China, Chi-nay, Far Away

(Blog post title from the Greg Brown song, first heard at the Stan Rogers Festival in 2003)

For as long as I can remember, there were two places in the world that held a particular fascination above all others - the Great Pyramids at Giza and the Great Wall of China. Ticked off the Egypt box last November, and now, suddenly, I find myself about to head out to Gatwick for this afternoon's flight to Beijing, full of expectation, yet uncertain quite what to expect from this most foreign of countries, a two day hike and camping on the Wall and much more ahead.

The past 10 days or so in London were simply marvelous, catching up with friends and just generally relaxing in preparation for Asia - one of the few times I have been able to visit this favourite of cities without feeling on a rushed agenda to see and do things. As always, here is a link to a few photographs that illustrate a bit the days past, culminating in a great Canada Day at Trafalgar with some cans of... wait for it... Harvey Wallbanger, and the Strongbow. The Globe theatre has been as magical as ever, and watching Murray steamroll Ferrero yesterday while packing, it was obvious how lucky I was to score Monday's centre court tickets for that epic 5-setter against Wawrinka.

Amidst the highlights of Wimbledon and the Shakespeare by the Thames, also had the notable pleasure of catching Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan in Beckett's great "Waiting for Godot". Wonderfully done, I had to smile near the end, when Patrick Stewart as Vladimir says softly, "... habit is a great deadener." There in a few words, perhaps, is as good an explanation of the motive for these 6 months on the road as any - to escape from customary habit, and seek out the so many new sights and stories available on the road, if only as a way to pass the time.

There should be much to occupy and divert and overrun the mind in the 9 weeks or so on the far side of the world, as I make my way slowly down from Beijing to Singapore. As has been said many times in the course of travels past and present, I can't wait to see what happens next.