Well not a good start to the day…..flight delayed due to snow so several boring hours spent at the airport. Finally arrived at about 1430 hours and met my guide – Eva and my driver, whose name I have already forgotten but it's an all girl team for this part of the trip!! The sun was shining and it felt much warmer than Xi’an despite being only 5 degrees. I can still feel my feet today unlike yesterday when I was numb from the cold. Hangzhou is ...

Monday morning and it's off for another day of ancient history. I am finding it all completely mind blowing to see so many sights that are this old. Today is a nice sunny brisk (minus 4 degree) day!! I am wearing so many layers of clothes I’m starting to look like the 'Michelin man". First stop today was a factory in Lintong County where they reproduce the warriors and horses as well as create some fine Chinese laquerware, silk embroidery and jade in every...

Arrived in Xi'an at about 1330 to be met by my guide Johnny who tells me what a lovely day it is and only minus 1 degree!!! I have to admit the sun was shining so the city looked lovely but there was definitely a bite in the air. I feel rather famous as I’m being driven around in this big van all to myself with Johnny and my driver Mr. Sun. Xi'an is the capital of Shaanxi province with a population of about 6 million people and is one of the most important...

Arrived in Chengdu at about 2030 hrs on Friday night, I was met by my guide Billy and taken to my hotel ready for an early start in the morning. My hotel is in the Tibetan district so I see monks wandering around the streets and the Wuhouci (Temple) is just 50 metres walk from my hotel. Hotel is VERY average with a "box" breakfast and cold showers….only 2 nights thank heavens. Chengdu is the Capital of Sichuan Province and the 4th largest city in China (po...

The last few days have been one of many students in tears saying goodbye to me…even the teachers have been commenting on the impact I had on their students and how much the students will miss me – kind of sweet isn't it???!! Was taken out for a farewell dinner and the ubiquitous KTV for my last evening… and yes I had to sing ABBA again!! Then had to have photos taken this morning in front of the school for some purpose…who knows where my p...