Chapter Two - Dating disasters and other delights

I have once again spent a whole lot of time reflecting on all kinds of things, and had a bit of a moment this week. It was around the widows support group. We had a catch up at the weekend, which I went to, and my realisation was around what that group means to me now.

In the very early days of my grief, the group was so incredibly helpful in making me feel seen and understood. There is nothing like the support you get from people who really, truly understand what you’re going through. Unless you have found yourself in this situation, it is impossible (and rightly so) to fully comprehend how all encompassing it is. It is your past, present and future completely shaken up and changed in ways that you can’t begin to imagine, so spending time with people who have walked that same path was for me the very best thing that I could have done.

Right now tho, I no longer feel like I need the same support that I did at the beginning, but instead have found a kind of purpose in going to the group and ‘giving back’. Seeing people further down the road than I was in the early days, gave me hope that my life could be ok again too, and it really helped me to keep going. I hope that by continuing to be part of the group, and going to catch up’s, I can give that kind of hope to other newly widowed people. That it is ok to look for happiness, and it’s just as ok to be sad. That the people in your world will change and that you will change too. That you’re not cheating or doing anything wrong dating, and that it’s also completely ok if you never want to, and that you’re going to constantly have overlapping emotions. There is no right or wrong way to navigate this new world… there is just your own way, and it is what it is.

The other realisation I had was that this is blog post number 250! It feels like a milestone and I am kind of stunned by that … and by the fact that I obviously have had a whole lot to say about things (I’m sure I have more to say), and that so many of you read and engage with what I’m writing.

This blog started as a way to talk about dating and moving forward in my life without Claytie. I thought I would tell some funny stories – and there have been some doozies, and that it would just be a bit of fun. It is still that- I think- but it’s also turned into a kind of journal of the whole grief process, and my life now and what all of that that has been like for me.

There have been so many moments and firsts (and seconds) in my life since the day Clayton died. It has been beyond overwhelming to navigate all of it and it’s been really cathartic to write all of these things down to process what I have felt. It has also felt kind of important for me, sharing what all of this has been like with all of you; as I said earlier, unless you have walked this path it’s impossible to really know what your world looks like without your person.

Not every week has been profound or exciting, and I’m glad for that too! But to have a record of the time that has passed and how I have navigated it is valuable to me – one day down the track I will re-read all of this stuff (I have not yet) and be really proud of myself for doing it… so thank you for being in my world and being kind about my weekly ‘word vomit’!

So I was having a conversation this week with someone about ‘that’ photo. You’ve all seen it, me topless (or on occasion completely nude) facing into the unknown, hands stretched out. The first time I did it was in Malaysia with a girlfriend while staying in a penthouse apartment in Kuala Lumpur, and I have done it in a whole lot of other places since then as well.

For me that pose and photo has always been about making myself small and vulnerable in the universe. It’s a statement of ‘here I am, what else are you going to throw at me!?’. It’s actually not about the nudity, but rather vulnerability. Being naked in the wild is being vulnerable. You have nothing to defend yourself with and are at the mercy of the elements. It is about accepting that in the scheme of things (very big picture) we are actually completely insignificant, and don’t matter. The world will keep turning and the universe will continue to exist long after I am gone, and I recognise that.

Whatever my issues are, big or small, they are nothing in the grater scheme of things, and for whatever reason, that pose, that photo has helped me to gain that perspective. Sometimes it’s just been for fun, but there have been some significant times that it’s happened for me where I have needed the ‘small in the universe’ moment. There have been moments of grief and anger where it has also been a huge ‘fuck you’ middle finger to the world… a shout of I am still here and still going regardless of what you throw at me.

What I realised the other day tho, after having a conversation about it, was that I don’t think I need it anymore, that I have other ways of gaining that perspective when I feel overwhelmed, and I don’t need to challenge the universe to throw anything else at me!

It was a bit of a startling realisation to be honest. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still going to have up and down days and things that drag me under, but I do feel a whole lot more resilient, and I know that I can get through the things that life throws my way. As the saying goes, ‘ so far, I have managed to survive 100% of my worst days’ … and I know that will continue.

This whole grief journey has been (and continues to be) an extraordinary thing to go through. I could never in my wildest dream have imagined this being my life. The bubble that Claytie and I had for ourselves was so completely ordinary that I had no room to picture anything else. I know that that’s the case for most people who face the death of their person (whatever the relationship) .. we all think that we are immune and that this stuff happens to other people, or at an appropriate age when we are done with life. The reality of going through it is shocking and isolating and so all encompassing that it takes a massive effort to recalibrate and persevere.

The biggest lessons that I have learned from all of this is that I am far more resilient than I ever thought (and I can’t tell you how much I hated hearing that in the early days from well meaning people on the way through), that grief does not have a time line or goes away, that you can feel a multitude of emotions all at the same time, and that it’s really really hard work to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

I am never going to be the person that I was. She died the same day that Claytie did. But I can like and be proud of the person that I have become and will continue to become, and that constant change is the only certainty we have. It turns out that I’m getting better at ok with being a speck of dust in the constantly changing universe

I have had a lovely week this week, and managed to tick off a favourite thing to do… something that is always a bonus!

Friday night I introduced my new friend to Karaoke at my local pub. He was a bit nervous that I would make him get up and sing, but once he got over that we had a really nice time. He got to meet some of my people and spend some time in a setting that always brings me joy, and He returned the favour a couple of days later and I got to meet some of his friends, spending a fun afternoon at his local watering hole.

The other fun thing that I did this weekend, was to go to the Kalbar Sunflower festival with a couple of girlfriends. It is an event that has been running for about 5 years now, that started during a drought when country towns were struggling. It was a way to encourage ‘city folk’ to head out into the countryside and spend some money in local communities. Sunflowers actually use very little water to grow and look spectacular, especially when planted en mass. It has grown into a pretty big event that runs over the May-Day long weekend and brings in huge crowds. It’s an awesome fundraiser for several cancer care charities and it is just a fun (and beautiful) thing to do.

It was a picture perfect South-East Queensland, day strolling among 1million sunflowers – and yes, I bought a whole lot home with me. Loads of market stalls and food and one of my very very favourite things – highland cows! For a very manageable $10 I got to spend some quality time with Georgia, a 3year old cow, who tolerated my fawning over her… although I was advised against giving her a kiss – apparently the horns are not just for decoration! I am a little bit obsessed and in love with cows, so this was a definite highlight for me.

Work is also going well. I’m starting to feel like I am getting the hang of things, although now that I have said that out loud, I’ll probably make all kinds of mistakes! … I’m enjoying the role I am in currently in the Minor procedures unit. It’s a little bit of all kinds of things, including face to face interactions with patients, and it’s a really nice team to be part of.

At the moment I feel like I am in a pretty good place in my life. The boys are all doing super well, and I’m pretty content too. Missing Claytie is always going to be part of our world, but I said to a widowed friend the other day that the rawness of the initial grief seems to have eased a bit. The scar will always be there, but the wound is less inflamed now (for want of a better analogy). I know that I am going to have moments and days that take me right back, but I feel like I am more able to process them when they happen. And just like my comment about work, now that I have said that, something will happen to knock me right back down!… but we will see!

I’ve had several questions about where my next trip will be – it seems people like to share the adventure! I don’t have anything booked in yet, but I’m pretty keen to see some more of Australia this year – if you have any must see suggestions, let me know! I have some friends who are currently doing a lap with their van, and I am quite envious of them. I would love to have that kind of adventure… it’s a definite bucket list thing for me!

For now tho, I’ll just keep plodding along and seeing what comes next. The world is an exciting place and right now I’m enjoying it.

I’m a bit late writing this weeks update – I was caught up with a project that may or may not turn into a disaster!

I have been invited to a friends birthday party, and she – like me- is partial to a fancy dress. I am a big believer that if you have to invest in a costume, you’re already invested in having a good time, so why not!? Her theme is a fantasy one and I had a million ideas for what I wanted. I spent some searching for ideas and placed an online order for something that looked beautiful.

I did not go with the super cheap sites, I felt like I did some research, read reviews and then spent my money and waited for my parcel to arrive…. And I have to tell you, it was a shock when it did!

I was fully aware that I probably wouldn’t get exactly the costume as displayed, but what I did get, has not come even close!!! I was scammed in a big way! … and it’s pretty hilarious! (See photos!)

So the only sensible thing to do, was to head to Spotlight (a fabrics/ craft and haberdashery store for those not in Australia) and to buy a bunch of materials to either modify the disaster, or to create my own! … it has been an expensive exercise that is not entirely finished as yet, and will need every person I know to use it at least once to feel like I’ve had a return for my money!

I chose to go with creating my own costume, it is a work in progress, and for anyone who is a true sewer it is probably also a disaster! … but I think I can make it work and will post an update when the party happens.

It was a busy weekend – a fabulous dinner out with some of my closest friends on Friday night for my birthday, and then Anzac Day on Saturday – a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand. While I did not attend a Dawn service this year, I did get up early to make several batches of Anzac biscuits. I also went to a pub with my friend and participated in several rounds of ‘Two Up’ – a game where two coins are placed on a timber paddle, one heads one tails, and they are then flipped. The idea is that people bet on either heads or tails coming up for both coins. It gets incredibly raucous, and a whole lot of cash changes hands. There is a lot of enthusiastic drinking and cheering that happens along side the game. It was a first for me, both seeing it, participating in it and having a turn at being the ‘spinner’!

I love going out and trying new things. I had a bit of an epiphany the other day, and that was that for someone who is as change averse as I am, I sure do a lot of it! Maybe I need to change (see what I did there!?) the way I think about it, and just fully embrace it. After all change and death are probably the only real guarantees that we get in life!

I think I am feeling the post holiday blues a bit at the moment, and there is definitely a bit of a slump happening. I don’t like it, and I’m not letting it stick around for too long, but I do feel a little bit at loose ends. That’s pretty typical coming back from a big trip. I feel like I have changed and grown a whole lot learning about a new place, but the old place still feels the same. It’s a bit of a weird disconnect and I know I’m not the only one that feels like that when travelling. This week is my birthday, and for some reason it feels completely different to every other year as well.

Normally I get stupidly excited for it – I always have done, but this year I am really quite ambivalent about it. I usually don’t work – I make sure to take the day off, but this time I am not only working, but also starting in another new role and have a performance review on that same day! Claytie used to always make a fuss which I really loved and miss. Now I feel weird not being excited about it, and then I think maybe that’s a bit weird too… most people don’t seem to bother too much once they get into the bigger numbers.

Maybe getting to a bigger number is part of the problem?! I don’t think I’m worried about getting older, I feel really grateful that I get to… but it is another year without Claytie, and that gap is getting wider and wider which is a strange feeling too! So much has changed in my world since he died, I have changed enormously and I wonder what he would make of that – of me now. It’s a whole lot to ponder and it’s definitely been on my mind.

There are plenty of good things happening as well tho, and that’s what I am trying to focus on… I am going back to Bellydance classes this week – something I did for about 4 years a long time ago, which is a whole lot of fun! Some of my girlfriends are also going and that makes me super happy! I loved doing it and I want them to love it as well. The boys are all doing good things and that makes me incredibly happy! I’m really proud of all of them and know absolutely that Claytie would be too! I also have a new friend that I have been spending time with and getting to know a whole lot better and that is exciting too!

It’s really just another week on this weird life roller coaster. Not quite down but also not entirely up, and absolutely guaranteed to change at anytime. It just is what it is and I’m going to keep on keeping on x

Please see the previous post for the explanation for this one x

Ladies and gentlemen, please gather near,

It’s time to celebrate someone we hold very dear. 

The matriarch, the boss, the family’s own planner 

The woman, the myth, the legend… “Our Anna”.

She’s the glue that holds us all in place,

With patience, with humour, and an unmatched grace. 

She’s always available, day or night,

To fix your problems or help your plight.

Do you need a haircut? She’ll sort you out— 

A mean one too, of that there’s no doubt.

One snip, two snips—voilà, you’re all new, 

Even if you didn’t ask her to.

And let not forget – she hacks her own hair straight

Terrifying, yes.. but somehow, it mostly looks Great

Essays and letters? Oh, she’s got the knack. 

School troubles, legal battles—she’s got your back.

She’ll craft you the perfect words with flair,

While you just sit there, pulling out your hair.

She is proud of her people, she loves her whole crew,

And she somehow knows your news before you’ve even got a clue.

Her friends aren’t exempt  – she’s got them as well. 

Honestly, if she doesn’t know about it, did it even happen? Hard to tell!

Her brownies, “Nannie’s special treat”

Are basically therapy, that you can eat.

And when the oil starts to heat and fume,

It fills the house with a thick, sweet perfume.

She tastes as she cooks, one bite, maybe more..

Soon she’s floating two feet off the floor.

Feeling sad? Have one, two or three. Feeling happy? Well… have more, they’re free.

 At Abode, she’s basically part of the staff.

They see her coming and try not to laugh.

“Back again?” they say with glee 

“Yes,” she replies, “you know it’s me.”

She’ll trade her pickles for coffee and bread

and leave glowing reviews that everyone has read.

 Advice? She’s got it. Support? She’s there.

With kindness, wisdom, and snacks to spare. 

She’ll feed you up, she’ll cheer you on,

She’ll talk your ear off till your worries are gone.

 She’s adventurous, funny, a good egg indeed,

Laughs at her own jokes until she can’t breathe.

Tears streaming, shoulders shaking—

And somehow, we’re the ones left aching.

 So here’s to Anna—our rock, our star,

The one who loves us, just as we are.

On this Non-birthday, we raise a cheer, 

For the woman we’re lucky to have and hold dear.

 Happy unbirthday to “our Anna”! May your world be bright,

Your jokes be funny, and your brownies always baked just right.

Your Abode trips a plenty, and your laughter loud…

Because honestly, Anna, you make us all proud.

I have had a huge week and weekend, and it has been lovely!! I went back to work on Tuesday, and while the planned move to the next role didn’t happen because of staff sick leave, I did have a nice week back telling a whole lot of China stories.

On Saturday we celebrated my mum. It was a just because we want to, and because sometimes it’s just nice. We had an Un-birthday. Her actual birthday is in August, but we wanted to surprise her, and let her know how much we love her and so had to choose a completely unrelated date. Invitations went out weeks ago, and the sneaker-y began. Group chats were managed, photos collated and a venue organised!

My my mum is a pretty clue-y person, so to get one over on her takes some doing… I’m not really sure that it has ever been done before! My Aunty and Uncle came for the weekend – something they do pretty often, so no suspicion raised, and one of my girlfriends ‘conicidentally’ (wink wink nudge nudge) mentioned in passing that there would be live music at the venue she manages just down the road. … a no brainer and an easy Saturday afternoon. What my mum didn’t know was that there would be around 50 (or so) people waiting to surprise her.

As I said, she knows most thing that are going on around her, but she missed this one! – she actually nearly didn’t come cause of not feeling great – causing minor panic from those of us organising, but did manage to arrive just in time. It took her a minute or two ..we didn’t yell out surprise, but rather wanted her to see familiar faces and then realise, but when she did she was pretty overwhelmed!

It ended up being a super lovely evening, with a whole lot of her favourite people. Thank you to all of you who were able to come and surprise her with us, and to Uncle J for his musical contribution (a song about the time he shot my mum when they were kids) … I’ll share the poem that was written for her as a seperate post.

Sunday for me started super early and was amazing. I got up really early to pick up a friend and we then made our way up to Caloundra for sunrise. It did not disappoint!! From there we went up to Noosa. It’s been a pretty long time since I was last there and it is certainly a much busier place now! We sat on the beach, swam, walked in the national Park, explored Hasting Street and then had some lunch at the surf club and people watched.

We went to a different spot for a drink and I got an unplanned introduction to UFC (- not my sport!) and after checking in to our accomodation had a super delicious Japanese meal for dinner. It is such a fabulous day, an absolute corker! Blue sky, warm temps, the perfect water as well and the best kind of company. It was fun, relaxed and easy and will absolutely happen again.

It was a happy delightful weekend and I feel like I am ready to face another work week. – obviously if the lotto fairies come through for me I will be in permanent holiday mode, but for now I’m in a pretty good place and ready to see what comes next.

I hope that you all had a happy Easter long weekend and did some fun things with people who make you smile! In my case I hosted family brunch at my place for 17 people (everyone brought stuff which absolutely made it easier) and we had a lovely couple of hours in my garden watching the Squish looking for rabbit nests and Easter treats! It was a super way to finish my holidays!

Even though we got back a week ago, I have been at home all of this week too! I thought that it would be sensible to give myself some recovery time before heading back to work, and I am so glad that I did! I managed to bring back a bit of a head cold – the joys of air travel, and I wasn’t really prepared for just how much energy I used on the trip! I have had an entirely lazy week, and thoroughly enjoyed it!

I have caught up with friends (old and new), done some chores around the house, started on the photo book of my trip – I have 2000 photos to choose from, and managed a nanna nap most days… I feel as prepared as I could possibly be to go back to work and the regular routine tomorrow…. But I am also most definitely thinking about where my next adventure should be!

I think I would probably like to go somewhere in Australia next, it has been a while and there are a whole lot of places that I would like to get to! The trip that Claytie and I did from Darwin back to Brisbane is still one of my favourites, so maybe I’ll do a road trip in honour of that (although that will be hugely dependant on the price of fuel and what is happening in the world) … I am also open to suggestion, so if you’ve been somewhere you have loved, let me know and I’ll add it to my list!

I feel super privileged to be able to travel as much as I have. I have loved all of my adventures and am grateful for how I get to see the world. It’s exciting seeing places I have read or heard about, trying new foods and I love meeting all kinds of people, whether they are locals, guides or fellow tourists. There are sooo many places that I want to get to and it never feels like enough time! But in between the adventures is the reality of the real world, and that’s where I am off to tomorrow… counting down the days til I can go exploring again! Hit me with your suggestions… help me to make a list! x

Day nine for us started quite early with Brekky at 6.30. We were on a mission to get to the top of the Huangshan mountains by about 8am! We had a couple of delays (there is that on words on in every group!) but eventually we made it to our pick up point, hot on a bus and headed part of the way up until we got to the cable car station.

8 people in a car, 6km up a very steep mountain and we reached our starting spot about 2/3 of the way to the top. The plan was to walk/hike/ climb our way over a couple of other peaks and then get a different cable car down (8km). The views at the top were breathtaking! We were literally in the clouds with glimpses of various mountains peeking through. With an elevation of 1864m it is home to more than 72 dramatic granite peaks and is known as Chinas most beautiful mountains. It is not hard to see why!

The walk started off quite easy, but soon became much more challenging with huge steep staircases going both up and down. We did have some rain to contend with and it took some concentration – I am glad that J and I invested in some hiking poles- although I’m pretty sure I won’t be in a hurry to use mine again! It was lovely walking with a supportive group who were quick to offer encouragement when needed…. And trust me when I tell you I needed it! 8 hours and 11km of hiking later (including 50 flights of stairs) we made it to the second cable car and made our way back down.

A very welcome bus ride back in to the village had us at the hotel and into hot showers in no time! Free time for the afternoon meant a massage, an early dinner and bed time for us.

Day 10 was a much slower start, which we were all grateful for! A bit of a sleep in was definitely necessary! We left our hotel at 10am and headed further into the countryside. The drive was lovely, especially the encounter with some geese being walked along the street (happily I was quick enough to take a picture through the windscreen!). We spent the afternoon and night in a village called HongCun.

Hong Cun was established in about 1100AD and is now World Heritage listed. It was originally established and engineered by a woman, and is known for its amazing drainage system. It has never been flooded. Most recently it has become known as the setting for the movie ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon’ – which I have not seen. It is spectacular. Loads of different alleyways and weird corners, a stunning lake and a million quaint little shops. It is really beautiful!

We had a yummy group lunch when we arrived, and then a walk around the village and lots of information with our tour leader Gary. The evening was spent with ‘free time’ and further exploring the village, and some drinks with the group on a rooftop top overlooking the central lake in the village. Our guesthouse for this visit was probably the most basic, and my least favourite, but it served the purpose that it needed to!

Day eleven (and our last full tour day) started quite early with the group getting into a mini bus to head back to the train station. We had some Brekky at the station – and poor J fell over again and added to her bruises, before getting onto another Bullet train back to Shanghai. There was some kind of mix up with our tickets, which meant we also had to catch the metro on two different lines to get back to our hotel!

A quick shower and a change of clothes and we were back out exploring the city. Today’s mission was to see the French quarter which is home to the national congress and a museum dedicated to the Chinese communist party. J and I decided that while the French area looked beautiful, we were not into shopping for big brand labels, so we chose to take ourselves on a walking tour back to some of the areas we saw on our first night in Shanghai, and I am so glad we did! It was really fun wandering around on our own and doing a bunch of souvenir shopping, as well as a bit of a fancy afternoon tea.

We reconnected with the group for our farewell dinner at a well known spot called ‘Shanghai Grandmother’, and it’s probably been my favourite meal! It was nice chatting with everyone about their favourite parts of the trip and reliving some of the moments. We finished the night with more roof top drinks at a bar overlooking the Bund area before heading back to the hotel to repack our bags ready to head home.

Day twelve… time to head home! We had a bit of a slower morning, making sure all bags were packed appropriately and getting ourselves sorted for about 24 hours in transit. We left the hotel around 11am to get to the airport with plenty of time. The homeward journey started with a little bit of frustration with the confiscation of all of our power banks (x3 in my case) because apparently between arriving and departing they no longer meet the aviation rules for such things! An expensive exercise! Our first flight was delayed and then changed, and we were unable to sit together, but we did get back to Guanzhou with a couple of hours to kill, and then onto Brisbane overnight. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute of this trip, it’s been a proper adventure… but I am pretty happy to be heading home!

I’m really proud of myself for the physical challenges I have done during this trip! I have absolutely pushed myself far beyond what I thought I would be capable of. I have been amazed at the things we have been able to see and do and I feel very privileged to have these opportunities (especially now with all of the chaos in the world). China was a place that Claytie and I had talked about visiting years ago and I feel like I did this one for both of us, our boys all went when they were at school and my parents have also been and loved it… if it’s on your list of places to visit, I would 10/10 recommend it!

Day 5 started pretty early. Sleeper trains are not places that a lot of actual sleep happens on! – at least not for me!

The bunk was not particularly wide, or comfortable (although the provided doona and pillow were great) I spent a whole lot of the night tossing and turning, and re-medicated a couple of times! I’m pleased to say there was no vomit… although we did come close (the toilets are next level nasty!)

Once we got off the train, it was a 10min walk to get to our bus and then a ‘Starbucks’ stop for coffee (tea in my case!) before driving for about an hour or so to get to the warriors. The Terracotta Warriors are a massive collection of thousands of life-sized, unique clay sculptures created around 210 B.C.E. to guard the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, China’s first emperor. They were discovered accidentally in 1974 and have been uncovered and put back together ever since. Currently there are three pits that you can walk around, which show the warriors in various stages of repair. It is honestly amazing!! They all have different faces, and oddities with their uniforms, there are horses and chariots and all kinds of bronze tools and weapons. I found it quite overwhelming to think about all that history and how many people would have been involved in the construction. I’m so glad I got to do this!

From the warriors we walked through the town to get to a family home for a yummy lunch! The food has been pretty spectacular and very varied. Not all of it has been to my taste (the giant bowl of mushrooms was a hard no from me) but it has been fun pushing myself out of my comfort zone and trying different things.

Finally at about 3.30 we got to our hotel, and the shower there has been a highlight! Hot and great water pressure was the best thing after more than 24 hours in the same clothes! A bit of a lie down and then back with the group for a dumpling dinner and then a walk back to the hotel along the bright streets. There is a lantern festival on at the moment so the Town wall was decorated with all kinds of colourful things.

Day 6 saw us have a bit of a sleep in – and boy was it needed! We got up and repacked our bags – we’re getting pretty good at it now, and then went hunting for Brekky. Not all of the meals are included in this trip, so it’s been a bit of an adventure to try a whole bunch of new things!

We checked out of our room and met the group at about 9am, to go on a walking tour of the city… primarily to the Muslim Quarter. I thought it was pretty funny that in every other country you go to China Town, but here it’s the Muslim quarter! It was fabulous!! Soo many things to look at, bright colours and different smells. Xi’an is a very vibrant city, and a completely different feel to Beijing.

We went to the Mosque in the quarter, and it was stunning. It was set up in 742AD by the Tang and has been added to by every dynasty since then. It covers an area of more than 13000 square meters and is split into 4 courtyards. The middle courtyard is home to the ‘introspection tower’ which as the tallest of the buildings serves as the minaret for calling Muslims to prayer. It is a truly lovely and tranquil spot in an otherwise bustling town.

From here we re-connected with group members who chose to do other things, and went for a ‘world famous’ lunch of Chinese sandwiches and Biang Biang Noodles…very tasty!!

The afternoon was ours to spend as we wanted, so J and I chose to find a day spa and have a massage … and it was sensational! A couple of hours of pampering and we felt a whole lot better about the next part of this journey…. 16 hours on another overnight train to Shanghai.

Day seven began with some forced rest! The train didn’t arrive in Shanghai until after lunch, and as much as the toilets on the train caused some issues (I can’t even begin to describe the nastiness), it was nice to just sit and watch the landscape go past. J and I chose to upgrade to a soft sleeper cabin, so 4 bunks instead of 6 and a slightly more comfortable mattress. China is a vast country, and I have found it fascinating to have seen and done all of the things that we have! I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do this!

We got off the train at about 12.30 pm and had a quick half hour walk to our hotel! We were all very impressed with this one!!! Big, comfortable room and one of the fanciest toilets I have ever used! A quick scrub in the shower and then off to explore this city. Every place we have been to has felt completely different which I have found really lovely! Shanghai is a huge financial city and it definitely feels much more metropolitan and international than some of the other places we have been to.

We made our way by metro to the Yuyuan Garden area and had a fun afternoon exploring. There are all sorts of alleyways and markets, food stalls and heaps of jewellery in this area. We ate the Shanghai famous soup dumplings – with a straw to suck out the soup, enjoyed a lovely tea ceremony and did a whole lot of shopping! We reconnected with the group a couple of hours later and walked to the Bund area for a river cruise.

The cruise was spoiled by the nasty weather – it was probably the coldest I have felt this whole trip, it was miserable and rainy… We couldn’t sit up on the top deck of the boat because of the weather, and poor J fell down some stairs and twisted her ankle heading back down to the covered area, which meant we came back to the hotel rather than continuing to the roof top bars with the rest of the group.

Day eight started much better with clear skies and sunshine. I is bruised and sore, but fine to continue. We were up early again for Brekky in the hotel and then off to the train station – a Bullet train today just for something different. The Bullet train got up to 304km per hour and was very very comfortable. Plenty of leg room, and a great way to see a whole lot of the countryside going past. A three hour ride took us to a village called HungShan which sits in the Yellow Mountains.

We were picked up by a private shuttle and driven 45 minutes to our hotel.. it was a scary drive! The hotel was lovely with another posh toilet. We checked in and had a quick lunch before being taken on a walking tour of the town and getting instructions for our next big hike tomorrow. I am again questioning my life choices at this point. It will be an all day hike, starting with a cable car ride to the top of one mountain, walking for 10-12 km through other mountains and then taking another cable car down. One part of the hike (see photo) is called the 200 steps ladder and is a near vertical climb!!! To say I am nervous is an understatement!!!

We ended the day with a group dinner at the restaurant in our hotel, and a lot of conversation about our hike. An early bed time was essential for what will be an early start on day nine! … wish us luck!