Take me on a trip

 

One thing I did notice in HK before heading to the airport was that, just as on the mainland, the whole place was something of a building site. Everywhere I went there were road works or major construction going on. 

Happily full(ish) of Guinness and the proud owner of a new CD, I head for the airport and fly to London, 13 hours later arriving at some ridiculously early hour on the Sunday morning. I am then met and driven to my home for the next few days. 

Well, it would be except that I have to shoot up to Scotland for a brief visit. So, on Monday morning, I'm off again. At least the flight is only one hour this time. Again I’m met and driven the half hour to my Scottish home. A quick visit to my parents and then I’m on a train back to London.

Clever things these trains. They've gone all hi-tech since I last used one (outside of China).

Of course, they are still not a patch on Chinese trains. Where are the trolleys selling chicken's feet?

Back in London, I spend a day being a tourist and visiting old haunts. (I lived in London for over 20 years.) Nothing much has changed.

I decide to wander past the British Museum (I lived next door for a while) and to my shock I find that the Chinese are following me! Well, actually, they got here before me.

One thing has changed. For some reason, they have banned the sale of eggs to minors!

Eggsplanations to the usual address, please.

At some point, I fulfilled the reason for my journey and went to a wedding. A great time was had but I will spare you the photos. Is there anything more dull than looking at wedding photos of people you don’t know?

Then it was time to head back.

I had another

while watching this

then this big fella carried me back to Hong Kong

When I arrived at HK, I immediately shot over to Shenzhen and back into mainland China to be met by an old friend. She had arranged a hotel room for me and bought my ticket back to Liuzhou for the next evening. Not only that, but she had charged the hotel room and ticket to her company!

After a jetlagged fitful sleep, I awoke at noon and had lunch with my friend. Then we spent the afternoon wandering around Shenzhen's Lychee Park.

Lychees are grown all over Guangdong province and are almost the national fruit. Here is a lychee tree.

The park is very tranquil, but you are never far away from the modern money mad city.

The apparant contrast between old and new is an illusion. The old is as new as the new behind it. 

The park is opposite Shenzhen Grand Theatre or, as the local Chinglish expert prefers:

 

Normal service will now be resumed.

tags: hong kong  shenzhen  london  star ferry  guinness  scotland  british museum  terracotta warriors  eggs  lychees  chinglish  deng xiao ping  

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