Homeward Bound

Up washed dressed, breakfasted - yes we are homeward bound. Will the Milano bag survive a second journey? Judy's didn't last the first leg!

The desire to be home is tinged with the sadness of leaving such a wonderful city where the people have been so friendly and helpful. There is a slight disappointment that the team have not had the opportunity to see more as most of the countries are staying over either here or in Hong Kong for well deserved respite.

Oh well - Majorca is only a few days away!


Journey to the airport was prompt and efficient as everything else this trip. Plane flight on Dragon Airlines a scorcher... Brian our volunteer guide for the week was at the hotel to ensure the efficient transfer of our party - he has been a blessing throughout the week, his english is excellent and I must take this opportunity to thank him and all the volunteers.

We are currently sitting in Hong Kong airport drinking coffee. As I look through the window you can see the mountains shrouded in cloud to the rear of the city. Again I have a feeling of frustration that I have travelled half way around the world but have had very little opportunity to see much of SE Asia.

This has been an excellent trip and at some point I will come back this way - Kathie be ready!

Inside the airport you could be anywhere in the world a you are surrounded by everything from Burger King to Gucci.

The prospect of the 11 1/2 hour flight is a little daunting although the entertainment system is good and I intend to sleep!


Well here we are on the plane 10 hours and 8 minutes form home. We have been fed and watered by Cathey Pacific and now it's time for entertainment and sleep! I'm not sure which of the 100 films, 350 TV shows 888 CD's or 22 radio channels to choose! Oh I forgot the 70 video games... How sad it would be if you'd seen them all!

Oh yes, after a virtual week of abstention from alcohol I succumbed to a plastic glass of red, it was actually french and tasted quite good.

The flight attendants have been extending frequent apologies that the laptop plugs are not working and have offered to recharge our laptops in business class - unfortunately I couldn't go with it to reap the benefits.

We are currently somewhere over northern China, an extremely mountainous region where you can see the vegetation giving way to bare rock! Are few more minutes and the entire horizon is desert. The scale of the dunes below is difficult to perceive from this height but they must be big. The desert seems to go on for ever, sometimes frozen in places and then occasionally broken by mountain ranges poking through and upwards.

See you soon.....

Day 6

Another beautiful mornining here in in Kaohsiung. Sun is up and it looks warm outside already. In someways I am disappointed that this experience is coming to an end. The judging has been a wonderful opportunity on the World stage and hopefully I have made the right decisions.

I am disappointed that we haven't had more opportunity to explore Kaohsiung. It is such a rich mix of old and modern, or ordinary and unusual. The people have been delightful and some of the most welcoming I have ever had the privilage to meet.

Well the final event is the Men's Group and it would seem the competition is between China and Great Britain - let battle commence.

From the start it was going to be difficult for the GB lads to turn around the marks lost in mass and maturity and despite excellent routines that were undoubtedly technically the best the Gold went to China by a slim margin. The Spelthorne lads can hold their heads high and be proud of thir achievement to take Silver in front of the Ukraine and Bulgaria.

After the DMT competition and awards ceremony Judy and myself headed out for downtown Kaohsiung and a wander along the miles of shops that make up this incredible city.

Can't believe the number of shops dedicted to selling CD's and DVD's -

Day 5

Despite a late night and a long day I found it really difficult to sleep. You seem to be in a permanent state of of half consciousness. Again I dropped of to hear the alarm go what seemed like minutes later - a definite case for the use of snooze.

I felt the panels worked very well yesterday although at times execution judges were reluctant to apply the full range of deductions and I had to request marks to go down. This was important to ensure the correct rank overall. Today is another day and with a new panel. Looking at the training days Russia should win the women's groups and I think Ukraine the men's pairs but it will all come down to the performance on the day. Belarus looked a certain to win the women's pairs and then through it away with an error in the final. Perhaps the biggest surprise yesterday was that Russia failed to medal! They will be determined to change things today.

Judy has problems with the wireless connection in her room and has to sit in the entrance hall to the room with the door open to get a signal.

We had planned to visit a Pagoda that is visible from our hotel and have just found out that it is the local cemetery - time to change the plans!

Another excellent day for the brits with Bronze in MP, Silver in WG and a silver in MT.

By the time the comp finishes all you are ready for is bed! Then there is the trek back to the hotel, shower and just crash. The last few days have been exhausting.

I have been told by Claire that the Committee think Handy Varley is doing a good job. Must meet this guy sometime!

Too tired to write more - good luck the Men's Group tomorrow!

Goodnight

Day 4 Competition Starts

Again a good nights sleep and I feel I have adjusted to the time zones, I hope the gymnasts have.

This morning is one of those awkward times where you are almost on hold. Need to be at the arena for 2.00 p.m. and so timing transport to the catering centre and then on to the arena needs to be built in to our arrangements. There is not enough time to visit anywhere and so we are really just hanging around the hotel for a couple of hours. I might go for a run....

From the hotel window there is just a sea of high rise with older buildings spread throughout. The road traffic is unelievable with mopeds being by far the most popular form of transport. The record to date is five people on one moped, mom,dad and the three children including one sitting on the handle bars!

The mopeds are a law unto themselves. If the traffic lights are against then they simply turn down a zebra crossing and pretend to be a pedestrian and there seems to be no logic in whhich direction they go in the flow of traffic.





The Brits did superbly well in todays competition with both the Mixed Pair and the Women's Pair picking up bronze medals. An excellent start to the event.

Tomorrow is the turn of the Men's Pairs and the Women's Groups.

Late finish at the competition arena and so we went for a meal great Tepanyaki. Taxi back to the hotel and now its time for bed, I'm shattered!

BUT we won the cricket at Lords!

Day 3

Just when you thought you were over the jet lag it hits you like a brick in the back of the head. Could I sleep lsast night - NO. Drifted in and out of semi-consciousness throughout the night to finally fall into a deep sleep and miss the alarm. Up showered,dressed and ready for breakfast in 10 minutes. Breakfast was very similar to yesterday with a good range and choice.

The bus times are a bit dodgy as we have to leave on the 8:00 a.m.to ensure we are at the venue for our meeting at 10.00. But the arena has been transformed over night and is now set up and ready to go. Looking good.

Judges meeting was just dragging a bit when the Committee announced me as the CJP for the event! Another brick around the back of the head... at least it gives Judy a break from the stresses of another major event and she has been extremely supportive.

The rest of the day was spent coralled in a room checking tariff sheets along with the difficulty judges finally to escape some time after four.

I understand the team trained well and that preparations for competition are going well.

Back to the hotel to drop off judging papers and then off to the catering centre for dinner. By the time we get back that willbe the evening gone!

The people in Kaohsiung are extremely friendly, helpful and hospitable. You only have to stop and look at a map and someone walks upto offer help! Even walking on the streets you never feel threatened although you do feel continually starred at!

Day 2 Saturday

Well can you believe it....

Slept really well and woke up cold! The air conditioning is working overtime! Pulled back the curtains to let the sun burst through - the sun, what sun! Grey skies with thick lumpy clouds throwing out lots of water.... yes it's raining. The only day that we have free and it's chucking it down.

It's a little strange thinking at home you are all mostly in bed as we are eight hours ahead and just getting ready for the start of the day.

Well there is only one thing to do - go in search of breakfast - will it be noodles? Only time will tell. Watch this space...

Just about to go and had a copy of the Tapei Times delivered to the door and it's in english!

Breakfast quite good - although not quite sure about the steamed cauliflower and broccoli. Refuelled and ready for the day.

Just found out that there are only 3 of us qualified to be CJP could be a busy competition for either Judy or myself.

A walk around Lotus Park to start the day and a visit to the Tiger and Dragon Towers - modern traditional buildings a bit like Xen meets Disney.

We all met up for lunch and then walked down to the Arena to support Francesca in the Rhythmic event.

A quick visit on the underground to the main arena and then back to evening meal, again a great choice, I settled for the egg fried rice with salmon and scrambled eggs with chinese chives. An excellent variety.

A visit to the night market at Rueifong where the greatest variety of cheap and cheerful could be found along with anything that could be served on a stick. Ducks heads, pigs feet, squids and bits that just shouldn't really be served at all let alone deep fried in batter!

Again we navigated the underground to get a close as we could back to our hotel and then a short taxi ride to the Metropolitan. Tomorrow is an early start with judges meetings and no doubt tariff sheet checking along with the final preparations for the competition.

Highlights of the day - Judy in a tigers mouth! See the photo....

井可能您相信它…. 真正地睡觉的井和叫醒了寒冷! 空调超时运转! 向后拉让太阳的帷幕通过破裂-太阳，什么太阳! 与把许多水扔出去的厚实的多块的云彩的灰色天空…. 是it' s下雨。 唯一的天我们任意有和it' 轻拍它的s下来。 It' 因为我们是前面八个小时和准备好天的开始， s奇怪的一点认为在家您全部主要在床上。 那里井只是要做的一件事-去寻找早餐-它将是面条？ 只日久见人心。 观看这空间… 去有Tapei时代的拷贝被提供到门和it' s用英语! 早餐相当好-，虽然不相当肯定关于蒸的花椰菜和硬花甘蓝。 加油和准备在天。 发现的有仅3我们合格是CJP可能是Judy或我自己的繁忙的竞争。 在开始的莲花公园附近的步行天和参观对老虎和龙耸立-现代传统大厦象Xen会见迪斯尼。我们为午餐所有见面了然后走下来到竞技场支持节奏性事件的Francesca。在地下的一次快的参观对主要竞技场然后回到晚餐，再一个巨大选择，我为蛋炒饭安定了用三文鱼和炒蛋用中国香葱。 优秀品种。到夜市场的一次参观在最巨大的品种便宜和快乐可能与任何一起被找到在棍子可能服务的Rueifong。 低头头、猪脚、的乌贼和位; t更不用说真正地服务在面团油炸的! 再次，因为我们可能回到我们的旅馆然后短的出租汽车乘驾给城市居民，我们驾驶地下得到关闭。 明天是与检查与最后的准备一起的法官会议和无疑义关税板料的一个早开始竞争。天的聚焦-在的Judy老虎装腔作势地说! 看见照片….

Day 1 The Journey

A clear run down the motorway to Heathrow and I was there in plenty of time. Slowly the party arrived and we moved through the security and almost straight onto boarding. The flight to Hong Kong although long, 11 1/2 hours, the Cathay Pacific food and entertainment was excellent. Into HK and 1 1/2 hours stop over before the flight to Taiwan. HK look impressive with the high rise towers spread all down the coast.

The flight into Kaihsuing was good although on a small aircraft and yet another breakfast although this time it was noodles... Transfer from the airport seemed a little slow and once here the usual delays in accreditation were innevitable.

The local temperature is 30 C with 95% humidity - a lttle warm to say the least.

Judges accomodation excellent - you've just got to see my room and bathroom!

Everyone tired but need to adjust asap to new time zones.

We intend to head up to the stadium for a meal at six and then back for an early night. Can't wait to see the city in the dark, there is so much neon it must glow. Look for the pictures to be added later.

Just about to try the Oolong tea.

Tea was quite nice!

Time to unpack, shower and generally rest for a bit before heading off to the stadium for food.

Slight disadvantage is the the meal hall is about 30 minutes from the hotel, depending on traffic that could make the journey anywhere from 20-25 to 35-40 minutes. Food was good with a fair variety of rice, pasta, chicken etc.

Our journey back was a little more problematic as we couldn't find a coach going back to our hotel. Gave up in the end and three os us shared a taxi for 250 new Taiwan dollars, that's just under £5.00 and we were back in just over 10 minutes!

Tired no exhausted everyone headed for bed in the hope of a good nights sleep.