Officailly Rubbish

Okay mum, aware that we've been neglecting the blog somewhat lately. Sorry. We are pants is our only excuse.
In Qingdao now, last stop before Beijing and then home. Qingdao means brewery so you can guess the most famous local export. Found an ace resuarant that served kebabs and pitchers of the local brew. Had a total faff on working out how to get to Beijing, train station completely closed down-this is 2 weeks before the Olympics in one of the co-host cities. madness. Have bus tickets though, complete with passport number because Beijing is insane.
Couple of days here chilling and what not before hitting the city where it's going to be all go to fit everything in. Then I lose Sarah, have a day to do odds and ends which will probably involve but not be limited to shopping showering and possibly getting a haircut.
So there you go. Don't say I never give you anything.

It's been a while

At least it feels like it has been, mainly since we've spent the last two days doing hardly anything.
We got to Xiamen on the overnight bus and headed straight across to Gulang Yu on the ferry. It's absolutely gorgeous here, beaches and palm trees and all that jazz. Really not a lot to report because really not a lot has happened.
Did some swimming on the first day and got a bit of sunburn, walke dup a hill and found a very nice statue whose foot made an even nicer sunlounger.
Second day we were good girls and wore plenty of suncream and stayed in the shade. Only downside to this place is that it seems difficult to find food-although there's always the fall back of Mcdonalds.
Off to Shanghai tomorrow, we're flying because the train takes 27 hours and the plane is only 1 and a half and not too much more expensive. Worth it for getting an extra day in Shanghai. And to get a train ticket would have meant going back across to the mainland and standing in a big queue. Plane tickets were done over t'internet as was the hotel booking. Really not sure how anyone got anywhere without this internet malarky.
Three more stops on the road between here and home so we'll see you soon-ish.

Same Moon

Where were we...oh that's right, wrestling wqith the Hong Kong Visa office. No real problem they're just really strict about paper work. Went to pick them up Thursday morning though and we're all legal now so don't fret mum.
Went to ocean park in Hong Kong which was mint. Sarah got top see sharks, I got to see more pandas and we both got to go on all the rides-even though Sarah wussed ou and wouldn't come on one of them with me. She insists that I can't tell people she wussed out but I think she will find that this web page is called blog of WENDY so she can keep her nose put!!!pah. Can i just add that i did not wus out, i have done the ride before and if i want to keep the feeling of my tummy being in the right place i can so nur nur nur nur nur - Sarah
But we're still getting along great-honest. And there was a dolphin show which was also mint.
Got our visas and hopped on a ferry across to Macau which was very jazzy and European-except when we tried to find an outdoor bar, an idea which seems to have passed them by. Thunderstorms lasted all night but I guess if you will visit during the rainy season then what do you expect.
Crossed over into 'mainland' China this morning so now we both have lots of exciting stamps and stickers in our passports.
In Guangzhou today where we had only booked one night but we've paid for two because it's all nice and clean and pretty. We sat in an outdoor bar and had dinner then went for a stroll down by the river. Sarah suggested the blog title as it was a nice big shiny moon, and the same one that you'll all be looking up at in 8 hours time.
Now we're off to cool off with a nice shower a piece and get a good nights sleep.

hello hello, Sarah again (think wendy is taking advantage of me making me do it!!!)

Ok so Hong Kong, well yesterday we had a few Visa related problems which was annoying meaning it is costing us more coz it didnt get sorted till today but hopefully it is ok now and we will get them on thursday. So yesterday we went up to the Harbour to see the world famous skyline, it was very stunning, we also went to the avenue of stars (think hollywood boulevard) so that was all interesting, then we got the ferry over to Hong Kong Island and had a wander, everything here is so tall! After a nap we went out to the night market and i brought myself the greatest watch (i know i already have one mum but this was a pound) its got sharks on it - proper kids watch! Then we went for food which was very very plesant. Today we had to go back to the Visa place but like i said it seems to be ok now. Then off we went again, up the peak, to which you have to get a very steep tram!! It was a little cloudy but the views were stunning, the camera is being very well used! Then we went to Hong Kong Park which has an Avery which was full of brightly coloured birds, all very pretty. were back at the hostel now its almost 6pm and were off soon to eat and go to the harbour when its dark.

So thats out news. Hope all is well at home

Sarah x

Hello its Sarah

I have arrived safe and sound, no problems with the flights apart from the shere boredom! I watched loads of films they had a massive choice thankfully.

Anyway loads to do x

Pretty Much a Perfect Day.

In Hong Kong and it's awesome. Decided that since Sarah get's here tomorrow there's no point me running off and seeing too much of the city without her so I chose to chill out instead.
Which I deffinataly deserved after the slightly nightmarich bus experience.
It was going fine, until I got sick. Three times. And all I'd had to eat all day was porridge and rice which both lend themselves quite well to the vomit genre. Not pretty.
More than anything it just really shook me up mentally and physically. I never get sick (ask anyone whos ever seen me drinking). I don't get food poisoning and I don't get travel sick no matter how rickety the journey, so I had an interesting night of slightly doubting myself and hpoing this wasn't the beginning of some trend.
Managed to find myway across the border the day my visa expired so now I'm all legal which I guess is good. Border was an absolute joke, guess it wouldn't have killed anyone to maybe put up a sing for the benifit of the thousands of foreigners who might want to find their way. Grr.
Once through immigration though getting into town was a breeze, and there was a Starbucks. Nothing settles the stomach like Starbucks. At least that what I decided to test, and it basically worked. I don't feel ill anmore, hoorah for the powers of Starbucks.

Walked down to the park outside my hotel, and the pool. Huge complex of three heated outdoor pools which were absolutely heavenly, and FREE!! Wendy does like free things. So I spent most of the day there, caught the sun a bit so now I have an interesting selection of tan lines going on but at least I have a tan.

Came back to the hotel, had a few beers and a sing along, sadly no camp fire on the 16th floor but i guess you can't have everything.

Checking out ntomorrow to go look for the hotel that big sis and I have reservations at. Then might go back to the pool, they have a late night session which should get me showered and changed in perfect time to meet Sarah off the bus. She's probably on the plane now which is very exciting for both of us. Can't wait to see her.

OMG I totally geeked out

Sorry it's been a while. Weird virus filter on the last few computers I've tried decided it wouldn't let me use any of the websites I needed. Silly China.
I'm in Guilin now-which will mean nothing to anyone since I never got round to putting a link to a map. It's my last stop in 'real' China before a short hop skip and jump into Hong Kong before my visa runs out. Have my ticket booked for the sleeper bus. I arrived here this morning on one and they're awesome. Just like a sleeper train, but a bus instead. A bus with little bunk beds and a stewardess comes round and gives you biscuits asnd water, okay so it's not exactly four posters,hot chocolate and a toothbrush in the colour of your choice but it was such a Harry Potter moment, I'm such a nerd and I don't even care.
So las ttime I did this I was in Chonqing, since then I've been to Guiyang which was cool, had a bit of a faff finding a room but managed in the end. Went to a huge waterfall which was awesome, there was a natural cave behind it that you could walk through and sort of rock windows where the waterfall was just like a curtain. Got absolutely soaked but it was nice and refreshing, still crazily hot here, even when it rains like it did yesterday. Was still something ridiculous like 36 C at misnight. Madness.
For now I'm just enjoying being where I am, the hostel is gorgeous with a full drinks menu so I know exactly what I'm doing tonight, hmm decisions decisions, gin or JD? Don't plan on doing too much here, just relaxing which I've sort of neglected lately and this is the perfect place to do it in.
Have done all the boring essentials: showered, washed clothes and been to the bank for some more money, shall spend the rest of the day mooching around, maybe wonder down to the river and see what there is to see, aparently you can take little boats down it for Y1, but then I've stopped trusting my guidebook so much after it told me my Y260, 14 hour bus ride would be Y108 and 10 hours. Next time I write should be from Hong Kong on 5th.