• Rachel Calder
  • Kevin Calder
  • Rachel Calder
  • Kevin Calder

Summer 2016

Et 134-dagers eventyr av Rachel & Kevin Les mer
  • Reisens start
    21. juli 2016

    I. Hate. Packing.

    21. juli 2016, England ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    We are all getting pretty excited about the big trip. If only we could head out without having to consider packing requirements for 6 weeks and 3 different climates. 4 loads of washing done, sunglasses found and flip flops packed. Nearly there. BA have texted to warn of a a busy terminal so we are leaving an hour earlier than originally planned tomorrow to avoid stress at Heathrow. The suitcases should all be zipped up by 9.30pm then it's gin and tonic time. Can't wait to watch 3 films in a row on the plane.Les mer

  • Beihai Park by Rachel

    23. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    We made it! Long flight but James has dealt with the lack of sleep incredibly well (better than his parents actually). Navigating a boat around the lake in Beihai park helped, only one minor crash. It's madly busy here. Apparently you can only buy a car when you have paid taxes for 5 years and have your name drawn out of the car lottery. James keeps mentioning how everything is like Kung Fu Panda. Our guide is trying to explain about the legacy of the different dynasties. James is spot on.Les mer

  • The Forbidden City by Rachel

    24. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C

    Most of China decided to visit today too. Busy, hot and humid. We discovered that being an emperor or a woman at the time the City was in use wouldn't have been much fun. Beautiful buildings and gardens, most of it is shut off from visitors - I would love to explore the whole place. Must have been a bit quieter in the days of the emperor.Les mer

  • Games

    25. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
  • The Summer Palace by Rachel

    25. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ⛅ 29 °C

    Again - so many people and everything is seen through a haze of pollution. The Emperor's summer house. It is more about the gardens than the buildings, the name conjures up a big house but there are a few sprawling beautifully decorated buildings and the palace of Timely Rains and Extensive Moisture.Les mer

  • Hutong by Rachel

    25. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    My favourite place so far. The area is now protected by the government and the houses are worth a fortune but most stay because of the strong community, living very simply with communal toilet facilities. This brave (strong) rickshaw driver took us on a tour and we had the opportunity to look inside a home and drink some jasmine tea. I had to restrain myself from freeing the caged animals!Les mer

  • Observations in China by Rachel

    25. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    - most woman wear beautiful dresses as standard day wear and no-one seems to sweat.
    - I thought we would feel like big friendly giants (my sister in law's observation) but I didn't feel ridiculously tall just sweaty
    - I exercised restraint when our guide made disparaging comments about the Dalai Lama.
    - parts of Chinese history are not to be acknowledged or spoken about. I knew this was the case before but it is different experiencing it first hand.
    - the Chinese don't do left handed all children learn to write with their right hand
    - the way our guide spoke about the government felt like she had a strict third parent that was to be obeyed. It made me appreciate the freedoms I take for granted in the UK - even if that means Brexit.
    - Bejing feels an incredibly safe , friendly city.
    - I will never drive in Bejing. It feels like you narrowly avoid killing someone at every junction/set of traffic lights.
    Les mer

  • Taking the tube

    25. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ☀️ 29 °C

    The Beijing tube is an experience, from the bag checks for every passenger on entry to the TV adverts lazered on to the carriage windows. Oh, and it is pretty busy...

  • The Wall by James

    26. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Today we went to the great wall of China. On the way we got really sweaty. Some parts of the wall was broken. We had some good snacks that we brought. When we finished we went down on a path. We saw a centipede that was alive. I also helped a beatle on it's back. At the end there was a bin shaped like a cut down tree.Les mer

  • Chopsticks by KC

    26. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    James has mastered chopsticks...

  • Off the Wall by KC

    26. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ⛅ 28 °C

    The Great Wall was amazing if very hot. Apparently we spent the longest on the wall of any group taken by our guide which felt like an achievement in sweltering heat. The views were spectacular.

  • ... in Beijing

    26. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    We had to finish off with some Peking duck. James loved it. The food was beautiful. Not sure about the deserts, James got a shock when he discovered his white chocolate shell was filled with wasabi... Kevin and I managed to polish off a sugared cream puff with bits of raw onion blended in. Very odd. Best duck ever.Les mer

  • When you need to go... by KC

    27. juli 2016, Kina ⋅ ☀️ 34 °C

    One thing which I didn't expect in China was public toilets. Lots of them. Well signed and often very clean, they are maintained by the government. Although don't count on a toilet bowl and seat (think rural France)!Les mer