:: zone3 ::

"I know Kung Fu" - Neo

nospam@example.com (Scott Walsh) — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 18:20:43 -0700

"I know Kung Fu", well a little bit. Not up to the Matrix standards yet.
Yesterday evening got a two hour Kung Fu lesson from a local master in the park.

Having done a fair bit of play marital arts doing a lot of Les Mills Body Combat classes, probably getting over a 1000 now, I had a bit of an idea how to move... (as much as you can get in a marital arts based fitness class).

Of course in a single two hours lesson you can only cover the very basics...

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Rice Terraces

nospam@example.com (Scott Walsh) — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:52:00 -0700

Saturday afternoon was another afternoon of buses to get to Chengyang, and a series of small villages connected by amazing bridges known as 'Wind and Rain Bridges'.

The next day got to walk about these bridges, the older traditional ones were made without nails...

That evening went into Chengyang itself to a Chinese musical. Was a local love story and could be best described as a local rock musical. Think they have a way to go before competing with Andrew Lloyd Webber...
That said, was a very well done show and for the last song they drag the audience up to join in the dance...

Monday was yet more buses to get from Chengyang to the Longji Valley and Longji Rice Terraces (by this point I'm starting to get a little over buses). With a day pack packed with a couple of days of clothes, it was a short 20min hike up to the guest house for the night.

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qing gei wo ka fei

nospam@example.com (Scott Walsh) — Sat, 14 Jul 2012 17:17:00 -0700

So got in the morning in Liuzhou (Sat 14/07) and went off to find a hat for walking in the rice terraces in a few days time, along with coffee & breakfast. Along the street going away from the hotel found a couple of little clothes stores with caps, so ventured further to find coffee. I was nearly about to give up on coffee for the day when I founds little bakery/cafe.
After picking something to eat and some snacks for the next bus, went to pay and order my coffee.
In my best (non existent) mandarin, I ordered my coffee:

qing (please) gei (give) wo (me) ka fei (coffee)

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Bus and Boarders

nospam@example.com (Scott Walsh) — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 21:16:54 -0700

Crossing from Vietnam into China was a contrast of boarders. From dull concrete to a beautifully maintained garden surrounding the Chinese boarder office buildings.

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Coffee and relaxing in Ha Long Bay

nospam@example.com (Scott Walsh) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 22:42:18 -0700

Hanoi is a great place for coffee, must be combination of the French influence and that Vietnam is a big coffee growing region. Makes for some of the best coffee while traveling. The local style is a personal drip filter that sits over the cup, usually with condensed milk, yum.

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Visa Hassles

nospam@example.com (Scott Walsh) — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 23:18:23 -0700

Off to Vietnam and China for a couple of weeks holiday was going to make for a good break away. Been a couple of years since last out of NZ for a holiday and have been pretty busy at work lately.

Ended up with a bit of an bumpy start to the travels....

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Canyoning and Leeches

nospam@example.com (Scott Walsh) — Fri, 01 May 2009 20:06:20 -0700

With some time left while away in Nepal, decided to book myself on a couple of days Canyoning at Boarderland Resort.

As well as having a great time abseiling down waterfalls up to 45m, also managed to meet a few of the local leeches.

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Kathmandu Traffic

nospam@example.com (Scott Walsh) — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:34:47 -0700

Kathmandu Traffic

Decided to hire a mountain bike for the afternoon and go for a ride to Bhaktapur, a little out of the city.

Traffic in Kathmandu is 'interesting' to bike in. The hectic mess, is a bit more like taking your life into your hands on two wheels, you point the bike where you want to go and hope no one hits you from the side (or back).

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How Not to Climb a Mountain

nospam@example.com (Scott Walsh) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 09:34:00 -0700

My other post covered the general events of the hiking but skimmed over the unwell bit, this one covers what happened and the lead up...

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Kathmandu to Namchi and Back

nospam@example.com (Scott Walsh) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:12:00 -0700

Well, the trip to Everest Base Camp was not as I planned, think that's an understatement. Going into it it I was pretty relaxed as am currently quite fit. Although was a little nervous about the altitude as my fitness is at sea level and it can effect anyone.
However it ended up being other reasons that caused me to be unwell and disappointing not make it to Everest Base Camp.

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