Golden Week

The country-wide 'Golden Week' starts here next week (well, Tuesday) which is a National Holiday. There are over 300 MILLION people movements across China, with people going to birthplaces / home etc. All the public places / tourist spots are PACKED beyond your wildest imagination. Imagine Alton Towers on a summer Bank Holiday...then multiply by 1,000....or Wembley stadium over-full to twice capacity....
 
I'm flying home late Monday night - airport will be busy but tolerable....going so early in the break (and late at night) and via Istanbul (I fell out with BA) should mean I miss the total chaos....most of the populace travel by bus or train. My flight is costing DOUBLE the price of my Christmas flight!!!!
 
There are lots of Chinese lanterns all over the place...this photo shows the poor sods who had to assemble a load to go around the gardens at my apartment complex....looks lovely at night....