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!

Boscastle, Cornwall ... another charming seacoast town

Although Boscastle wasn't on my itinerary, after we arrived in Port Isaac we heard of it several times ... people saying to go there. So one day we took the bus from Port Isaac (at the top of the steep hill) to the quaint, small village of Boscastle that was also a cove.

I took photos of the drive through the bus windows, and even had the 'flaming' driver on the way back that we'd had returning from Tintagel earlier in the week. Only this time he had pink fingernails whereas before they were ruby red. :) He lives in Tintagel, a very entertaining and informative driver. Nice guy, someone that would be fun to know.

At The Riverside Inn (owners - Peter and Margaret Templar), we had lunch at the hotel restaurant/tearoom & Garden overlooking the River Valency (we call them creeks here) in Boscastle. We met the proprietor, Peter, a really nice man. His son also works there. In fact I took a pic of Peter as we were leaving while he was on the phone. Wonderful food, wonderful relaxing restaurant with lovely ambiance.

There's also a pic of the owner of The Leather Shop in Boscastle holding up a handmade journal, his wife made the paper and the fabric of the cover. I bought it, the last of its kind, she won't be making any more. Now she only makes dolls, first collection (more to come) called The Woodland Collection . . .

"Inspiration for this collection is drawn from the magical woodlands of North Cornwall incorporating the textures and hues that mirror its natural beauty. THE BRACKEN have been individually created using embellished handmade fabrics. Their characters and personalties develop in the making with time and care taken to ensure each one is unique. All THE BRACKEN have a name carefully chosen to be in harmony with the woodland and its surroundings. They are all numbered and are part of a Limited Edition of 250 with their own Certificate of Authenticity." www.thebracken.com

Trish bought one of the dolls - Shamrock, I believe is her name.

We didn't meet the artist, only her husband, he makes the leather goods in "The Leather Shop" at "The Old Mill". Very interesting afternoon we spent in Boscastle, regardless of the rain.

You'll also see the back alleyway that actually fronts cottages and houses along the 'river' that empties into the sea. An afternoon well spent. Glad we went.

Charming Port Isaac!

I think the best way to encapsulate a description of Port Isaac is ... one of the most charming seacoast villages in England, set in a cove stretching up the enbankment, peaceful with cobblestone alleyways (streets), shops, pubs, and holiday cottages. The perfect place to get away from it all and settle in to write, rest, eat and drink.

I could live there, easily, except for the steep climb to the CoOp (grocery store) and lack of medical facilities and drug store. For medical treatment one has to travel to another town if you need more than aspirin and simple cold remedies. But that's easy, just have to plan in advance for all of that. As well as grocery. We would take the hike up the hill maybe every other day to get what we needed at the grocery, I was always bringing up the rear of course, since I'm not good on uphill hikes. And we could only carry a lightly packed bag of goods at a time. So we planned our purchases carefully. There were always the pubs and cafes in which to dine, too, so if one wanted to eat out all the time, no problem. But I'm a finger food sort of person, sometimes cheese and bread is enough for me in a meal. I was hooked on the beet root, ate several packages of that while there with my cheese and bread. Yum yum.

We would build a nightly fire in the fireplace, in fact in some of the Port Isaac photos to the left you will see the smoke rising from our chimney, the light is on in the living room ... cozy, huh? Trish was in the cottage while I was down in the cove taking pics. We stayed in the White House Cottage to the left of the White House which is to the left of 'Doc Martin's' brick dwelling used in the TV series. Ironic that a series with a doctor is set in a village that doesn't have any doctors. And the candy store is used as a pharmacy in the series, no pharmacy in Port Isaac. lol lol Interesting.

The photo of the four men that you'll see as you watch the slide show, are the 2 husbands of the gals that I wrote of in the previous post who helped me plot a novel (the two men on the left). That was a fun evening with those four guys at the Slipway, before and after the wives returned. Hilarious, actually. They were calling me Jessica ... of Murder She Wrote. The two on the right were visiting the cove from the Midlands - wild and crazy guys - dentists. Where were they when I lost a cap the last day we were there?

As you'll see, the streets are narrow and winding between the dwellings and other buildings and although looking grey and dismal, there is a tranquil, joyous feeling amidst them. I always feel that way in England wherever I am. One reason I'm drawn back to it time and time again. And in that tranquility, I am always inspired in my quiet thoughts. So much so that I look forward to time alone with my thoughts. But then I'm the same at home, even here in Arizona or wherever I call home.

More later ...