Mid Year Trip - Day 1

So, day one of the trip is almost over, and we are now on our way out of the country.

For those who don't know, I am currently on  mid-year, 20-something odd days vacation with the family. Main country to receive our motley crew is the People's Republic of CHINA. I've been to China before, once back in 2006 as part of a uni summer exchange program. I was only Wuhan though, which is a central hub between the coast and in-land China - it's a fantastic city bustling with activity (economic AND social). I went clubbing for the first time there, and let me tell you it was absolutely AMAZING!! Ahh... such memories *nostalgic grin*

Didn't have the brains to book myself a flight to the other cities, nor the cash, so this time, Beijing and Shanghai are on the hit list.

The trip is centrally the brain-child (and "heart-child") of my dad, who really wanted to see the Shanghai Expo. We're spending a total of 12 days in China - the rest are a number of transits and a brief stay in Malaysia and Singapore to see family and friends.

Recap:
Left Melbourne last night to arrive in Perth for our first transit - flying cheap has it's disadvantages. The flight to Perth was strangely unbearable - I'm usually great on flights, but this time, I just couldn't sleep, and I was fidgety. Even the book I'm reading - Spandau Phoenix by Greg Iles - isn't helping. Don't get me wrong it's a great intriguing thriller, but it just reads quite long. It's never taken me this long to read a 700 pager before, it's quite embarrassing. I'll just put it down to the fact that's it's a really nutritious read - in the sense that it's packed full of research and many many intersecting story lines.

Anyway, Perth was alright. It's quite small, and rather quiet - the fact that it's Sunday doesn't help either. The weather was great - not that much warmer than Melbourne but at least the SUN is shining here. Other than that, there's not much here - had Yum Cha for lunch of all things.

Anyway, have to get going - flight is calling

ciao