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Hello everyone from London, U.K. - I have finally returned to the greatest city of all (in the same clothes I left in!). I have seen blue skies, rolling fields, brick houses, taken a ride on the London Underground, stuffed my self with Weetabix, endulged in PG Tips, munched my way through several of my Cadbury's favourites, blasted out Heart 106.2, and caught up with lots of you lot too - I have had a whirlwind few days - it's great to be back!
A quick flick back to Beijing first - it sure feels a world away now. In contrast to the military airfield I flew into, Beijing Capital Airport was awesome and I arrived super early on Wednesday morning. I hadn't checked in online and wasn't surprised that the Chinese had stolen all the window and aisle seats. However, after a long wait at the check-in desk, I was handed my boarding pass and told I had been upgraded to economy PLUS - ha ha, I couldn't believe it! My amazing BA friend Laura Queen of the Skies had got me an upgrade! What a way to finish my travels! So after a run around the Duty Free shops loading up the most obscure Chinese food I could find with my last 150 Yuen, I took my throne aboard a British Airways plane, yes it was 100% British - aaahhh take me home! There were four rows of posh seats, mine was a beast beside the window with acres of legroom, a big tv screen, British food, a suitably posh non-Chinese companion, and best of all curtains which shut out the foreign riff-raff in the back of the plane! I smiled in glee as they passed my throne! The flight was awesome, I saw Ulan Bataar (Mongolia) from the window and the wilds of Russia before we reached the UK in style - flying right up and over the Thames, I saw the London Eye, Kew, Wembley - it was so exciting! Despite having waved to my Dad from the plane, he was at the airport with my Ma which was a nice surprise!
So, the highlights? Two weeks in Sydney and the Red Centre with Mum and Dad, New York - the first four days of my travels were unbelievable, Bryce Canyon in Utah U.S., San Francisco, Fraser Island in Queensland Australia, my fishing holiday on North Stradbroke Island with Brad & Nicky, exploring the SW corner of Australia with Catherine & Simon, a week in Hong Kong - I had a blast, the World Expo in Shanghai, the Great Wall of China - a worthy Wonder of the World. And New Zealand - where do I begin? Nelson - I spent 3 months working and living there and discovered a place I will always be attached to, Abel Tasman NP, Punakaiki on the West Coast, cycling in Otago and Stewart Island - a primeval paradise and my favourite stop of my travels. And the not so good bits? There really weren't many, but in every one I could either laugh or cry, and every time I laughed. The warzone at Guangzhou train station, facing the wilderness on my bike in Otago, and the storm in Shanghai stand out but when I look back, really I can only laugh :).
So after I have replenished the bank balance, the big question - where to next? I have learnt a lot along the road and have many ideas as to where my future lies, primarily that there is a phenomenol world out there and it is too big a place for me to root myself here immediately. Returning to New Zealand is my number one dream, after which I would love to follow the Silk Route to India and explore the southern states of the U.S. In the meantime I need to get out in my own backyard - London and the U.K. It is so true that you never value a place until you are away, the U.K. is a stunning place and I have barely scratched it's surface - I think a Saints' away season ticket will do the trick!
So, finally, that's it, the last chapter in my Globetrotting epic! I can't believe I am at an end after the number of blogs I have written, but each has been a joy to write and a valuable way for me to share the best year of my life with you all. I thank everyone so much for following me along the road, I really am so grateful for the interest and enthusiasm you have all showed and delighted that you have enjoyed my essays so much!
Lastly, I feel ever so lucky to have had the opportunity and time in life to travel but I really would encourage everyone to see the world - there are many perceived barriers to travel but only two real ones - guts and determination. Remember, the world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page! The freedom of travel is indescribable, and I can't wait to regain that feeling the next time my pack is on my back - it will be soon and I'll let you know when!
Grace xx
PS. After my photo failures, I have uploaded 100 photos of my travels, a bit of a messy mixture but enjoy!
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