Turtle dinner!

The weather has been pretty crazy the last two days and its raining pretty hard now but Nora invited us out for a welcome back meal so we went out for that.
Last time we went to this restaurant they had turtle soup which I laughed at. They remembered and this time we ate it, in its own special turtle shaped container, head, feet, everything. It was ok, not great, not sure I would it again really, and Chris was really not a fan.

Tonight in Taiwan they are battering down for a tropical storm and its not far away, so I'm wondering if we will get an effect, possibly what this insane wind and rain is!

I found out that I need to switch to a new, less popular phone provider, in order to get fast phone internet but in China you cannot migrate your mobile number between networks. No problem, I already had an account but it was based in Shanghai and so a little expensive, I would simply use that number here, nope can't do that either you must reapply for your number too! With elaines invaluable help in the shop eventually we got it sorted out but my god it was stupidly difficult! Luckily the shop assistant was very pretty! Haha.

Got until the 5th to think of some ideas so really should get on it, especially as Chris has 22 lessons ready now!! He was very bored over the summer!

Made it!

We made it back to our flat today in a torrential downpour safe and sounds, including the site of the recent train crash! The train was not bad, the girl next to me spoke english so that was cool, and was also going to our little town! 
The setup was actually a 4 bed private cabin but they sat 6 on the beds below and then all the luggage on the two top bunks, it was quite roomy actually and you could shift about and lie down when someone moved around. There was an old guy in our carriage who alternated between singing badly to his chinese music and putting it on speaker from the shabby radio reception on the train with lots of static, a bit annoying, so i put music on my phone on until he got the hint! haha.

There was also a young kid with an ear ache and we were thinking of offering an ibuprofen when the mother pulled out a massive bag of drugs, i forgot just how bad the chinese are! not that they seemed to make any difference in the crying....

Went straight out with Elaine for MaZhanJianBao, I really missed them! so tasty! and then came back and watched a film and are trying to adjust to local time, a tough task.

We don't start teaching until the 5th though so I have some time to, well, make some lessons up!!

Shanghai again!

Spent the first day here littering around Shanghai before going back to the hostel early for a bit of pool. After a few beers whilst playing pool we met a Canadian girl and an American guy and they dragged us out to a local nightclub for all you can drink for 6pounds entry. A good night but a painful and wasted (literally) following day. I've only just been able to face the bright lights of the screen!

Having real trouble topping up my phone which means I am phoneless at the moment, a real pain as I missed seeing a friend before they leave for England! Damnit!

Arrived!

Landed safe after loosing a day and surprisingly awake unlike our taxi driver! Nearly driving us and a new friend into a wall!

Made it to the hostel alive and trying to sleep.

Night / morning / good afternoon !

Leaving Russia!

On we go after a contoursionists dream for a bed and a few hours sleep, on we go!

Leaving Russia!

On we go after a contoursionists dream for a bed and a few hours sleep, on we go!

Made it to moscow

Made it to Moscow ok and did get a little sleep, plane was late leaving and so after 4 hours sleep we landed at sunrise!

The Airport has nowhere to lie down and you can only eat or drink if you have rubles so hungry and thirsty we wandered around in search of wifi with a girl off to study in nanjing for a year.

Only... 4 hours to go!