Title: Tina's Journal (
China)
Status: Active
URL:
http://tinapuddus.blogspot.com/
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Poggio and rain - 07/Sep/2013 11:05 - 4107 days ago
Not far from where I live and on the way to Cagliari lies a very pretty residential area calledPoggio Dei Pini.The houses are bu...
Wine tasting - 11/Aug/2013 15:20 - 4134 days ago
Our local marina has turned into a little social gathering point. A restaurant, bar and ice-cream shop have opened in the parade...
Pedemontana - 26/May/2013 17:37 - 4211 days ago
A nice quiet and relatively easy cycling route you can ride is along the back road calledPedemontanafrom Villa San Pietro to Sar...
Molentargius - 08/Apr/2013 12:06 - 4259 days ago
Lying to the south of Cagliari and facing the city's famous Poetto beach is a beautiful natural Park called Molentargius. I...
Welcome 2013 - 05/Jan/2013 19:48 - 4352 days ago
Serene watersThe first month of the year has started out perfectly. Full days of sunshine, blue skies and today reminded me of a...
Tharros - 08/Sep/2012 09:17 - 4471 days ago
About half way up the west coast of Sardinia located on the Sinis Peninsula lies one of the most interesting archaeological...
Addio palm tree - 05/Sep/2012 16:27 - 4474 days ago
The punteruolo rosso (the red palm weevil)has killed the lush palm tree planted at the front of the villa. These beetle lik...
Basil - 26/Aug/2012 18:57 - 4484 days ago
We have got so much Basil in the garden this year I have decided to freeze some for the half of the year when we don't have any....
The middle of summer - 20/Jul/2012 13:23 - 4521 days ago
When doing any physical exercise outdoors this time of year I prefer to do it early in the morning because of the heat...
Hot hot hot! - 21/Jun/2012 17:26 - 4550 days ago
We're experiencing a hot June. Temperatures are slightly higher than usual for this time of year. It feels more like the middle ...
Apricots - 02/Jun/2012 11:54 - 4569 days ago
This year our apricot tree is the fullest it's ever been. What seems to happen with these trees is that every other year you get...
Festa Nationale - 25/Apr/2012 13:27 - 4607 days ago
Today isFesta Nationalein Italy which celebrates the ending of fascist rule in Italy since 25th April 1945.What a beautiful day ...
A spring day - 03/Mar/2012 16:07 - 4660 days ago
Has spring arrived? Well it has certainly felt like it's here these past few days. Today reminds me of an English summer's day. ...
The winter - 30/Jan/2012 11:28 - 4693 days ago
January and February are the coldest two months in Sardinia. Living near the sea also increases the humidity levels which makes ...
Villa San Pietro - 15/Jan/2012 12:09 - 4708 days ago
Beni Beniusto Villa San Pietro! MeaningWelcomein the Sardinian language! Villa san Pietro is the small village where I live in S...
Isola di San Pietro - 08/Dec/2011 08:41 - 4746 days ago
I had a lovely day trip out today with a good friend of mine toCarloforteon theIsola di San Pietro. I had never been there befor...
Santa Margherita - 24/Nov/2011 17:31 - 4760 days ago
Just a 10 minute drive South from my house you come across some beautiful coastline along Santa Margherita di Pula. This time of...
Las Vegas - 20/Oct/2011 15:13 - 4795 days ago
We left the Grand Canyon this morning taking a six hour drive to Las Vegas. On the way we drove along the famous Historic Route ...
Sunrise - 19/Oct/2011 07:53 - 4796 days ago
We had a very early start this morning to catch sunrise at about 6.40am in the Grand Canyon. Mex took us down to a rock promonto...
The Grand Canyon - 18/Oct/2011 08:01 - 4797 days ago
When I got my first view of the Grand Canyon today it truly did amaze me. One can really sense the vastness as soon as you see i...
Monument Valley - 17/Oct/2011 19:06 - 4798 days ago
Today we visited Monument Valley in Navajo Nation which borders Arizona and Utah. Navajo Nation is governed by Native Americans ...
Antelope Canyon - 16/Oct/2011 07:51 - 4799 days ago
This morning we past Lake Powell a reservoir created by the Glen Canyon Dam, it's the second biggest man-made reservoir in the U...
Hiking in Bryce - 15/Oct/2011 15:24 - 4800 days ago
This morning we trekked into Bryce Canyon. The red rock is so vibrant it is just fantastic. We descended along part of the Peeka...
Pools and sunset - 14/Oct/2011 08:30 - 4801 days ago
This morning I walked the Emerald Pool trail at Zion. It's just a short trek taking only 1hr 20 from Zion Lodge within the park....
Wading in Zion - 13/Oct/2011 18:53 - 4802 days ago
Well today I did something I had never done before.....hiked up river. Within Zion National Park you can literally wade The Narr...
Van appreciation day - 12/Oct/2011 15:21 - 4803 days ago
Mex rightly called today 'van appreciation day' as we spent 9 hours driving south through the rest of the Sierra Nevada, across ...
In Sierra Nevada - 11/Oct/2011 10:06 - 4804 days ago
Today I chose to take it easy and do an easy walk due to the fact that I was sick during the morning drive and was feeling a lit...
Trekking Yosemite - 10/Oct/2011 07:47 - 4805 days ago
We set off early this morning taking a drive up to Glacier Point to start our trek for the day. Yosemite is absolutely beautiful...
San Francisco and Sequoias - 09/Oct/2011 18:22 - 4806 days ago
I arrived in San Francisco on the 8th October to start a two week trip visiting and trekking through some of the National Parks ...
On the boat - 11/Sep/2011 09:45 - 4834 days ago
It was so nice yesterday to sail over to Nora in my friend's motor cruiser and anchor up in the sea over looking the archaeologi...
La Giara - 10/Sep/2011 16:35 - 4835 days ago
Mini-horses in GiaraHere in Sardinia on the Giara plateau at Gesturi you will find beautifulCavallini(mini-horses) roaming free ...
Birds and Pizza - 03/Sep/2011 17:49 - 4842 days ago
Whilst on Chia beach the other day we noticed a group of people had gathered together by the bushes and they appeared to b...
Flamingos - 29/Jul/2011 20:15 - 4878 days ago
As you leave Cagliari from the West taking the 195 road South towards Pula you will, after approximately fifteen minutes, drive ...
A quiet July - 20/Jul/2011 09:22 - 4887 days ago
July seems relatively quiet compared to previous years. Many B&B owners and people offering holiday lets are saying that boo...
Happy Birthday in Florence - 26/Jun/2011 15:01 - 4911 days ago
Last week I celebrated my 40th birthday in Florence. It is one of the most beautiful cities I have ever visited. I had been ther...
Good luck - 09/Jun/2011 17:38 - 4928 days ago
Now the summer's here it's always a good excuse for a barbecue. However, it was a bit sad to say bye the other night to a couple...
The start of the summer season - 26/May/2011 20:53 - 4942 days ago
Our summer season is beginning now and our first guests arrive this weekend. My father has spent the last 8 months working non s...
St. Efisio - 02/May/2011 16:55 - 4966 days ago
La festa di Sant' Efisiois one of the biggest festivals celebrated in Sardinia. It runs from the 1st to the 4th May every year. ...
Yellow Mimosa - 12/Apr/2011 13:48 - 4986 days ago
Heading back homeWhat a fantastic April we're experiencing. It feels like June with temperatures in the mid 20s...perfect! I lov...
Spring's here - 27/Mar/2011 19:31 - 5002 days ago
This weekend we really do know that Spring has arrived. We've experienced gorgeous weather with clear blue skies and temperature...
Carnevale - 06/Mar/2011 18:30 - 5023 days ago
It's carnival season and today we had a fabulous parade in my village of Villa San Pietro. So, after a delicious BBQ in glorious...
Lemons! - 19/Feb/2011 16:46 - 5038 days ago
Our biggest lemon treeOur three lemon trees in the garden are lush with their fruit at the moment. I have been pondering for som...
Somewhere over the rainbow....... - 01/Feb/2011 21:10 - 5056 days ago
First half of the complete rainbowToday we experienced some heavy rainfall, however just after 5pm there was a pause to allow th...
Loving the morning run - 30/Jan/2011 14:53 - 5058 days ago
Post run stretching!After a few days of persistent rain it was nice to get out for a run this morning. The sun made its appearan...
Another New Year - 09/Jan/2011 18:32 - 5079 days ago
It was great to get back on the bike today and out for a run yesterday in warm weather after spending two cold weeks in England....
Spring in December! - 08/Dec/2010 17:06 - 5111 days ago
Nora from the terraceOne man and his boatWe are currently experiencing spring temperatures, in the low 20Cs with glorious sunshi...
The Wise school! - 04/Dec/2010 17:41 - 5115 days ago
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The local Enoteca - 21/Nov/2010 08:56 - 5128 days ago
My favourite wine can be bought from a localEnotecain Pula. Enoteca is the name for wine shops where you can often buy wine 'off...
Birthday celebrations in Barcelona - 11/Nov/2010 10:55 - 5138 days ago
Ready to take on the city!I'm just back from a great couple of days celebrating my dear friend Marie's 50th Birthday in Barcelon...
Cortes Apertas - 28/Oct/2010 17:01 - 5152 days ago
I thought I'd share some pictures of Dorgali and Cala Gonone. Last weekend I went there with friends as the town of Dorgali hel...
Visitors - 07/Oct/2010 17:52 - 5173 days ago
Looking south east from CastelloLast week I had friends over from the UK who I haven't seen in five years. When friends visit it...
Arborea - 13/Sep/2010 19:35 - 5197 days ago
The Church in the centre of ArboreaYesterday I visited Arborea for the first time. It lies just a few kilometres to the South of...
Evening cycle - 20/Aug/2010 08:29 - 5221 days ago
Views at NoraCycling at this time of year is best either early in the morning or early evening just before dusk. The average tem...
Ferragosto in Pula - 16/Aug/2010 19:31 - 5225 days ago
Yesterday was Ferragosto, one of the biggest national holidays in Italy. It's celebrated on the 15th August and falls on the sa...
The local marina - 10/Aug/2010 07:45 - 5231 days ago
&n...
Very tasty - 01/Aug/2010 19:19 - 5240 days ago
One of the nice things about this time of year is that it's perfect weather in the evening to sit outside for a meal and hence b...
Local beach at Perd'e Sali and Porto Columbu - 29/Jul/2010 08:28 - 5243 days ago
I thought I'd share some photos of my local beach. Only 3kms from my home in Villa San Pietro, just a short bike ride away. The ...
6 months later! - 17/Jul/2010 17:24 - 5255 days ago
Wow six months since my last blog entry. The old cliché 'time flies' gets truer as you get older, not that I feel old! In fact ...
The Great Wall at Badaling - 05/Jan/2010 11:15 - 5448 days ago
On Sunday I woke up to heavy snow and freezing temperatures in Beijing. Yanhui, who works in the VSO office, picked me up from t...
Happy New Year and Goodbye Simao - 02/Jan/2010 11:31 - 5451 days ago
It has been a strange week. I could feel it was the ending of something and I think there is always a sadness that goes with tha...
Week 44 All I want for Christmas is.... - 27/Dec/2009 11:37 - 5457 days ago
The best Christmas present I got this year was an e-mail from my sister Luisa telling me that my 17 year old niece, Sofie, was c...
Countdown to Christmas - 23/Dec/2009 14:25 - 5461 days ago
The students who manage'English Corner' organised a Christmas Party this evening. English Corner is place where students...
Hotpot - 21/Dec/2009 13:05 - 5463 days ago
The'foreign' teachers were taken out for dinner by the foreign affairs department in the college this evening, I think b...
Shoe shining and reflecting - 17/Dec/2009 12:19 - 5467 days ago
One of the great things here is the informal manner in which so many things are done. For example, whilst sitting in the restaur...
Cross the Bridge Noodles - 14/Dec/2009 12:05 - 5470 days ago
One of the things I'll miss about being in China is eatingCross the Bridge Noodles. It is such a substantial dish that gives...
Bailey's and Britain - 11/Dec/2009 04:05 - 5473 days ago
Walking around one of the local supermarkets this week I came across a bottle of Baileys. What with it being the festive season,...
And the winner is... - 05/Dec/2009 03:28 - 5479 days ago
So, yesterday evening I was one of the judges in a competition for the students in the English Department. There were 21 contest...
Week 41 - 04/Dec/2009 10:22 - 5480 days ago
This week I have been writing up my report about last week's school visits. I still haven't finished it as working in th...
Mojiang school visits - 29/Nov/2009 05:21 - 5485 days ago
Yesterday I got back to Simao after spending a week in Mojiang county. I visited five schools to give more training, observe tea...
Cold weather and Earth tremors - 20/Nov/2009 12:10 - 5494 days ago
The temperature in Simao has dropped radically over the last few days. The persistent rain is not helping either. Up t...
Pu'er No.2 - 18/Nov/2009 12:54 - 5496 days ago
I was asked yesterday if I could go and give a talk to the students at Pu'er No.2 Middle School in Simao as part of their 'commu...
Jinghong - 15/Nov/2009 14:08 - 5499 days ago
I spent the weekend in Jinghong, Xishuangbanna's capital. It's only a two hour bus ride from Simao and lies close to the...
On our bikes - 10/Nov/2009 12:49 - 5504 days ago
I thought it would be nice this afternoon to go for a cycle as I hadn't been out on the bike for a while. Andy was eager to ...
Week 37 - 07/Nov/2009 13:46 - 5507 days ago
Today a group of us headed off to Xishuangbanna to visit the Elephant park just over an hour's bus journey south of Simao. D...
Halloween - 01/Nov/2009 08:46 - 5513 days ago
We celebrated the end of the training yesterday with a Halloween party, the course ended on the right day! All the trainees had ...
Communication - 28/Oct/2009 14:31 - 5517 days ago
One of the things that the teachers have to practice doing on this course is facilitating meetings. Each afternoon they take it ...
Registration - 25/Oct/2009 10:18 - 5520 days ago
The second TLT course is underway. 31 teachers from two different counties, this time Zhenyuan and Jingdong, arrived yesterday t...
H1N1 and a decision - 22/Oct/2009 10:52 - 5523 days ago
I was asked by the college if I wanted the H1N1 vaccine. It has been available in China for a few weeks. After some deliberation...
Week 34:Training - 18/Oct/2009 14:18 - 5527 days ago
The first Team Leader Trainer course ended yesterday after a week of intense study and practice. I think the trainees were rathe...
TLT begins! - 10/Oct/2009 13:26 - 5535 days ago
Today 31 teachers arrived to register for a week long training course which will be facilitated by Lesley, Hou Wanxia, (a method...
JiangCheng - 04/Oct/2009 14:32 - 5541 days ago
I spent Mid Autumn Festival in JiangCheng. It lies 140KM South East of Simao and borders Laos and Vietnam. After using a bit ofG...
Mooncakes - 29/Sep/2009 12:35 - 5546 days ago
We are coming up to the mid autumn festival which falls on the 15th of the 8th lunar month. It is also known as Mooncake Festiva...
Shy or not shy?..this is the question - 28/Sep/2009 05:45 - 5547 days ago
The Grade two students from the English Department gave a welcome'party' to the new Grade one students yesterday even...
Week 31 - 26/Sep/2009 06:06 - 5549 days ago
Late in the evening in Simao, especially in the old town, you can find stalls selling Barbecue food, kebab style. Most of the st...
Back to Xi'an - 22/Sep/2009 12:51 - 5553 days ago
I have just returned from a visit to Xi'an, however, I didn't actually get to see much of the city! I was there attendin...
Cycling the Old Pu'er road - 13/Sep/2009 12:07 - 5562 days ago
Saturday Morning I rose early at 0530 to get the early bus to Ning'er, in order to cycle the old road back to Simao. Ning...
Becoming more inclusive! - 11/Sep/2009 08:39 - 5564 days ago
It has been a productive week. Firstly, we moved office midweek to a much more central location. Despite being smaller, it has a...
The weekend - 06/Sep/2009 13:21 - 5569 days ago
As part of our cycle today we thought we would pass by the new college campus and check out the progress. Considering the grade ...
The new term begins! - 04/Sep/2009 09:38 - 5571 days ago
The new term began on Monday. The college campus has been quiet for two months so I am getting used to having students around th...
Week 27 - 27/Aug/2009 05:45 - 5579 days ago
The campus is coming back to life. Students arriving for the new term which begins Monday. The last few days the gardens have be...
All things wooden - 19/Aug/2009 06:27 - 5587 days ago
I visited a wood factory yesterday just on the outskirts of Simao. They make products to order, usually for businesses rather t...
Playing the Guzheng - 16/Aug/2009 06:19 - 5590 days ago
Last night was my first experience of playing the Guzheng. It is a traditional Chinese stringed instrument and is played by p...
Good luck Marrisa - 14/Aug/2009 13:21 - 5592 days ago
Lunch today was a goodbye meal for Marrisa who is leaving the college after three years of hard work. She will be attending Kunm...
Cycling and shopping - 10/Aug/2009 04:41 - 5596 days ago
The weather in Simao these days is rather hot and sticky. Current temperatures are 30-35C with at least one downpour of rain a d...
Week 24 - 07/Aug/2009 14:53 - 5599 days ago
I am now into my 6th Month in China. Where has the time gone? I have learnt and am still learning so much about the Chinese way ...
Fwd: Emei Shan - 31/Jul/2009 11:00 - 5606 days ago
On Monday morning Sarah and I went to Emei Shan a 2 hour bus ride South of Chengdu. Emei Shan is considered to be one of China...
Panda bears - 26/Jul/2009 06:41 - 5611 days ago
I was so lucky to see the Panda bears on Friday. We visited the Panda Research base here in Chengdu where there are both black a...
Solar Eclipse, Giant Buddha and Chengdu - 23/Jul/2009 09:47 - 5614 days ago
I flew into Chengdu on Tuesday evening. Luckily I manged to get a reasonably priced flight from Lijiang. The first thing I notic...
Lijiang and Tiger Leaping Gorge - 20/Jul/2009 15:44 - 5617 days ago
Friday Morning we spent walking around Dali and just took in the sights and sounds. It was interesting to discover that some Wes...
In Dali - 16/Jul/2009 10:14 - 5621 days ago
I am in Dali Northern Yunnan which isn't where I was expecting to be this week but definitely not complaining. Jiang Yun Qin...
Travel plans - 09/Jul/2009 06:52 - 5628 days ago
I leave Sunday for about 3 weeks of travelling. The plan at the moment is to go to Kunming on Sunday by bus, about 7 hours. An...
Rain, rain, rain! - 04/Jul/2009 06:51 - 5633 days ago
We finally have a reprieve from the rain after six days of ceaseless downpours. I am getting used to sodden foot ware and the bo...
Week 18 - 28/Jun/2009 09:47 - 5639 days ago
I returned to Simao and met with torrential rain. Rainy season is here! I was pleased to feel the difference in temperature from...
Back in Beijing - 23/Jun/2009 13:20 - 5644 days ago
I arrived in Beijing on Saturday in preparation for a training course beginning Monday. It really does feel as though I am ...
I never said I could sing! - 17/Jun/2009 15:33 - 5650 days ago
As the school year is coming to an end it means lots of different departments having their own personal celebrations and parti...
Putting on a show - 15/Jun/2009 00:34 - 5652 days ago
The school term is coming to an end and the summer holidays will soon be here. On Friday evening there was a fabulous performanc...
Week 15 - 07/Jun/2009 06:42 - 5660 days ago
I am back in Simao after a two week trip away visiting several middle schools. The schools were located in Jing dong county so m...
Views of Jingdong - 04/Jun/2009 09:00 - 5663 days ago
My time in Jingdong county is coming to an end. I have just spent the last two days visiting two more schools in some of the lov...
Happy Children's Day - 01/Jun/2009 08:42 - 5666 days ago
I have been in Jingdong just over a week now. Since Friday we have had constant rain which has brought the temperature down a f...
Confucious - 28/May/2009 08:34 - 5670 days ago
I visited a Confucious, pronouncedKǒng Fūzǐin Chinese temple in the old part of Jingdong today. Confucious was a philosopher...
Gambei - 27/May/2009 08:36 - 5671 days ago
I've visited two schools so far in Jingdong. These school visits involve a full day of activity as lunch and dinner involve ...
Jingdong - 25/May/2009 12:40 - 5673 days ago
I arrived in Jingdong yesterday evening and it was so nice to be met by Lesley and the girls. Jingdong is about 200k north from ...
Week 13 - 23/May/2009 07:09 - 5675 days ago
Work wise not much has happened this week apart from helping a grade 2 student in the college plan her teaching practise lesson ...
Walkabout - 19/May/2009 05:13 - 5679 days ago
I took a long walk yesterday to the south of Simao up Tea Mountain and Meizi Lake. My follow-up trip is postponed until next wee...
Banned in China! - 17/May/2009 05:55 - 5681 days ago
Just to let you know that I am unable to update my blog properly as blogspot has been banned in China. I'm not sure for how ...
Week 12 - 14/May/2009 01:35 - 5684 days ago
Yesterday I returned from another visit to two middle schools where I had been to monitor and continue the training programme of...
Honey and beeswax - 07/May/2009 06:49 - 5691 days ago
A few weeks ago Lesley and I were given two bucketfuls of wild honey. They were leaving gifts from Tian Ba school where we had d...
Life in China - 05/May/2009 14:51 - 5693 days ago
How am I finding life in this part of China? I really am truthfully enjoying the whole experience despite the imperfections! Eve...
Random photos Jingdong follow-up - 02/May/2009 06:07 - 5696 days ago
...
Jingdong follow-up - 01/May/2009 09:06 - 5697 days ago
It's a National holiday here today, Labour day, so I'm taking it nice and easy! I got back yesterday evening after an intense fi...
week 9 - 25/Apr/2009 03:34 - 5703 days ago
The past week I've been planning and doing my co-teaching lessons here in the college, planning some model lessons for demonstra...
A wedding - 23/Apr/2009 11:10 - 5705 days ago
On Tuesday evening I was invited to my first Chinese wedding. Shao Mei, one of the teachers in the English department was gettin...
Having fun :-) - 19/Apr/2009 10:12 - 5709 days ago
I was supposed to go away today on another follow-up visit but it's been postponed until next week, so instead this morning I di...
Week 8. Time for reflection - 18/Apr/2009 02:31 - 5710 days ago
I'm just coming to the end of my eighth week in China. In some ways it feels like I've been here much longer, yet paradoxically ...
Water splashing, rats and chickens. - 14/Apr/2009 09:28 - 5714 days ago
Since Sunday we have had 3 days of theWater Splashing Festival. It represents theDai New Year. The Dai form one of the many ethn...
First follow-up visit - 11/Apr/2009 12:35 - 5717 days ago
I have had an enlightening week. On Wednesday I set off with Lesley at 10am for Zhenyuan county to carry out a follow-up visit o...
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