Chengdhu

Echo picked us up last night and today we went to see the pandas! So cute but we were a little disappointed in the information available. I was in agony with my back but was OK when walking or sitting, it was getting up and down that hurt.

Not just pandas at the panda park!

How cute

In the afternoon we went down to Leshan to see the standing Buddah. On the way we passed tea terraces but couldn't stop - we were a bit disappointed as it would have been quite easy to diverge slightly. We chose to go on the boat to the buddah but would have been great to walk up, darn back! Tea was great, went to a local restaurant and Echo ordered for us, we then went on to the Sichuan Opera. Amazing....

Sichuan Opera

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE BROTHER

Guilin

ANOTHER early start, picked up at 6:30am for our flight to Guilin. The lovely Emily was there to pick us up and off we went at a run! Reed Flute Caves (through the overseas tourist entrance of course), Seven Star Park, Elephant Trunk Hill. After a little rest and sustanance we then all went on the Two Rivers and Four Lake Night Cruise. The reflective pool at the Caves was once again a highlight but rather spoiled by the "light show". The parks were lovely and it was good to wander around looking at the plants, people and vistas.

Reed Flute Cave

Fishing at night

Sun and the Moon Pagodas

These were seen on the night cruise - we had a fantastic trip as we were on a local boat, someone started strumming (not sure what the instrument was) and every one started singing, it was great fun but......off to bed as up early again the next day!

This was a highlight that N was really looking forward to and the scenery, while a lot mistier than when I went before was fantastic. Once on board we raced upstairs to get a prime position for photos. Hawkers rowed out to the boat trying to interest us in souvenirs. We arrived in Yangshou and wandered up through the market area to catch a golf buggy to go out to a local residence where we were greeted by two little old ladies clapping to show they were happy to welcome us to their home. The house was 300 years old and twelve generations had lived there. Then drove back to Guilin where we had a massage - big mistake! N and I wandered around town for a while, had tea at a local restaurant and the back to the hotel.

Nicole and Emily at the rice terraces

This trip was an extra on our holiday. Absolutely fabulous history of 1000 years of cultivation. Emily even had lunch with us, we insisted after she bought us some ginger tea that would cure all our ailments. A big storm hit and we were absolutely soaked, we had to change at the airport for our trip to Chenghu and PANDAS!

Xian

Ivan was there to meet us and off to see the Warriors, N really really wanted to see them and I was just happy to holiday with her :-) We were like VIPs because as we were in a small car we were allowed to drive right up to the enclosures.

That evening we went and had a dumpling banquet and then watched the Tang Dynasty Show. Ivan was so pleased with himself in getting us the best seats in the house!

It was a magnificent meal and a magnificent show!

N finding the way

This morning up early again! No sleep ins on this holiday. We had a long drive ahead of us as the road was being repaired and we were told it would take 4 hours instead of 1 (actually took 3!) but it was a good trip and we enjoyed it, when we had our eyes open! I am sure you aren't supposed to overtake around a bed, three abreast but Mr E was determined to do it. (Some would say that I should be used to driving like that!) Mt Huashan was fantastic, we walked and climbed and walked. Loved it, even managed to survive the chair lift.

After a good soak in the bath (no not that photo I think!) we headed off via an electric rickshaw to the market, no Chinese on our side and no English on his! Wandered around the market, then back to the hotel (again in an electric rickshaw that we think had a flat battery because we were ushered to a third one!) for a .....Moroccan dinner.

Sweets at the market

China

Arrived in China yesterday and made my way to the hotel, N had arranged for a driver. As N was busy with work, well in another city altogether I think! I went for a walk around the block by myself and found this vegie garden in the middle of Beijing and just had to take a photo of it for my baby brother.

Today I went on a big adventure all by myself as N once again was off on work stuff (on the fast train, exciting). I took a taxi to Tiananmen Square, so different from when I was there last time. Huge TV screens erected in the Square which really spoils it IMHO.


Then for a wander around the Forbidden City. I spent quite a long time there before heading off out the Western Gate for a look around.

A bedspread in one of the display rooms

Looking back at the Forbidden City

Very early start tomorrow for our flight to Xian! The start of our adventure!

I'm going back!

China beware! How exciting, my DD N is off to China for work and after she survives a few mine trips we are doing a private tour for 7 days arranged by Glenda at Boutique Tours and Travel. I need to organise my visa for China and flights to and from and no time to do it! RACT travel are on to my flights. A lovely person at N's head office in Sydney is organising my VISA ahhhhh passport needs to go, will I get it back in time!

March Showers

Tried to do a bit of gardening between rain showers and while wandering around found the colchium in full bloom. The common name for these is Autumn crocus and they look just like crocus only much bigger.
The rain didn't put off the bees! This one was out and about and looking for lovely nectar. What else am I missing under all the weeds!
Cleaned out the lily pond, now it is up to the leaves to climb out of the water! Everything was completely covered in a pond weed. I will need to skim it every day to try and get rid of it!

Polar bear in the lounge!

oh excitement my new camera has arrived! Close up of one of my Christmas pressies.

Divi enjoying a lollypop and Mike looking very surprised.

Wow how does this look?

All the lino and carpet is up and how bad do these boards look! BUT this is how they look now, wow what a difference.

Another job done!

Spent my lunch break carting planks for the floor, well some of them. Helped the floorer move them in until his offsider arrived and then left them to it. So exciting

Going, going, gone

Painting is so wonderful, all these decisions have to be made. Alas it is no more.

Busy, busy

Richy and Jenny came for a visit over the weekend. Apart from them having to sit in the airport for 2 hours because of plane trouble we had a wonderful time!

Friday

Richy posting Issy a card at the FAMOUS Dunalley postbox

Saturday
Rob and Richy enjoying lunch at SalamancaFelicity and Ken with Moo brewWill I give Pete a hand?
So many babies on the pond!
The lovely conservatory at the Royal Hobart Botanical Gardens with wedding in process

Jenny and me in the Japanese Garden

Sunday

Alas no photos of beautiful Oatlands or Ross, the weather just wasn't good enough.

The Gardener

Rob is really working hard in the garden, I think we will all be receiving the most delicious vegies from Rob's Patch - move over Peter Cundall!

What have I done!

House is being painted at the moment and I gave permission for these to be painted over AND NOW I DON'T WANT THEM TO BE! Why did I do it??????

Blue is for boys

Great news today, safe arrival of Buddy! Congratulations Cate and Phil.

Sewing

A big sewing day yesterday. My quilt, inspired by my trip to China last year is now tacked together ready for quilting. I attended a class last year at American Patchwork, 91 Patrick Street, Hobart after seeing it advertised and thought it would be a great reminder of my China trip. I don't get much time to do sewing, too many things to do but it is slowly getting done. I wouldn't have got it to this stage without the help of my very good friend who spent at least 4 hours tacking, yesterday. Lucky she is right handed and I am left handed so we could start in the middle and go out to the opposite ends. It would have been a huge job by myself! Now I have to get the machine out and start quilting......

Hurricane Force winds

It was a bit windy last Wednesday night! When I opened the curtains I got a bit of a shock to see the solar dome over the old pool absolutely ruined. Thought the frame was OK if a bit bent but one piece has a big rip in it so I guess will have to be replaced. The local paper has some great photos. http://www.news.com.au/mercury/gallery/0,22927,5030740-5015646,00.html

Home again, home again

This morning was very busy. First Dylan, Nicole and I took down the Christmas tree (and I forgot to take a photo of it) then Nicole and I staked out some trees while Clint put the fittings on the pond ready for the fountain. We all heaved and puffed and huffed and fountain was finally in place. Very muggy day, everytime you move you break out in perpiration.

Quick shower then off to Rebel Sport to look at gym equipment then to the airport. Good flight home but the luggage took 20 minutes to be delivered at the Hobart end, thought they must have lost it all.

Cat's drinking bowl

Nicole and I finished off the grouting for the vegie garden pond. Stalin thinks it is his personal drinking bowl.

Babies

These galahs are providing us with some amusement at the moment. They descend into the trees about an hour before dusk and demand loudly to be fed by their long suffering parents. We are usually having dinner in the courtyard when they come and can't hear outselves because of their wailing.

It's a tough life

Nicole and I enjoyed a dip in the pool after a day of painting and grouting. We were very virtuous and took the dogs for a walk early this morning. Earlyish to bed, we didn't stay to welcome in 2008!