China 2000

You may ask why would I choose to go to China in 2000? There are several reasons:

• I went in 1998 and had such a good time.
• I wanted to see the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River before the area gets flooded in 2003 when the Three Gorges Dam is completed.
• I wanted a special holiday for my 30th birthday.
• I wanted to learn and practice my Mandarin.
• I wanted some good Chinese food.

Here’s my route (Click on the map to see a larger version):

I’ve never done so much preparations for a holiday:

• I started doing my research on the various places in China back in 1999—- guidebooks, internet, travel brochure,… you name it and I have probably read it.
• I spent most of this year learning Mandarin in the hope that I would not be struggling with the language—- after all, most people there don’t speak English, and I really should make an effort in speaking Chinese.
• I booked the holidays 6 months in advance as I didn’t want any disappointments…. (but unfortunately despite being so organised and well planned ahead, the tour operator let me down and somehow ruined my holidays.)