The Newmans

Travel tips: take the paper bag
Our plane trips went fine. Sydney to HK is long, but not unbearably so. There wasn’t much to do really. We had lots of turbulence, and quite a few people were clogging up the toilet with unwanted goods, including beloved husband, who was really looking quite yellowish-white for the last hour or so. I had fun stretching up the back of the plane, with a few Chinese kids who didn’t speak English but giggled at funny white people making funny faces with them. It helped passed the time. I was being depressingly cheerful as only someone who hasn’t got motion sickness like half the plane, can be.

Hong Kong was ok. We got off the plane, bought tickets for the train. Got on the train, transferred to another train on a different level, transferred to a third train. After someone offered us (very welcome) directions, which we tried to, and almost succeeded in following. We then got out of the subway, walked a few streets with heavy bags to our hotel. I felt an absolute dag, as we were very travelled, and tired. We checked in, downed bags and went to get some tea from somewhere that we hoped we wouldn’t get sick at. We found what turned out to be a Japanese place. there was much sushi, cold fish, other Japanese delicacies that I didn’t really understand. We just wanted some food. I actually liked the sushi. The Japanese make it so different to us. It’s more delicate in taste balance. Andrew didn’t really go for it, though. I was really hungry, and it didn’t move in front of me, so was fair game. The place we ate at also did other western things, which were quite nice after plane food. It was also Adelaide time 11:30 at night; we were so zonked after a 5am start, too.

Tourists doing touristy things
The next day we started late and went to The Peak in HK, which overlooks the city on a fine day. On a wet day, aka yesterday, it’s a haven for misty rain, cold at about 10 degrees C, and foggy weather so you can huff your breath into the air. We had a look around, took a few photos, and shared a hot chocolate from a French restaurant which tasted nice. It was quite like our Nestle Alpine Blend, I think. A lighter texture than Cadbury’s. Then we went back to the hotel after a late lunch to get bags and head off to China. It was so cold and we were worn out, and I was more uncoordinated than usual because of it. So lunch was interesting. I spilt the noodles a bit. On Andrew. It was nice we were by ourselves in the corner, and could relax, and didn’t have to talk to people, and didn’t get stared at much.

Apartment shopping, Polluting in China
Today we looked at 16 apartments in China. Only 3 were really worth considering. The pollution is starting to get to us. My head was light and I was dizzy in increasing amounts today, and there is a bit of tightness in my chest and I feel it’s hard to breathe sometimes. Apparently this is normal, so don’t worry too much. It’s better with lots of water and a bit of food in me. The best thing today was the hot borsch soup at lunch (really like tomato soup, with onion, paprika, cabbage and meat strands). Just what I needed, and very nice. I also had a steak-thing with rice, and then tea. For their ‘dessert’ tea, they have funny milky tea. It tastes like it’s made from strong tea, with condensed milk in it. This sounds nice, but I didn’t think it was. _Very_ few places have hot chocolate on the menu!!! Oh dear. I might have to become a coffee drinker. I haven’t tried the coffee yet, but I hope it’s not like the tea.

Do you want some language with that?
We had our first Ch-inglesh mix-up the other night at tea. We each ordered a lemon squash, and got a lemonade with scotch in it. I’ve never had scotch before, and it’s not anything to write home about. Things are a bit weird. Most things are normal, but somehow different too. In HK the broccoli and carrots tasted like normal b and c, but they were cooked in a slightly different way. I think it’s part of a new place. At breakfast this morning they had Beerenberg jams on the table!!! Half a world away, I still could look at something that’s just up the road. That felt good.