This Departure Lounge... A Destination Fulfilled: Part 4!

Life has been about moving forward, there's been no time to look back but now I am taking stock because 2024 was stacked! From China's Fujian during 2024s '劳动节‘ to my bumper summer holiday, I have practically been on my own world tour! The art of return has been tuned to a fine art, spreading my wings to European destinations has been in my wheelhouse! Vamos, querida!

China's Labour Day Holiday in May 2024 was the tonic that I needed, I was in a period of healing and with a stressful academic year coming to an end. Fujian Province had given me stress first time, the second it got boozy but third time around I needed to see something beyond those commonly known hotspots. Calling up Adam, he had guided me around the 'Tulou' buildings and around 'Gulangyu Island', his knowledge and kindness had me cutting the tour agent out and calling him up directly! We negotiated the price, the itinerary was personalised and everything felt more organic without the tour company taking a percentage for themselves! I had planned a 'Third Strike' day for Xiamen to begin with, we needed to Kiki and end that momentary hiatus without malice. Tea for two? Anxi would be clocked with effortless views over those Lipton Tea plantations. Maritime Silk Road? Quanzhou was about to educate me real good! My third time in Fujian Province was about to change my viewpoint! Adam, let's go! 走吧!

Xiamen was textbook, I arrived with Xiamen Air and made that full day count after a restful nights sleep. I had kicked that hotel curse, I did the most the following day with a little bit of nostalgia for the soul. I found a temple on the flightpath, it was a fun photo opportunity in a rather down to earth area. Anxi was like a breath of fresh air, I needed that 'freshly brewed' escape with those serene settings calming me down. The views were unstoppable and with no fixed schedule it was fine to take as many photos of the scenery! Adam took me to his home & side business, his wife served lunch and I got to meet his son! I met a 'Tea Princess', I bought a box of Oolong Tea for an eye-watering price! Quanzhou followed with a schooling of China's mighty Maritime Silk Road the focus of that segment. I saw oyster shelling ladies with flowers in their hair, it was a waterside moment like no other! Kicking back in Quanzhou was what I needed, that Fujian intermission set me up for final 6 weeks of my second K3 rodeo! Portugal?

The most chaotic academic year of my teaching career had come to an end, my summer holiday was much needed! Moving houses the day I flew to Portugal wasn't on my list, the universe was testing me! Landing into Lisbon was the antidote that I needed, I clocked those Lisbon trams and chowed down on fine Portuguese meals! I did the most during that week long exploration, from Lisbon to Sintra, Setúbal and Porto, it was all love! The gardens and views were clocked on the first day, it was time to sup on a few Caipirinhas even though they are Brazilian! Lisbon served Brazil and after dark I got up close and personal with a certain kind of male creation! Gostoso! Bélem made the cut, I loved the 'Wanderers Monument' and ate some delicious egg tarts, 'Jerónimos Monastery' was gorgeous! Leaving the city for 'Sintra' helped me see a palace and a town fit for royalty, those gardens were mystical in the end. 'Bacahlau' done right! Princess moves are never easy, 'Get Your Guide' played a good game! In the end it was, perfeito! Oporto?

Why Portugal? I wanted to capture a different essence of Portuguese culture after living in Newark's Ironbound back in 2012. I wanted to travel to the source of half of their culture because Brazil still stands at the top of my list! What I did I do after dark? The first night in 'Biarra Alto' saw me taking the whole day off the following day, I was not well! Needless to say the night was major, a lot went down with a certain 'Construction' visit! One final night needed to be had! Porto was a hot mess, taking the train was something but I made it! I relaxed during that reset day after leaving Lisbon. After getting those riverside streets under my belt, I had also consumed a few late morning drinks. The sun was shining as I sipped on my Portuguese red wine beside the Douro River, I taught myself to say 'same again', that was a choice! Like any Brit, I enjoyed a local version of fish and chips and a good drink! The flight to Brussels was harsh, Ryanair got me there but more importantly I got to the airport on time! Brazil next? Sim, papai! 

It's chocolate! 'Drag Race Belgique' had influenced my July 2024 trip to the Brussels area of Belgium. I did everything within four days, I needed that intermission in England before returning to China! Brussels greeted me with rain, those gloomy conditions reminded me of 'Mother England' and that felt wonderful! I was not idle during that first afternoon, my school boy French came in handy! Nasty! Ostend took me to the seaside, as the North Sea blowed a tremendous wind onto the 'Strand', I was given the tea by a dear friend! I had escaped the drama! Baie Lekker sights were secured in Ghent during that first full day, it was like walking into Belle's village from a certain Disney film! The castles and period buildings blended effortlessly with the beer and Belgian charm. I thought Ghent was gorgeous but the waiter at that 'Vrijdagmarkt' facing restaurant was handsome! This trip was feeling ungodly! I loved it, B! Brussels was a great base, Antwerp wouldn't happen but I had something quite scenic planned. 

My sombre 'Flanders Tour' packaged the atrocities of both 1st and 2nd World Wars, I was ready for something darkened and heavy. Dark Tourism is real. The 'Deutscher Soldatenfriedhof Vladslo/Vladslo German War Cemetery' filled me with indifference, I'll say that with my chest because as much as the men didn't deserve to die, it was their country that triggered both wars. We passed a monument called the 'Brooding Soldier' connected to the second battle of Ypres. Bunkers I wanted to see, we did see 'Yorkshire Trench & Dugout' that was built by impartial Chinese construction manpower! I wouldn't last two minutes in combat on those fields, I'd be playing tricks elsewhere! 'In Flanders Field Museum' told me all I needed to know, I ate chocolate and drank beer outside during that break! 'Passendale' & 'Tyne Cot Cemetery' took us closer towards France, it was a lot to take in! Brussels the next day served 'waffles' and the main attractions, I needed something lighter! I boozed at Brussels Airport! I needed to stop! Ça suffit! 

Becoming an uncle for the third time signified a visit to England, landing into Birmingham fronted me with the same 'hungry energy' because that Midlands airport will never be a Heathrow or a Manchester! Reunited with family was lovely, it was something that I don't get to do often enough but I am one of those free birds, we are built to fly away! I had already recovered from the flight, I had been on a similar timezone for a week or so, it was fine. I got the chance to reunite with the whole family, those who had departed were missed but remembered as a visit to Birmingham was made because my Dad would've been proud of our 'Wetherpsoons Game' winnings! Bilston was not blogged but I did buy a whole lot of paracetamol and ibuprofen because those Chinese made western meds aren't strong at all! There I said it! Walsall preceded Birmingham with a Wetherspoons trip because a bank run was needed, these UK trips are purely administrative. Birmingham had me scared, what has happened with my Miss England? 

Meeting my niece, Delilah was lovely! I got to spend two days with my two nieces and one nephew! It was a gorgeous time spending time with those growing children, the baby at the time was no longer a baby! Would there be a fourth child? You know it! With farewells packaged as 'I'll see you soon!' Me and my mum made it down to London for a packed day before I flew with British Airways to Shanghai, China! A Full English Breakfast hit the spot, then Battersea Power Station allowed me to view the Thames from a different point of view. Camden Market was unhinged. I got to see 'Ruth Jones' say 'Oh' as she played 'Mother Superior' in the West End production of 'Sister Act'. I am built for goodbyes, I schooled Heathrow about my Chinese visa because they were clueless over at British Airways! Landing back into Shanghai felt like a blessing after such a lovely holiday but that jet lag killed like a motherf**ker! My summer holiday had been the best, it was time to get back to work! With a deal done, I secured Macau! 

Travel Healed Me! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure