Family Comes to Town

(The photos just keep on coming...) (Blue skies above Beihei Park, central Beijing)

We're back! And its about time we updated you all on our latest adventures in the land of contrasts and cheap massages.

(Sunset on Houhai Lake, central Beijing)

Since we last wrote, we've been graced with the presence of the senior Taylor's - Mum n' Dad that is. They've come all the way from OZ to say G'day and stock up our fridge with blocks of cheese. Now we'll be able to eat crackers n' cheese till the cows come home! Speaking of cows, I've gotta hand it to 'em for that glass n' a half of milk that makes Cadbury chocolate taste so good and of which we also got handed a new stash (Stocking up for the cold cold winter) - Yum! Not only that but they brought my guitar over as well! Yay! Jamming is back on the agenda!

(Gerry and Jan Taylor eating Octopus on Snack Street, central Beijing)

But generosity is not only one way. Once again we opened up Taylor's Orinental Serviced Apartments ("The spare bedroom is all yours!"), and became hosts for a week. It was great doing the whole tour guide thing, and we did the usual Great Wall trip, Forbidden City/Tiannamen Square, Houhai Lake, Bargain clothes/gifts/accessories shopping, Massages, Manicure/Pedicures, Wandering the streets, Duck-eating, Bike Riding through the Hutongs, Eating out... the good life basically.

(Michelle taking a breather while being chased by the boys from the army on the Great Wall)

Since I finished my last job late September and Michelle was able to get some leave, we also made sure we'd get in on the holiday act and after a week or so in Beijing we went with the folks to Xian - famous for the Terracotta Warriors - for a trip that even we hadn't made before. Extraordinary. We couldn't let China go on holiday without us - they just had a week-long national holiday, and ironically it's the worst time to do any travelling in China.

(Terracotta Warriors, Xian)

In Xian we not only saw once-buried-now-not-soldiers and horses, but we made it to the top of the world...almost. We ventured up Mt Huashan, one of the 5 sacred mountains in China, and also the most dangerous...but stunning, if you're not afraid of heights and agonisingly long cable cars.

But we were happy that they cared about the environment...

And that they were pretty clear as to where we 'passengers' were not meant to walk...

And what did we take away from the whole mountain-top experience? Nothing but beautiful rememberance and photograph!...

Back in Xian we also rode bikes around the city...on a wall. Yes...on a wall. It's the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world. That's a fact. It took us about 1.5hrs to complete a full circuit of the city wall, by which time we'd seen all the wall we'd ever want to see. All walled out, we had to find a place for a good coffee/smoothie and food to go.

Looking back though, it was a pity we couldn't climb the wall. Cycling always did seem a cheap cop out...

The nightlife was also a highlight. One of the lake filled parklands, became all lit up, and the water became the centrestage for an amazing night-water-show that's hard to describe...lazers, fire, fireworks, epic martial art battles - viewed through water fountains...like I said - hard to describe. Apparently it's the largest 'water screen show' in the world ! But view this video Dad took for but a small taste...

Well, enough about all the fun that's to be had here in China. There's also lots of work to do. The senior Taylor's have ventured off down the south of China for another adventure and Michelle and I are back in Beijing to get down to business.

Michelle is back at work and gearing up for the pre-Christmas busy season at the Embassy. And I've just secured another teaching job. I've got to say, I'm really enjoying my English teaching. I've got lots of memories already from my last 2 gigs. Not to mention the time I led my students in the song 'Hey, hey baby' at their company's Mid-Autumn Festival Party. It was a classy 'do' at a classy hotel, complete with dramas, songs, dances and such, and to top it off... Well I couldn't let myself be outclassed. In the end it was like a wacky foreigner had gate-crashed a well-to-do Chinese party, let loose, jumped around and caused a commotion. Thankfully it was a happy commotion and the students really got into the 'oh's' and 'ah's'. Michelle was so proud...of the fact that she wasn't up on the stage with me.

So next I'll be teaching to Uni students at 2 Universities. I guess that makes me a University teacher?! Wow! Crazy thought. I'll have classes with up to 50 students. Now that's a little daunting but we'll see how it goes.

Well I've tried to be brief...(really - I've cut lots of great stories out!), but it's never easy when you're this far from home.

I do miss Australia...so put a shrimp on the Barbie for me!

This is China

Dig it.

See you on Skype, MSN, Facebook, and why not here? Come to China! I'll put a shrimp in the wok for you!