China recap

Well, a month already over and then some. China has flown by me and I'm beginning to realise what it means to treasure every, single, moment. 

I've met some truly incredible people already, seen some fantastic and breathing sights and eaten some of the best grub China has to offer.

So on to my highlights of each place:

BEIJING - 24th June - 02nd July 

Top 5 moments:

- The Forbidden City.

- The Great Wall of China.

- The dumplings and duck.

- The Bird's Nest

- The food.

XI'AN - 02nd July - 06th July

Top 5 moments:

- The Terracotta Army

- The Ancient City Youth Hostel

- The Muslim Quarter 

- The Drum and Bell Towers

- The food!

SHANGHAI - 07th July - 12th July

Top 5 moments:

- The Pearl and Shanghai Towers

- The Shanghai Museum

- The French Concession

- The Chinese Tea session

- The food.

GUANGZHOU - 13th July - 21st July

Top 5 moments:

- The Hutongs

- Guangzhou Tower

- Nànyùe King's Tomb

- Yuèxiù Park

- Tiahe Sports Square

HONG KONG - 21st July - 28th July

Top 5 moments:

- Victoria Peak

- Man Mo Temple

- Lantau Island

- The Star Ferry

- The Space Museum

China was incredible, I'll never forget it. A special thanks to everyone I met and spent time with. People do make the place!

Day 27 - Getting ready for the off, again!

The balcony view most nights . . . yeah, I know, stormy!

Day 27 - 20th July

So it's my last day in Guangzhou, and I can honestly say I'm going to miss this old place. I've found some really good inspiration here for my work, I've had an article accepted by a sports online writer and I've met some more great people (and I didn't even moan about being ill!)

So I got up and went out with a list of things I had to do. My first stop was at the British and French Concession just over the river, where I picked up a postcard and sent it to my nanna, a magnet for my mum and some opium for my dad . . . just kidding, he's more of a pale ale guy! I negotiated 25% off so came away happy.

After my stop there, I went in search of some trainers. My walking shoes are fine but I need something more lightweight, and I refuse to wear flip flops. My Toms are being worn too much so it was time for a change.

I searched places in several markets, finding New Balance, Adidas and Nike imitations for 200 - 300 Quan. I visited the stores of Converse, Sketchers and New Balance but they were starting at 400 Quan. Not worth the price!

Those are live fish and live bagged toads! (Enjoy, Mum)

Different rice grains.

And spices.

So I headed back to where my hostel was and navigated the local hutongs. When you shop around, you find what you're looking for (my mum and sister tell me that, I hate shopping). So in this lively back alley, surround by fish in tubs, chickens in cages and people selling fruit and spices, I find this open fronted shop. The guy smiles and greets me as I look around. I find a great pair of Adidas trainer, perfect for playing football in Cambodia in and also casually wearing. I'm expected a huge price. He tells me it's 150 Quan. I can't argue with that and snap them straight up. They also look authentic compared to the Adadis trainers the locals are sporting. Happy days!

Not bad for 15 quid!

The Guangzhou dumpling stop.

Example of why I've struggled!

On the way back, I grabbed dumplings and a vegetable patty and headed back to my room to book my hostel.

I'm off to Hong Kong tomorrow first thing so I must get some sleep. Thanks Guangzhou for an awesome time, and special thanks to Kara for putting up with Alex and I for two days. What a saint!

Day 26 - Guangzhou Tower, more Kara and Alex and EinSteins

My insides were twisting like that when I looked up.

Day 26 - 19th July

Incredible views of Guangzhou and the surrounding mountains.

So the Skype session ran long into the night, well into the early hours but it was worth it. That Emmy is a little cracker, as is Nanna. The other members of the Millen Clan are not too bad - my brother Lee opting to moon me on camera like a five year old (do the crime, Leeroy, it's going on the blog - love ya, bruda!)

Ahhh, look at that little beauty, and then Kara and Alex!

Alex, Kara and I decided to go to Guangzhou Tower to soak up the views. It was only when we arrived, I found out it was the tallest structure in China. Great, that'll help my fear. As we flew up to the sky in an elevator that felt like Willy Wonka had built it, I was starting to feel my legs wobbling. We quickly, too quickly for my liking, reached the 107 floor viewing deck. The sight was incredible and I took in the whole of Guangzhou, which provided views of the city and the distant mountains. A spectacular sight.

Shortly after landing, we went to Starbucks to sort Alex's Hong Kong trip and then took some wacky photos.

Then we navigated our way over to Felix's restaurant, EinSteins. It was a German cuisine eatery, with all the decor, the German beers and the national flag. I had Wrong Rabbit (pork with egg and rice) and we shared Bratwurst and Alex kept his dish to himself. Greedy begger.

After Felix's meant in gest comments about Chinese people went down quicker than me in Kung Fu combat, we left the restaurant feeling bad for Kara. We cheered her up with stupid jokes and stories and tried to rally her before she set off home. A nice girl, that Kara.

Alex and I bid our royal asses goodbye and said we'd rendezvous at some point in Hong Kong next week.

So back to being alone again, for now. I found my customary water soaked towel awaiting me when I returned for bed. Typhoons, water pipes on balcony's and inconsiderate roommates make the hostel some say. I say these people are morons. The Aussie and New Mexico chaps are cool but the other guys look like they want to kill me.

A day to go, in Guangzhou - that rhymes. What will tomorrow bring . . . rain probably!

Day 25 - Meeting Kara, the massage from hell and cinema

The Guangzhou Tower, tallest in China.

Day 25 - 18th July

So after an eventful evening, I decided to sleep in for a while. My cold still hadn't let up so I was still feeling crappy.

When I finally surface, I did some work and Alex asked if I wanted to join him and his friend, Kara to see Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo in Begin Again. Ever the romance novelist at heart, I couldn't turn them down.

We met in the lobby and Kara was instantly given a baptism of fire with my lame jokes and a game of 'Would I Lie to You?' Alex and I had a lot of fun with that. Shortly after, we headed back to the scene of my crime to have dinner. I received the expected nods and smirks as I entered. They must have thought I was coming for another dinner for two with two guests.

Alex and I filled Kara in with details of our travels, Austin Powers and she gave us her best London and Liverpulian accent impressions. They weren't bad, actually.

We found out Kara was adamant to pay for our cinema tickets as a 'host gift.' I repeated my line from Xi'an, 'nothing in life is free,' and Alex picked up her dinner bill, I got the ice cream in. The Kiwi and Blueberry ice creams were exquisite.

What's that saying - no no idiots stick together - a picture tells a thousand words!

We had an hour to spare prior to the film so we wandered the nearby mall to waste time. We stumbled on a trial, open area massage experience, which fifteen minutes was being offered for 3.5 Quan (35p). Alex roped me in to do seven minutes of an upper body massage, and after accepting, he went first. As the elbows of the masseuse went in to his shoulder, I felt my muscles tighten. Alex's wincing, which meant he was either in pain from the treatment or he had painful wind (either was plausible), put me off. When it was my turn, there were smacks, slaps, elbows, I'm sure a skull and knee went in at some point and a hell lot of pain. No wonder it was a trial. It felt like a bloody trial for me!

Coming away, Alex said he felt limber and relaxed. I felt like I'd been battered by a train.

We made our way to the cinema and sat down in the screen. The seats reclined which was a new experience and suddenly an advertisement boomed at me. A creepy Chinese voice on screen yelled, 'no mobile phone use,' 'no smoking,' and 'no talking.' Terrifying. As everyone else laughed at the advertisements, Alex and I made glances and joined in, hoping for the best.

My review of Begin Again . . . a really, well made piece of indie moviemaking. A hilarious cameo from James Cordon provides highlights throughout and the music, with its Maroon 5ive style on it adds bounce and life to New York. Definitely worth a watch!

After a long night, we headed back and I took a Skype session, finally getting to talk to my Nanna and seeing my niece, Emmy throw up over herself. Bless her.

One thing though - my Nanna still hasn't got her bloody postcards I've sent her from every destination! Given she doesn't have Facebook or Twitter, it's a big deal! Here's hoping they arrive soon.

Day 24 - Tinder body guarding

Breakfast - far more appetising than it looks.

Day 24 - 17th July

So it was another day of writing, coughing and sneezing. This damn cold won't bugger off but I'm lucky Guangzhou is a place to relax.

I joined Alex at Starbucks, secretly hoping his endeavour from the day before was going to be renewed. No such luck. I balls up my Frappucino order and had triple coffee instead of strawberry soy. Yuk!

This spare rib-rice combo was actually pretty good.

More good work was produced and a wander through the mall had me ready to hide out. Again, I had no such luck as Alex had set up a Tinder account and had set up drinks with Kira from Shanghai but visiting family in Guangzhou. He asked me to go along as back up and as ever, I just love to get roped in as a wingman to things that I know will end badly (ask my cousin Dave!)

That's a lot of noodles!

So we get ready, head out and have dinner first, trying to such whether this is a scam. After dinner, I had my first real experience of using a squat toilet and I tell you, I'm never going to be the same again but I'll leave it at that.

It certainly is.

Finally we met Shanghai Kira. She seemed nice enough, good English, decent smile. As she walked slightly in front, Alex give me the 'sack it off' sign but five minutes later, we're in a bar called Feeling, feeling the sense the scam is coming when we're told it's gentleman's night and the beer is free between 9pm and 11pm. Alex and I look at each other in disbelief but engage with Kira to find out more about her. Some of her exploits I can't put on here but she was crazy, having spent some time in Germany.

We started playing a game of 'Would I lie to you' over free beers and I wrote a poem on the wall (it's allowed and I was coerced into by the other two). Shortly after, Prashin - one of Kira's friends turns up. He was from Mauritius and a good laugh. We shared a hookah pipe and talked the night away again. Then Felix, Kira's other friend from Germany turned up. At only 19, he was living and studying in Asia. 

A common sight in China; 50% of cubicles out of use due to beer throw back.

Once happy hour, or two hours, had finished for the guys, Felix said he'd brought beers for a party at the bar a while back and still have 100 Quans left over so we had more free beer into the early hours. Alex and I got the locals up and dancing to Michael Jackson, Fun and others. It was awesome to see them popping some shapes. 

The feeling group - they sound like a bunch of offenders!

An eventful night, but one that didn't end in calamity as per usual! I have luck here in Asia!

A special mention to Uncle Cheese - Happy Birthday Blue. Definitely had a beer for you today!

Day 23 - Coffee shop cock up (but not mine!)

Day 23 - 16th July

So Alex headed off to Starbucks and we arranged to meet in the lobby at two to get some lunch. I indulged in the most free time I've had in years and wrote my arse off. I'm now up to a 60,000 word count on my second draft so I'm really into this project again.

I bid farewell to Patrick who was moving across town to stay with his brother. We said we try to meet next October when he's in Europe!

I lost myself in my writing world and as the outside light darkened, I realised it was now six o'clock. And no lunch or Alex. Instead of panicking that he might have been abducted, I laughed. I knew he'd found a girl. It had to be.

Shortly after, he comes back and tells me he's had the weirdest day. So over dinner, in a place that looks like a back room of a warehouse, Alex tells me he saw this gorgeous Russian girl in Starbucks, and after two hours of creepy looking, he went over and put his plug in the socket next to her. They started talking, she told him how her passport had been confiscated whilst a visa was being sorted and she began hinting that he could go back with her to a room she had found on Air BnB, staying with a Cambodian family. Alex thought it was a scam and far to good to be true and asked her outright if she was trying to scam him. She produced documentation to prove herself.

As I laughed, I could see he was thinking it was a great opportunity missed. I tried to console him by saying he might have gone back to find her staying with three big dudes who could've robbed him. 

A funny story and one to remember.

Day 22 - Guangzhou royals, cinema hopes terminated and Tiahne SportsCentre

More Uncharted looking scenes . . . geez this place is a good kind of crazy.

Day 22 - 15th July

So my cold was still bugging me and I can't shift it. I thought water and sleep would help but it turns out they just fuel it.

So with feeling crappy, I've been chilling out in Guangzhou. To be honest, after the Mausoleum and a couple of museums, there's not much to do here. That hasn't been a total downer though because I've been working a lot on my novel and to date I've added 15,000 words so that's a positive.

It's the closest we could get to the original. Uncanny, right?

I also met my lookalike brother in the form of Alex from Bath. We've been trying to make people believe that we are Prince William and Harry but I don't think we're fooling many. It was still strange to meet someone who gets told he looks like Harry when I get the alternative back home too.

That's a T-Rex head made from wooden coat hangers!

Our aim for the evening was to find a movie theater that played Terminator Genisys. After one place said no, but tried to offer us The Ninja Panda Fights Again (possibly a rip off of Kung Fu Panda, but I'm not making any accusations), phoning Alex's Chinese friend who sent us to a station that didn't have a cinema there and wandering around hopelessly to look for it from some dodgy directions online, we gave up. I'll catch it in Hong Kong.

We had dinner down Guangshu Lu on one of the side streets. I'm pretty sure mine was dog and rice but you can never tell. He told me about his time studying at Oxford and his plans for travelling around. I told him about my time studying the Oxford Dictionary for word meaning when writing and how I'm stumbling around my trip. It's kind of the same thing!

After dinner, we head to Tiahne Sports Centre, where we were treated to mass dancers, a huge crowd of football fans going in and out of the stadium (200 Quan to watch the second half - we declined) and the locals rollerblading. It was nuts.

In an attempt to get out of the evening heat, we went to an underground mall. Alex bought a bubble tea that looked like frogspawn, cream and yoghurt slapped together in a cup for 18 Quan. I managed not to try it. We then saw a western looking movie theater but it was being renovated with no cordons or barriers stopping you from going in (safety at it best). Finally, we gave up and went back to the hostel.

Patrick, the soon to be Hamburg Business Man.

I was ready for bed, walking down the corridor towards my room when I sensed someone behind me. A tube of Pringles in my hand and I turned ready to pop the lid in someone's face. To my surprise, it was Patrick, the guy I had met in the lobby earlier and was talking to. He wanted to have the beer we'd discussed earlier (of course I'd forgotten).

Back outside on the patio, the Wharf in sight, the warm night breeze . . . well, you get the drift. Patrick and I sat over a couple of cans of Guinness (not to his liking I gauged as he winced after taste it) and talked about him going to study in German because England was too expensive, his friend girlfriend, Cami and how he wanted to travel but certain things and restrictions in his country were preventing him. We shared a few stories about fears and insecurities and you realise then that you know someone! He gave me some good advice about some stuff and although being young, he spoke very wisely, much more than I ever could.

Good end to a long day!

Day 21 - The Tomb of the Nànyùe King, Yuèxiù Park and a stroll alongthe Wharf

I don't know why but I find these back streets fascinating.

Day 21 - 14th July

So it had been a poor start to Guangzhou so I was adamant to change things.

To think Bruce Lee walked this street just once blows my mind.

I rose early and showered, then headed out. I went straight to Changshou Lu (road), which housed a cheap clothes and food market. My main reason for being there was to get to Enning Lu, where the ancestral home of Bruce Lee stood just inside a school yard. I'm pretty sure I found the school but no house. Still it was an adventure!

I also worked out there are hardly any westerners here so far, so my presence in the midst of the locals was noticeable.

Well that came out well.

The Nànyùe King remains.

The only known seal for the king found in China. That is awesome!

This is for the Uncharted fans among us. Now we know it's true - off to Tibet!

Next, I headed for the Mausoleum of the Nànyùe King. It turns out for 12 Quan (£1.20) it was a worthwhile visit. Inside the museum part, played out on two levels, were exhibitions of more pottery, jade artefacts and a collection of 200 pillows (made from various materials, none linen) kindly donated by Mr and Mrs Yonge, private collectors. After an hour or so there, I ascend to steps to the excavation site of the tomb of the King. I also saw the biggest golden seal that has been excavated in China and the only material evidence to date that can be studied as a seal system from the Qin and Han dynasties. I thought that was pretty cool. I also saw the only remains of the King, that being part of his jaw and a section of his skull.

This is only a small part of the statue.

Love the fish!

The obligatory food pic . . . fried beef with vegetables and rice.

After that visit, I moved to Yùexiù Park to see the Five Rams statue. It was so hot, I had to rehydrate quickly but I found the statue, 38 metres wide and saw some pretty cool fish in the park lake. Once out and hydrated, I stopped for lunch at a small spot just outside the metro station. Another triumph, with this dish being beef and rice with vegetables.

I headed back for the hostel to get out of the sun (this damn humidity is relentless). I relaxed until early evening and then took a stroll to the nearby hutongs, finding some cool butchers, fresh veg stops and an electronic shop with anything pre 1995 for sale. Sod carrying that home in this heat!

The dreaded meal for two, for one.

I headed back, but found myself in a nice restaurant on the first floor, overlooking the street. As I spoke to a server who understood a little English, I managed to get pork with rice and a chocolate shake. She mentioned something about two and I just nodded and thumbs her up. She scratched her head, laughing behind the menu as I laughed with her. Shortly after, she came back with a pork and rice dish with vegetables and then a separate plate full, and I mean full of rice. She also supplied me with one chocolate milk and one iced coffee. I realised, with horror, the two meant two people!

Suddenly the pressure was on. The server and two others were watching me. I had no choice but to eat it. Starving children, I told myself. I did a Joey, 'you girls are about to see something really special,' tucking my napkin in and tucking in.

They dance, roller skate and do everything and anything on the Wharf.

And somehow I finished. Feeling bloated, I headed back and was ready to pass out. Good news: my anti-social roommate has gone, the socks do wonders! In his place, a guy from New Mexico, who I've already done my Walter White impression too. He'll remember my name . . .