Monthly Archives: June 2012

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30

Jun,

12

Where Did You Get That Hat!

When I woke at Hotel Saint Tropez today I was shocked to see how big my bed was.  Indeed, one could fit Snow White and the all 7 of the dwarfs into it.  It was huge.  When we arrived late last night I just fell asleep.  Today I looked out and realised that I really am living in some sort of reality show.  This hotel has chalets – dozens of them on little streets that look like something from Florida.  Lovely palm trees all around and you are driven from the chalet to the main hotel by golf buggy.  Please remember I am in China.  It’s a 5 star complex with emphasis on the term “International Hotel”, yet the bar closes at 9pm!  I looked over the hill and I could see a German Schloss in the distance.  Nothing surprises me anymore.

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25

Jun,

12

Avatar and Hallelujah Mountain

We wake early in China Vegas and I open the curtains. We arrived in the dark last night. When I look out of the window I realise just how tacky this place is. No casinos but everything else – Chinese style mind you!  It’s so hot and humid. Breakfast was tough on the eyes so I had fruit.  Fanny Fan guided us through the food.  Then we were pushed onto the bus Chinese Style and for the tour Fanny starts talking. Now tour guides in China are not what we know in the west. They sing and talk more than I do!  They feel that they’re paid to do a job and have to tell you everything.  We have many languages on the small bus, famous TV chefs from Peru, Belgium, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Dhabi, Japan, Germany and myself. The fun is good.  We are of the opinion that we are in some sort of social experiment! Continue reading →

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24

Jun,

12

Welcome to China Vegas

Dinner last night was fab.  I had Italian.  Then off we went to a Chinese nightclub called Destination.  It was huge, cheap and I was the only Caucasian present.  I had one gin and tonic, (yes I know its hard to believe that I only had one!) and went back to the hotel to bed. Continue reading →

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24

Jun,

12

James and The Great Wall

This place gets better and better.  I have laughed all day.

Today was amazing. It was our day to see the highlights of Beijing.  So, early start and off to the Great Wall of China. Now I have been to the Great Wall before, but 1,500KM away in the Gobi Desert, or is it dessert, I never know.  But the bit of the wall I saw today was the bit of wall you and I both know.  However when we see the wall in the media it glides over mountains and the grass looks green.  Pollution is so high today we saw very little. Continue reading →

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22

Jun,

12

The Peking Duck, in Peking

Believe it or not, rice is not at every meal.  When it arrives it’s always at the end of a meal so one does not fill up on rice before the main course.  Is that the Chinese equivalent of the Atkin’s Diet? Continue reading →
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20

Jun,

12

Culinery Team GB at Birds Nest Stadium, Beijing

“Are you in in hotel Baby? “

It’s 12:30am. I’m still awake.  My phone goes and it’s Jimmy.  Jimmy is the other co-presenter as well as Chakall, for China Food TV.  I like Jimmy. He’s a good man. But having him to stay in London in March was challenging!  He says, “in 30 minutes we have gin tonic”. He tells me he has bought the Gordon’s Gin.  It’s not. It’s Beefeater. He, like all Chinese can not pronounce the letter “r”.  That’s why I never cook rabbit in China, ‘cos it’s “Labbit”! Continue reading →

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