Dongting Hotel Yueyang

... and I can use my American License to drive. He is working on how to get me a Chinese License, though!!

It is very different driving in China. The person in the front has the right away- this means if I pull out in front of you while you are going 60mph, I have the right away. They are crazy. When you have a generation of new drivers,this is what you get. Most of the drivers ...

... out i was a vegetarian and rushed me to the back to feed me their food! They had a bunch of different veggie dishes so i got a bowl and ate some. When i found out we were going to lunch after i tried to give them my bowl to leave but they wouldn't let me until i ate every drop of rice! This old chinese lady was shoveling it into my mouth! It was kinda funny... (i also through some of my food in the bushes outside- hopefully they didnt see it). After this we walked ...

... we were hungry! Miss some good 'ol American Junk Food! We went to a club called F1 that night which was pretty fun. Loud music, girls dancing on speakers, expensive drinks, and foreigners! It was outrageous how much the drinks cost. I suppose we have been living in the "Xintian Dream" paying a mere 2 kuai for a large beer. For a small Budweiser it was 30 kuai, and you had to order 12 minimum! It was overall a fun experience, and we met ...

Nov, 20th was my 23rd birthday. I am aging well, but I am seven years from thirty!! It is crazy!!

Anyway, I (with some help from friend) booked a suite at the HuaTian (5-star) Hotel. It was incredible. About 15 people from all over Hunan came for the celebration and it was swell.

This month my buddies (Team Sharks) and I participated in No-Shave-November ...

My Faithful Followers,

Monday, before I caught a horrible cold, I took a tour of the city, solo. It was fun. I invited my fellow teachers, but schedules conflicted.

First I went to Bai Lu Temple. It is an ancient temple in the heart of the city. I had not been yet and I was surprised when I found it in the middle of the city. It is only 50 years old because it was destroyed (not completely) during the cultural revolution. It still resembles an ancient temple. I ...

... Chinese. Unfortunately, one of the men passed away. He was 50 years old and he died of severe brain swelling. They don't know the COD, yet, but it was very tragic. He complained of headaches, went to the hospital, left the hospital then got sick again. He died within 12 hours of his second trip to the hospital. We attended the funeral. it was very sad. I hope the best for his family.


That is all. I am adding some random pictures.

... the ship for our final
meal, lunch. We left the ship and our local guide and driver took us
by a large touring bus to Wuhan. This took 5 hours! Not what we had
expected. We arrived at the hotel at 5:30. The room is plush but the
beds are HARD, which is typical here. After a quick meal we headed to
bed as we have an early morning flight to Hangzhou. We will meet
another guide and travel to the base of the Yellow Mountain.

... 1492; 01;, אופן הטיול שלהם דמה מאוד לשלי. החלטנ 93; לחפש מלון ביחד, כי שלושה זה כוח וכסף שלא מהר ...

... removed after the permanent dam is constructed. It never ceases to amaze me the amount of double construction that goes on in China. They have such a cheap work force that works on projects goes on 24 hours a day so that they can build a bridge and 10 years later pull in down and construct a new one. They will have the Olympics in Beijing in ...

... there is ofcourse nobody to give us our refund. Well than we go on the boat. Although it was raining it was still nice. You do have to try to ignore the singing and talking of the entertainmant team and then you can enjoy the China we know from the pictures. Steep cliffs and waterfalls. High in the cliffs where gave's with coffins. Nobody seems to know how they got there The rest of the day we cruise trough the big ...