In the latest awesome news Nikki and I will now be doing this trip together, hence this blog will be moving to here
See you there
Mark
Monday 21 April 2008
Monday 21 January 2008
Been A While
Sorry about lack of updates, but not much has happened, until recently!
I was going to take advantage of the January sales, but as most of the stuff I need is not seasonal, there was very little that was reduced. I went to the Millets near the markets in Leeds and they gave me discount anyway. I managed to get most of the stuff on my list, except for a hip flask, I was looking for one of those army style ones with the cup on top, but everywhere said they had sold out.
I completed all the stuff I was supposed to do according to my schedule, including paying for my Beijing hotel in full, getting my passport renewed and finalising my Olympic tickets. Unfortunately I was only granted tickets for the athletics, but never mind, I'll try get more when I arrive.
By the end of this month I hope to get information on vaccinations, as some of them require a six month course to become effective, and start getting information for my visas.
In other news, I've started a project called My I Like for my final project at college, we're trying to get as many people involved as possible, send an e-mail with 'I Like Information' in the subject line to myilike@hotmail.co.uk
I was going to take advantage of the January sales, but as most of the stuff I need is not seasonal, there was very little that was reduced. I went to the Millets near the markets in Leeds and they gave me discount anyway. I managed to get most of the stuff on my list, except for a hip flask, I was looking for one of those army style ones with the cup on top, but everywhere said they had sold out.
I completed all the stuff I was supposed to do according to my schedule, including paying for my Beijing hotel in full, getting my passport renewed and finalising my Olympic tickets. Unfortunately I was only granted tickets for the athletics, but never mind, I'll try get more when I arrive.
By the end of this month I hope to get information on vaccinations, as some of them require a six month course to become effective, and start getting information for my visas.
In other news, I've started a project called My I Like for my final project at college, we're trying to get as many people involved as possible, send an e-mail with 'I Like Information' in the subject line to myilike@hotmail.co.uk
Friday 2 November 2007
Olympic Downer
Unfortunately, I have just been informed by the people that supply the tickets for the Olympics that they have only been allocated about half of what they were expecting to get. This means that my tickets for the diving and the closing ceremony are unavailable and I am still waiting to hear about the gymnastics and the second day of athletics. I have got tickets for the first day of athletics though. My plans will remain the same, and if it comes to it, I will just buy tickets on the day from a tout.
Tuesday 30 October 2007
First Hostel
I got an e-mail today confirming that my payment for my first hostel in Beijing was received. It was a bit of an arse as i had to transfer the money from my bank to china at a cost of £21. But alas, there is no other way of transferring the monies apparently. I spoke to Western Union, but they can only do it if there is someone at the other end waiting to pick it up. At least its done now!
Friday 5 October 2007
Camera Buying
Not a lot to report right now, so i thought I'd share some of the books and stuff that I've read so far.
I've read Rough Guides First Time around the World and First Time Asia, and also Lonely Planet's Gapyear Book. Personally I prefer the Rough Guides style, although they do seem to have a fair amount of grammatical errors in!
A great resource for anyone thinking of doing anything similar is Gapyear loads of great info and the forums rock!
I bought my camera yesterday, so have been getting to grips with it. Its a Ricoh Caplio R7, I was going to get the R6, but saw the R7 was getting released was better, and didn't cost much more :D expect loadsa random photos on my facebook!
I've read Rough Guides First Time around the World and First Time Asia, and also Lonely Planet's Gapyear Book. Personally I prefer the Rough Guides style, although they do seem to have a fair amount of grammatical errors in!
A great resource for anyone thinking of doing anything similar is Gapyear loads of great info and the forums rock!
I bought my camera yesterday, so have been getting to grips with it. Its a Ricoh Caplio R7, I was going to get the R6, but saw the R7 was getting released was better, and didn't cost much more :D expect loadsa random photos on my facebook!
Saturday 22 September 2007
Keyboard Konfusion
I had hoped i was going to update this blog weekly, but due to virgin media being arses, my keyboard breaking (although it was replaced efficiently thanks to apple/UPS) and working nearly 60 hours before i go back to uni to try save a bit of money, i just didn't get round to it!
I met up with my friend Yiran from Chengdu in China last Sunday and he was advising me on the best way to go around China to get the most out of it. I hadn't originally planned on going to Tibet, but he said you can get a flight relatively cheaply from Chengdu to Lhasu, so i may look into this.
As Nevisport have got a 20% off everything in store type sale, i bought myself my first piece of equipment which is a theft proof money belt. It's worn under clothing, and has wire running through it so it can't be cut off if it is spotted. You use it to keep all the essentials in, like passport, visas, certificates and a bit of emergency cash.
So far i have been reading up a fair bit, and have read Rough Guide's 'First Time Around the World' and 'First Time Asia' and am now half way through Lonely Planet's 'The Gap Year Book'. I prefer the Rough Guide books as they are a bit easier to read, and the Lonely Planet one seems to use loads of quotes, which can get a little annoying.
Not really a lot else to report at the minute.
I'll try update more regularly from now on!
I met up with my friend Yiran from Chengdu in China last Sunday and he was advising me on the best way to go around China to get the most out of it. I hadn't originally planned on going to Tibet, but he said you can get a flight relatively cheaply from Chengdu to Lhasu, so i may look into this.
As Nevisport have got a 20% off everything in store type sale, i bought myself my first piece of equipment which is a theft proof money belt. It's worn under clothing, and has wire running through it so it can't be cut off if it is spotted. You use it to keep all the essentials in, like passport, visas, certificates and a bit of emergency cash.
So far i have been reading up a fair bit, and have read Rough Guide's 'First Time Around the World' and 'First Time Asia' and am now half way through Lonely Planet's 'The Gap Year Book'. I prefer the Rough Guide books as they are a bit easier to read, and the Lonely Planet one seems to use loads of quotes, which can get a little annoying.
Not really a lot else to report at the minute.
I'll try update more regularly from now on!
Tuesday 11 September 2007
More Bookings
I tried yesterday to book my Olympic tickets, but the system was so confusing i had to wait until today to give them a call to help me figure it out!
With it all sorted this is what I plan on seeing as long as the tickets are still available (should receive confirmation middle of October):
18th August: Artistic Gymnastics (Mens Rings Final, Womens Uneven Bars Final, Mens Vault Final, Womens Trampoline Final)
19th August: Diving (Mens 3m Springboard Final)
22nd August: Athletics (Decathlon Javelin, Womens Long Jump, Womens 4x400m Round 1, Mens Pole Vault Final, Mens 4x400 Round 1, Womens 5000m Final, Womens 4x100m Final, Decathlon 1500m, Mens 4x100m Final)
23rd August: Athletics (Mens Javelin Final, Womens High Jump Final, Mens 800m Final, Womens 1500m Final, Mens 5000m Final, Womens 4x400m Final, Mens 4x400m Final)
24th August: Closing Ceremonies
I was hoping to see a bit of swimming, but the last day of competition for the swimming is the 17th August, which would be fine if it was in the evening, but unfortunately it starts at 10:30 am, and the train arrives in Beijing at 7am, so i don't think i would be able to make my way to the hostel to drop my stuff off, freshen up and get up to the stadium in time, especially if there is a delay.
In other news i sent an email to the hostel and they changed my arrival date to one day later no problem.
With it all sorted this is what I plan on seeing as long as the tickets are still available (should receive confirmation middle of October):
18th August: Artistic Gymnastics (Mens Rings Final, Womens Uneven Bars Final, Mens Vault Final, Womens Trampoline Final)
19th August: Diving (Mens 3m Springboard Final)
22nd August: Athletics (Decathlon Javelin, Womens Long Jump, Womens 4x400m Round 1, Mens Pole Vault Final, Mens 4x400 Round 1, Womens 5000m Final, Womens 4x100m Final, Decathlon 1500m, Mens 4x100m Final)
23rd August: Athletics (Mens Javelin Final, Womens High Jump Final, Mens 800m Final, Womens 1500m Final, Mens 5000m Final, Womens 4x400m Final, Mens 4x400m Final)
24th August: Closing Ceremonies
I was hoping to see a bit of swimming, but the last day of competition for the swimming is the 17th August, which would be fine if it was in the evening, but unfortunately it starts at 10:30 am, and the train arrives in Beijing at 7am, so i don't think i would be able to make my way to the hostel to drop my stuff off, freshen up and get up to the stadium in time, especially if there is a delay.
In other news i sent an email to the hostel and they changed my arrival date to one day later no problem.
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