Australia

I continued on from China to Sydney. I had a free day before meetings started so got to do some sight seeing! First off though here is the view from my hotel room with the Aquarium in the foreground, Sydney Wildlife World to the right and the Maritime Museum in the background across Darling Harbour.


I caught the ferry around to Circular Quay.


I walked up to the Opera House


and was inspired to try and take lots of arty photos, but as I only had my camera I failed miserably.


Later in the week I had a couple of hours in the morning before the customers arrived at lunchtime, so being so close I bought a combined ticket for the Aquarium and Wildlife World which obvioulsy had some Koalas. Both were good, but I didn't think either were a patch on the Zoo that I visited last time I came to Sydney for work.


On my final day and meetings done I had a couple of hours before needing to go to the airport so wandered to the Maritime Museum, which normally wouldn't really be my thing but I have to say it was superb. The main museum is free but you can pay to go on one or all of a submarine, a destroyer or a replica of the Endeavour. I chose the Endeavour and it was really interesting so definitely worth it.

China

More travel! This month it starts in China, arriving in Beijing for 1 night, then onto Shanghai for 2 nights, and driving to Ningbo for the day in the middle.

On the last day I did have some free time in Shanghai before going to the airport. I had a wander around the main squae, and then headed to the Yuyuan Gardens.

South Africa

Another month, another trip. South Africa this time. I started out in Johannesburg for 1 night, and then moved to near Durban. we stayed in a small village a few miles out called Umhangla, and one evening ur agent there showed us around, and I was particularly interested as by pure chance it was the village that a friend of ours lived as a teenager!

Brazil

I was lucky to go on a trip to Brazil this month. I started off in Sao Paulo for a couple of nights then flew over to Rio for the rest of my meetings. I had to work REALLY hard (honest) - and although my hotel was on Copacabana beach I never got to set foot on it. I did pop to the roof terrace of my hotel during a break one day to take a photo though!


I had to drive round the main bay in Rio each day to get to the site, so I got to look up at the 'Jesus' on the hill each time but never got chance to take a decnt photo. This was the best I managed out the car window!


On my very last day with all meetings over I had about 3 hours before my flight - not long enough to drive to the Jesus but just about time to go up the cable cars to the top of the "Sugar Loaf".


Where there were more views across to the Jesus from the top


and also views back to Copacabana beach over my right shoulder - and you can just about make out the Jesus on the top of the hill on the far right of the picture.

Rome

I've not posted on here for a while, but this week I went to Rome and unusually for a work trip I had one evening free to get to look around. I managed to do a whistle stop tour and see many of the main sites externally, but saved going in to anything for going back for a proper trip...

Orlando

I've come to Orlando this week for a conference. Not for long as I want to get back for Tully's birthday so I've just flown out for a couple of nights. I am here for the gala dinner at Epcot though... Typical though - it is raining!

Trip to Philly

This week I had to go to our head office in Philadelphia for some training. I wasn't looking forward to the trip especially, but in the end it was better than I was expecting.

I set off determined I was NOT going to eat in Tequilas on this trip - I was never that impressed and the fact I end up being taken at some point during every visit just means I'm bored of it. I did well at avoiding it on Monday night, which was lucky as I ended up on a group meal there on Wednesday and going 2 nights out of 3 would be a bad record to set...

I also flew home on Thursday night to get back for my birthday. I had a really lovely day when I got in and was very glad to be back for it...

Forbidden City and Mao's Mausoleum

I uploaded some pictures of my last day in China ages ago, and only just remembered I didn't get round to adding a narrative.

So, my meetings on the last day got cancelled, which meant I got chance to visit the Forbidden City. My taxi driver dropped me at the northern end which I was initially suspect about, but actually provided easiest access. The only thing was it meant I walked through it by always approaching the various Gates and Palaces from the back. Traditionally visitors would enter from the south when granted an audience with the Emperor.

My favourite place was the Imperial Garden, which was by the gate I entered. Very tranquil.


To my untrained eye most of the Palaces, open areas and Gates looked rather similar. So much so I can't be sure which one this is. I think it's the Palace of Heavenly Purity, but is a good example of roughly what the rest of it was like. Honestly, how much of a heathen am I?!


The other area that I particularly liked was what would have been the first area visitors would see (the last I saw) with the Golder River Bridges.


I continued out the south entrance to the Forbidden City and had a wander around Tiananmen Square. It's huge, and rather austere. This view was looking back towards the Southern entrance to the Forbidden City from about 1/3 of the way down.


In the centre of Tiananmen Square, somewhat breaking it up and making it feel rather smaller than it actually is, is Chairman Mao's Mausoleum. For a couple of hours each morning visitors can enter and walk past his embalmed body. I was too late, but I'm not sure I especially like the idea of it anyway!

A rather large wall!

One of the reasons (well, the only reason if I'm honest) that I came a day early was to give me chance to do some sightseeing whilst I was here, as I suspect it'll be a long time before I can justify another trip out here. So today I headed out to see The Great Wall!

Luckily the sun was shining and visibility was really good, but that just meant lots of other people had had the same idea. We started out to Badaling, the closest and therefore most popular section, but the traffic was so awful we had a change of plan and went to Mutianyu instead.

I obviously can't compare but Barry (who had come here a day early too as at one point we thought we had meetings today) had only been to Badaling previously said it was much better here both in terms of wall-ness and busy-ness.

Now I know this sounds daft, as I knew it went along in the mountains, but I'd assumed (until reading up on it a bit) that you'd park up right next to it and get walking. Not so. You first have to trail through a market of about 100 souvenir stalls (with some vendors being really very very pushy!) and then take a cable car up to the top of the mountain. Well, you can choose to walk up but seeing how up-y and down-y the wall was I thought it wise to save my energy for when I got there!

Anyway, we set off in the direction that the top photo above was taken, and it wasn't too bad at first - just a little undulating. But then as you can see, about level with my neck at the far right of the picture, it takes a sharp turn to the left and heads straight uphill, and I'm embarrassed to say I was completely knackered by the time I got to the top! And when I say the top you can only get as far as the tower that is about level with the top of my head!!!! It is interesting to see the difference between 'original' wall and the repaired section that you are allowed to walk along. Liu had insisted we take water, and I'm glad we did. I was also very envious of a family that had arrived not long after us and proceeded to set up a rather yummy looking picnic!

That final stretch was only 454 steps, and really doesn't look very far (this was taken only about 20 steps down). But every step is a different height, and some are wide and some are narrow so you can't get into any kind of rhythm as you walk. Or at least that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. We can't have walked any more than 1km from the start (by the tower at the crest of the hill in the distance) but it was enough. Even super fit Barry was quite tired, although I'm sure he'd have carried on walking had he been allowed. Personally I'm quite glad they provided a natural turning back point.

All in all a good day out. Even if it is only a wall! It certainly makes Hadrian's efforts look a bit feeble! It's a pity I've got to work tomorrow, I'm quite enjoying this being a tourist malarkey!

In China!

So I made it! The journey was fairly uneventful, other than nearly landing in Frankfurt then the plane whoosing back up at a steep incline straight after touch down. Given how much I travel it's a little surprising that this is the first time something like that has happened to me. I never did work out what had happened as the announcement afterwards was primarily in German...

When I arrived in Beijing it was raining - which I've been told is very rare. Apparently the last time they had rain was in October so I think I must have brought it with me! It did clear up enough for me to go for a little walk once I'd have a couple of hours sleep: I usually sleep well on planes but I just couldn't get comfy, despite having much more leg room than on the flight I normally take to and from Philly.

The hotel is very near the Olympic stadium so I wandered down to have a look. It's all a bit of a building site at the moment though. It was also incredibly foggy (which I later found out was smog not fog) so visibility was very poor. Apparently you can get a better view if you walk just another 5 minutes around the corner, so if the visibility gets better I may wander round at some point to take some more photos.

I then wandered the other way a bit to see what was there. And was highly amused to discover that just across from the hotel is McDonalds, a KFC and a Pizza Hut all next door to each other! The Starbucks craze hasn't really caught on though - whilst on my journeys so far I've seen numerous of the above chains but only seen 2 Starbucks! :) For all it amuses me in one way I actually find it quite sad too. Oh well, I suppose you can't stop 'progress'...

Off to China!

I am going to China for work, and unusually for work travel have managed to ensure I get a little free time to be a bit of a tourist too! Well, I had to leave first thing on Saturday to get there in time for my meetings so thought I may as well set off a day early!

I'm heading to Beijing first, so will go and visit the Great Wall. I know it's just a wall but it seems rude to go all that way and not go and have a bit of a wander along it. My hotel in Beijing looks rather smart too.

Sadly work agenda has changed and I now have some meetings on Sunday, but I will have some free time on the last day before I leave so should have time to take in the Forbidden City at the end of the week, and as long as my flights aren't delayed (and flying Lufthansa you'd expect them to be efficient!) I should still be back in time to see Tully before she goes to bed next Friday.

I'm also popping to Shanghai for a night or two somewhere in the middle but not exactly sure when yet... The hotel there doesn't look quite as good but it's very near where I need to work so I can't complain.

As work trips go I am looking forward to it more than most! I'm just a bit worried about the cuisine - I've heard such horror stories from most other people that have ventured there and I'm a bit picky when it comes to eating meat at the best of times too! I'll let you know how it goes...

A bit depressed and very hungry...

I'm back in New Orleans again - staying in the same hotel as before (only my room this time is in the other tower but near the top!). Once again I'm really struggling with jet lag, and also suffering from having to stand on the booth all day - my back and feet are killing!

I was undecided whether to go out or not this evening as I was feeling really tired, but thought that a) staying in was a bit antisocial and b) there was a table booked at what is, apparently, the best steak house in town so thought it was worth a try. Sadly they could only fit us in at 7:45 which is a bit late given the time difference and my jet lag.

The restaurant is in the casino just a couple of blocks down from the hotel and unfortunately I got ID'ed to enter the casino area, and whilst I'm normally really organised about taking ID out with me over here I hadn't done so tonight. So, being a bit miffed in general I decided just to go back to my room and have room service after all...

The only problem is that they have a guaranteed 50 minute delivery time, but as the table was late and it was even later by the time I was back in my room it's meant to be here sometime before 9. I'm starving, and feeling a bit fed up in general. Still, in 48 hours I'll be nearly home, or at least half way back across the Atlantic...

Bit of a catch up!

We've had a rather hectic couple of weeks. So, Saturday 12th Alicia baby sat and we went out for a rather mediocre meal (we left it way too late to arrange and consequently struggled to get in where we wanted to) and then went to see I am Legend. It was ok, nothing more than that. Personally I prefer 28 Days Later which I suppose would be the UK equivalent... Still, it was nice to have an evening out so whilst the entertainment could have been better it was still a nice evening.

Then, the next day on Sunday morning Tully and I dropped Mark off at the airport at 8 in the morning for him to catch his flight to Seattle, where he was going to attend a week long conference. That afternoon Tully and I went to see The Snowman which was really lovely, and Tully sat remarkably well given it was quite long - well extended over the tv adaptation. It was so lovely to see the look of wonder on her face even before anything happened as it was her first theatre trip and she was (mostly) enthralled throughout. Of course it helped that Holly was sat next to her, and she got ice cream at the interval too!

Now then, Mark's flight home was due in at 8ish on the following Saturday morning and I had to go to New Orleans that same day for a sales meeting, with the flight scheduled at 11:25... As it was rather close, and even on the assumption that Mark would be back on time he'd be so jetlagged he'd not want to look after Tully for an entire weekend, we enlisted the help of Mum and Dad. So they came over on Friday, and then dropped me off at the airport on Saturday before setting off with Tully back to their house for a few days. Tully was a little nervous about it as it was the first time she'd gone away on her own, but she was a complete and utter angel (so I'm told, although I'm not sure Mum would tell me even if she was upset / badly behaved!) and I'm so proud of how she copes with some of the situations we throw her into.

So, onto New Orleans. I was staying in the New Orleans Marriott rirght in the centre on Canal Street and just a block down from Bourbon Street. I somehow got lucky and had a room fairly high up in the corner of the right hand tower, which meant it was a) quite big and b) had windows the full lenghth of 2 sides giving a rather good view!

For some reason I really struggled with jet lag (although maybe I was also recovering after being a single parent the week before!) so the first few evenings I went to the various mandatory evening events and then bailed out to bed pretty early. On the last night though I decided it was too good an opportunity to miss so headed along Bourbon Street for a couple of hours. Its really rather odd - I'm sure I'll get slammed for this but the best way to describe it is Blackpool with jazz! Although: Dad, I did go into a bar that I know you would love, and think possibly even Mum could tolerate! :)

Anyway, I'm glad I've been but not sure it's somewhere I would now choose to revisit... Unfortunately I'm back there again in 5 weeks for Pittcon... :(

Miami

I've just come home from a conference in Miami, at the Marriott Doral Golf Resort. It was a bit of a whistle stop tour as I got to the hotel after 10pm on Monday evening, and left again at lunchtime on Thursday.

The hotel was really nice, the accomodation being in a number of 'lodges' set around the pool area which looked lovely - pity I didn't get opportunity too use it!

Trip to Boston

I've been in Boston this week for a training course, held at the Hyatt Harborside at Logan airport. As airport hotels go it was ok - a little away from the terminal so you did at least feel like you'd left the airport behind. By far the best bit though was the view across the harbour to the city, and somehow I managed to blag an upgrade and get a harbor view room too!

Another plus aws that the water taxis stopped right outside the hotel so it was easy to hop on one and head into town -lucky really as there was nothing much to do at the hotel so I ended up going over every day.

As trips go this was quite a good one. Still glad to be home though.

Bit of a catch up...

Since I last posted we had another night out courtesy of our friendly baby sitter across the road. We went round to Jon and Mand's for a very pleasant evening. Jonny cooked non-meat meat balls for tea, and they even broke out the 'special' gin so we were very honoured!

Since then we have had a few nights away in Philadelphia. Both Mark and I had to go to the same meeting (not something that happens often luckily) so as Mum and Dad were being shipped over to baby sit we thought we'd get them over early and we could have a lovely weekend away.

It only partly worked - Philadelphia was having a bit of a heat wave and since neither Mark or I do hot places it was unbearably unpleasant. The meeting was being held in the Sheraton Society Hill at the other end of Philly from where we normally stay for work which was nice. We managed to have a wander from about 8 to 10 in the morning on Sunday before facing defeat and heading back to the hotel and air con! Still, in that time we had time to wander past the Liberty Bell (again) and tour Independence Hall.

We had done this before during our East Coast US tour in 99, but it was interesting to do it again. The tour had changed slightly, and as I have the most useless memory in the world when it comes to historical stuff it was still interesting. What was most interesting though as to see how much the area to the front of Indepedence Hall had changed. The Liberty Bell is housed in a new building and display, and there is a big shiny new visitors centre too. They are still showing the same old video though from the old visitor centre (which, incidentally was right next door to our hotel and now seems to be living history museum).

Monday we managed slightly better - I persuaded Mark to let me go on one of the duck tours. I'd fancied them in Boston but couldn't bring myself to be that much of a tourist! And it was really good. It took us to some parts of the old town we'd not seen before and was very informative. Plus we got 'quackers' so Tully was sorted out with a present! Afterwards we had a look around the new National Constitution Centre - which other than the good air con was a big mistake. I'm sure if one is American it's really good, otherwise it's verging on offensive. We both felt robbed. After that we jumped in a taxi to take us to South Street to sample one of Jim's famous Philly Cheese Steaks before finally admitting defeat to the weather at about 11:30 and heading back to our cool hotel room. Monday afternoon all our work chums arrived and work started :(

Places I've been...

I liked the 'Places I've been' map on Jonny's blog so thought I'd try it myself. I have been to 24 coutries, 10% of the world.

create your own visited countries map

Mark beats both Jonny and I though with 12%... Show off! I'd love to see what % someone that has really travelled like Andy Turton would come up with though!


There's a similar thing for US states. I've only visited 15 - a measly 29%.

create your own visited states map

No big surprise, Mark beats me there too with 52%...

Back home

Well, it's been an interesting week. The hotel was as mad as it looked, several large linked themed areas all with gigantic glass roofs. It was an amazing piece of engineering which I swayed between liking and thinking hugely vulgar throughout the time there. The convention centre alone felt a similar size to the NEC too. Luckily my room was close to the convention centre so I only had a 5/10 min walk to breakfast, and then a further 10 mins to the meeting room. Some people were 30 mins from breakfast (which given the meeting started at 8 meant a very early start to get there in time!)

One evening we were taken out to for a meal at Stock-Yard Restaurant. I (along with several others) chose the surf and turf option as I was struggling to decide between steak and lobster. It was amazing - to the point that people with cameras took photos of it. If I can get hold of a copy I'll post it sometime...

Another evening there was a mass exodus to the Wild Horse Saloon where we were all given cheapo bandanas and cowboy hats and enjoyed participating in line dancing! Nice!

All in all it was one of the more enjoyable meetings I've been to in recent times, but it's still good to be home.

Off to Amerima

Tomorrow I head off to Nashville to the sales meeting. Yes, that's right - on a Saturday - hrumph!!! We are staying in the amusingly named Gaylord Opryland Hotel, and it looks absolutely insane!

It is HUGE, has 2881 bedrooms, and bizarrely also has indoor gardens, waterfalls and you can even "take a scenic boat tour down our winding indoor river". How an indoor river can be scenic is anyones guess. Still, we have some free time on Sunday (how unusual at these things) so maybe I'll get to try it out...

Prague

I've been in Prague for work this week. There was a bit of a mix up with hotels, and the one where my meeting was ended up being overbooked, so some of us got transferred to the Mandarin Oriental Hotel for the same price.

It was REALLY lovely. I was given a room in the spa, which was just over the glass bridge in the photo here. There were 32" LCD tvs in both the bedroom and the bathroom, plus a DVD player. MAybe I just normally stay in rubbish hotels and this is normal for everyone else, but I was well impressed!

And, although it was a 20 minute walk to where the meeting was each way, it was over Charles Bridge and through the old town and really pretty. I'm exhausted now though, I need a rest this weekend.