.
I guess the next chapter begins now with starting university!
Bye byeee xxxxx
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Wednesday, 7 September 2011
Shanghaiiiiiiiii and Suzhouuuu
You’ve guessed it! I’m now halfway through my 2 weeks travelling with Marlon. We travelled on the same flight from Nanchang to Shanghai, after spending one night in Nanchang. It was quite a mission to get there as the bus from Taining to Nanchang was fully booked to se ended up getting a bus and a taxi which was really expensive. We also had to get up at 4o’clockish as our flight left super early.
Once we were in Shanghai we checked into the international youth hostel we were staying at. It was actually a really great place with a cool bar, nice garden and glass panelled walls downstairs with Buddhist quotes on it. Also had great acoustic music playing all the time and generally a nice feel to it. We stayed in Shanghai 9 nights in the end, so had enough time to have a good look around Shanghai and visit lots of places. The first day we visited the ‘Jade Buddha Temple’ which was a beautiful place which had some great tea that I bought! We visited another temple too a different day called the ‘Jinga’an Temple’ which was nice too but kind of under renovation at the time. We also saw the Shanghai museum which had some interesting exhibitions such as sculptures, paintings, stamps and calligraphy. One of the best trips was to the Shanghai zoo which was pretty expensive but definitely worth it, there was lots too see and I saw a panda eating bamboo which was pretty cute. The only downside was the ‘pets’ section which had a load of dogs in little cells which all looked pretty malnourished and badly kept, which was pretty sad to see But at least they were for sale I guess! Another great day was the last day when we went to ‘Dino Beach’ a big water park. There were lots of slides, a huge wave pool that Marlon loved and a veeery long lazy river. We found a great tag line for it online which said ‘the beach is fake but the fun is real!’ One night we went to the cinema to see ‘Source Code’. The seats were pretty unusual as they were more like 2 seater sofas which was funny.
We had more good food, quite a bit of sushi, a veggie stuff. We also found a great Japanese ramen noodle place called Ajisen which did a great veggie noodle dish we loved that we probably had about 7 times for lunch or dinner over the nine days we were there. It was just that good! We will try and search for an Ajisen in Beijing! We also found a juice and smootbhie bar that did great mango smoothies (we are kind fo addicted to mango smoothies) and also some more unusual Mochi (Japanese gooey sweet thing) flavoured smoothie which we also had quite a lot. Mmmmmmmm it was tasty. There was also a really snazzy cheap bar down the road that had great cocktails that we went to a few times. My favourite was the strawberry margherita.
We visited the different districts too such as the French District although that was a bit of a disaster as we walked around for so long trying to find places on the map that we just gave up in the end. We did find a big supermarket with Rose wine though so that was one success. An area called the Bund we visited was much better it was a long the waterfront with Shanghai’s business centre on the other side so I got some great photos from there in the evening. We got cocktails in a bar outside just by the water which was really nice, especially with all the ships going by in the dark. I think the only other place we visited was the Science museum. It was way more interactive than the London one with soo many crazy games and exhibitions. We went on a ride that took us into someone’s mouth and through their body showing different parts of their insides. We also did a crazy shooting game that involved us getting into a simulator thing that spun round as we shot a target. It was meant to show how astronauts get used to living in a moving shuttle, as their aim goes off completely to start with. We also played some archery. My first arrow didn’t even reach the target lol but I nearly got bull’s-eye the second time ;) The coolest interactive thing was when Marlon and I had to sit at each end of a table and put straps on our heads that measured the BETA waves from our brain. BETA waves increase when you concentrate and we had to concentrate on a ball in the middle of the table and the strap measured our level of concentration. We then moved the ball by concentrating on pushing it to the other side and it would move in the direction that the person concentrating the most wanted it to. I got pretty competitive lol and won in the end.
Yesterday we arrived in Suzhou pretty late and checked into our hostel. This morning we had breakfast (I’ve been having muesli most days which tastes soooo good after Rising Dragon) and then headed off the Lion Forest Garden. It was a beautiful Chinese garden and I got lots of nice photos. It had a coy carp pool, lots of pretty buildings and a maze or misshapen rock that you could climb all over. We then went to the Suzhou museum which was actually designed by the same Chinese man who designed the Louvre so pretty impressive. We plan to go out tonight for some drinks and then probably visit a temple tomorrow before heading off to Hangzhou. The Old Town area we are in is so lovely with winding streets and little wooden shops and cafes. We are right next to a canal with overhanging Willow trees all along it that looks perfect in the evening. They have so many kooky shops as well with quirky little postcards and trinkets. Just the kind of thing I love.
I think that’s all for now, wow this post may actually be the longest ever! I will probably report next when I am in Beijing! Much love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Once we were in Shanghai we checked into the international youth hostel we were staying at. It was actually a really great place with a cool bar, nice garden and glass panelled walls downstairs with Buddhist quotes on it. Also had great acoustic music playing all the time and generally a nice feel to it. We stayed in Shanghai 9 nights in the end, so had enough time to have a good look around Shanghai and visit lots of places. The first day we visited the ‘Jade Buddha Temple’ which was a beautiful place which had some great tea that I bought! We visited another temple too a different day called the ‘Jinga’an Temple’ which was nice too but kind of under renovation at the time. We also saw the Shanghai museum which had some interesting exhibitions such as sculptures, paintings, stamps and calligraphy. One of the best trips was to the Shanghai zoo which was pretty expensive but definitely worth it, there was lots too see and I saw a panda eating bamboo which was pretty cute. The only downside was the ‘pets’ section which had a load of dogs in little cells which all looked pretty malnourished and badly kept, which was pretty sad to see But at least they were for sale I guess! Another great day was the last day when we went to ‘Dino Beach’ a big water park. There were lots of slides, a huge wave pool that Marlon loved and a veeery long lazy river. We found a great tag line for it online which said ‘the beach is fake but the fun is real!’ One night we went to the cinema to see ‘Source Code’. The seats were pretty unusual as they were more like 2 seater sofas which was funny.
We had more good food, quite a bit of sushi, a veggie stuff. We also found a great Japanese ramen noodle place called Ajisen which did a great veggie noodle dish we loved that we probably had about 7 times for lunch or dinner over the nine days we were there. It was just that good! We will try and search for an Ajisen in Beijing! We also found a juice and smootbhie bar that did great mango smoothies (we are kind fo addicted to mango smoothies) and also some more unusual Mochi (Japanese gooey sweet thing) flavoured smoothie which we also had quite a lot. Mmmmmmmm it was tasty. There was also a really snazzy cheap bar down the road that had great cocktails that we went to a few times. My favourite was the strawberry margherita.
We visited the different districts too such as the French District although that was a bit of a disaster as we walked around for so long trying to find places on the map that we just gave up in the end. We did find a big supermarket with Rose wine though so that was one success. An area called the Bund we visited was much better it was a long the waterfront with Shanghai’s business centre on the other side so I got some great photos from there in the evening. We got cocktails in a bar outside just by the water which was really nice, especially with all the ships going by in the dark. I think the only other place we visited was the Science museum. It was way more interactive than the London one with soo many crazy games and exhibitions. We went on a ride that took us into someone’s mouth and through their body showing different parts of their insides. We also did a crazy shooting game that involved us getting into a simulator thing that spun round as we shot a target. It was meant to show how astronauts get used to living in a moving shuttle, as their aim goes off completely to start with. We also played some archery. My first arrow didn’t even reach the target lol but I nearly got bull’s-eye the second time ;) The coolest interactive thing was when Marlon and I had to sit at each end of a table and put straps on our heads that measured the BETA waves from our brain. BETA waves increase when you concentrate and we had to concentrate on a ball in the middle of the table and the strap measured our level of concentration. We then moved the ball by concentrating on pushing it to the other side and it would move in the direction that the person concentrating the most wanted it to. I got pretty competitive lol and won in the end.
Yesterday we arrived in Suzhou pretty late and checked into our hostel. This morning we had breakfast (I’ve been having muesli most days which tastes soooo good after Rising Dragon) and then headed off the Lion Forest Garden. It was a beautiful Chinese garden and I got lots of nice photos. It had a coy carp pool, lots of pretty buildings and a maze or misshapen rock that you could climb all over. We then went to the Suzhou museum which was actually designed by the same Chinese man who designed the Louvre so pretty impressive. We plan to go out tonight for some drinks and then probably visit a temple tomorrow before heading off to Hangzhou. The Old Town area we are in is so lovely with winding streets and little wooden shops and cafes. We are right next to a canal with overhanging Willow trees all along it that looks perfect in the evening. They have so many kooky shops as well with quirky little postcards and trinkets. Just the kind of thing I love.
I think that’s all for now, wow this post may actually be the longest ever! I will probably report next when I am in Beijing! Much love xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Friday, 26 August 2011
The end of training ... but China continues!
It's a Saturday and I have just finished my last week of training in Tai Chi at Rising Dragon Martial Arts School. The last few weeks have been lots of hard work as always. I spent the last 3 weeks perfecting my Tai Chi. We did wonder whether wewould move on to a different style but our teacher wanted us to work on what we had learnt and to perfect it which worked out well in the end as I now know I won't forget it in a hurry! I will deffo contune to practise it most days when I return home as it is a great way relax and as a bonus is good for your health. It will also be great to do before exams and stuff when I am nervous or stressed.
A bunch of us went bamboo rafting a couple of weeks back. The rafts were three people per a raft and we each had a little bamboo seat. We went along a pool trhough some beautiful mountains and at one point it got really narrow with very high walls which was really cool. I've also been to Sanming a couple fo times recently with Marlon to sort out extending my visa. I had to miss a couple of days of training unfortunately but atleast its all worked out now.
We all went out to the local village Xinqiao last night and had a goodbye meal and drinks for me and Ben who is also leaving. It was a nice night. I have had a really great time here and probably would have liked to stay longer and try a different style. But I am also very excited about going travelling and I only have a week when I get back before I start university, so the end of my gap year is nearly upon me. What a gao year its been!
I've got so much out of this last China experience, the training has definitely been a test of my motivation and stamina, not to mention my ability to get out of bed at ridiculous times in the morning. I have met some great people here as I seem to have everywhere this year, and have some fantastic memories. Not only can I take away my tai chi and continue to practise it, I can now know that I have survived this intense thing, traveled to Asia and achieved a lot of personal goals. I am very happy :)
Moving on to the next eciting thing, ym trip os now over yet! My flight has been changed to just over 2 weeks later and I in fact now off with Marlon to visit first Shnghai and a couple of other places nearby and then to Beijing! I am soooo excited, it will be fantastic. Hong Kong was so good and that was only a few days so having this much time travel will be amazing. I really thought I wouldn't be able to do travelling when coming to China so the fact that I can see Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing is pretty much perfect. We are leaving in a couple of hours to go to Taining and catch a coupl of buses to get to Nanchang. We stay there for the night and then fly to Shanghai on Sunday so I guess my next blog will be from there!
xxxx
A bunch of us went bamboo rafting a couple of weeks back. The rafts were three people per a raft and we each had a little bamboo seat. We went along a pool trhough some beautiful mountains and at one point it got really narrow with very high walls which was really cool. I've also been to Sanming a couple fo times recently with Marlon to sort out extending my visa. I had to miss a couple of days of training unfortunately but atleast its all worked out now.
We all went out to the local village Xinqiao last night and had a goodbye meal and drinks for me and Ben who is also leaving. It was a nice night. I have had a really great time here and probably would have liked to stay longer and try a different style. But I am also very excited about going travelling and I only have a week when I get back before I start university, so the end of my gap year is nearly upon me. What a gao year its been!
I've got so much out of this last China experience, the training has definitely been a test of my motivation and stamina, not to mention my ability to get out of bed at ridiculous times in the morning. I have met some great people here as I seem to have everywhere this year, and have some fantastic memories. Not only can I take away my tai chi and continue to practise it, I can now know that I have survived this intense thing, traveled to Asia and achieved a lot of personal goals. I am very happy :)
Moving on to the next eciting thing, ym trip os now over yet! My flight has been changed to just over 2 weeks later and I in fact now off with Marlon to visit first Shnghai and a couple of other places nearby and then to Beijing! I am soooo excited, it will be fantastic. Hong Kong was so good and that was only a few days so having this much time travel will be amazing. I really thought I wouldn't be able to do travelling when coming to China so the fact that I can see Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing is pretty much perfect. We are leaving in a couple of hours to go to Taining and catch a coupl of buses to get to Nanchang. We stay there for the night and then fly to Shanghai on Sunday so I guess my next blog will be from there!
xxxx
Saturday, 6 August 2011
Hong Kong
Hello hello,
I have much to report, mainly that I went to Hong Kong Last week :D
A guy I met here needed to go to sort out some visa stuff and so I went along too, it was great to do a bit of travelling as I was sure I wouldn't be able to whilst I was here.
We stayed in a really nice hotel, which was heaven after the heat, mosquitoes and hard beds of the school and they had western style breakfast so I got to have cereal again which I have been craving since I got here lol. We also ate loads of nice japanese food and vegetarian stuff.
We did a lot of walking around Hong Kong and also got to see Harry Potter which I was a bit too happy about. I was sure I would have to wait ages but we found an English viewing no problem :D We also did a beautiful cablecar ride to an island where there was a giant biddha in the mountainside. It was one of the most beautiful places the view really did look like a tropical paradise. We also sorted out the visa stuff which didn't go exactly to plan so I will have to complete it here in Fujian but I'm sure it won't be a prob.
We travelled there and back in a night bus that had beds instead of chairs! It was pretty bizarre lol. It only took 11 hours from Sanming on the way there but on the way back we couldn't get a direct flight so we had to get 2 buses and a train which took more like 18 hours but atleast we got back eventually.
I did end up missing nearly a weeks worth of training which I was a bit worried about but it turns out I've managed to catch up with Stephen in terms of my form. I can feel my fitness has taken a bit of a step back but I'm sure I'll be back on track soon and it was totally worth it. It was such a nice trip and Hong Kong was a pretty great place, such a contrast from my what I've seen of rural China. Most people spoke English and I found I was the one staring at Westerners instead of the other way around as it is here out in Fujian.
I have now completed 5 weeks in China so only 3 weeks of training remain. I have fininshed 13 out of 14 parts of my Tai Chi form so probably only have one more day of learning to go! Then I'm sure I will have to keep going over timing and positioning for a bit but then I can move onto another internal style of martial arts. I'm not sure what to go for yet as I won't complete anything in this short space of time but I do want to do a more powerful form. Tai Chi is all about technique and self-defence so it would be great to build up some strength to compliment that.
Most of my friends here left last week and our class went from 9 people to 5 which did feel like a big drop, especially if someone is ill for a day and we have even less. New people have been arriving though and some people have stayed on of course. I've been visiting Taining a lot at the weekends as usual and a couple of weekends ago we went to a club with most of the school which was hilarious. We train so hard in the week and go to bed so early so everyone just wants to have fun at the weekend, we all got so into the dancing lol. We are hoping to go on a rafting trip through the mountains next weekend if I can organise numbers of people so I will feed back on that if that's a success. It looks beautiful.
I'll write here again soooon xxxxxxxx
I have much to report, mainly that I went to Hong Kong Last week :D
A guy I met here needed to go to sort out some visa stuff and so I went along too, it was great to do a bit of travelling as I was sure I wouldn't be able to whilst I was here.
We stayed in a really nice hotel, which was heaven after the heat, mosquitoes and hard beds of the school and they had western style breakfast so I got to have cereal again which I have been craving since I got here lol. We also ate loads of nice japanese food and vegetarian stuff.
We did a lot of walking around Hong Kong and also got to see Harry Potter which I was a bit too happy about. I was sure I would have to wait ages but we found an English viewing no problem :D We also did a beautiful cablecar ride to an island where there was a giant biddha in the mountainside. It was one of the most beautiful places the view really did look like a tropical paradise. We also sorted out the visa stuff which didn't go exactly to plan so I will have to complete it here in Fujian but I'm sure it won't be a prob.
We travelled there and back in a night bus that had beds instead of chairs! It was pretty bizarre lol. It only took 11 hours from Sanming on the way there but on the way back we couldn't get a direct flight so we had to get 2 buses and a train which took more like 18 hours but atleast we got back eventually.
I did end up missing nearly a weeks worth of training which I was a bit worried about but it turns out I've managed to catch up with Stephen in terms of my form. I can feel my fitness has taken a bit of a step back but I'm sure I'll be back on track soon and it was totally worth it. It was such a nice trip and Hong Kong was a pretty great place, such a contrast from my what I've seen of rural China. Most people spoke English and I found I was the one staring at Westerners instead of the other way around as it is here out in Fujian.
I have now completed 5 weeks in China so only 3 weeks of training remain. I have fininshed 13 out of 14 parts of my Tai Chi form so probably only have one more day of learning to go! Then I'm sure I will have to keep going over timing and positioning for a bit but then I can move onto another internal style of martial arts. I'm not sure what to go for yet as I won't complete anything in this short space of time but I do want to do a more powerful form. Tai Chi is all about technique and self-defence so it would be great to build up some strength to compliment that.
Most of my friends here left last week and our class went from 9 people to 5 which did feel like a big drop, especially if someone is ill for a day and we have even less. New people have been arriving though and some people have stayed on of course. I've been visiting Taining a lot at the weekends as usual and a couple of weekends ago we went to a club with most of the school which was hilarious. We train so hard in the week and go to bed so early so everyone just wants to have fun at the weekend, we all got so into the dancing lol. We are hoping to go on a rafting trip through the mountains next weekend if I can organise numbers of people so I will feed back on that if that's a success. It looks beautiful.
I'll write here again soooon xxxxxxxx
Sunday, 17 July 2011
China - Rising Dragon Martial Arts School
I've now survived over 2 weeks of martial arts training.
Internet is pretty unreliable so it has been hard to update this blog but I have got here eventually.
My flight here was a disaster. I had very short times to switch flights. My first flight was delayed so I only made it onto my flight in Frankfurt by sprinting to the other terminal. I was with a nice Italian girl all the way Beijing though which made a difference. My flight to Beijing turned up late aswell so I missed my flight to Nanchang and my luggage was still in Frankfurt. I ended up waiting for my luggage to arrive and eventually managed to persuade the Air China to change my flight to Wuyishan so I could still get picked up. Their English was very limited and it was very stressful, especially as I hadn't slept in a long time.
I was very relieved when I finally got to Wuyishan and got in the minibus with 6 other people. The place was incredibly cramped with a crazy driver playing chinese music, chain smoking, spitting lol. We had no seatbelts and one guy had to sit on a bucket but I've found out since then that all the driving here is very dodgy so nothing unusual there.
When we arrived a few hours later at 1am at the school I got showed straight to my room. I just had a shower, and a nice experience with a taratula in there and went to sleep. I met my room mate the next day, Harriet from Manchetser who was very nice but has left now this weekend.
I ended up doing Tai Chi which I am very happy about. I have learnt 7 out of 14 forms and hope to move on to Shingyi and more powerful punching version of Internal Martial arts for my second month. A Scotish guy stephen started the same time as me so we learn everything to same time which is good. First few days were so hard and I felt pretty sick but I have really got into ti now. Its very hard being vegetarian here, but I get a lot of rice and veg which is quite ok I guess.
Everyone here is really nice, mainly British like I thought, but there is also Swrish, German, French and a few Americans. We got out a lot at the weekend which is good as its a nice relief from all the training! We went to a barbeque, a karaoke bar and a club last weekend and this weekend just gone we went out for a meal. We go out for meals a couple fo days a week here as its only about £2.50 each time and its much nicer than the rice we get everyday.
There is a local village here which we run to everyday and go to get essentials in the evening too. Then a 40 min bus ride away is a bigger town, we stayed the night in a hotel there last weekend. There are quite a lot of shops and its a reasonable size. Its actually really pretty too so I will have to take more pictures of that.
The hardest part of the day is the morning circuit which is always so hard. Usually involving loads or pressups and situp or bear-crawls. One day we did a run to a load of bircks, had to run back with 2 then do lots of exercises with them. Getting up early isn't actually that bad anymore. On week days we all go to sleep pretty much at 8pm so we get enough sleep. I got bitten alive a couple of night ago, no joke, it was soo hell and I got over a hundred bits on my legs and feet. Agony. The locals couldn't stop laughin when I went to the village lol. But I've been using a load of afterbite and they are already a lot smaller and hurt a lot less.
We've done the bleep test 3 times and first time I got 7.2. A week later I got 9.2. A new girl's record so was very chuffed but this morning I went back down to 8.1. Hopefully I can get back up to my scord next week. I still have no upperbody strength but we do a lot of standing meditation in Tai Chi which is building up arm and leg muscle I hope. Tai Chi is turning out great for self-defence as all the moves when used fast are entirely self-defence based and teach you how to get someones hands off you or push someone away etc. which is exactly what I wanted to learn. It can be very mentally draining but the group is great. Everyone is quite mellow and we have a lot of laughs, no-one is competative because the whole idea of Tai Chi is to become mentally strong aswell as physically and have lots of 'Chi' (positive enrgy) so it seems to attract a good bunch of people.
I'm sure I could go into more detail here but I think I will leave it this for now and try to update again next week with more detail before this post gets ridiculously long.
To sum up, I am loving this place and the people, it is amazing being here in China, my first time out of Europe and this is just the kind of challenge I wanted. What a great way to end my gap year. This might just have got me hooked on travelling forever :D
Internet is pretty unreliable so it has been hard to update this blog but I have got here eventually.
My flight here was a disaster. I had very short times to switch flights. My first flight was delayed so I only made it onto my flight in Frankfurt by sprinting to the other terminal. I was with a nice Italian girl all the way Beijing though which made a difference. My flight to Beijing turned up late aswell so I missed my flight to Nanchang and my luggage was still in Frankfurt. I ended up waiting for my luggage to arrive and eventually managed to persuade the Air China to change my flight to Wuyishan so I could still get picked up. Their English was very limited and it was very stressful, especially as I hadn't slept in a long time.
I was very relieved when I finally got to Wuyishan and got in the minibus with 6 other people. The place was incredibly cramped with a crazy driver playing chinese music, chain smoking, spitting lol. We had no seatbelts and one guy had to sit on a bucket but I've found out since then that all the driving here is very dodgy so nothing unusual there.
When we arrived a few hours later at 1am at the school I got showed straight to my room. I just had a shower, and a nice experience with a taratula in there and went to sleep. I met my room mate the next day, Harriet from Manchetser who was very nice but has left now this weekend.
I ended up doing Tai Chi which I am very happy about. I have learnt 7 out of 14 forms and hope to move on to Shingyi and more powerful punching version of Internal Martial arts for my second month. A Scotish guy stephen started the same time as me so we learn everything to same time which is good. First few days were so hard and I felt pretty sick but I have really got into ti now. Its very hard being vegetarian here, but I get a lot of rice and veg which is quite ok I guess.
Everyone here is really nice, mainly British like I thought, but there is also Swrish, German, French and a few Americans. We got out a lot at the weekend which is good as its a nice relief from all the training! We went to a barbeque, a karaoke bar and a club last weekend and this weekend just gone we went out for a meal. We go out for meals a couple fo days a week here as its only about £2.50 each time and its much nicer than the rice we get everyday.
There is a local village here which we run to everyday and go to get essentials in the evening too. Then a 40 min bus ride away is a bigger town, we stayed the night in a hotel there last weekend. There are quite a lot of shops and its a reasonable size. Its actually really pretty too so I will have to take more pictures of that.
The hardest part of the day is the morning circuit which is always so hard. Usually involving loads or pressups and situp or bear-crawls. One day we did a run to a load of bircks, had to run back with 2 then do lots of exercises with them. Getting up early isn't actually that bad anymore. On week days we all go to sleep pretty much at 8pm so we get enough sleep. I got bitten alive a couple of night ago, no joke, it was soo hell and I got over a hundred bits on my legs and feet. Agony. The locals couldn't stop laughin when I went to the village lol. But I've been using a load of afterbite and they are already a lot smaller and hurt a lot less.
We've done the bleep test 3 times and first time I got 7.2. A week later I got 9.2. A new girl's record so was very chuffed but this morning I went back down to 8.1. Hopefully I can get back up to my scord next week. I still have no upperbody strength but we do a lot of standing meditation in Tai Chi which is building up arm and leg muscle I hope. Tai Chi is turning out great for self-defence as all the moves when used fast are entirely self-defence based and teach you how to get someones hands off you or push someone away etc. which is exactly what I wanted to learn. It can be very mentally draining but the group is great. Everyone is quite mellow and we have a lot of laughs, no-one is competative because the whole idea of Tai Chi is to become mentally strong aswell as physically and have lots of 'Chi' (positive enrgy) so it seems to attract a good bunch of people.
I'm sure I could go into more detail here but I think I will leave it this for now and try to update again next week with more detail before this post gets ridiculously long.
To sum up, I am loving this place and the people, it is amazing being here in China, my first time out of Europe and this is just the kind of challenge I wanted. What a great way to end my gap year. This might just have got me hooked on travelling forever :D
Thursday, 30 June 2011
Tomorrow = Heathrow to Frankfurt to Beijing to Nanchang to Taining!
TOMORROOOOOOW!!
I am definitely more scared than when I was leaving for France or Finland, I guess this is a much bigger deal for me. I am very glad I have had the experince of travelling abroad before though, even if it was just in Europe, I think its made me a bit more prepared for what is to come. I am still finishing packing and am once again worried that not everything will fit. So much for travelling light this time. I actually forgot to go get my last jab this morning oooops, but they called me and let me rush in a bit later. Then the nurse accidentally gave me an extra rabies jab, so I've ended up with 12 injections overall. Hopefully won't be having any more in a hurry!
I've said goodbye to everyone. we didn't have time for a barbeque but we did go out for a meal. It was great having my relatives here and my mum's party was great. It was very tiring in London everyday though and my fitness regime kind of went out the window when they were here but it was worth it. I saw my Hungarian friend Gygy in London the other day which was lovely. She came to visit a friend who is working there this year.
My first challenge will be the flight. It is sooo long and I have to flight transfers so fingers crossed I understand what to do. I am excited to meet everyone when I finally get there.
I actually don't have much to post, just wanted to report here before I leave. I am getting up early and my first flight leaves at 10.50. I'm getting there nice and early as there is a strike at Heathrow today so there might be a bit of a backlog tomorrow.
My next message will be from South East China, Fujian Province Eeeeeeeee!!
Fitness, please don't fail me now ...
xxxxxxxxxx
I am definitely more scared than when I was leaving for France or Finland, I guess this is a much bigger deal for me. I am very glad I have had the experince of travelling abroad before though, even if it was just in Europe, I think its made me a bit more prepared for what is to come. I am still finishing packing and am once again worried that not everything will fit. So much for travelling light this time. I actually forgot to go get my last jab this morning oooops, but they called me and let me rush in a bit later. Then the nurse accidentally gave me an extra rabies jab, so I've ended up with 12 injections overall. Hopefully won't be having any more in a hurry!
I've said goodbye to everyone. we didn't have time for a barbeque but we did go out for a meal. It was great having my relatives here and my mum's party was great. It was very tiring in London everyday though and my fitness regime kind of went out the window when they were here but it was worth it. I saw my Hungarian friend Gygy in London the other day which was lovely. She came to visit a friend who is working there this year.
My first challenge will be the flight. It is sooo long and I have to flight transfers so fingers crossed I understand what to do. I am excited to meet everyone when I finally get there.
I actually don't have much to post, just wanted to report here before I leave. I am getting up early and my first flight leaves at 10.50. I'm getting there nice and early as there is a strike at Heathrow today so there might be a bit of a backlog tomorrow.
My next message will be from South East China, Fujian Province Eeeeeeeee!!
Fitness, please don't fail me now ...
xxxxxxxxxx
Monday, 13 June 2011
Returning home/preparing for China :D
Hello little blog,
I feel I have neglected you for a while as its been a couple of months since I last posted but I promise to update as best I can.
So my last few weeks in Finland went by quite quickly I spent Vappu with my cousin Ellu which was great, we went to hers and made some very impressive blackberry chots consisting of blackberry soup, blackberry liquer and whipped cream mmmm. We then went out to some bars and saw Anna and her fiance then went onto a club. Goood night and we went to the vappu market the next day too. I went back that same afternoon to Helsinki on the long train journey and spent 2 nights in Helsinki. I had time to see my Disney friend Elsi again for a bit which was nice as I saw her just as I had arrived and then just as I was leaving 4 months later :)
Back home it was a great feeling when it was warm! Although we had a few nice sunny days before I left and we did some gardening it did get cold again just as I was going. It was so nice to wear shorts and no scarf I swear my legs hadn't seen daylight since the new year :/ It was a very worthwhile experience for the language, the cooking, the whole winter xperience and everything, but it was till such a nice feeling to have the freedom of my own home and not have to worry about the kids.
I've been doing the usual uni visits which is always fun so I saw Poppy and Kim at their uni. I worked with Alexander for a short time when he was back from College for halfterm. I've been to london a bit and got a new earpiercing, aparently its called a 'conch'. I#m not really up with that lingo. I plan to get a little tattoo on my foot before uni, but I'll wait for that till after China. Laura has been at home so I've seen her quite a bit and people are gradually getting back which is nice. I haven't however seen the likes of Jen, Maddie or Tiff this entire year which makes me quite sad and I can't wait to see them!! Luckily I see Mads and Jen next week but Tiff is off in Rwanda so we will finally be reunited at the end of August.
I've done the odd thing like helping out a bit with the youth ambassadors and I am appearing in my drama teahcer's Karen summer village show which is always fun. Appart from that I've just been trying to get up my fitness a bit for China as I am off to a Martial Arts course for 2 months in the Fujian Province SE China, crazy tiiimes!! I'm sooo excited. I've stretched barely at all, bad Naomi, so I've sure I will regret that but I will try and be better before I leave! I've done quite a lot fo swimming and running.
I leave in 18 days I think now so I am trying to get all my stuff together and organise evrything. I have 11 injections to have that are mega expensive, I think I've had 6 or something so far so still quite a few to go. My last one is the day before I leave so I really squeezed that one in. There is so much to think about, money, phone, flight transfers etc etc etc I have never been outside of Europe so I am not prepared for this! I got my 'buddy list' from the gap year company which had emails of people who start at the academy the same day as I do so I have been in contact with a few people, which was great as I don't feel so much like I am entering into the unknown! It still blows my mind a little to think I am heading off to China alone for 60 days, though I'll meet people when I get there. I got my visa with no probs which was a relief.
It is my mum's birthday party this weekend and lots of our Finnish relatives are coming to stay for quite a few days. It will be fantastic as we have never had that many here at once and some have never even come here at all. I can't wait for the manicness of having everyone stay and it will be nice to see them all again.
I hope to have a barbeque again before I leave to say goodbye to all my friends. It is funny because ti almost exactly a year ago, give or take 2 days, that I was leaving for France, Disneyland. It doesn't feel like a year ago but I guess a lot has happened since then so in some ways it does. I am about to embark definitely on the biggest part of my gap year which I guess is a nice way to end it as three weeks after I am back I am off to uni. I will have to have some though and reflections on the entire thing when I return! I already know I can't wait for uni though which is a good feeling as after A-levels it was the last thing I wanted to think about. So I guess thats definitely a positive thing to come out of the gap year as now I am ready and want to go to uni :)
I will deffo do an update before I leave on how my mum's party went and whether I am prepared or not for the biggest adventure so far. We will seeeeee.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ps. I don't really know why I put x's after this its not like this blog is to anyone in particular, mainly for recording stuff for myself which kinda means I am sending x's to myslef. Not acceptable. But I know my fam atleast reads this so I'll keep sending them anyway :P
I feel I have neglected you for a while as its been a couple of months since I last posted but I promise to update as best I can.
So my last few weeks in Finland went by quite quickly I spent Vappu with my cousin Ellu which was great, we went to hers and made some very impressive blackberry chots consisting of blackberry soup, blackberry liquer and whipped cream mmmm. We then went out to some bars and saw Anna and her fiance then went onto a club. Goood night and we went to the vappu market the next day too. I went back that same afternoon to Helsinki on the long train journey and spent 2 nights in Helsinki. I had time to see my Disney friend Elsi again for a bit which was nice as I saw her just as I had arrived and then just as I was leaving 4 months later :)
Back home it was a great feeling when it was warm! Although we had a few nice sunny days before I left and we did some gardening it did get cold again just as I was going. It was so nice to wear shorts and no scarf I swear my legs hadn't seen daylight since the new year :/ It was a very worthwhile experience for the language, the cooking, the whole winter xperience and everything, but it was till such a nice feeling to have the freedom of my own home and not have to worry about the kids.
I've been doing the usual uni visits which is always fun so I saw Poppy and Kim at their uni. I worked with Alexander for a short time when he was back from College for halfterm. I've been to london a bit and got a new earpiercing, aparently its called a 'conch'. I#m not really up with that lingo. I plan to get a little tattoo on my foot before uni, but I'll wait for that till after China. Laura has been at home so I've seen her quite a bit and people are gradually getting back which is nice. I haven't however seen the likes of Jen, Maddie or Tiff this entire year which makes me quite sad and I can't wait to see them!! Luckily I see Mads and Jen next week but Tiff is off in Rwanda so we will finally be reunited at the end of August.
I've done the odd thing like helping out a bit with the youth ambassadors and I am appearing in my drama teahcer's Karen summer village show which is always fun. Appart from that I've just been trying to get up my fitness a bit for China as I am off to a Martial Arts course for 2 months in the Fujian Province SE China, crazy tiiimes!! I'm sooo excited. I've stretched barely at all, bad Naomi, so I've sure I will regret that but I will try and be better before I leave! I've done quite a lot fo swimming and running.
I leave in 18 days I think now so I am trying to get all my stuff together and organise evrything. I have 11 injections to have that are mega expensive, I think I've had 6 or something so far so still quite a few to go. My last one is the day before I leave so I really squeezed that one in. There is so much to think about, money, phone, flight transfers etc etc etc I have never been outside of Europe so I am not prepared for this! I got my 'buddy list' from the gap year company which had emails of people who start at the academy the same day as I do so I have been in contact with a few people, which was great as I don't feel so much like I am entering into the unknown! It still blows my mind a little to think I am heading off to China alone for 60 days, though I'll meet people when I get there. I got my visa with no probs which was a relief.
It is my mum's birthday party this weekend and lots of our Finnish relatives are coming to stay for quite a few days. It will be fantastic as we have never had that many here at once and some have never even come here at all. I can't wait for the manicness of having everyone stay and it will be nice to see them all again.
I hope to have a barbeque again before I leave to say goodbye to all my friends. It is funny because ti almost exactly a year ago, give or take 2 days, that I was leaving for France, Disneyland. It doesn't feel like a year ago but I guess a lot has happened since then so in some ways it does. I am about to embark definitely on the biggest part of my gap year which I guess is a nice way to end it as three weeks after I am back I am off to uni. I will have to have some though and reflections on the entire thing when I return! I already know I can't wait for uni though which is a good feeling as after A-levels it was the last thing I wanted to think about. So I guess thats definitely a positive thing to come out of the gap year as now I am ready and want to go to uni :)
I will deffo do an update before I leave on how my mum's party went and whether I am prepared or not for the biggest adventure so far. We will seeeeee.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
ps. I don't really know why I put x's after this its not like this blog is to anyone in particular, mainly for recording stuff for myself which kinda means I am sending x's to myslef. Not acceptable. But I know my fam atleast reads this so I'll keep sending them anyway :P
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