Monthly Archives: March 2005

I pulled up the itinerary up on the web and realized that I had to do a lot of research to do during the next few weeks. It was going to be a busy and fast paced tour and I wanted to make sure that I understood what I was about to see as opposed to reading about it in a tour guide as I looked at it.

I bought a book and started to read and found that Tivo was also very effective at helping me do my research. At first it was difficult, taking a crash course in three thousand years of history was not easy. The names of empowers, the different dynasties and the different regions all blurred together but at some point it came together. Although I am no expert, I am not going in blind.

Although there was an ordeal with the Post Office and my travel documents, I finally got them. There is something about getting “the package”, it makes it all so real. Tickets, Passport and Visa, and since just about everything is made in China, I didn’t have to worry too much about what I packed. Continue reading →

March 22, 2005 11:40 AM

As I prepared to head out to lunch, I noticed Allan had sent me an email. The subject line read “A Bizarre & Sad Communication”, a bit unusual for Allan, his subject lines are usually upbeat. I quickly opened the message, reading that Alan had planned on taking a trip to China but unfortunately his travel partner, through a bizarre set of circumstances was not going to make the trip. Alan was looking for a travel partner to go to China. Continue reading →