Travels with Kathryn

I knew that at some point I would be able to complete the beginning of the Silk Road, i.e.. China. The generally agreed starting point for the Silk Road is Xi’an so if we just overlook the part that I am ending at the start, a year later, then I will have completed the whole of the Silk Road. Obviously, when I tell the story, it will be a continuous narrative.

Anyway, last week I left my job (I managed a whole year) and am deep in interviews for another one (yes, I do hope to return to the prestigious-ness of being a lawyer) and have been working on important things including:

• A Chinese Visa – My application has been approved, and my passport is at the Visa Application Centre and I can hopefully pick it up on Monday (fingers crossed everybody).
• Packing – I feel I have left my packing a little late as instead of my usual packing a month before, its 5 days to go and this is where I am:

• Tech Stuff – For those of you who are familiar with the Great Chinese Firewall, will know that in China, many things are blocked- Google, Microsoft, Meta, etc. I have therefore been researching the best vpn to use, and there is no consensus, and even when there is, China is very good at then blocking it. So, in addition to the vpn, I am getting prepared by downloading maps, reconfirming everything I can in advance, etc. It may also be a slightly added complication when it comes to updating this blog…
• Tour/no Tour – for the first part of the trip, i.e., the silk road section of Xi’an to Kashgar, I will be with a tour (we know I do love a tour) and then the second half (in the South East) I’ll be on my own, but still looking at if I want to arrange some day tours in some of these places.
• The Disney Question – so I am ending my trip in Shanghai. Shanghai is also the home of a Disney Park – to go or not to go. That is the question?

In addition to the actual China preparations, I am also working hard on having a job to come back to and had 4 interviews this week, and 2 before my flight on Wednesday. I am very focused, particularly as one needs a job in order to fund travelling!

Anyway, all being well, I shall be boarding my 11.50hr Air China flight to Shanghai on Wednesday, then changing for a 2.35hr flight to Xi’an. Please await the blog posts.