Fearmongers and doomsayers will do that about anything. My personal favorite was the video showing "dead bodies" just lying on the floor of a hospital in Wuhan-dead bodies with *pillows* or, as they are known in other places "visiting family taking a nap".

The correct behavior of a government during an epidemic is to shut everything down. That China has in fact shut everything down is the correct behavior. But people have problems both with the shutting down and the lack of a response which is kind of maddening.

Hope you are safe. Given the conflicting "news" about the situation in China, it is difficult to know what to believe, other than everyone is being lied to about the true nature of the situation.

I'm stuck in Thailand

Marian: what effects have the covid-019 quarantines had on you? Hope you are safe!

Brilliant!! Awesome birthday treat!!

March 2021 (my 40th birthday), massive crazy party in Amsterdam with as many of my friends as I can convince to join me. 6 weeks biking to somewhere in the middle of Europe followed by a flight back to China to handle my residence permit (roughly one month). Then back to wherever I left my bike and continuing east through Russia and Mongolia (*finally* going to make it to Ulan Batar and visiting the Mongolian National Cycling Team). Got to go almost all the way east to Beijing to hit a border crossing that welcomes third country passport holders, then west across Inner Mongolia and through parts of Ningxia and Gansu that I didn't do last time (with various visits to areas I liked in 2018), Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou, Guangxi, Hainan.

Remind me your when and where plans?

You'll be right! Apart from anything else, you have all of us. Lots of European knowledge on this website if you need it!! 'Twill be awesome 🤩

Thank you very much.
I'm actually a little nervous about what the upcoming Europe tour is going to be like without having the cushion of knowledge I've gotten used to....

Thanks for writing up your trip! I have always really enjoyed your writing and finding out more about areas of China through your commentary. Your language ability and knowledge makes such a difference - being able to translate signs and slogans and interpret some of why they are interesting/rare is brilliant!! All great humour!! Look forward to next time 😀. Catherine

You're welcome. :)

So glad that I swallowed my coffee before the last line.

(typing before reading the entry):

So looking forward to this chapter. :)

I'll find you a picture of me in the dress, okay...

I wish you took a selfie once in a while, especially in sparkly purple dress!