Yizhong Hotel Yantai

... that when you are happy, you see everything in a good light, or notice only the positive things; and when you are unhappy, you can feel that fate is conspiring against you in everything. I began to move from the former state to the latter as I arrived in Qingdao. This was undoubtedly catalysed by the state of the hostel I checked into. A section of the carpet was so wet it squelched underfoot; the plaster on the neighbouring wall fell off in large chunks ...

... tasty dishes. Yantai is also the cradle of wine production in China, housing the largest wine production base in Asia. With its high quality and more than none hundred years of history, Zhangyu Red Wine from Yantai is a widely known brand in China and abroad.

In 1987, the International Grape and Wine Bureau dubbed Yantai the "International Grape and Wine City."

Today, with the city's rapid ...

... t have felt much different. Even the kid from New York says Beijing seemed pretty much the same as American cities. Plus, the complete lack of anything natural (including something as basic as sky) was definitely starting to get to me and the similarity was actually kind of frustrating. When I return, however, I'm expecting good weather because it literally improves visibly every day. Beijing did have some cool stuff ...

... out. Turns out the song was playing real loud on some Chinese guy's cell phone, he was trance-dancing right there in middle of the mall! I said, "Say man, what's the name of that sweet song?" That boy didn't even stop dancing, he just said,"Bing He Shi Dai". Needless to say, now I jam to it on my iPod. For the best China travel information and tips on the Internet check out: www.askreddragon.com

... learning a bit of Chinese, snacking and drinking tea - taking it easy until training starts again tomorrow! Our group has a week until we're to be tested on the first proper fist form that we've been taught so I imagine this week will be a tough one. That's about all there is to report but will hopefully start updating sometime this week

... Sanda sessions were usually the most tiring because they involved a lot of activity, running drills, frog jumping, jumping around on one foot and animal walking were pretty common in the middle of the punches and kicks. A nice part is also in enduring about 3 minutes of holding your leg as high as possible in a side kick position. It hurts but you learn to ignore it when you have your master walking around with a staff ready to hit your leg ...

... Chu Shifu was the master of chinese medicine, massage and bagua. Bagua was the walking in circles class and the only time I went to massage was great (he's damn good). He was a really nice guy, constantly smiling goofily, never saw too much from him except his really long sword form. I don't mean the form was long, i mean the sword was about 4 feet. Zheng Shifu was the mantis master, he was a real tough guy, nice if you were not in his class and he ...

... beginnings in small courtyard villages to towering high rise apartments. The ocean is lined with a lovely stone walkway overlooking the beach that is scattered with great pieces of modern art depicting waves and celestial objects that tower over the heads of the hundreds of bathers and lovers that flock to its shores day and night. Yantai University is a rapidly growing educational institution that bravely clings to its position by the sea as it expands ...

... to climb up the steps and I had to keep stopping as it was quite steep but it was worth it as the views really are breath taking once you got to the top. Underneath the giant Buddha in a dark room there is 999 miniature bronze Buddha lit up with (electrical) lotus tea lights. This room was very atmospheric and one of my favorite sights of China so far. The grand Buddha plus the little Buddha make 10000, which is supposed ...

... my mark on China, it's been leaving its own on me! This week has involved quite a lot of food in a variety of guises. The canteen food has been as one would expect canteen food to be. My least favourite... battered fish so heavily battered, head, tail and spine are all unrecognisable until you bite into the thing and find it yourself! Nice. Equally as shocking ...