Back In Dalian Again

Dalian has been good to me since I came back. Ferry crossing from Korea was smooth. The sleeping arrangements were similar to those on Chinese trains. No major problems. I have been lucky with accommodation too. I stayed with one guy for 2 nights until his mother-in-law came, then I moved back into my old apartment – actually now there are other people there! Well, of course I knew them. I didn’t just gatecrash!

It’s been good seeing old friends and eating lots and lots of lovely CHEAP Chinese food, and drinking cheap Chinese beer.

Dalian seems to have had a bit of a facelift since I left. Most of the main roads seem to have been resurfaced. There is an international economic conference (World Economic Forum) in Dalian this week, albeit overshadowed by the APEC meeting in Sydney. Still, it’s the biggest meeting of its kind ever to be held in Dalian, and sure to help put Dalian on the map.

I plan to fly to Chengdu next Monday. Classes start on the 17th. I have been told that I can stay on-campus until I have found my own place.

It’s hard to leave Dalian after 2 years let alone go to a place were I know few people, but it is a new and exciting challenge and promises new experiences! If I don’t like it, maybe I will find myself back in Dalian again, who knows!

The Hairy Wang Band (minus Philip- who was badly missed on lead guitar) had a bit of a jam last Sunday and then at a friend’s house, we recorded the following Kazoo tribute to Radiohead’s Creep:



One of the lads got a Kazoo from someone who returned from Canada. Needless to say, it went down a storm!