Has it really been two weeks?

More than that in fact. I suppose it reinforces the concept that I was knocked speechless. Have I changed? Has the world changed? Both?

No, of course not. I'm the same except I've had some experiences which, judging by the treatment meted out to this poor sod, I should probably not talk about. The article I've linked there is a blog about going round South East Asia by a fairly green young man. The controversy has arisen from other than his writing (which is better than mine, but I'm not being published by the website of a major national British newspaper), but rather his subject matter and how he got the gig. He is, apparently, the son of an occasional freelance writer for the Guardian (the aforementioned newspaper) and this has given rise to cries of nepotism. This may be the case (and a comment like "his dad worked hard to get him a break in journalism" won't have helped), but it is possible that he really did get in on merit: having creative parents may have led to a creative environment at home for example. His faux-naivete has also wound folk up, claiming not to know what to expect in Thailand when he visited there just a few years ago. But a lot of the issues were seemingly borne out of the fact he was doing the cliche-ridden tour, following in the footsteps of ten thousand other upper middle class yahoos and getting paid for it. I'm sure we all would have if we could. But, my goodness, The Beach was only a good book for those precise people who do that trip. My holiday was paid for by me and no-one may feel obliged to read my witterings as no-one is publishing them beyond this.

A lot of other things haven't changed as well (nice sentence structure, is it not?). And I'm learning to cope with them. It is odd to be back, but I am determined to at least find a different rut.

My so-called 'luck', if so it can be called

I must always try to retain perspective. Hopefully you don't think that I complained too much when I had a spate of small incidents. I was indeed annoyed, of course, but I had such an extraordinarily good run of fortune that anything against that was quite the change and I may have disproportionately represented it.

The horrors of transport in China this week have reminded me that even my perceived bad luck, was in fact good. It meant that I didn't take any risks, that I took myself out of Guiyang (the capital of Guizhou province) and that I am back and safe now. It should be mentioned that this is not a 'China' issue, it is a reminder that big changes cannot be fully prepared for: freak weather is freakish. Poverty exacerbates it for sure, but if Wellington had 6 inches of snow, I don't believe we'd cope especially well in terms of infrastructure.

I can only sympathise with those people affected.

And if anyone wants a drink, they are welcome to buy me one :-). Jodes...?

Did you think it was over?

I am back in Wellington. As is known, I have enjoyed writing this drivel enormously. Let's face it, I've probably enjoyed it more than you lot, but hard cheese.

So I am not stopping quite yet. There are little "settling back in" tales to tell, no doubt, and hopefully I can put some decent piccies of Welly on here too, to entertain the folk who aren't here to enjoy it.

Back in NZ

The flights were smooth and pretty uneventful. I got on well with the Northern English couples on their way to New Zealand for a whistle-stop tour (although one day for Wellington including a trip to the Beehive suggests they might not want to return here). Watched several films including the rather fun Balls of Fury (about ping pong) the good but unpleasant War, the funny and violent Shoot 'Em Up and the slightly disappointing but often excellent Death at Funeral. Rush Hour 3 I started to watch, but it was too terrible for words (especially after having just been to China). The Dark is Rising is supposedly based on one of my favourites book sets as a kid, but it didn't appear to have much in common. Confusing and not much cop.

So I guess you'll all be wanting pictures of Carterton then?

Well...

I am now in Guangzhou. Not because I wanted to be, but because, I need to be here tomorrow. Staying in Guiyang would have jeopardised that as the weather continued to deteriorate. Missing even one flight would have made tomorrow a complete arse. It still might be, but I have attempted to reduce the risk.

So yet more roads were closed in Guiyang, meaning that the very limited programme on offer was reduced yet again. I like the plac well enough, but I can't pretend to have any abiding fond memories. Indeed, the rather excellent hotel there was unfortunate to have its power cut off last night, adding to my list of (admittedly minor) woes. Ho diddly hum.

On my way back to NZ. Very tired and a little flat. I think what I have done will hit me over the next few days, weeks and months. And, let's face it, years.

Back from Anshun

Braving the cold, we made it back from Anshun to Guiyang. Sadly it looks like this was the last of my sightseeing in the region as the conditions are just too unfavourable. The cold is not extreme but in an area that is unused and hence unprepared for it, the reaction is appropriate.

We stopped on the way at a traditional Miao (that's a minority group not a cat network) batik studio and then on to Tianlong to see a Han (that's the majority) culture village. This is a very old place, and there was the Ground Opera, a precursor of the Beijing Opera, performed before battle to scare the enemy. Well, it was certainly not long enough to bore them (b'dum tish). I shouldn't be mean - it was interesting and you do get an idea, even if the Beijing Opera was so much more refined.

Guizhou (the province) is not especially well-known especially outside China. The falls are gaining a reputation (although as I intimated, the water-curtain cave deserves more recognition), but there would need to be a fundamental rethink to get the place really buzzing. The roads are poor, the town centres are a bit disorganised and there isn't much English spoken. On the other hand, the people are really friendly, there is a buzz about the place and the scenery is startling. It is basically a gently rolling countryside (admittedly not well suited for airports and the like) but with lumps. Big ones, small ones and everything in between. Everywhere. Just rock. Sticking out of the ground with a small amount of vegetation on top. It is unreal (the weather and driving conditions precluded pictures of this). But, and this is what annoyed me, on top of so many of these fantastic (in the classical sense of the word) protuberances was a pylon, telephone line or mobile phone tower. Like putting a rubber band on a beautiful face it looked ridiculous and marred the view. But fixable, if they really want the tourists to come. And I think it would happen. Guizhou is a fine place.

Let us hope that the airport is sufficiently clear on Saturday morning, else I'd just have to stay here... Hmm. Local sights only tomorrow.

Here are the piccies

Huongguoshu Waterfall

Well, I had my whine and despite that we made it out of town today. I am of course harsh on Guiyang. It was a pleasant place and you saw the pictures of the pavilion and mountain (hill). And I had splendid Dong and Miao food, and I was even sung at by the Dong waitresses to ensure I drank. Oh well, under such duress... But I didn't want to end up with a situation where I went to places I didn't really want to go to and then be told at the end that, since I had accepted substitutes, I was entitled to no refund. See? I'm pragmatic and tight.

So we got away to Huangguoshu, near Anshun. The falls were not as big as I had expected, but the walk was charming (with plenty of steps) and the views were lovely. But the curtain cave running behind the falls was wonderful. Just the feeling of the cascade above and around you made the trip unquestionably worthwhile. Not as stunning as many places, but a better feel and more fun. I'm so glad I made it.

This is lazy, but so much easier for me. Sorry.