Category Archives: Travel 旅程

Shantou – relax, food & family

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shantou

Back to Shantou

The most important thing in Shantou is to see my niece – Sissy. I remember she was born for a week then I left Shantou, and now she is 14 months and learning how to walk and talk. She is incredible smart and adorable.

Mum and Dad are very happy to see me being home, especially Mum, she always cooks so many food, and I don’t even need to get out of the house. I love our new house in central of Shantou with enormous rooms and space for niece to play. Actually I do very little at home, basically just relax, eat food, help Mum do some house work, and then spend time with niece ( I enjoy being a babysitter. )

However, I haven’t seen much of my Shantou friends. Some of them are in Guangzhou or Shenzhen, or most of them are married and expecting a child.

Though sometimes I got bored in Shantou, maybe because I am so used to the busy life in metropolitan cites or maybe I don’t realise I am in holiday.

I can’t believe that it will be ended soon with few days. The irony thing is that I quite look forward back to London, to have my own life back, moreover I do miss John a lot. Anyway, John and I will be back to China together soon in next few months.

I always love my home town no matter where I am.

回到汕头最重要的事情就是看我侄女－希希。记得我走之前她才刚出生1周，现在也有14个月，高高的个子，还在学走路和说话。她真的太聪明和可爱的，每次看到她会放电的大眼睛，任何人都忍不住爱上她，想亲她一口。

爸妈蛮高兴我回来的，特别是老妈子，整天买这墩那的给我吃，让我其实不用出门天天有好东西吃，也让我少吃了很多汕头的小吃。我蛮喜欢爸妈的新房子的，空间很大，给希希整天跑来跑去玩个够。其实在汕头主要还是休息，吃东西和帮老妈子打扫下房子，但最多是做希希的玩伴和保姆，我真开心能陪她这么常时间，以后不晓得她还认得我不？

但这次我却少走亲戚和朋友了，有些在外头，有些也结婚生孩子，大家有了家庭，出来的机会就少很多。虽然有时候会觉得在汕头蛮无聊的，也许我习惯了大都市的生活，或许我忘记了我在度假中，当你忙碌总想有休息的时间，休息的时候想忙碌点什么，这就是人生啊。

觉得无法相信很快就要结束我的假期。实际上我蛮期待回去过自己的生活，重要的是我蛮想念约翰的！但我们过年时候2人一起再回来吧。无论身在何处，我都是爱我家和汕头。

Guangzhou – Too Much Fun

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Guangzhou - too much fun

Back to Guangzhou

I was so looking forward back to China. There are two things I have to do; one is to eat a lot of chinese food, and to see my friends. I arrived on Thursday night after 12 hours plane plus 3 hours couch from HK airport, but I was still very excited to meet Casper and Shine. They have been waiting for me at ‘Uncle’ which is a HK canteen style restaurant to have dinner with me. However, I was not aware of Yuki and other friends had booked a table to welcome me. At the end, I hanged out with all my friends at my first night.

The whole Guangzhou trip was so busy that I didn’t have time to feel jet-leg. First day, I had dimsum with my ex-colleagues, and went to visit their new office. It did feel weird, and felt like I had never left before. Anyway, it’s so good to see them again.

Then friends had arranged a trip to Yangjiang at the weekend. We were so lucky to eat a lot of seafood which just caught from the ocean. After dinner, we went to have firework on the beach, then ate again. Thanks Jenie’s husband for their hospitality, so that we ate, slept and entertained well. It was a unforgettable journey.

The rest days in Guangzhou I ate with friends and went to foot / body massages basically every night. It wasn’t enough to spend one week in Guangzhou, then I have to back to Shantou to see my family.

It’s hard to say goodbye to my Guangzhou friends! I wish I could be here forever.

我十分期待回国，回去我的心只想两件事，第一就是吃很多中国菜，第二就是见我许多朋友们！经过12小时直飞加3小时香港机场到广州，周4晚终于到了，虽然累，但想到食物和朋友们，我还是提起精神来。棋和涵在‘表叔’餐厅等我吃饭，但李宁和其他大群朋友说已经5点多钟就定好台等我吃饭了。我却不知道，哎！但是第一天晚上还是和朋友们一起聊天喝酒续续旧。

当天才睡了2个钟头而已，然后正式的第1天就和前领馆的同事一起吃饭，和他们聊天续旧，大家都还是很疼爱我，多我呵护有加。我实在太感动，我离开后，他们不仅还记得我，还是对我依旧的好。然后还回去了领馆看下大家，虽然我走了，很多东西也变了，但感觉我好像从来没有离开过一样。

接着周末朋友们安排了去阳江吃海鲜，真的要感谢金铃的老公，让我们吃好,住好,也娱乐得好！到了那里，先吃当地的小吃，再去等渔船刚捞上来的海鲜，晚饭就是海鲜宴，真是过分啊！20多只胖螃蟹吃都吃不完！晚饭后又去海边放烟花，再吃甜点，再炒菜吃宵夜！隔天专门开车去吃乡村的烤泥鸡，打完麻将，再吃烤鸡。阳江之行真是难忘啊！除了吃，就是笑了！

接下来的每天都是朋友请我吃饭，按摩，吃点心。这次再和啊娜见了面，她真客气，还请了我们吃顿1千多的饭，谢谢她的有心！我的广州之旅真是奢侈和开心。我真的要谢谢所有广州的朋友们，爱你们在心口难开啊，没有你们，就没有我今天的开心。 实在不舍得和你们说再见，不过我会再回去和你们见面的。等我喔！

Road Trip – Brighton / Beachy Head

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brighton-and-beachy-head

Second Day

The weather was foggy when we arrived Brighton, however, I can imagine it would full of people when it comes to Summer. Brighton is a lively and young city. At first, we went to the Theme park in Brighton Pier and had some fun. Then we visited the famous Royal Pavilion, then we drove to the Beachy Head.

Beachy Head, from the name you can tell is the pointy cliff of Sussex, as famous as the white cliffs. We stopped there for half and hour and it was really relaxing. You could see a open-space land and the ocean, sheep, cows and farms. Then we drove back and ate in a famous Dimsum restaurant called Drunken Monkey in Liverpool Street. I heard there are many celebrities and cool trendy young people hanging out there, so it must be great to eat and hang out. Food was not bad; price was totally acceptable, but service could be improved. Then we drove back home and had a great fun holiday.

Third day – Lee Valley

Last station was Lee Valley – 40 minutes drive outside London, then we had a picnic in the park, and rent 4 bikes and rode for 4 hours, seeing the canal, forest, swans and enjoyed the sun and Spring in England. It was the most amazing place to have a weekend break for cycling. Bike rental is 2 pounds per hour. Super good deal. Here are some more pictures.

第二天 －布朗顿 ／ 海滩头

我们开车1个半小时后，到达布朗顿，可惜天气还是有点雾气，海滩上不是很多人，布朗顿是出了名的漂亮和有海滩度假胜地。但可以想象中夏天应该超级多人到这里来晒太阳。给我的感觉它是一个年轻有活力的城市。我们走到海边的‘游乐场’玩了‘鬼屋’ 上下飞船，吓死我了，象海盗船一样，太久没有玩了，功力下降了许多！然后去出名的有印度色彩的－皇宫宫殿，听说以前一个国王旅游到印度，喜欢印度的宫殿建筑就照样子也建了一个，然后我们吃了个简单的炒面就开车去海滩头了。

海滩头，象它的名字一样，是布朗顿最凸出的陡峭的峭壁，也是以白色峭壁出名，我们走了半个小时，海滩头给人很开阔和休闲的感觉，很自然，看着羊啊牛的，吃着草，广阔的草地，看着海，晒着太阳，感觉朴素中带浪漫，十分享受。大家也累了，开车到伦敦商业街利物浦街吃饭，选了一个听说蛮多名人去蒲的餐厅叫 － 醉猴，吃点心和喝酒的地方。我们点了很多点心和些鸡尾酒。食物还可以，价格也蛮能接受的，但服务要改进下。这样就结束了我们第二天旅游。

第三天 － Lee Valley

我们选了伦敦郊外一个公园湖边野餐和骑自行车，放松和运动，户外运动是我们的最爱。单车是两位退休老人家成立的，2磅一个小时，哪里有这么便宜，晚去还没有单车租呢，十分popular啊！值得推荐。这里还有超级多的照片呢！

Road Trip – Canterbury, Dover, Deal and Sandwich

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day-one

Day one

As we planned to travel some cities in the UK with friends during Easter Holidays, so we chose Canterbury, Dover, Deal, Sandwich in the first day. These four places are all located in South East England. First day, John drove us to Canterbury as our first stop to see the famous Canterbury Cathedral. Then had some pizza in Strada for a quick lunch. However, we had planned to have a boat trip in Canterbury, but we ran out time. Canterbury was a small pretty town, peaceful, and people were friendly. I like Canterbury a lot.

The next stop was Dover – the famous White cliffs. It was peaceful and open, facing the ocean. It supposes that you can see France through Dover, (the funny thing was Ricky received a message from O2 saying – welcome to France, even we were standing in Dover! That’s why you can see they were very close to each other) Unfortunately the weather was a little bit foggy, so we were unable to see France. I like Dover beach and able to see English Channel.

The last stop was Deal and Sandwich town. They were a small little town, so we just took some pictures and because everyone was tired, so we drove back to rest and ready for the next day. Here some day one pictures.

第一天路游 － 坎特伯雷 ／ 多弗和三文治郡

和朋友们决定放复活节时一起开车去英国几个城市玩。我们选择了第一天先去东南部的坎特伯雷,多弗和三文治郡。开车一个半小时，到了著名的坎特伯雷教堂，本想去乘小船参观的，但我们闲逛教堂太久了，就只能放弃，下次罗。去Strada意大利餐厅吃了超级大的pizza，然后就去下个站。我蛮喜欢坎特伯雷的郡的，漂亮，静静蛮悠闲的小镇，人们也很和蔼。

多弗最著名就是它的白粉质的峭壁, 好天的时候，你可以站在英国的多弗看到法国。我们到了多弗，面对的广阔的海边，看着英吉利海峡, 感觉很开阔和舒服！可惜优点雾，看不到法国，但好笑的是朋友居然收到电信发来的信息说：欢迎您到法国。多弗很漂亮，好天气的时候，可以周末三五知己对着海，晒着太阳，在海边野餐，蛮休闲惬意的！

最后一站就是Deal和三文治郡，我们吃的三文治，我听说就是古时候一个君主喜欢赌博，但边赌博时候又饿了，叫人搞个面包中间加点肉，但不知道怎么命名，就索性叫他们的郡的名字。我们的三文治就这样来的，约翰超级喜欢三文治，就说我们要去下，郡很小，我们就开车过了，大家也累了，就结束了我们第一天的旅游。这就是我们第一天的照片。

River Trip and Parties

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day-trip-on-thames

The school has organised a boat trip to Greenwich on Wednesday. We were on the top boat and saw all the tourists’ attractions such as London Eye and Big Ben. Additionally, I also met some new friends from other classes and had some crazy laugh with thousands pictures taken. It was a windy cold spring day, but it didn’t reduce our fun at all.

After we arrived in Greenwich, we walked around a little because I have been there with John’s family last summer. Friends decided to go to the pub and have some beer! Then all of us – 16 people went to the restaurant I had booked, ate some delicious food and went to another bar.

So we decided to try the popular Buddha Bar near London Eye. I heard that it is a franchise which is based in Paris and all over the world. It is a very posh and fancy bar / restaurant. We had some talks, laugh and dance till 12 am, then we went home, the rest of friends went on continually till 5am! It was properly the last time all the friends gathering – I will miss you of my friends. Here some pictures to share with you

因学期快结束了，所以学校组织周三大家坐船一游泰晤士河到格林尼治 – （英国伦敦东南一市镇，为本初子午线所经过的地方〕虽然当天风很大，大家兴致还是不减，坐在船顶，照相聊天和在船上看伦敦出名旅游景点。大家到了格林尼治之后决定去当地的酒吧喝上几杯，接着16个朋友去我订的餐厅（就在伦敦眼50米的地方，餐厅面对着泰晤士河，风景绝佳）。之后当然再接下场，自从离开广州之后，好久没有这么疯狂过了 – 去了很出名的（佛吧）听说它的基地在巴黎，然后世界各地都有。佛吧里面超级高级，看得出是很多政客去谈生意或疯狂的地方。我们喝了很多鸡尾酒，快到12点，我和约翰先回去了，他明天要上班，其他的同学疯狂再换去跳舞的地方疯狂到零晨5点。太疯狂了！可能大家分别后也没有很多机会大家一起吃饭疯狂，我会想念你们！ 这是一些最新照片。

Epping Forest

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epping_forest

We spent one weekend to travel to Epping Forest, which is famous for Henry VIII’s hunting house during 16 century. It is a natural, big forest and it is actually my first time to see the real wild forest. Some people rode their bicycles, and some were playing with their dogs. It was a peaceful sunny afternoon, and we enjoy our relaxing weekend exploring the area.

The house which you saw in the pictures was used to Henry VIII’s hunting house. It is free entrance. I do enjoy some weekend walking and exploring some area in London!

周末和约翰一起去epping森林，它是一个野生自然的森林，据说照片上的这个房子就是6世纪亨利八世纪在伦敦的猎物小房子。那是我第一次走入荒野的自然森林。看着大家溜着狗，起着单车，享受阳光和新鲜空气，这是我最喜欢的休闲周末！喜欢伦敦的理由很多，1个小时你就可以享受伦敦郊外的田野风光就是其中的一个理由！

Spring in London

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It was John’s birthday yesterday, and it was sweet to spend with him relaxing at home and eating some great food. Today, it was a nice crispy sunny day of Spring in London, so we decided to have a walk along the Regent Canal with Miwa. Luckily we had finished all the school projects and essays, so we can enjoy our free time.

We talked two miles to reach Angel in Islington. On the half way, John discovered a local market called Broadway Market next to Victoria Park. Surprisingly, it is a very trendy area – all you can see there were full of fashionable young people, who were shopping some local food, picking their sandwiches, drinking some fruit smoothes, as well as purchasing some second hand clothes.

Miwa and I first picked some German sausage hot-dog to share, and then we bought some French fusion food – coconut tiger prawn with some rice for £7. 50 each. John picked some healthy vegetable burger. The normal lunch price is from £3 – £8, and dessert from £2 – £5. It is not bad with so much fresh and home-made food or desserts – a perfect for a Spring panic in the Park. I do like this market – funky, trendy and fusion style. Then we walked another mile to reach Islington and had some chill Mango Passion fruit Frappuccino – so nice and cool to call a day.

春天的伦敦

昨天是约翰的生日，我们买了很多东西在家下厨，本想买礼物给他，出去逛街，结果买了很多自己的东西，却没有买给他，哈哈，他不介意的。我们把所有学校的功课都完成了，决定好好休息和享受春天的到来。所以今天，一个清爽蓝色的周末，我们决定和日本朋友 – 美和一起沿着学校的小河散步到另一个城镇。

我们漫步走了2公里，半路约翰发掘靠近维多利亚公园的一个当地的百老汇市场。很多时尚的年轻人溜着狗，骑着单车，带着旧式的太阳眼镜，搭配着十分时尚的衣服买着三文治，新鲜蔬菜，自家做的蔬菜派和独特午餐，还有很多甜点，蛋糕，朱古力布朗尼，看到都流口水。

首先我和美和先尝试下德国的出名的香肠热狗，超级好吃！然后去了家法国买了虾椰子饭，一份£.7.50磅，约翰用5磅买了一个素食汉堡包。普通午餐在3到5磅不等，甜点从2到5磅。价格还可以接受，虽然分量小点，但是自家做的，新鲜程度和用料方面都很下功夫，所以还是值得的。一群朋友一起买着三文治，在公园野餐，是最好不过的春天周末约会。我十分喜欢这个市场，时尚，新鲜，大把食物。我们再走了1公里路，然后喝上杯芒果热情果冰爽，结束今天的散步，真是超级爽!

Hampton Court

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hampton-court

Hampton Court called The Great Hall, which is England’s greatest medieval hall and one of Britain’s oldest theatres. William Shakespeare’s company performed there in 1603-4. It is famous also because it was one of Henry VIII’s palaces in 16 century. It is unmissable to not visit it if you love the historical of England’s buildings and architectures.

We went to visit Hampton Court after watching one of my favourite TV series The Tudors.It took 1 hour by train to get there and we had a picnic at lunch, and then walked around the court for at least 3-4 hours. It is an enormous palace with many pretty gardens – even have a grape garden to make wine for Henry VIII. It still remains the same looking kitchens, beds, entertaining rooms as well as gardens in the period of Henry VIII. It was a great trip and it makes me feel that was it like in the old days. There are some pictures here.

汉普顿宫廷

汉普顿宫廷誉为贵族宫殿，是英国最大也是最老的宫殿和戏剧院。莎士比亚剧院曾在16世纪在这里演出。汉普顿宫廷的出名是因16世纪亨利八世在这里执政，这是他最爱的宫廷之一。假如你喜欢英国历史文化和建筑，汉普顿宫廷你是绝对不可以错过的。

因亨利八世BBC连续剧，我决定来汉普顿宫殿参观下。大概一个半小时的地铁到车程，我们先在花园野餐，然后再进入宫殿。里面超级大，就花园就有4-5个不同形状和主题的花园，还有葡萄园 – 据说亨利八世自己种的葡萄，然后运酿成葡萄酒。当时英国也有很好的葡萄酒。

宫殿里面有亨利八世的日常生活的细节。最好玩的是你首先进入厨房。你闻到阵阵木材味道，原来为了旅客们亲身体验亨利八世的厨房，厨房一直烧着木材。里面还有很多新鲜蔬菜，肉类，让你知道当时厨房要准备600多人的饮食多么不容易。

接着参观亨利八世睡过的床，执政的地方，宴会的客厅，皇后们的房子，花园，亨利八世和皇后的房间正对着花园和喷泉，真是好风景！然后一个很多的迷宫供给他们娱乐，还后旧时候他们发明的室内皇式网球场。宫殿至少需要3-4小时才能游览完毕，这让我幻想，旧时候的皇室生活表面是多么的奢侈及繁华富贵，但又为了权利和财富而勾心斗角，我想每个社会都是这样发展起来的。汉普顿宫廷是一个不能错过，十分有趣和富有历史意义的旅程。这里有很多里面的照片哦！

A Day Trip to Kent

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kents_day_trip

Regardless how stressful of school works, I am glad that Melanie came to visit us in London on Friday, so we decided to drive to visit Maidstone in Kent City, which known as the Garden of England. There are some areas dating back to beyond the Stone Age.

Maidstone is 32 miles away in south-east of London. It is a pretty historical town with many 14th century churches and museums. We walked around the town centre and drove to see the Leeds Castle.

Leeds Castle

First, we went to Lehman village for some lunches, and then drove another 3-5 miles, we arrived Leeds castle. £15 for entrance fee. It is famous for next to a lake, and it is huge, peaceful, as well as astonishing beauty of the castle and the garden. It might take you at least 2-3 hours wondering around.

The castle was a royal palace for many generations of Kings and Queens. Unusually, there are several black swans and peacocks walking around, and apparently they like tourists’ attention. We might return there on summer holiday. Here are some pictures.

肯德镇和利兹古堡

快期末了，不说学习压力如何大，约翰的妹妹（梅乐琳）周五来伦敦公干，顺便看我们。我们带她去吃点心，然后周六就开车去东南部肯德镇（自己的翻译），它离伦敦32公里，开车1个小时左右，天气很好，觉得好像小时候的春游。到了市中心，很多14世纪遗留下来的教堂，博物馆和很多古色古香的木房子。它是一个小镇，但满热闹和漂亮的，大家都很和蔼。当我在照相时候，一个青年帅哥说：要照我吗？然后就摆个姿势。超级搞笑！

先去另一个小镇吃三文治先，然后开车到利兹古堡，入门15磅。据说古堡名字起的好怪，古堡不在利兹城市，但却叫利兹古堡。古堡因它的美丽而出名，坐落在湖边，在一个超级大的花园，有一个足球场大，至少可以逛2-3个小时才走完。建于1119年，之后是很多代皇室家族的宫殿或花园。真是奢华！湖边有黑色天鹅，花园有几只孔雀。它们都自由自在的生活着，享受着人们的关注，过着明星般的生活。你可以想象得到多么诗情画意的画面。由于时间关系，我们只游走了一半，可能我们夏天再去拉。这里有最新的照片。

Travelled in Yorkshire

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We went to visit Sheffield, Derbyshire, and Leeds last week and drove to see the famous Chatsworth house, owned by Duke and Duchess of Devonshire. This house is famous for appearing as Mr Darcy’s house in the 2005 Pride & Prejudice movie, as well as the upcoming calledThe Dutchess (featuring Keira Knightley).

Unfortunately when we were there they were holding a country fair so I didn’t get chance to visit it properly but I’m sure I will do so in the future.

We also drove to Bakewell in Derbyshire and the Peak District. It’s a small, peaceful, and very pretty market town. It reminds me of Europe a lot.

Another day we drove to North Yorkshire from Leeds to visit Harrogate . It is a very large and wealthy city, we enjoyed our time there.

Sheffield a city of many hills with views into the city centre or out to the countryside. There is a National Park next door and it was famous for producing steel. It’s quite a small city (could be like Shantou, not sure), but the hills remind me of Hong Kong.

Leeds is not bad, got a lot of young modern buildings and restaurants near the canal.

Here is some pictures I took.

The picture of the cover is from www.theage.com.au (Chatsworth House at sunset.)

我们上周去了谢菲尔德， 德比郡， 利兹，去看了很多周边的小镇，去参观了电视剧 /电影－达西先生住的房子（傲慢与偏见），还有9月5号即将上映的电影（女爵）也是在这个房子拍摄的，来头不小啊！听说那整片地区包裹房子都是属于一个公爵的，太富有了！但因为我们刚好碰见公园在举行活动，人山人海，没有仔细进入里面，以后再去罗！我们也去了利兹，利兹还好拉，蛮有小伦敦感觉的。谢菲尔德也不错，到处都是树木花园，国家公园也就在隔壁，居民的房子都建在山腰上，感觉象香港的半山腰。这是最新的照片和大家分享拉。