CHANGES IN TRAVEL SCHEDULE

Looks like I won't be taking that trip to China this year.  Am going back to England instead.  Heading for Weymouth again and possibly Port Issac for a couple days, then off to the races!

The Royal Ascot Races! 

I may even wear a hat if I can reserve a spot in the Royal Circle or whatever it's called.  I've sent off a letter asking for the invite.  Fingers crossed.  Something I've always wanted to do since first seeing 'My Fair Lady'. I watch the races every year on TV and almost went a couple of times when I was in England, so it's now or never ... I'm going to try to make this time.  Trip-time will be in June.  I certainly hope it pans out.  A lot of things are hanging in the balance, so we'll just have to wait and see as the weeks roll by.

I'll buy my outfit in Weymouth, at least a hat while I'm there and will leave it with my friends Ali and Martin.  I certainly won't need it in the states.  lol lol   Black and white sounds good for me ... or black and some summery color.  I like pink or green or light blue. Summers are pretty warm in England, that's why I usually go early spring or in the fall/winter seasons.

My hotel reservation for the races is in Bracknell at the Grange Bracknell.  It's almost at the gate of the track, just a short cab ride. Exciting, huh?  I'll stay there a couple nights at the end of my trip and then will return home from London.

So that's the big trip change this year.

GRAND CIRCLE TO CHINA - 2015!

Okay. Just found out that Grand Circle Tours has exactly what I want.  It’s less expensive than the company mentioned in the previous post below, and includes Hong Kong, don't have to pay extra and plan that segment myself.  Terrific!  It’s around $1500 less going with GCT.   Perfect!  I'm excited! 

Here’s the itinerary:

Day 1 – Depart Phoenix

Day 2 – Arrive in Beijing, China

Day 3 – BEIJING: Forbidden City/Beijing’s Hidden Lanes

Day 4 – BEIJING: Temple of Heaven/Summer Palace

Day 5 – BEIJING: Cloisonne Factory/Great Wall & Ming Tombs

Day 6 – BEIJING: A.M.- leisure for me (my choice) P.M – depart for SHANGHAI (air)

Day 7 – SHANGHAI: day of leisure for me (my choice)

Day 8 -  SHANGHAI: day of leisure for me (my choice)

Day 9 – SHANGHAI: day of leisure for me (my choice)

Day 10 – Depart Shanghai:  FLY to Wuhan,  5-hour BUS to Yichang, BOARD Victoria River Ship

Day 11 – YANGTSE RIVER CRUISE: Tour Three Gorges Dam /Xiling Gorge

Day 12 – YANGTSE RIVER CRUISE: Side Excursions: Wu Gorge/Daning River or  Qutang Gorge

Day 13 – YANGTSE RIVER CRUISE: Side Excursion: Fengdu, local family, then back to cruising

Day 14 – Disembark at CHONGQUING – A.M. tour /Museum & Panda visit   P.M. - FLY TO XIAN

Day 15 – XIAN:  A.M. - Terra Cotta Army    P.M. - afternoon of leisure for me (my choice)

Day 16 – XIAN: Lacquerware factory/Wild Goose Pagoda/Xian Walls    P.M. - FLY TO GUILIN

Day 17 – GUILIN:  Shan Tea Garden Lunch/P.M. Western Dinner.

Day 18 – GUILIN:  Li River Cruise    P.M. - FLY TO HONG KONG

Day 19 – HONG KONG:  A.M. - City Tour incl. Star Ferry (Kowloon and HK)  P.M. - leisure time.

Day 20 – HONG KONG: Day of Leisure

Day 21 – Return to U.S. 

There you have it!  This trip I'm really looking forward to.   Must work hard between now and then, though. Lots to do in a year's time before the journey.  And I'm already thinking of the novel I'll be writing, set in China.  

CHINA, A YEAR FROM NOW!

RIVER CRUISE IN CHINA: Something I've wanted to do for quite some time is go to China.  I’ve been to Russia – St. Petersburg and Moscow, but not further east. But then, wait a minute! When does east become west?  I mean Sarah Palin says she can see Russia from Alaska, so that makes Asia west of the U.S., actually.  But when I went to Russia I was coming from eastern Europe, so it was east (from Austria, actually).  But flying from Phoenix to China, it will be a western flight, west from here, well sort of, first to Chicago and then west to China. Have I completely confused you? 

There are Delta flights to Tokyo from Vancouver and San Francisco going west, where one can connect to Hong Kong or Seoul to Beijing. I fly American Airlines, so to fly to Beijing from Phoenix, again, I fly east to Chicago then west again to Beijing.  Not bad. 

SO . . . I’m seriously thinking of going on Uniworld's ‘Highlights of China and the Yangtze River Cruise' from Beijing to Shanghai. That is an incredible journey, beautiful sightseeing (more on that later). Now this will be in October 2015. They usually book a year out, so I’ll make up my mind between now and then.   I really want to do this.  

OR . . . TRAIN TO CHINA: A couple years ago I planned an overland journey from London to China, the trans-siberian route.  The choice was to launch from London or Paris ... maybe cheaper from Paris, don’t know.  Then the trains go up and across eastern Europe to Moscow.  But of course, I could fly to St. Petersburg or Moscow from Phoenix and catch the cross-country train from there.  That might be best for the train trip and to see those two marvelous cities again (Midnight in Moscow).  From either Russian city it's almost a straight shot to Beijing then on to Shanghai.  

Being that close to Hong Kong while in China would be a crime not to go there, at least for a weekend, by the way.  Anyway the train trip might still be in the running.  Depends on time and money, of course. 

I figure it's around $1150 to take the Moscow to Beijing train - 1st class 2-berth.  Then there's the hotel in Beijing, probably the Elite Hutong Courtyard (downtown) for $81 a nite approx.  So, let's say three nights in Beijing, total train and hotel - $1390, not bad.  Then I'd have to fly from Beijing to Chongqing and take a boat to travel the Yangtze to Shanghai.  Much more complicated, methinks.  Not to mention flight to Moscow, hotels, etc. 

I think flying in directly to Beijing and taking the 11-day cruise is the way to go.  And if there’s a way, I’ll do a weekend in Hong Kong before returning home. Definitely.  Flights are around $120 from Shanghai to Hong Kong.

The  Harbourview Hotel in Hong Kong overlooks Victoria Harbour and is around $90 per night. Not bad.   

Well, these are my thoughts.  It’s a year away … so I’ve plenty of time to sell some books and win the lottery, all for the sake of traveling. 

I’ll update as we go along.  In the meantime, happy traveling!!!

              

ENGLAND CANCELED, CALIFORNIA HERE I COME!

Well, there's no comparison, of course, my trip to England is postponed, going to California instead.  Just a quick weekend trip to sell and sign books at the Wasco Rose Festival. I'm an alumnus of Wasco Union High School, so I hope to see some of the ol' classmates and friends of the '50s.  Here's the press release regarding my booth for the event:  R. J. BUCKLEY BOOTH AT ROSE FESTIVAL .

When I was growing up in the small farm town of Wasco (pop. 8000), in the San Joaquin Valley, there weren't any rose fields or rose industry at all, it was cotton and potatoes.  Now ... "55% of all roses grown in the United States are grown in and around Wasco. Over 50 million plants are grown in the area by more than 9 major rose companies. The Wasco Festival of Roses is held every year on the first Saturday after Labor Day Weekend in September."   

Click here to check out the early  HISTORY OF WASCO , it's quite fascinating.   We moved to Wasco in the early '50s from a small community of 300 near Oxnard, CA.  My father ran the local dime store in Wasco ... although I never knew why they called it a dime store, very little cost only a dime. My sisters and I from the age of 10 worked in the store after school and on Saturdays for minimum hourly wage which was 75 cents when I began working, I'm the oldest sibling.  Daddy used our wages to help with living expenses, would give us an allowance out of it, but it took all of his, mother's, and the rest of ours to pay the bills.  I don't know how he did it, raising three girls. And as I recall, we had everything we wanted or needed. And no credit cards in those days.  I have to hand it to him.    In the late '80s, by the way, I too managed a 'dime' store, same company as daddy's, only I was in Rancho Bernardo (southern California).  Funny how things happen.  I was single and it was difficult for me to make it on the salary ... so I don't know how he did it for a family of five.

Yes, Wasco holds many wonderful memories for me ... A. Paul Bergen, who I publish, was a boy friend way back then, in the '50s.  We both went on to marry others, but we've always been friends.  Sad to say, he and his wife Linda won't be able to make the trip from Encinitas CA, but his work will be on display in my booth on Saturday.  His sister, Doris Bergen Lynch, will be there representing him.

Lots of memories ... lots of good memories ...

POSTSCRIPT:  Wasn't able to make the trip ... blood circulation problem, leg was swollen, still is, but isn't a blood clot ... hooray!  Next time, guys!

GOING BACK TO ENGLAND IN SEPTEMBER 2012

It's a definite go ... yippee!  I'm heading back to merry ol' England the middle of this coming September.  This time I'm going alone and will spend my time in and around Weymouth in Dorset. No treks to Cornwall. I might take a day trip to Southampton and maybe one to Bournemouth, but I'll just wait and see after I get there.  I want to buckle down and do some writing and just enjoy the camaraderie of the locals in Weymouth.  Yep!  That's what I'm yearning for.

So I am excited!  Gonna get my Brit fix!