Not quite sure where I am at the moment - about 3 hours flight 'down south' then an hour in the car, Parker driving. On the flight, I had my usual 'fight' with the yummy 'in flight meal' - this time, a packet of dried apple bits. They're very nice, if hardly 'filling' but - as always - it was bloody hard work getting into the packet!! The bags over here are VERY hard to rip open!! I timed myself this time, and after much chewing with teeth, ripping with fingers etc and general pulling, I finally had access to the contents some 6 minutes and 32 seconds later...
My chaps are very kind to me - they know I struggle with some of the food in some regions, so whenever we come here, they take me to PIZZA HUT in a giant shopping centre, not far from the airport. Very kind of them - I haven't the heart to say that I'm not THAT westernised, but I confess I did stock up, having both a lasagna AND a pizza. Thus, if our kind hosts asked me out for a 'Dogs Dick Dinner' that evening, I wouldn't have to resort to my emergency supply of SNICKERS bars in my case...
The shopping centre is huge if - like most huge shopping centres here - rather empty of people, although it IS midweek. I spotted a PULL & BEAR store, a great 'find' of mine over here, as we don't have them in the UK. Think 'GAP' but with more colour!!!I also noticed a rather nice (and TASTEFUL) underwear shop - the first I've seen over here. I'm told Chinese ladies aren't bothered about matching 'top & bottom' - but I guess that will come in time, along with knives & forks...
Driving through lots of tunnels and the countryside to our destination was nice - much 'greener' than Beijing, if hotter - we're moving into autumn there, but it's still very much summer here - a boiling 37 degrees today, although I still have my tie on - standards, don't you know!! My chaps keep looking at me like a dog looks up hoping to hear "WALKIES!", but I'm not going to say "let's take our ties off, boys" - I'm afraid it's just not DONE...
We went out for dinner on our own, and the guys had tracked down a steak bar - again, so kind of them. I checked my weight in the hotel room, and I weighed in at "a trim 73 kilos - Championship weight!" although still about half a stone lighter than where I used to be / want to be - bang on the 12 stone 'Super Middleweight' division!!
Walking back was nice - I love the 'toot & hoot' atmosphere of the streets as the sun goes down, and like to watch the crossroads, where everyone ignores the traffic lights, and none of the bikes have lights on. I'm amazed this 'free for all' doesn't result in more accidents, cars & bikes in every direction plus the lovely rickshaws.
I left the boys to walk back to the hotel and sat quietly on a wall, watching the world go by, and the sun slowly go down behind the hills in the distance...
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