History Tour to China and Vietnam
China Tour Report back
The History/Cultural Tour to China and Vietnam was without doubt a hugely valuable and enjoyable experience for all who were privileged to go.
It is very difficult to try and describe in detail the range of experiences that we all enjoyed - but these were some of the wonderful activities and sights to which we were exposed.
The crowds of Chinese in Tiananmen Square
Centuries Old Palaces of Chinese architecture
The experience of walking on the Great Wall
Ascending 492 metres in a half a minute to be in the highest building in Shanghai
Bartering in Chinese!
Swimming and boating in Hulong Bay - a World Heritage site
Trying to understand how and why communism has an appeal!
Cycling and Rickshaw rides through the old town in Hanoi
The reverence in which Mao Zedong and Ho Chi Minh are held
The vastness of the Mekong delta
The beauty and humility of the Vietnamese folk
Assortments of street cuisine, with little explanation
Snake wine
Crawling on hands and knees through the Cu Chi tunnels
And the laughter and singing of the students in a karaoke club!
Thanks to the students who made the trip a memorable one, and also to the staff:
Mrs Middlebrook for the organisation and her experience as a traveller; Mr Creese for his leadership and ever- efficient pre-trip administration; Mr Renard for his energy, wisdom and humour; Mrs Webb for her support, enthusiasm and encouragement of the students; Mrs Heunis for her example on how to thoroughly enjoy foreign experiences and for Mrs Kruiskamp for her medical support and her passion for making the most of all the experiences on offer.
A more detailed report, as well as photo's will be displayed on this website shortly
Thursday 18 August
It's been another busy 2 days on tour in China!
Our last day in Beijing was another full one, which started early as we needed to check out of our hotel. With bags safely packed into the bus, we headed off to our first stop at the Beijing Zoo, where we saw the giant pandas. Then we visited the magnificent Summer Palace in the centre of Beijing, where we explored the grounds and went on a short boat cruise of the lake. We viewed the Lama Temple, the most important Buddhist Temple outside of Tibet. A rickshaw tour of the Hutong - the traditional old part of Beijing - finishing at the Bell Tower where we were introduced to a number of different types of tea.
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Finally we headed for the train station for our 14 hour sleeper train trip to Shanghai. The train trip was quite an experience, and one which most seemed to enjoy.
On arrival in Shanghai, everyone was drenched in an ill-timed thunderstorm! After freshening up at the hotel, we visited the Shanghai Museum, and the World Financial Towers, the world's second highest building and highest observation deck (on the 100th floor).
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Then there was a shopping trip to Nanjing Road, and dinner at a local restaurant with the other group. Finally we enjoyed an evening cruise on the river where we saw the beautifully lit city at night.
Tomorrow we continue exploring Shanghai!
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Monday 15 August started with a visit to the Jade Factory, and then proceeded to the highlight of the day, the Great Wall! We hiked up the Wall (through the crowds and the mist) and some of the boys and girls made it all the way to the 9th tower at the top of the mountain (for the rest of us, the 4th tower was sufficient!). The group proceed on to the Secret Way at the Ming Tombs and thereafter returned to Beijing and visited the Bird's Nest, the 2008 Olympic Stadium.
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60 students in two travel groups leave for a 14 day trip to China and Vietnam on the 11th and 12th August.
Their first stop is Beijing were they will explore many of the historic sites, including a trip to the Great Wall, The Forbidden City, Tianenman Square, the Ming Tombs and the Summer Palace as well as taking in a few local cultural experiences. The group will also visit Shanghai for a couple of days taking in the modern city’s exciting shopping and high-rise buildings. A trip down Nanjiing Road as well as visiting the World’s Financial Tower are part of the ‘treats’ in Shanghai.
A ‘short’ flight to Hanoi where the groups will enjoy a trip to Halong Bay (a world heritage site), a two-hour bicycle trip through past-and present Hanoi, as well as the Water Puppet Show are a few of the exciting ventures. A final oriental city is that of Ho Chi Minh City, where a floating market on the Mekong Delta awaits the students, as well as a trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels.
The tour will attempt to expose all to a taste of the burgeoning Chinese economy; their extraordinary history and the exciting foreign culture of the Orient.
