Update from trip down South.

It’s been a very relaxing last few days as myself, Em, Mom, and Dad, have spent the last 4 days down south exploring the South West region of Western Australia.

Without going into too much detail, we spent the 4 days relaxing in some magnificent chalets near Walpole, which is about 120 kilometres east of Albany, south Western Australia. The translate into about a 5 hour trip from Perth.

All I can say in the brief time I have here, is that the wine was magnificent, the food was fantastic, and the cheeses we sampled and ate were stunning. We took some nice walks, met some interesting animals (Em fell in love with a baby kangaroo she petted for close to an hour), and took plenty of wonderful photos which I’ll post when I’m able to find a copy of Frontpage (it’s just easier for me).

Anyway, taking it easy today, but will posted something a little more substantial in the coming days.

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Looking for advice on notebook.

One of my goals while I’m here in Australia is to buy a notebook computer. I left my computer (most of it) in Korea so my iTouch, and Em’s computer, are the only forms of electronic access I have, so a notebook is needed once I return to China.

I decided to opt for a notebook rather than a desktop for no other reason that the portability it provides for me, seeing as I travel around quite a bit these days.

In addition, I don’t really play any resource hungry games like I used to when I used to live in Australia, thus a powerful desktop PC isn’t required for the work I will be using it for (mainly simple word processing, some graphics software, and the odd games).

Although I have no idea of what notebook to buy? The processors range from 1.3 to 2.1 GHz and memory 1 to 4 GB. This leave the resulting price anywhere from $400 to $1200.

It’s all rather confusing.

So I’m putting the call out here for some advice on notebooks. As I mentioned I’ll use it mainly for wordprocessing, some simple Photoshopping, and a little video work (mainly coverting formats of video, nothing too intensive).

What do you think I should be looking at on terms of specs? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Posted with iTouch.

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Taking it easy back in Perth

Post

While I have a few spare moments, as both mom and Em are getting peticures and manicures from the nail place, I thought I’d give you an update on how things are going.

As you may not be aware we’re (Em and I) in Perth at the moment, since Wednesday, and have been enjoying the hospitality of my parents. It’s great to see them again and be back in Perth. I was last here 2 years ago, while Em was here 2 and a half years ago.

Since we’ve been here I have been able to successfully get a new passport, delivered this morning only after a couple of days when I lodged it at the post office. I’ve also sent all my information to my new employer on Beijing who will now begin all the paperwork for my Chinese visa.

I have also started the criminal background check which, unlike in Korea, is being conducted by an American company on my behalf making it a lot less leg work for hours truly.

Otherwise it’s been easy going here. We’ve done a lot of cloth shopping for myself and already eaten a lot of delicious food, both of which I’m extremely pleased about.

The weather hasn’t been great. Yesterday reached 41C No, that’s not a typo, forty one. Although the car was telling me it was 43C, not that one notices after the high forties.

This weekend I’ll be catching up with some Marc and Holly and then on Sunday my three-year-old nephew is having his HUGE birthday party.

Em is happy and having a wonderful time, especially with my mother, and I’m enjoying a fantastic period of relaxation.

I’m not sure I want to start work again now!

Posted via iTouch.

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A new language.

One of the more obvious adjustments for me here in China will be that of the language. The thing is, all Chinese sounds the same to me, unlike Korean when I first arrived there. 

I’m suppose to be getting free Chinese lessons when I start my new job, but regardless of the lessons or not, it’s going to be tough going for while. 

At the moment I’m spending long periods of being talked to without being able to understand anything which is frustrating to both myself and Em who is forced to translate all the time. 

That’s not to mention all the times Em’s not there to translate and I often just have to sit and quite literally keep myself entertained. In a country of 1.3 billion people, there’s only one person I know who I can talk to. 

It really makes me appreciate the problems Em first had when she met me and used to go out with my friends. No doubts she found herself equally bored and frustrated not to be able to understand or be involved in conversations. 

I’m also frustrated that I don’t have access to Starbucks for both their coffee and the wireless they provide. There one literally 2 minutes from where I’m staying but has closed for 4 days due to Chinese New Years. Otherwise I have to walk 25 minutes to find the only unsecured wireless I can find. *sigh*

To top it all off, facebook is blocked here. 

The upside is that I’m spending some quality time with Em and her family who have all been super nice to me.

Anyway, enough complaining for one day.   

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Getting Millie. No wireless.

We finally made it to Beijing, and when I say we I mean Em, myself, and the rabbit. It was nice to be able to have a goodnight sleep without having to worry about any of our travel plans of the rabbit.

The flight to Beijing was incident free, although as expected, we were overweight with our luggge, a good 23 kilos over. After speaking to the guy at the check-in I was able to convine him to let us have 25 kilos each instead of 20, so all I had to pay was for the extra 13. For $70 AUD, I was happy to pay that.

I was also surprised that allowed my 10 kilo hand luggage on, but I didn’t complain.

Em’s dad and her young brother picked us up at the airport, which was a welcome relief from public transportation that we’d relied on for most of our travelling so far.

We’re welcomed by her whole family at her grandparents place, where we’ll be staying during our eleven days here. It was great to see everyone, not to mention having a nice home cooked meal of beef dumplings.

The next day, yesterday, we headed off to Tianjin to pick Milie up from the airport. We received a text message from our contact on Millie’s flight details and quickly made our way to the city via the high speed train from Beijing.

We ended up waiting for Millie for a few hours but finally she came, much to the happiness of Em who was crying her eyes out with relief.

Millie, surpringly enough, was vey active and didn’t look at all tired from her two days worth of travelling. Dare I say she travelled a lot better then Em and I.

Seeing as animals are not allowed on the high speed train, and both Em and I were exhausted, we decided to fork out and taxi back to Beijing. $100 and nearly two hours later, we’re home.

Today is a rest day for us, but with Chinese New Years here, the place will be busy with activity. As for me, I’m just enjoying my coffee here in Starbucks before the madness sets in.

What a busy couple of days, but I’m so glad we’re here and everything went to plan.

(This was actually posted two days ago but I’ve had no wireless connection near me. Bloody Starbucks closed for five days for New Years!)

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Last night in Korea.

Last post from Korea.

This is the last post I’ll be writing here in Korea. After 5 years here on the peninsula, it’s time to call it a day.

Currently I’m laying down in my hotel room in Incheon, about ten minutes from the airport. We took a 4:50 morning bus, requiring two taxis from home to the bus terminal, and hot to Incheon airport around ten.

We got a complimentary shuttle bus to our hotel and were there before 10:30. Millie was quiet during the trip but was walking about freely in the hotel room (we smuggled her in) and was picked up a couple of hours later but the pet moving company.

We’ll see her next on Friday when we pick her up from Tianjin airport.

The rest of the day we spent changing money (my school paid me too late and ws able to finish doing it in Daegu) and enjoyed a beautiful BBQ beef lunch with Em here in Incheon (well the island directly off Incheon with the airport).

The rest of the day we caught up with some much needed sleep.

Am I sad to leave Korea? Yes. But I’m happy to move on with the next chapter of my life.

Probably not a lot of blogging over the next two months, but make an appearance once and a while.

To all those wonderful people I’ve met in Korea over the last few years, it’s been a huge pleasure. Let’s hope our path cross again.

Tomorrow, Beijing.

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In Beijing. Millie is great.

We finally made it to Beijing, and when I say we I mean Em, myself, and the rabbit. It was nice to be able to have a goodnight sleep without having to worry about any of our travel plans of the rabbit.

The flight to Beijing was incident free, although as expected, we were overweight with our luggge, a good 23 kilos over. After speaking to the guy at the check-in I was able to convine him to let us have 25 kilos each instead of 20, so all I had to pay was for the extra 13. For $70 AUD, I was happy to pay that.

I was also surprised that allowed my 10 kilo hand luggage on, but I didn’t complain.

Em’s dad and her young brother picked us up at the airport, which was a welcome relief from public transportation that we’d relied on for most of our travelling so far.

We’re welcomed by her whole family at her grandparents place, where we’ll be staying during our eleven days here. It was great to see everyone, not to mention having a nice home cooked meal of beef dumplings.

The next day, yesterday, we headed off to Tianjin to pick Milie up from the airport. We received a text message from our contact on Millie’s flight details and quickly made our way to the city via the high speed train from Beijing.

We ended up waiting for Millie for a few hours but finally she came, much to the happiness of Em who was crying her eyes out with relief.

Millie, surpringly enough, was vey active and didn’t look at all tired from her two days worth of travelling. Dare I say she travelled a lot better then Em and I.

Seeing as animals are not allowed on the high speed train, and both Em and I were exhausted, we decided to fork out and taxi back to Beijing. $100 and nearly two hours later, we’re home.

Today is a rest day for us, but with Chinese New Years here, the place will be busy with activity. As for me, I’m just enjoying my coffee here in Starbucks before the madness sets in.

What a busy couple of days, but I’m so glad we’re here and everything went to plan.

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Getting last minute jobs done.

Sunday night and Em and I are packing the remained of our belongings. Some people always complain about not having enough things when they move, but there’s no way I’m feeling like that with the amount of items we have packed and shipped to China.

Today we finished off a few tasks that needs to be done. The computer has been wiped clean, and I have extracted the large hard drive, the DVD burner, and a memory card from it. No point buying them again in China right? I’m sure the ne teacher, whoever he is, will be resourceful enough to put the remains back together.

So all my blogging, his one included, will be done on my iTouch. It’s a little slow but it gets the job done.

A few more things to do tonight. Will blog again before I leave.

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