Hong Kong

I took this photo on my last trip to Hong Kong, in 2001.

I have a few nights here in Hong Kong before I have to return to the States.  I plan on going to the Bird Park and to take the Star Ferry several times, to do a lot of shopping and gawking and eating and tea sipping.  I LOVE Hong Kong and it is the prefect place to end my time in China.  

Stay tuned to this blog.  There will be postings coming soon after my return home.  I hope you'll come see where I have been and what I have been doing.  It's so much more fun to share a trip, don't you think?  I promise no three hour slide shows.  

Really.  I promise.

Chongqing and Yangtze Cruising

Photo from Lovelovechina.com

Today I am in Chongqing and will be boarding a Victoria Cruises ship late this afternoon for a cruise down the Yangtze River.  I have long wanted to see the Three Gorges, so this is an exciting day for me.  (Not that the whole trip isn't exciting, this is just especially so!)

Xi'an

Photo from Wikipedia Commons

I have two nights in Xi'an as my China trip continues.  Besides the famous Terra Cotta Warriors I will be seeing the Wild

Goose Pagoda (built in 652 AD) and the Shanxi Provincial History Museum, which is a Tang-Dynasty style pavilion.

I'll have photos and more posted here after my return mid May.  Be sure to come back and read all about the trip.

Beijing

Tiananmen Square  Photo by kinabaloo.com

I will be in Beijing for four nights and will get to see such sights as Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, a day trip to see a section of the Great Wall and we have a visit with a Chinese family in their home.  

Check back after May 15th for more on my China trip!

Pre-Hawaii "Housecleaning"

I am leaving for Hawaii on Monday and in preparation for the trip I have been cleaning house, both literally and figuratively. I found a few photos I have been meaning to share with you and thought now might be a good time to do so. The photo above was taken near my cabin. I love the winter sunset when viewed through bare branches. It always gets to me and this group of trees is on my way into my little house in the woods. I often stop to just take in the sun setting behind these winter trees.

And here we have the covers and inside covers for my China journal. I will be leaving on that trip in late April. I can't wait! China has been on my dream trip list for many, many years.

I have treated myself to a new watercolor palette and a few more tubes of Daniel Smith watercolors. I love the DS paints. I am not much of a watercolorist but I like to travel with watercolors as they are easy to pack. My new palette is small and holds a lot of paint. I think it's going to be perfect.

And, finally, I have to share a picture of my "helper." My cat, Orcie the Great and Terrible, calls this lolling by the computer, soaking up the heat from the infernal machine (his words, not mine)"helping." I'd have to say, not so much. Really. He's not helping. (Please ignore the terribly messy desk. It's one of those things I should be cleaning instead of blogging!)