baby gifts Shopping for newborn toys can be a nerve-wracking experience. There are no creatures as indecisive and moody as new babies, except for their parents. So when getting new baby gifts, you really should play it safe. Don't try to get subtle things for newborn baby, but get something that the parents will deffinitely really appreciat...

Every night that we have been we have seen or heard some fireworks going off.  Most were pretty little, like firecrackers, and the occasional big one. Today is the beginning of the 2 day Lantern Festival.  More on that later.  Today we decided to take it easy.  After our long trek on the Great Wall we were really tired. ...

There is something about the Asians and their electronics.  I have had the great thrill of spending an evening in Tokyo's electronic districts, seeing all the new amazing gadgets and electronic toys they offer, things that don't make it to the states until year's later.   This was many years ago, at least 6 years or so, and I reme...

It's fascinating what a skill haggling is here. Really the only thing that stands in the way of the merchants hitting their mark every time is the ability to tell them a much lower price and still be right by cultural standards. Of course, if you screw up and quote a price that they will take than you have to buy the thing. Or if you don't you'r...

Well my second week highlighted the unfairness of the social dicotomy within the class system, i.e., I object to spend that much time cleaning toilets. I spent much of this week still accommodation organising and hunting. Monday morning, I was flat hunting again. Found a nice place, still fairly close to work, but it needed a bit of work. Lights...

        has got to be the one of the coolest club names ever! heck yes! my roommate draged me there last night.  it was sat night so ladies get in free, yay. but as soon as we got in they took away my water bottle :(                we got the...

I guess this is technically day 2 in China (21st), Beijing. Seems a bit surreal - or yesterday did. We were up on the 19th bright & early to get out to see the fabulous Sibelius Monument which was just a bit further down the road from out hostel & the graveyard. I would upload the pics but in the 2 Internet places we've been it's not bee...

Hey all finally got this thing working. Had awful problems with the internet in Beijing, couldn't even log onto my emails sometimes. Anyway we are in Xi-an at the mo but more about that later. Anyway arrived in the airport in Beijing 5 days ago unfortunately my bags didn't, anyway filled out my lost baggage form and met my taxi driver to the hot...

I am sitting at the international terminal at Beijing International Airport, staring at all of the duty free shops, drinking a Heineken (trying to get rid of my Chinese money), and reflecting on my experience in China. I have about an hour until my plane leaves, so this might not suffice. I would like to write my reflection on Chinese soil howev...

After a good night's sleep in Bangkok's Khao San Palace Hotel, we sped off to the airport, enjoying our final hours as the dynamic-duo ahead of our afternoon link-up with Nick in China. Flying Thai Airways and helping ourselves to several complimentary magazines, the 4-and-a-bit hour journey passed surprisingly quickly despite a few mad dashes t...