NK 4. Spring in the Summer Palace

Tuesday, 11 April 2017

Beijing, China

Receptionist recommends the Summer Palace in the north west of the city. Fortunately able to navigate the metro system with ease as the signs and announcements are also in English. Alight at Beigongmen station for the short walk to the Summer Palace entrance. In need of a pit stop try and enter the luxurious Aman Hotel which looks like an ideal, and clean, spot for pees and teas. They’re not wanting this scruffy tourist in walking boots and open collared shirt in their establishment and am kicked out of the main hotel and ushered around the corner to their café out of the way. They clearly wish to maintain standards in this hotel.

But every cloud has a silver lining and it’s a delightful spot by a large fish pond to have a drink. So nice that I decide to stay a while for an early lunch. An elderly fisherman is throwing bread into the pond to entice the fish with the aim of catching one in his net at the end of a pole, about 12ft long. The fish aren’t biting and he ambles and shuffles to the other side to try there. This time the fish surface and he takes his long pole and stands poised at the water’s edge ready to pounce but keeps missing. If it were me, I’d place the net in the water and then slowly let the fish swim into it. After quite a while, he manages to catch four fish and wonder if they’ll be on the hotel’s restaurant menu tonight.

There’s an air of calmness in the gardens as I have a relaxing lunch soaking up the sun on this bright blue sky day and it’s a bit of a wrench to tear myself away and enter the 200 hectares of park and palaces complex that form the Summer Palace around a large lake. Exceptionally busy with Chinese tourists and once again I stick out like a sore thumb. After visiting the colourful and ornate 3 level Grand Theatre, it’s the covered walkway which runs for 750m from theatre to the main palace.

As I walk through the walkway I’m towering over everybody and can hear lots of hellos from the girls as they walk past giggling at the giant.

Something I’ve gotten used to.

Sniff.

Halfway along the walkway is a pagoda high up on a hill which requires investigation. More huffing and puffing from the Englishman as I climb the steep steps. What is it with these ancient Chinese and steep steps?! Once at the pagoda, thinking I’ve made it to the top realise I’m only half way up. More huffing and puffing to the summit but a cracking view from the top. Not a cloud in the sky, no smog, haze or anything. A beautiful spring day.

Returning to lake level discover a large marble boat in the water. Obviously not floating. It’s a serene sail under ornate stone bridges on a boat that floats to the quirky Szuzhou Street. Built in the 18th century as a place where Emperors and guests could feel as if they were strolling a commercial street.

But without the riff raff.

The path is about 2ft wide with shops on one side and a 5ft vertical drop to the water below on the other with no barriers or anything to prevent you falling if you trip over. Very picturesque but watch my step. Late afternoon as I leave this peaceful and very enjoyable park. A good recommendation by the receptionist.

Facetime a very old friend (as in longevity not age…ahem…you know who you are) who is just waking up in the UK. Clearly still in a state of torpor she doesn’t realise I’m in Beijing despite being told I was going just a few weeks ago over dinner. Early retirement clearly taking its toll on her memory…

She’ll be reading this now and wondering ‘Does he mean me?’

Yes.

NK 3. The hutongs

Monday, 10 April 2017

Beijing, China

I remember driving through some hutongs (a series of narrow alleyways and roads with shops and housing) in 1996 and it was all a bit basic and back street but full of character. So you can imagine my disappointment to find that the entrance to the hutongs I visit today have a brand new shiny entrance and they’re all refurbished and quite clean.

The spring blossom lining the river is very vibrant and soon find the main pedestrianised thoroughfare. Like Doha’s souqs it has that sense of newness about it and full of designer shops and cafes with free wifi. How times have changed. This is not what I’m after. I’m after the old and characterful hutongs.

Meander down a side road and find a small café for a drink and sit down outside. Owner comes out and measures her height against mine. She just about reaches my hips. She giggles and then disappears. It’s only after an hour of wandering about and getting away from the main thoroughfare that I find what I’m looking for. The real grubby backstreet hutongs. This is the China I remember. Men playing cards and gambling in the alleyways. Two birds in an ornate cage by the door. Surprisingly, they let me take their photo. Last time I came here it was a big no no as they thought you were taking away their spirit. There’s an air of stillness and calmness in the alleyways which is quite relaxing and reminds me of the alleyways in Busan, South Korea. There’s plenty of food stalls and small industries with people cutting, tapping and banging in various workshops. It’s great. I love this sort of off-piste wandering.

I can assure you dear reader, there was a lot of huffing and puffing climbing the very steep staircase to the top of the Bell & Drum Towers. But the views across Beijing are worth it. Especially along the north-south axis towards Jingshan Park, which sits on a slight rise overlooking the Forbidden City.

The 13th century Bell and Drum Towers used to announce the time in Beijing until as recently as 1924. The 7m high, 3.4m diameter bell was cast in the 14/15th century during the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty. The thickness of the bell ranges from 12cm to 24cm and it weighs 63 tons. You wouldn’t want to be nearby when it rings.

The trouble with travelling on the Beijing Metro is that the signage is installed at a height of 6’2”. Being 6’5” this poses a problem and narrowly avoid slashing my forehead on day one.

NK 2. Back in Beijing

Sunday, 9 April 2017

Beijing, China

Having already experienced a VIP transfer in Bangkok arranged through the hotel a few years previously, have also booked the same for Beijing. Greeted at the aircraft door by a beautiful young Chinese girl with a placard with my name on.

She whisks me through Beijing airport security and customs fast track lanes and down a side door to a waiting BMW 7 series in the private VIP entrance before whizzing through the traffic in air-conditioned comfort to downtown.

Could get used to this rock star treatment.

Arrive at the Four Seasons Beijng (www.fourseasons.com/beijing/). Doors are opened as car stops. Hotel Manager greets me at car door, hands me her business card and escorts me to the lift with the Assistant Hotel Manager who then escorts me to the 25th floor Executive Floor and in to my room for check in.

Was on an aircraft less than an hour ago.

This is the way to travel.

Assistant Manager asks me what I’m doing in Beijing. Explain I’m in transit to North Korea.

Later chat with the Executive Floor receptionist who asks the same question and again the response is ‘I’m in transit to North Korea.’ To which she exclaims, ‘Ah, Mr Taurean!’. Tell her she’s well informed and she responds with ‘I have my sources!’.

I was last in Beijing in 1996. A lot has changed.

Flashy new metro train to Tiananmen Square, having gone through full airport style X-ray security at the metro station to get on the underground train. Hope we don’t have that rigmarole in Europe anytime soon!

Eventually surface at Tiananmen Square and soon greeted by three young Chinese girls who are kindergarten teachers from the north east, near the border with Russia. They want to practice their English and ask if I would like to have a coffee and chat with them.

Ooer.

I’ve been picked up already.

Sorry ladies. This Englishman is a bit jet lagged and bordering on being a grumpy little ogre due to lack of sleep and needs to be left alone. They’re actually a bit miffed and clear off in a huff.

Long, long queues to pass through yet more security and x-ray checkpoint to enter the massive expanse of Tiananmen Square. When I came in 1996, there was none of this and you could come and go as you pleased.

21 years ago I remember a lot of people walking about in Mao style uniforms and lots of bicycles. So different now. Much more western styles and a lot more cars.

Stand in Tiananmen Square taking photos as I did 21 years ago. Back then, in 1996, it was minus 10C and I was THE tourist attraction on account of being tall and blond and a rare westerner. Back then I was there for half an hour having my photo taken with local families as I was such an ‘oddity’ (no sniggering!).

It happens again and a young lad asks if he can have his photo with me. Which starts other locals asking the same. At 6’5” am standing out a bit.

Dinner in the hotel for a quick pizza. All I want is some carbs, a beer and then bed for much needed sleep.

Have asked for a pizza with a tomato base as extra (not a pizza without a tomato base is it I hear you say). Arrives without a tomato base. Waitress soon realises the error of her ways. Tell her it’s OK and start scoffing as now hungry and just want to eat and go to sleep. Jetlagged as I am. Halfway through the pizza am told to stop. Chef has done another pizza with a tomato base and it’s on its way.

Flipping ‘eck.

Now have two pizzas before me. One with a tomato base and a half eaten one without a tomato base.

Well, that just means I’ll have to have another glass of wine.

Doesn’t it.

NK 1. The terminal

Saturday, 8 April 2017

Munich, Germany

Dear reader, as promised in the last post of my Antarctica to Alaska blog, I said I would try and upload my North Korea blog at some point. Well, as the country and most of the world is now in partial or full lockdown due to the coronavirus, and I have a bit of time to spare, I thought I would regale you with some photos and videos of my time in North Korea in April 2017. A fascinating and very interesting country.

Obviously, if you do not want these blog posts just unsubscribe. Not a problem.

So sit back, have a brew, beer or glass of wine, forget about the nonsense going off in the world today and enjoy a couple of weeks travelling around North Korea via Germany and China.

You can only fly in to North Korea from China. Hence a pre-start few days in Beijing, which necessitates flying via Munich.

Here we go…

Alarm call 0440hrs. There’s only one 4.40 in my day and this is isn’t it. As it’s the middle of the night have set radio alarm on maximum volume to make sure I wake up which frightens the life out of me when it goes off. Today’s flight is the red eye from Birmingham to Munich for a 9hr transit before flying to Beijing.

Have cashed in a lot of airmiles, from my weekly flights to Frankfurt whilst working in Germany for a few years, and treated myself to Lufthansa First Class. All those early Monday morning flights were worth it after all!

So.

Like Tom Hanks in the film The Terminal I have 9hrs in Munich airport.

Albeit in the luxurious First Class Lounge.

Yay.

Investigate Terminal 2 in its entirety.

30 minutes. Tick.

8hrs 30mins to go.

Told there’s another First Class Lounge in the satellite terminal which has a roof terrace.

Settle myself in admiring the view from the roof terrace but after 30 minutes the smell of aviation fuel is overwhelming and return back to the main terminal.

7hrs 30mins to go.

Told I can actually exit/entry the airport through the First Class private access and passport control and come and go as I please. The receptionist suggests I could nip into Munich city centre for the afternoon.

A good idea to relieve terminal tedium.

It’s a gloriously sunny day and so catch the S-Bahn to Munich city centre about 40 minutes away for an afternoon sightseeing. Having been to Munich before I sort of know my way around and head for the Viktualien Market, one my favourite spots in Munich, which has lots of food stalls and markets.

Upon my return the receptionist is panicking big time. She’d sent me off to the city centre but as I’d left had thought that I might be on the mid afternoon flight to Shanghai rather than this evening’s flight to Beijing. She’s somewhat relieved to discover I haven’t missed my flight.

Finally, settle myself into my First Class suite. This is the life. Champagne to start with. Caviar and nibbles. Smoked veal. Fillet steak. Red wine. Singleton 12 year old single malt whisky nightcap.

The joys of a full length bed, quilt and pillow to doze away the hours.

But.

Wake myself up with the noise of my snoring.

189. The final word

Tuesday, 16 July 2019

Nottinghamshire, UK

 

Dear reader,

Miss Stockholm rang last week to give me a kick in publishing this, the final blog post.

What was that I hear you say? Boo. Was it?

I know.

No more blog.

For now.

Might update over the next few months with tales of woe from my Around the World in 60 Days trip I did in 2010, and possibly North Korea 2017.

Sincerely hope that you have enjoyed joining me on this trip. It’s been quite an adventure hasn’t it.

Writing diary and publishing blog and sorting photos for each day has been a pain at times but then I’ve received some really nice comments from people I never knew were reading it and it’s made it all worthwhile persevering with it.

The past six months have been, quite simply, awesome. The best thing I’ve ever done. When I first planned this, I anticipated a three to four month trip. Such was the enjoyment, it didn’t take much mental gymnastics to work out how to extend it.

I have been, and am, incredibly lucky. Everything has gone according to plan, with the exception of the Alaska ferry cancellation. But every cloud has a silver lining and I discovered cruising.

Have travelled 33,000 miles from Antarctica to Alaska, through 18 countries in 188 days.

You have read, dear reader, 135,000 words of blog, and the website has, unbelievably, had over 16,000 page views for 188 blog posts (excluding this one), so thank you for reading.

Having posted only a fraction of the 17,500 photos and videos taken over the past six months, I sincerely hope it gave you an insight into the people, places and things I saw enroute.

For me, the best experience, without question, was Antarctica, and should you ever have the opportunity, I highly recommend it for its remoteness, silence and natural beauty. Along the way I also enjoyed very much: Argentina, Bolivian Salt Flats, Columbia, El Salvador, Hornby Island and Alaska. Sailing in Antarctica and driving through remote landscapes such as southern Patagonia and northern Alaska makes you realise how small we are on this planet.

Having enjoyed the total silence of Antarctica, the thing I have noticed is how noisy this planet is. Everywhere you go is noise in some form. Traffic, people, sodding background music everywhere, telephones and the like.

Enjoy silence whenever you can.

The one thing that has struck me is how unfailingly friendly everyone has been that I’ve met enroute. The world is generally a kind place. The kindness of strangers I’ve experienced is enough to restore your faith in humanity. I recall the small towns I stayed at in El Salvador. Walking back late at night from dinner through the streets and everyone acknowledging you and saying ‘Good evening’ (in Spanish obviously). I don’t recall any occasion on my travels when I’ve felt threatened. Although at 6’5” in height, with substantial mass, it’s rare.

In my final week of the trip, whilst in Seattle, a client emailed with the fateful words…’Can you start next week and then fly to Qatar for two weeks?’ So. Back to work 3 days after being back in the UK. Fortunately, the Qatar trip has been postponed so currently enjoying some time at home. I thought it would be a real struggle to step back into reality but, rather surprisingly, it’s been a breeze. Sadly, now, it doesn’t feel like I’ve been away for six months and it’s as though I saw friends only last week. The true sign of friendship, I guess.

I sincerely hope that this blog has inspired at least someone to travel. I was inspired by the older girl across the road. As a teen, I was mesmerised by photos of her travels. Very sadly, she died a few years ago in her mid-50s.

So, dear reader, get out there, see the world and enjoy life.

Whilst you can.

What’s next, I hear you ask.

Well.

Planning overland to Australia and New Zealand through Europe, the Stans, Himalayas and Asia before returning via Pacific Islands, USA and Canada. Probably in a couple of years, depending on this thing called ‘work’. Which obviously pays for all these jollies.

And finally…I’ll leave you with a few quotes that I thought rather summed up travelling:

 

‘The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page’ – Saint Augustine

 

‘What you do not see, do not hear, do not experience, you will never really know.’ – Anders Apassingok – Lore of St Lawrence Island: Echoes of our Eskimo Elders

 

So that’s that, dear reader. Though please do remember these three words.

Explore.

Dream.

Discover.

 

THE END.

188. Heathrow heaven

Friday, 28 June 2019

Nottinghamshire, UK

 

I’d like to say I had a good night’s sleep.

But no.

What with a twitching left leg. My neighbour repeatedly breaking wind. What you would call in the school playground an ‘SBD’. Silent. But. Deadly. And being quite a hot cabin. Sleep is not forthcoming.

Actually land at 0430hrs body clock time. 1230hrs UK time. Probably an hour’s light sleep at most. Wake (and I use the term loosely) about 40 minutes from landing. Over Manchester. The UK looks hot.

Fly over Windsor Castle on final approach. Looks magnificent.

Ah yes.

This is England.

Land on time. Given my grumpy ogre state, you can imagine how much I’m looking forward to Heathrow Hell.

Last time I flew into Heathrow, took one hour to get into my own country. Such were the long queues at passport control. Don’t even get me started about border control officers.

When I’m dictator.

Disembark aircraft. Psyching myself up for another sodding hour of queuing.

Well, dear reader, you can imagine my absolute delight when it takes, literally, one minute to go through passport control.

The reason.

E-gates.

Lots of them.

Welcome to the future.

Scan passport.

Look at camera.

Open sesame.

Welcome to the UK.

15 whole minutes from stepping off aircraft and stepping onto the Heathrow Express to London.

A record.

Previous record was twenty minutes from stepping off aircraft and in a taxi at Newark Airport in New York. I know. Surprising isn’t it.

Bliss.

This isn’t Heathrow Hell.

No.

This is Heathrow Heaven.

Further fifteen minutes into Paddington. Short walk to taxi. Jump in waiting taxi.

Glorious blue sky day. London looks fantastic.

Taxi makes it to Kings Cross in time for a 1406hrs train to Newark.

Train is the brand new Azuma. 21st century carriages rather than the usual 1970s rolling stock I’ve suffered in the past.

English countryside looks awesome.

A very green and pleasant land.

Taxi waiting at Newark.

Straight home.

Everything has gone super smoothly. Swimmingly. In fact. Most unusual.

When I normally land in the UK after a great trip, it’s usually cold, wet and generally dreadful. And I get exceedingly grumpy.

But not this time.

England is looking good. Travel and transportation are on the up. Weather is stunning.

Who needs Europe.

Meet my house sitter. Early 50s but as she’s very young looking keep telling her she looks like an 18 year old.

From behind.

It’s a running joke we have. One that’s been going nearly twenty years.

Only four things I have to do now.

Much needed shower, Chinese take away, beer and an evening watching Glastonbury.

Great end to a long day.

Not the final blog post though…

187. Prepare for take off

Thursday, 27 June 2019

Seattle, Washington, USA

 

Well, dear reader, this is it. The final day in the United States of America. After three months in North America.

Whilst requesting a late check out, which is not forthcoming, nonchalantly mention that they didn’t clean room until late afternoon yesterday, using it as a basis of argument for having a late checkout. Without even thinking, reception discount the room rate by $50. What?! What is it with this country giving freebies and discounts. Shall miss it. Can you imagine that happening in the UK?

Final bit of tourism by visiting the interesting Klondike Museum, in the nearby Pioneer Square.

Native Americans settled in the area thousands of years ago and it was only in the 1850s that the Europeans came along and built up the settlement, naming it ‘Seattle’ after local Native American tribal Chief Se’ahlt.

You see, dear reader, you’re still learning on this blog right to the very end.

No need to thank me.

Following a period of logging as the main industry, Seattle was built on the Klondike Gold Rush in the mid 1890s. In 1897, the steamship ‘Portland’ arrived from Alaska laden with miners and two tons of gold. Spotting an opportunity, the Seattle Chamber of Commerce aggressively marketed Seattle as the only place to outfit for the Klondike gold fields and as a departure port to Alaska. Helped by the Canadian authorities stating that all miners should take a year’s supply of provisions with them, Seattle rapidly became the main transport and supply point for the Klondike.

Sad to pack up and leave for the airport. Half hour journey on the light rail for only $3.

One word.

Bargain.

Very fortunately, travelling BA First Class, so security is a quick whizz through rather than the long queues. Surprisingly, there’s no rummaging through rucksack. Small stone Colombian statue has caused consternation at every other airport. Through in a breeze and settle down in the BA First Class lounge. A basic room with comfy seating. Not like the Concorde Lounge at all.

Board on time.

Turn left.

As usual.

Directed by a very effeminate air steward.

There’s more camp than a Scout Jamboree.

There’s a lot of mincing.

Settle into my First Class seat.

Ah yes.

Glass of champagne, Sir?

Oh yes.

It’s a knackered old Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet with ageing First Class suites.

Worn is a suitable word.

This is not Lufthansa First Class on the Airbus A380.

No.

This is just a little bit cramped.

And slightly disappointing.

Flight routing is over northern Canada and Greenland. 24hr daylight.

G&T sir?

Go on then.

Enjoyable fillet steak.

And a very nice glass of red wine.

Watch the inflight film, ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. The Queen/Freddie Mercury biopic. Finishes with the Live Aid concert. 13 July 1985. Remember it well. And I bet you, dear reader, do too. Remember what you were doing?

Remember the Queen set very well. Freddie Mercury electrified Wembley Stadium. Those were the days.

Single malt whisky, Sir?

Go on then.

Cripes.

It’s a very large one.

That will make me go to sleep.

But it doesn’t.

My left leg is hurting. Have a problem with my knee and ankle. Could quite happily chop it off right now, such is the throbbing pain.

Right leg no problem. Can hardly tell I’m wearing it. So to speak.

Left leg is in pain.

Like the hokey—cokey, it’s a case of put left leg up. Right leg down. Left leg down. Right leg up.

In. Out. Shake it all about.

Trying to get comfortable.

But it’s impossible.

Then, for the first time, left leg starts involuntarily twitching. The sort of twitching that makes you kick the person’s suite in front. God knows what he thinks.

Now starting to panic that this is deep vein thrombosis. Having read all the horror stories, imagining a small blood clot working its way up my leg to my heart.

Oh. My. God.

This is it.

Am going to die at 37,000ft.

Oh well.

At least I’ve had a brilliant six months.

Might as well go out on a high.

186. Smells like teen spirit

Wednesday, 26 June 2019

Seattle, Washington, USA

 

Unbelievably my watch has stopped. Regular readers will remember the rigmarole of buying a new battery only a few months ago in Panama City. Cannot believe that it needs a new battery already. Suspect I’ve been sold a dud.

Harumph.

Anticipating a similar escapade, go off in search of a new battery. Am relieved of $20 by a geeky young man in a kiosk in Macy’s department store. He’s rigged up a mirror so he can see customers from behind his screen. I move said mirror so I can see him behind the screen. To make sure he puts a brand new battery in. Upon paying, he sees that the mirror has moved. He’s very precise with moving it back. It’s probably what he does all day. Look at a mirror.

Monorail to the Space Needle but as I’ve already been up on this trip, forego the expense and instead make use of my Student Union card again and visit the Museum of Pop Culture. Temporary exhibition on horror, sci-fi and fantasy films. Interesting to see the original lion costume from the Wizard of Oz film. Bet you didn’t know that the costume is made with real lion skins?

Museum of Pop isn’t as good as anticipated and only really concentrates on a few key bands originating from Seattle. Pearl Jam. Jimi Hendrix. Nirvana. Plus one on Prince (albeit he’s not from Seattle). The Nirvana exhibition is the most interesting though and charts the band’s formation,  introduction of Dave Grohl and subsequent first album, Nevermind. With the iconic single: Smells Like Teen Spirit.

The best exhibit is the ‘air guitar’. An empty guitar stand with the words ‘Do not touch’. A curator with a sense of humour.

And then there’s the abundance of cassette tapes on display.

Ah yes, the good old days.

Readers of a certain age will well remember sitting at their tape recorder getting ready to press ‘REC’ whilst listening to the Top 40.

Well, dear reader, as you will see from the final photo below. Tonight’s sunset was rather spectacular over Puget Sound.

Sad to say. But this is the final sunset of the Antarctica to Alaska trip.

185. We choose to go to the moon

Tuesday, 25 June 2019

Seattle, Washington, USA

 

Two means of transport to the Museum of Flight, a few miles away.

Taxi or bus.

$40 or $2.75.

Bus it is.

Oh. Dear. God.

What.

A.

Mistake.

It’s as though there’s been explosions at the psycho unit, the homicidal maniac prison, the local drug den and Lidl. They’re all on this bus.

Can assure you, dear reader, this passenger stood out like a sore thumb. Never, ever, have I been on a bus with such deranged people.

Not even travelling into Mansfield.

They are all weird. No other word for it.

After ten minutes, a bizarre thing happens. They all get off the bus at a particular bus stop. Intrigued, do a search on Google Maps as to why they all might be alighting.

Ah. I see.

There’s a treatment centre across the road. That explains it.

Bonkers woman boards the bus and plonks her hefty frame next to me. She’s stroking the canvas bag around her shoulder. Then the bag goes ‘miaow’. She explains to another zombie across the aisle, because I’m clearly too normal to talk to, that she has a seven week old kitten in her bag, which is fully zipped up. She says she’s training the kitten to like being in the bag. Was that a raised eyebrow, dear reader? Was it?!

Told you. Bonkers. There are lots of bonkers and weird people in Seattle.

Finally, alight unscathed. Not been stabbed. Or shot. Or injected.

Museum of Flight has quite a collection of aircraft. But. The main point of interest is the Apollo 11 exhibition.

It being 50 years since man landed on the moon for the first time.

It’s a captivating exhibition and details the history of the Mercury, Gemini and then the Apollo missions.

All started with JFK’s famous speech, “We choose to go to the moon…’

The highlight though is Columbia. The Apollo 11 Command Module that remained in lunar orbit with Michael Collins on board, whilst Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the moon in the Lunar Module, Eagle.

Once completing their time on the moon, the lunar ascent module detached from the lunar lander and docked with Columbia. From which, the three astronauts returned to earth in a splash down in the Pacific Ocean.

Staggering to think that the object before me has been to lunar orbit and back and was the home for three men for a number of days.

Simply stunning to see it.

Very impressive piece of engineering when you think about it.

Much, much larger than the Soyuz capsule which is used now to return astronauts to earth. And if you haven’t seen Tim Peake’s Soyuz capsule that he came back down to earth in, go and see it. You will be surprised how tiny it is.

Museum of Flight is based on land where Boeing first started building aircraft, in the Red Barn, also available to visit. It’s only when you walk through the old wooden workshop that you realise that it was only 70 years between man first flying and putting a man on the moon.

Quite impressive rate of development when you think about it.

184. Radiation detection

Monday, 24 June 2019

Seattle, Washington, USA

 

Wake up alarm at 0500hrs.

Way, way too early.

There’s only one 5 o’ clock in my day.

And this isn’t it.

Train from Vancouver and across the border to Seattle. Back in the USA.

US Immigration at Vancouver railway station takes 2hrs 29mins less than the 2hrs 30mins it took to board the cruise ship all those weeks ago. This is more like it.

Fingerprints are taken.

Photograph is taken.

Passport stamped.

And board the train.

Advertising for said train says that it’s like a European train. They forgot to add, ‘…from the 1970s’. If you thought British trains were bad you should travel in America. It’s one thing they don’t do. Trains.

Due to my height, elected to travel Business class for the necessary legroom. However. Only just fit in. German ICE train it isn’t.

Seats are knackered brown leather. Very 1970s. It’s a dreadful train. And slow. Takes nearly five hours to travel from Vancouver to Seattle, a distance of only 150 miles.

America is not good with trains.

An hour after leaving Vancouver, cross the border into the USA. Customs agents board the train to check passports already checked when boarding in Vancouver and to take the Customs Declarations form. Always wonder what they do with these forms as no one seems to take any notice of them.

Customs agent boards with a hand held machine, about the size of a shoe box. It’s radiation detection equipment.

Crikey.

Didn’t know the train is a hot bed of terrorism.

Not clicking like a Geiger counter though. He just walks through the carriages with it.

After the border, the tracks loosely follow the coastline and it’s a scenic trip until entering the Seattle suburbs and arriving at King Street station. Regular readers of the blog will recall that this is the station I arrived at after my 46 hours of sleepless nights aboard the Empire Builder overnight train from Chicago. But this time, arrive feeling a little bit more awake.

Short walk across the plaza to the Embassy Suites by Hilton (https://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/washington/embassy-suites-by-hilton-seattle-downtown-pioneer-square-SEAPSES/index.html). Final hotel of this trip. And another room with a view.

Quick lunch at Beechers Cheese in Pike Place market. Interesting to watch them make the cheese on the premises as you consume, in Mac & Cheese form, what they make. Another stroll through the market and once again the highlight is the flying fish. You may recall the last time I came here. The fishmongers throw fish from the display stall to the filleting and wrapping section. See video below.

Seeing the Seattle Art Museum, make use of my Student Union card (yes, dear reader, still have a Student Union card from Masters degree a few years ago, and very handy it is too!) and get discounted entry. Wish I’d saved my money. Dreadful museum.

Although there is one artwork which I find quite arresting. Certainly catches the eye as it looks like a photograph. Such is the colouring and detail. See the photograph of the ‘photograph’ below. Artist is Jules Bastien-Lepage.

Told that the hotel has complimentary drinks and nibbles from 1730-1930hrs. Which obviously requires attention. Unbelievably, each night, they have a free bar for two whole hours! Can you imagine.

Stiff gin o’clock.

As the hotel is a block or two from Chinatown am directed to a restaurant. But it’s full so find another which has good recommendations. The Tai Tung Chinese Restaurant is something of a Seattle institution. First opened in 1935 and Bruce Lee’s favourite restaurant. Apparently.

Order the crispy duck and pancakes.

Particularly partial to Peking Duck.

Tuck in. It’s stone cold. Both duck and pancakes.

Assume it’s meant to be like that. As am in such a well known and famous restaurant. So carry on eating.

Merely mention it to the waiter when he’s clearing away plates away, in a ‘is it meant to be cold?’ sort of way.

There’s then that Chinese pause…aaaaawwww…as he thinks.

Clearly not meant to be cold as given a 50% discount on the meal and profuse apologies.