So we are planning the big trip to China now, lots to get my head around - it’s a bit like Americans saying “we’re off to see Europe” - same sort of size, so many different cultures, customs, languages (that’s okay because we don’t speak any of them!)

Anyway note for the day is that when something on the menu says mouse, and I laugh thinking they mean mousse, no, they really mean mouse - but I think this is something in the shape of a mouse - so that’s okay!

About halfway through booking everything now, but trying to visit Huangshan mountain and there are sooooo many things to see and do there!

The best site we’ve found so far for organising the trip is http://english.ctrip.com/ - so useful, especially for internal flights and rural hotels. 

I also decided to learn to ride a bike (I may have mentioned this before?) Anyhoo I decided that going to China and not riding a bike, would be ridiculous, especially around Yangshuo.  I did learn to ride a bike when I was a kid, even took my cycling proficiency, but we were too poor for me to have a bike of my own (arrh!) and after a few small accidents on other peoples’ bikes I retired as a cyclist!

Anyway today I had my first verbal altercation with a motorist (I must be progressing!) I’ve come a long way - a couple of months ago I was wobbling round the park - then wobbling down cycle paths, and last weekend I actually cycled for about 10 metres along Colliers Wood High Street - woohoo.  Somehow today I decided to cycle all the way to Halfords - busy roads - dual carriageway, roundabouts, over rail crossings - get me!!

It’s been fantastic - so many great cycle paths around here - I am seeing countryside within a few miles of my house that I have never seen in all the time I’ve lived here.  (And when it gets a bit too scary or tiring I get off and walk, or use the pedestrian crossing - brilliant!)

Discovered a few things - the idea is that as a cyclist you can whizz past all the traffic - unfortunately you can’t do this when the cars leave about 5 centimetres between them and the pavement.  The only time I actually HAD to get off the bike was when all the wing mirrors got a bit scary.  So on the way back the same problem, and I saw another cyclist go out and cycle in the middle of the road, so I did the same thing.  This is a little bit scary - especially when there is a big red bus on one side and another one coming towards you (ulp! this is why I don’t like cycling.)  Even scarier when the traffic suddenly speeds up, and I am in the middle of two fast lanes of traffic going in opposite directions (not scared though - what would be the point?) and this is when cars started beeping me, unfortunately I couldn’t really get back on the left hand side without crossing through the traffic.  This is when a motorist started yelling at me “What are you doing in the middle of the road.”  As I succinctly yelled, “Because there was no room on the other side because of all the “stupid” (I may have used another word) cars.”  Luckily I then was able to cross back to the kerb - phew!

To be honest, this is why I’ll never be a true hardcore London cyclist - too many stupid motorists - but if nothing else it will make me a more considerate driver!!!  But I am feeling ready to copy with water buffalo, rickshaws, steep hills and rickety bridges - especially on a mountain bike - easy after cycling between London buses and being able to yell at motorists without falling off!  Bring it on!!