Sofitel Plaza Xiamen

Xiamen was a typical Chinese city. It was not very interesting really. About the only exciting thing that happened took place in a local department store. We were on the third floor looking for a few things that we needed back on the ship, and Cub couldn't find a bathroom. We must have asked a half dozen store clerks and none ...

... reason given that it is very hot and humid back at the coast, the swimming pool is closed because it is Autumn. Evening meal was an interesting experience; we tried to find a place Nancy had recommended but were not sure, ended up in a nice place called Noodles with a menu totally in Chinese but with pictures. Mimi ended up with the largest bowl of noodles you ever saw and I chose a set meal because I thought that would be easy - but still had to choose the protein ...

... island - a pinnacle of rock with a cable car. Huge tour groups have matching caps and guides with megaphones. It's a typical Chinese idea of a park - manicured and carved into perfection. There's a lovely notice in tourist office explaining how the artificial rocks and gardens in one place make it "entirely natural". However the island is vehicle free except for electric cars so outside the main tourist area it's quite pleasant and peaceful.<br><br>In theory you can swim in the sea ...

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... accent. Many homeowners who love the look, longevity, and value of granite incorporate marble into their kitchens in more modest quantities. Marble is one of the most expensive surfaces for a kitchen, but many professional cooks feel that there is simply no substitute for its elegance or usability, especially as a surface for baking projects. This versatile surface is equally at home in an ultramodern minimalist kitchen or in a classic, cozy ...

... winter is coming. I guess Santa is already waiting up there in the northern plains of Novosibirsk, all packed up and ready to go. After breakfast I felt it is time to become active or freeze to death, so I enquired about air tickets to somewhere warm. Hainan island was quite a long way, but the girls at the reception got me a very cheap ticket to Xiamen, a place on the southeast coast I always wanted to visit, with a forecast promising more than 20 degrees down there ...

... is quite modern, but the old main street of Zhongshan Lu has many of the old colonial buildings still there (reminding me a bit of Auckland), and there are some cool little narrow alleys off to either side. At night it all changes character as everyone comes out for shopping after work - night seems like the busiest time in the central city! Our second day was sunny, so we took a bus to the south coast and walked along the shore ...

... and I chatted about my plan for the next couple of days and I tried to gently imply that I wanted to go see the earth dwellings alone, as my friend was starting to force himself on me as a guide and helper. I became uncomfortable listening to my friend and his father and his friends talk in the unintelligible dialect. I asked told my friend that I was tired and he took me upstairs to go to sleep. Tomorrow will be here all too soon and I really should get some rest.