Christmas in the sun

Decided to spend Christmas in the sun this year, so off to the Malaysian island of Langkawi for the holiday week. Rebecca and Claire flew out from London and we met up at the spectacular Tangjun Rhu resort, on the northern tip of the island, overlooking the Andaman Sea. Malaysia has been battered by heavy thunderstorms and floods over the last few weeks which have caused significant damage across parts of the country, so we weren't expecting good weather, but luckily the skies were blue and clear and the temperature in the high-20s.

It felt a little weird to spend the Christmas holidays lying on the beach drinking mango juice and catching the rays instead of chasing round the shops buying presents and stocking up on provisions....but, somehow, we coped.




We spent the week reading, sleeping late, relaxing and eating good food. Just what we needed after a very busy & tiring year and a welcome escape from the Beijing winter winds that begun in earnest at the beginning of the month.

Christmas in China is, not surprisingly, a muted affair. Mostly its ignored but some places get into the decorating spirit big time - like my office building which really got carried away with a massive tree, lights - the works. What's all that about?

And this department store Santa...what did the kids make of him? Who do they think he is?

Dad & Mum pay a visit

And enjoy some of the highlights of Beijing - a Sunday walk in the park for some Tai Chi and a sing-a-long with the locals; a pedicure; the Great Wall and, of course, some Da Dong famous Beijing roast duck.

View from my window..first snow

Woke to grey, dull, Monday morning in Beijing to see the first snow of the season fall. Traffic snarled up and everyone late into the office. Makes you feel right at home.


















Today's paper said that Beijing's population had reached 17.5M.

The local government is building new subway lines, criss-crossing the city, as fast as they can. The north-south number 5 line opened last month and ticket prices were reduced by a third to 2RMB (0.20 euro cents) for a single journey anywhere on the network, to encourage greater usage.



But the Beijingers love for the car runs deep with more than 1,000 new cars sold every day. It's amazing that anyone makes it into work at all.