World Travel

Hui Jia Le – Home From Home

So, I’m back in The Chine. I was in the washroom at the Beijing airport when I heard a man hork in the stall next to me, then while washing my hands my neighbour blow-gunned his nostril into the sink. Ah, it’s good to be home. As I mentioned last post, I was a bit apprehensive …

August 16, 2006
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Da Pubu, Xiao Pubu

I’ve been doing my best this last week to get out and see this place where I live with fresh eyes. It started with me looking at things and going, “What would Maggie think of that?” and now has me giddy in the hopes that next year, as my wife, I’ll be able to bring …

August 11, 2006
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Cheeky 403

With recent world events, I’m getting a bit apprehensive about travel home in four days. Not so much because I think someone might get a bottle of shampoo through security and put it in my eye (man, that stings!). What I’m worried about are those damn security checks and the delays they may bring. I …

August 11, 2006
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Pack It Up, Pack It In

Well, here it is. The one week mark. Only seven days until I head back to China and life as (un)usual. It’s been an experience being back in Canada and has really given me some perspective about life in general. Yeah, yeah, I know. No need to get all metaphysical and crap, but to be …

August 8, 2006
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The Journey West (via the North East)

I woke early Thursday morning to finish last minute packing and get to the airport for my 9 a.m. DLN-PKK flight. The packing went smoothly (and until now I’ve only noticed one thing I forgot), and Mags and I got to the airport without any trouble. We planned it so that we’d have a lot …

July 15, 2006
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You Say Goodbye, I Say Hello

Nothing like a flood to mark a departure. I woke up this morning to a rather disturbing water-leaking-in-the-wall noise coming from behind the shower, and knowing full well that there was going to be a knock any moment to turn our apartment’s water off I did what any man would have … I jumped in …

July 13, 2006
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Dalian Is A Beautiful City

I’ve lived here in Dalian for about a year and a half and in that time I’ve heard the following line more times than I care to count: “Dalian is a clean and beautiful city.” It must have been written in the “How to Properly Promote Dalian to Foreign Visitors and Residents” pamphlet that’s handed …

July 8, 2006
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HoliDAY & A Ticket To Ride

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.” Well, I am was officially on holidays. Michael Corleone’s words have been ringing in my head all day. Yesterday, after emptying my desk, I was sure I was done with teaching for the summer, but such was not in the cards. I’ve just …

July 4, 2006
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Kaifaqu: Well Developed

In my roughly year and a half of living in the Dalian area I know I’ve mentioned Kaifaqu 开发区 a half dozen times, but I don’t think I’ve ever done the place proper justice. I love it. It’s everything Dalian claims to be but isn’t. It’s clean(er), has more greenery and less people. It’s quaint, …

July 2, 2006
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Fu Jia Zhuang

After several weeks of planning to go for a walk down by the coast on our mutual day off and continually being foiled by the weather, Maggie and I got our chance to get some fresh air yesterday. Though we had intended to do a bit of a hike along Bing Hai Rd. (滨海路), from …

June 18, 2006
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Da Hei Shan 大黑山

Last week, as I’ve mentioned, was May Holiday. This is a very popular time for people in China to travel – as many have a week long vacation. The “many” however did not include Maggie. As I didn’t really feel like trekkin’ around China on my own, and am still slaving over this new Web …

May 9, 2006
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