First of all, I'd like to introduce everyone to the Gumi 'Kasanoba' - ladies he's here for you!
Not a whole lot of news, but apparently my nephew Luke will be on the Lifestyle Food Channel in Aussieland some time. So look out for a blonde 1-year-old in a shopping trolley if you have pay-TV.
I have a cold, it sucks. These photos and a few more are available for looka-looka - there.
But also, sea worms.
As you can read - I'm living in South Korea now! Currently in Anyang, a city just to the south of Seoul. I must say that I like it here, the people are nice - despite me hardly understanding a word they say!
I caught a ferry over from Tianjin (well, Tanggu to be more precices) in China, to Incheon in Korea. The trip was long and boring, but overall not too bad.
I was going to be starting work tomorrow, but I've got visa problems... grrr.
I finally went out in Seoul last night, but the subway outsmarted me, so I was too late to meet Kat -a teacher finishing up at my school- and her boyfriend. I ended up hanging out with some Scottish lads, and enjoying a few ales, before leaving for home at about 5:30am.
Also: I just finished uploading my China photos. You can see them here.
So, that's about it for now...
so, what's happenned?
I had my amazing train trip from Shanghai to Harbin around the 21st (its a bit of a haze). That was really too painful for me to go into again.
Had a relatively pleasant few days in Harbin. Went and saw a bit more of the Ice Festival. Specifically the snow scultupers on Sun Island. Must say it was cool to walk accross the river to get there...
Stayed with a Chinese family for a few days: my former pseudo-girlfriend. That was just before and for a couple of days of the 'Spring' Festival. Must say that was an eye-opener. No toilet, bathroom or running water on site . Ended up leaving earlier than planned, since it was getting a little emotionally painful, plus boredom and lack of communication was getting to be an issue.
Went back to Harbin, then on Qiqihar: have been here a week and am really starting to go nuts back in my old haunt. Buggered if I know exactly where I'm going.
I could go South Korea, which will yeild me a lot more cash, but for whatever reason I'm not really keen on going there at this stage. I have accepted a job there, but I think I'll try to weasel my way out...
I should probably try to find some of my old friends while I'm here. I think I'll feel better when I've got a ticket out of here.
Looks like finding work, may not be so daunting as I thought.
Someone from a school (in South Korea) just emailed me after finding my resume on TEFL.com. Just after I read Mel's comment on the last blog!
Quite the funny.
In other news:
Oh yes, and at least I have money now...
I told everyone that I was leaving China on the 17th to arrive back in Aussieland on the morning of the 18th. I even bought a ticket before I did this, just so no-one would suspect anything.
So, it turns out that I'm not coming home just yet. My sister, Sandra reckons I'm better off staying out of Australia for too long... Since it would mean being bored, broke and generally upset. And presumably annoying to all I may need to be staying with.
I really was dreading the return home, since my RMB would have very little sway in Aodaliya (1/6 exchange rate, for those not in the know). So, I'm in Shanghai, still. Possibly not my favourite place, but I can get by until some money comes through from the bank.
I may have to back to Harbin as well, since that was where my plane ticket was bought and that's where I need to go if I want the cash... Getting there at this time of year will be tough and possibly expensive. 24 hour train trip! Hooray!
Then... I don't know.
Spent roughly 6 days in Beijing. I left there at 7pm last night to arrive in Shanghai 7am this morning.
Beijing was awesome. Did a fair bit of touristy things: the Forbidden City on my first day, then some Peking Opera that night.
Second day was the Great Wall at Badaling. Cool, but not mind-blowing I guess. Also saw the Ming Tombs, well one of them: for the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di (?) - he moved the capital from Nanjing (southern capital) to Beiping - and renamed it Beijing (northern capital). They also took us to see some traditional Chinese doctors - turns out I have too much heat in my liver. I was stupid enough to buy some of their 400kuai medicine, too. Oh yes, and that night managed to sample some Beijing kao ya - Peking Duck, which was pretty good - a pricy 168RMB for one bird however - worth it I guess.
Third & fourth days were arse-about days. Saw the Yonghegong Lama Temple - but only for an hour or so, liked it so much I went again the next day.
Fifth day we metup with a friend Jimmy, who began teaching with us up at Qiqihar - met his new lady and bride-to-be sometime this year, too. Very nice. Had lunch, wasn't too keen on the live prawns going into the hotpot though. Oh yes that night, met some nice people who teach up at Hohhot in Inner Mongolia. Interstingly one was a guy from Guyana - where I had planned to go for a volunteer program before.
Sixth day was a farce, trying to find the Summer Palace, eventually got there, with only an hour to spare... had fun getting back to the hostel in time to get the train home.
Anyway, I love Beijing. I'll have to go back one day.
*edited a little*
But I really can't be bothered.
At lunch break, the Teacher Mr Liu, took us to lunch as usual (for this school). Outside the school gates he was kind enough to point out that a hit-and-run accident had occurred nearby the night before, and that a middle-aged man had been killed by a truck.
He then points to the road, saying "that's his head, over there." Sure enough, there was some suspiciously brain-like matter sitting on the road.
After lunch, on my way back to the school, there were two men on the road, with shovels and plastic bags ready to clean this up.
Yes, they double-bagged.
