Started this week thinking the cool-but-comfortable autumn days are beginning to dwindle ...... leaves changing colour and falling off the trees......reminding me very much of the Botanical Gardens and wondering when Mr Winter might arrive...... but then on Thursday it hit us with a vengence. OMG it is SO cold and there is worse to come :( I am suddenly thinking that thermal underwear has a certain appeal that I had never thought possible!! With the last of the ...

Had a little trip down memory lane last Sunday when I joined my friend Mint for lunch and then realised how bizarre the whole situation might seem to some who rarely travel. Here was an Australian and Thai person having lunch in a Vietnamese restaurant in China.....talk about blending of cultures!!! Had a delightful time recalling memories of my trips to both Thailand and Vietnam as I devoured the most wonderful vietnamese food. Then I thought to myself but isn't...

Am getting into a regular routine of living in Nanjing now....almost starting to feel like a local. Teaching, studying, lesson planning, socialising and of course planning my next holiday!! Tibet now seems like a lifetime dream away......but never fear I'm still getting some photos from my fellow travellers and simply had to add the one of me at the Everest Base Camp altitude sign - just to prove to you all that I REALLY did make it. Still feels a little surreal....

Life has been one big whirlwind since I returned from Tibet. Our tour group is still fighting for some reimbursement for our tour and in typical Chinese fashion this negotiation is going around in ever diminishing circles. However I don't think they have counted on the fact that we are working together as a group and are one very determined group of people!! Still waiting on some photos from my fellow tour group members to add to my blog....especially the one of...

A wonderful final night of celebrations was had by all last night. We had dinner and many drinks until we got kicked out of the restaurant as they were closing. We were not ready to call it a night so headed around the streets looking for a bar that was open. Found this tiny Tibetan bar in one of the back streets where the people made us feel very welcome and reignited our belief that the Tibetan people were warm and welcoming not liars and cheats!! I think we ...