On Tour

Hey People,

So we have arrived in London, Was unable to update this little site, due to China's little date with Marxism. Now back on track and running smoothly. But not much to tell about London yet, only arrived last night, very late after a 25hour slog from China.

Caught up with Dave Powles and Helen, going to catch up tonight for a few drinks which should be cool. Off to Duncan and Leytons place very soon.

Right, will update with something a lot more interesting later on.

Cheers
Ben

Elderstatesman Tour

Super Happy fun time Asian Adventure

Nee-Hao from Dawa bay, southern china. Or as the expats call it......." the armpit of China" for very obvious reason.

We are currently staying with Bens Mum & Step dad in this far flung region of China as far away off the beaten tourist track as you are ever likely to get, which in a funny way is part of it's unique charm . It's so far flung we only have 1 KFC in the whole town.

Well team duChats & I have been away now for over a week and half so I guess it's time to inform you all that:

A) we are still alive and
B) we are not in jail.
Mum and dad you can stop reading now (if you haven't already)

Before I delve into many of our wondrous tails from the east, Ben & I would like to make a solemn promise to you our friends & family. We promise to write meaningful blogs from a slightly satirical and cynical elder-statesmans perspective. Therefore in the upcoming years you will not see outlandish statements such as things like this is the best thing I have ever done ever.., or this place is the most awesome place on earth, nor will you hear inane dribble about meaningless subjects or about people that you either
a) don't know or
b) don't care about.
Hopefully our emails will enlighten and inform.
Now that I have got that off my chest.......the tour started with Me, Scuzza & Clumpfoot going to the best postoffice in the world........

The journey of self discovery? scrub that. The elder-statesmans world tour started in Hong Kong. The best way to describe this place is the city of smells (unfortunate for us only 10% being pleasant). This place is like "Howick on speed ". Those who have been here would agree that place is very westernized. Everything is done at a million miles per hour to the point where are tour bus drove past this bum living on the side of the road in the trees talking on his Cell phone? We did all the main touristly things as you do , but we were pretty glad to move on to the slower pace of China.

After a couple of days to First stop was up north to the capital Beijing to see the likes of the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square the forbidden city and more temples ,palaces and markets than you could shake a chop stick at. Unfortunately the night life didn't match the fantastic day time sights and duChats and I, out of pure boredom (& drunkenness it has to be said) ended up hijacking the stage at some bar and singing the worst rendition off Ice Ice Baby, Hotel California and The national athem until we mercyifully threw ourselves out of the bar. Although One Asian guy wanted to know if he could buy my CD. Such a polite race of people.

From there we worked are way into central China to a place called Xian to see the unofficial 9th wonder of the world, the terricotta warriors as well as many more temples and palaces. We were also luckily to see the 10th wonder of the world Utter Chinese incompetence. Myself & Ben after buying some DVD's (of dubious origin's it must be said), we requested the hotel to send up a DVD player to view these purchases on. We then sat in utter amusement as 10 people over a 2 and a half hour period, firstly couldn't work out how to plug it in and secondly that the thing was clearly broken.

Anyway guys it's time to wrap this thing up. Ben and I move on to old blighty on Thursday so if you are over there brace yourself.............(for some super boring yarns)

Otherwise where ever you are in the world
Steve

Twas the Night Before

Start you engines people. The Elder statesman tour is coming to a town near you. Lock up you daughters, pets and the elderly, Harbott and duChats are all set for tour kickoff tomorrow morning. We are off to Hong Kong for the first pitstop of our journey. Some call it a journey of self discovery, but I believe that has all ready been covered in our youth. So for lack of a better term, moving forward we will call it a Voyage, a mighty Voyage to the corners of this earth....Sorry am getting a bit excited.

So we bid farewell to our friends and family, say good bye to the neighbor I never really knew, a wave to Apu at the dairy, maybe even a high five with the postie. One things for sure, The profits at the Copper Room (in Takapuna) will plummet.... the DB and Lion lads won't have to hide there 'Anonymous' Sales rep (AKA Doughnut King) from their managers anymore....and the cabbies will once again be safe. Yeah, i'd say things are looking up for Auckland....

Buggar it.......Exit NZ stage left. See you in a few years.