It’s our last day in China today! Tonight we head off to the airport for our flight home!
We have a slow morning after last night.
I need to go back to the Pearl Market before we leave, so we head over around mid day. This place still amazes me. If I had the time and money, I could spend all day here.
I get to a couple of things I want. I could certainly get carried away here but I’m strict with myself! I have a lot to squeeze into my case already.
After shopping we go to Linda’s for dinner. We order noodles, egg plant, chicken Kung po as well we 2 other dishes. It’s our last chinese meal in China. All the meals we have had here have been good, and this one also doesn’t disappoint.
As we sit outside eating, I can’t help but smile when I see their delivery van! It’s a bit different to our Amazon delivery or the postman!
After lunch, we are all quite tired so retire to our rooms to lie down and have a quick snooze!
We spend the rest of the time chatting away or packing.
Finally it is time to head to the airport. I can’t believe the holiday is over. It has been the best ever.
I would definitely recommend Viking River Cruises if you ever want to visit China. They treat you so well, everything is so organised and you get to visit and learn about so many new places.
We were also lucky to be able to spend a few days with some great friends who showed us even more of China.
As we take off I close my eyes and capture every single memory into my brain. It has been the best 3 weeks ever.
It’s funny but after over 2 weeks in China I’ve seen so much. What I hadn’t seen though was an actual house. Lots of apartments, but seriously, not one single house.
When we arrived at our friends last night, I was so shocked to see their house. It is so not what I was expecting. 2 living rooms, dining room, breakfast kitchen, 5 bedrooms – one is used as an office, 4 have en-suite and the master has a walk in wardrobe which is bigger than the dining room at home and a fantastic, enormous bathroom, area for gym and a balcony overlooking the front living room. If that wasn’t enough it has a double garage and a basement where they have a full size pool table, Darts board, bar, lounge area and even space for a full drum kit. To put the icing on the cake it also has a large garden. It is definitely a dream house.
This morning they have taken us to Hong Qiao, or as it’s also known, the pearl market. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was enormous, and simply sold everything.
We wanted a handbag for a gift and a cap for hubby! What we ended up with was 2 bags, iPod headphones, cap, T-shirt, 4 scarfs and a camera lens! If we had more money, we could have bought so much more !
Afterwards we went in search of tea. If you read my previous blogs you will know that I’d been to some tea places with the tour but the prices were too high for me to justify buying them. Our friends knew of a road full of tea suppliers. We only went to one of the malls, but that was enough. I’ve never seen so many places that sell tea. Everyone was so so friendly.
Our friends wanted to try Lychee tea. They were more than happy to give us a taste. It wasn’t for me as far too sweet, and for me it tasted like liquorice. They bought some and at 80 yuan for 500 grams it was a bargain. For £1O they have enough tea to last years.
The initial place didn’t have the chrysanthemum tea I wanted, but they took us to another one that did. Again they happily made us some to try. I loved it. So light and refreshing. I bought 500 grams for less than £20. As you reuse the leaves multiple times, it is going to last years.
Wandering around the mall, and when I say mall I have to point out it’s very basic, we looked at teapots and tea caddies. I ended up buying 2 tins for less than 50p and a beautiful chinese tea set. I have no clue how I’m going to get this all home.
It’s been a brilliant day and so different. We have been to places where the locals shop. We have also learnt there are 2 prices. One for tourists and the other for locals! My friend got us some amazing deals.
This evening the boys are playing pool before firing up the braai. I decide to throw some darts. I’m trying to think when the last time was that I played. I think it must be 35 years! I’m very pleased when I get 4 bullseyes!
I’m so glad we added these extra days on with friends as we are seeing another part of China and I’m still loving it.
Dinner was fabulous. Steak, jacket potato and salad. It was just what I needed.
We sat in the garden chilling before heading to bed.
Today is our last full day on the official Viking Tour. We are leaving the hotel at 7.45 am to travel to Tiananmen Square before heading to the Forbidden City. Either before or after lunch we will be doing a Rickshaw ride. It should be a good final day!
We arrive near Tiananmen Square and queue up. Terry already has our entrance tickets for us.
In the next few days there is due to be an important event in the Square, so security is very high.
We have been queuing for some some now, but not moving. We can see that Terry has gone off and we can hear him talking to officials in our earpieces. I can see him talking to many of them and on his phone too.
Eventually, he pulls us all out and breaks the news to us. The police won’t allow us through without seeing our visas! Terry has tried everything. As we don’t have them with us we can’t visit the Square.
We are all disappointed, but there is nothing we can do and we know Terry has really tried for us. We can all see he is really disappointed for us too so we all reassure him that it’s ok, we understand.
We talk a walk to meet our bus to go straight to the Forbidden City.
In the meantime Terry warns the other tour guides that were coming after us. They were in the queue too so would wait to see what they said to them.
We reached the Forbidden City and any disappointment I was feeling soon disappeared. Oh wow! I didn’t expect it to be this big or beautiful.
I can see why they say it is the worlds largest palace complex, with 980 buildings and 9,999 rooms. I wonder if they ever counted the rooms and if so, why they didn’t round it up to 10,000?
The palace dates back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Terry explained all the pavilions, courtyards and gardens to us, including the concubine courtyard and room. Sadly you could only see in through the glass to this room.
The whole place is just stunningly beautiful and I was so pleased we could spend so much time there. Even if we still only saw a fraction of it.
I’ve since heard that the other groups were allowed to enter the square without their visas! I’m jealous but these things happen.
We left the palace and headed to the Rickshaws, where we had a 20 minute ride around the Hutongs. These people must have really strong legs, cycling with hubby and I in the back. It was good fun even if they used the Rickshaw in front as it’s brakes.
It was time for lunch now. For the first time this trip it was actually quite late for lunch, and I was thankful for this.
I have to say, this was the best lunch I’ve had all holiday. My favourite was a chicken dish with nuts including walnuts. It had a bit of a kick, but I loved it.
This was our last meal with our travelling companions As we were checking out tonight. It is a night earlier, but we are going to stay with friends who are living in Beijing for 3 nights.
We say goodbye to the group, although I’ve missed Terry, which I’m gutted about. I leave a thank you note and a tip with reception for him though. He has been an amazing guide.
We get back to the hotel, pack and leave at 6 pm. I’m going to be sad leaving the tour part of the trip, but the holiday isn’t over yet!
I have no idea what our friends house looks like, so I’m excited.
We arrive and it’s huge and beautiful. Nothing like what we have seen in China up to now.
Tonight we go out for dinner in a western pub. A chicken Dorito is just what I needed after 3 weeks of chinese food!
We sit in the garden of the White Swan. It’s so different to what we have been used to, but it’s perfect to catch up with our friends. I’m looking forward to the next few days, to see a different side to Beijing.
Although yesterday I said this was my third favourite hotel this trip, I think the bed was the most comfortable so far. I slept so well.
We have a good routine going in the mornings. I wake up and make a tea for me, and coffee for hubby. While my tea cools I grab a shower.
As our case left the night before us in Xi’an, I didn’t have my Avon So Soft Spray on yesterday. As I look in the mirror now, I see that this was the perfect opportunity for the mosquitos to have a party on me. I have 6 bites around my neck and chest and 3 on my legs.
After my shower I completely cover myself in the spray. I’m not given them another day of fun!
We go for our first breakfast in this hotel. The dining area is beautiful with colourful lanterns everywhere.
There is a great selection once again from western to Chinese.
After dinner last night I felt so bloated, so I decided to just have fruit today, however I did allow a small smoked salmon roll to sneak in too.
We leave the hotel at 7.00 am for the 2 hour drive to the Great Wall. I am so looking forward to this, I just hope my bladder holds out for the duration of the drive!
I’m pleased to say I made it. The trip reminded me of when I was a kid going to the seaside. Searching the landscape for my first sight of the sea. We drove through the Badaling Hills which is the highest point of the Guangou Gorge. As I look around it is all so beautiful, and then, there it is, my first view of the Great Wall. It was amazing.
During the drive Terry our guides tells us all about how it was made, the staggering length of over 6200 miles in total.
We get off the bus and all quickly head to the ‘facilities’ as Terry calls them before starting the final part of the journey to the wall.
To get to the wall you take the Funicular up. I’m so pleased as I was expecting a climb! It takes just over 3 minutes and gives you a chance to take in the gorge a little.
Once at the top, you walk out and it’s there right in front of you. We take our first steps onto the wall and I can’t believe I’m here.
Terry is there ready to take our cameras so that each couple or group can have photos together.
The section we are on is part of the best preserved section. We decide to walk up the steep part first while we have fresh legs.
Some of it is steps , other parts slopes. Going up is very steep at times, but the views are amazing. 360 degrees of outstanding views in fact.
As we walk along the wall I have to keep pinching myself that I’m here.
When you see how far into the distance the wall goes, I can’t help wonder how on earth they got the bricks up here, nether alone to build it. It is a really beautiful, incredible landmark.
After the wall we visited a Jade factory. Hubby and I loved a table and 2 chairs made of Jade. It was only $1.8m, so we ordered 2 sets!! In our dreams!
They showed us how they cut the stone and the different colours. I always thought it was only green, but you get all variety of colours including red, yellow, blue and white.
After a tour we head upstairs for lunch. We have the usual array of dishes, but this time as well as the beer they gave us a bottle of ‘fire water’. We all take some on our table and toasted each other before downing it in one! Jeez, I now know why it’s call fire water! It was so bad we had to have a second toast!
After lunch we had time to walk around the shop. I decided to treat myself to some lovely blue earrings. I wanted a pendant to go with them, but sadly they didn’t have one in the same colour.
Some of the pieces were quite expensive like the table and chairs. These bracelets were from £1000-£1300 each, although they did offer 30% discount!
It was lovely walking around though looking at the pieces, especially when you know they were cut from one piece of rock!
We then took a walk along the Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs. The walk is lined by 18 massive statues of elephants, lions, camels, and mystical beasts, protecting the tombs of Emperors. As we walk through the tree lined avenue, Terry explains the meaning of each of them and the old customs and suspicions. It is so peaceful and the smell of the pine trees adding to its calmness.
At the end of the Avenue you pass through the Great Red Gate which is more than 400 years old. With its 3 archways, it is one of the largest stone archways in China.
We start the journey back to the hotel. As we drive we pass buildings for the Beijing Olympics, which Terry points out for us. One of the beauties of Viking, is that you get a whole lot more than you expect every day and Terry is such a fabulous guide, explaining everything to us. He also cracks quite a lot of jokes which gets the whole group in stitches.
Back at the hotel we have a few hours to ourselves before leaving for dinner.
In the basement of our hotel and across the street is a big, high end shopping centre. The memory card on my small camera is already full and Hubby’s camera is close to being full, so we decide go on the search for a camera shop. Jimmy from Viking had suggested there may be a store in the basement of China World opposite the hotel. After a while we find a shop and are pleased to buy two 32MB cards for less than £12 each.
We arrive back to our room with 1.5 hours to spare before going out to dinner.
I’m so full, I really can’t cope with any more food. It’s a different style to normal with custard filled dim sums at the beginning as well as custard tarts.
I sample a little of some of the dishes, but I’m just still so full from lunch.
After dinner we join Kellie and Joe, a lovely couple from USA, who we have met on this trip, for a drink in the bar before heading to bed! It is the end of happy hour so Prosecco is 2 for 1 until 9 pm. We made it with 6 minutes to spare!
The mini bar in the hotel is free so we finally retire to our room for a drink before going to sleep.
If you are a member of Slimming World you will know there are so many recipe books out there. I think I have most of them.
Every so often, if you buy a 12 week countdown you get one for free!
I must be honest, recently I’ve been a little bit negative about them producing another book. What else could they come up with. I mean, they have the BBQ, Soups, One Pot, Meals for One, meals using 5 ingredients, desserts, the list goes on!
The recent one is called SP Sensations. I received mine as part of a 12 week countdown a few weeks ago!
I took it home expecting it to go into my recipe book cupboard, never to see the light of day!
That evening as I ate dinner I flicked through. Suddenly I found myself leaving markers of things I liked! Oh wow, this book truly was different and amazing.
Suddenly I had an increased urge to be more creative in the kitchen. I got my groceries app out and started my weekly shopping list!
Turkey with Chorizo, Tuna Niscose are my first dishes. Hubby tasted them and was amazed at the flavours!
Another dish was cinnamon prawns! I think I actually got ‘you have excelled yourself’ from hubby on this one!
Even where I haven’t used the recipe exactly, it’s inspired other dishes.
The other night I made the Gong Bao Chicken. The recipe is for 4. As I only needed it for 2 I still made up the oyster sauce mix for 4, so I could use the left over to create a dish last night. Which I have to say was amazing. I will be posting that dish on my YouTube channel on Friday!
Suddenly dinner times are exciting again. I’m no longer tired or bored of having to think of meals every night to cook. I can’t wait to get home and produce something amazing.
When you have only 2 hours every evening to cook, prepare breakfast and lunch for the next day, eat and do everything else that you need to do before going to bed to start the day again the next day, it’s easy to get into a rut. This new book has completely reenergised me!
So if you are able, go get this book. If you can’t, then make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel to see my creations, as I share them with you!
So last night I was one of the lucky few to be picked to take 3 friends to the Kings Head in Wellesbourne, to sample their new menu.
The invite said we would get canapé size samples of the menu. From this, I expected just a little bite of different foods. What my hubby and 2 friends got was something else!
Now I must begin by saying that the pub is part of the Vintage Inn group. When my hubby and I were looking to move to Wellesbourne 3 years ago, we went to the pub to see what it was like! I’m not going to lie, I wasn’t impressed!
As you walked in, it lacked character. It was tired and just didn’t have the atmosphere I was looking for! This said, as part of the chain, I knew the food would be good, so we still went and ate there every so often, but it wasn’t the place we would take visitors to the area to. There were nicer pubs and restaurants to show case where we live than the Kings Head!
The staff there have always been lovely, and through talking to them, I knew they were due to get a refurbishment, as soon as planning permission could be agreed. This took a long time but eventually they got it!
After a short closure the pub reopened on Friday 15 March this year. We were lucky enough to go along on that night. The transformation was outstanding. The pub was reborn again. It had a cosy sophisticated feel!
The first night was just a drinks night. As we had a friend staying that weekend, we booked a table and took him there! We were finally happy to show off our local!
The food was excellent, as was the service.
When it came to Mothers Day, there was only 1 place I was going to take mum and dad to! The Kings Head. We had another spectacular 3 course meal. I couldn’t fault the food or the service!
So when I saw the competition on Facebook to sample the new menu, I was there like a shot! I was so excited to discover I had won 4 free places!
We arrived at 7 pm to a really warm welcome from Andrew the manager and some of the team! We were taken to our table and given a free glass of fizz and the menu! Yes, that’s right the menu!
Wow, we certainly wasn’t going hungry! Just look at the array of food above!
Now when you look at the list you might think there is a lot on there! And there was. On top of this, there was also mini chicken pies!
The pizza was a selection of different toppings and the desserts from memory were 4 or 5 different types! Eton Mess, chocolate brownie, milk tart and cheesecake.
We were all blown away by the quality and selection of food!
My favourite has to be the scallops with bacon and black pudding. I could have eaten them a hundred times over.
The beef was cooked to perfection. Slightly pink and melted in your mouth. One beef dish came with Yorkshire pudding and gravy! Oh wow, the pudding was crispy just as I like it, and the gravy thick and lush!
The flavours in the Pies were to die for, with a lovely flaky top.
The burger had a bit of a kick to it! A nice surprise!
The pizza had a perfect thin base, and they brought out a great selection of toppings to try. Unfortunately, by this point I was bursting so only tried 1. Well it would be rude to refuse wouldn’t it!
The Eton Mess was sensational. The chocolate brownie – well let’s just say I loved it!
Now, you may be thinking – surely everything couldn’t have been that good! Well actually it was! Ok, if you had to pin me down, I have to say my least favourite was the dough sticks. The 3 dips they came with were amazing though! I think as a bar snack they would be perfect for us, but I don’t think I will be having it as a starter!
Our waitress Jo was so friendly and helpful.
The whole evening was just amazing. We waddled home very happy.
Do I recommend you go and eat there? Well I’ve already booked a table for Sunday dinner, so I think that is your answer!
If you have never been to the Kings Head in Wellesbourne before, I definitely recommend you go.
If you have been and been disappointed, then you do need to go back. For good food, good atmosphere, and reasonably priced food, the Kings Head is a must!
Slimminginspirations4u 