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Ross explores the Orient

Ross is based in Newcastle and works for PricewaterhouseCoopers as an associate in the Assurance Department. Ross is training towards becoming a qualified chartered accountant through the ICAEW and in between his exams and client work he took time out to explore the Orient.

“I arrived in Hong Kong on the Saturday night just in time to see the spectacular harbour skyline light show and to sample some of the local dishes on offer in Kowloon. I went for the safe option of chicken’s feet! The following day there was just enough time to explore Hong Kong before I met up with my tour and onto mainland China.

After a brief stopover in Canton, where us westerners seemed to be akin to a circus attraction to the locals, it was time to take the 15 hour train journey to Yangshuo. Travelling hard sleeper class in an open carriage that slept 120 people was hardly luxurious and certainly an experience. Upon arriving we explored the gigantic “bee-hive” shaped hills, by bicycle, as well as a trek up Moon Hill for the spectacular view. We also had a cooking and a Mandarin lesson. Unfortunately the restaurant was unable to catch any snakes for dinner, so we had a normal banquet dinner instead.

Later we took the four hour drive and an hour trek to stay with a Yau minority family in the Dragon’s Backbone Rice Terraces. Again the landscapes of the man-made terraces were a spectacular sight. Later that evening the villagers put on entertainment and provided copious amounts of rice wine.

With the rice wine still fermenting in our stomachs we awoke the next day, very much worse for wear and boarded the 13 hour train journey to Yichang for the relaxing four day cruise on the Yangtse River. Passing through the awesome sights of the Three Gorges, with day trips to the Three Gorges Dam and the Temple of the Ghosts, we arrived at Chongqing to catch our flight to Xi’an. Ever present was the thought that this time most of the sights we have seen will be flooded by the rising waters caused by the dam.

The main highlight here was the visit to the Terracotta Warriors but in Xi’an we also cycled the city walls at sunset, saw the many sprawling markets and the famous Muslim Quarter of the city.

After boarding the final sleeper train to Beijing we visited Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Summer Palace and the Silk Market. This was followed by an early start to reach the Great Wall of China. We walked the 10 Km from Jinshanling to Simatai along the deserted un-restored sections. Despite temperatures of 43o and the walk taking five hours some locals followed us all the way along in order for us to buy a t-shirt! In the evening we enjoyed the world famous dish of Beijing Crispy Duck.

My final day was spent in Chengdu to visit the pandas in semi-wild surroundings. A real highlight, here was the opportunity to hold Jing-jin, the baby panda that is the mascot for the Beijing Olympics and get photographed with other pandas.

Sadly it was then time for home and I will definitely miss this country of fantastic people, places, culture and food. I am already saving up for a return trip!”

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