CHINA- how it all began....

Soooo i have new boyfriend well, hes not new but in terms of this blog he is (what can i say, i have been ever so slightly distracted... besides a long distance relationship takes work !) anyway.... he is at university in Nanjing, China (the former captial) studying mandarin so it provides the perfect excuse to go and see him whilst exploring the realms of one of the forthcoming BRIC fashion markets and supremely different cultures of the world



My limited experience with china began when i was around four or five and my vague memory recalls sitting in a dimly lit chinese restaurant in Yately, Hampshire with the willow patterned dishes and spoons and attempting to use chopsticks. This progressed to the Waterbeach (in cambridge) chinese takeaway next to The Village Green which was run by my chinese friend Zeeman Wan's family. My godmother used to refer to it as the chinky and it usually graced out lap trays on a saturday night. Nom nom. Other than several chinese buffets, new yorks little restaurant and an ever increasing undieing love for prawn crackers (M&S's own are my personal recommendation) i have a very limited knowledge of the place.

It has always been a place of intregee to me, a communist country... no facebook!!!, such a rich history and such beautiful silks and clothing however im not going to lie with only a few short days to go until i leave the thought of the place is beginning to terrfiy me...

all this aside i am going with an OPEN MIND and NO expectations woooo hooo

Here i come ChInA

3 things i think we should have in britain they have there

1) The quality of the lifts the ones in macy's are insanely quick



2) A box of extra things to try on in the changing room in victoria secret they provided you with a box of bras to try on of your size when you went in. These were all different colours, shapes and styles and encouraged you to try something different. It also meant if you didnt like anything you had brought in to the changing room, you woudnt necessarily have to go back to find something else to try on.



3) More deli type food stores these are such lovely places! and they embrace local produce of a good quality and have such a diverse range of one product who needs supermarkets !

Top ten recommendations for nyc !

1) Invest in a 3 day bus ticket !!! these things are a god send as a) it provides you with transportation, whenever you need it b) you get to see everything of interest you could possibly think of and c) you get to know little quirks of information that you wouldnt get if you were walking on your owm



2) Go up rockafella rather than empire state if you go up rockafella you are able to see the empire state and central park ! you get a ful view of manhatten and parts of new jersey and brooklyn its far better this way



3) Go up rockafella (in the winter) around 4:15 pm if you go up at this time you get to see the skyline during the day, at dusk and when its dark ! we got some amazing pictures of the sunset and it looks absolutely beautiful



4) Ask the locals on the best places to eat that arent so touristy we were introduced two fantastic little places that werent packed with tourists so we got to experience american culture at its best and meet some lovely people in the process



5) Befriend a someone in a small restaurant and keep going back there !they appreciate your loyalty and may even treat you to a few extras for free :)



6) Go to the rodeo if you have the opportunity it is a fantastic experience very fun and even if you dont stay for all of it you will have had an eventful and suprising evening



7) Go and see a sports match of some sort we went to see the knicks and like the rodeo you have to experience the american way of supporting. you my even get to see a cheesy proposal on the big screen !



8) Talk to the locals and see whether their are any events going on these wont be plagued by tourists and again you will get to experience something different we found out about the rodeo through talking to poilcemen



9) Plan your days it seems so obvious but we decided what we wanted to get done each day and then if we had time to spare would add things on as we went so we made sure we made the most of things. Its a small city however there is so much to do



10) finally go to central Park its amazing and i wish i had spent longer there to get a look around the whole thing. Even when it is absolutely freezing it was beautiful

continued last day

Met a really good looking guy called chris, however I looked unbelievably ruff like spotty teenager ruff and was sooo embarrased. we went to look on the floors & i was gutted that i hadnt saved money to go there as i saw some lovely things including a stunning Green cocktail dress. It was also depressing when walking around the homewear section i saw a young girl & her mum registering for wedding gifts & another planning invitations :(

So on the way out without a little, medium or large brown bag, we went to the homewear shop next to pottery barn which had a cookery demo going on which made me laugh as it reminded me of the last holiday or something with queen latifa & bridget jones with egg deshelling device.

SOOO the NBA store, which had some lovely people working on the till who again were interested in good old england. The store had so many things in from slippers to playing cards & a massive guy working on the door! Really wanted a t shirt but couldnt afford it :( but got souveniers for my brother and dad.

Moosyed on over to the LOVE sign which is something that RHianna wanted to see but was quite a good tourist shot. SO we then walked over to the plaza near rockafella to anthropologie! which is such an amazing store!

It had the best displays i had seen especially loved the british themed dining room, ooh and the four poster bed was gorgeous with the spindles- ooh & the the random animals around the store including the giraffe, fox, peacock & elephant. The displays were so innovative, clever & full they really captured me ! I ended up donating a bottle for the next lot of window displays & buying an oil jug to remind me of the place. It had random piles of door knobs & light switch covers.

We took our time looking over the iceskating rink which i was a bit gutted about not going on but i did promise mum we would go together. We went to theNBC studios shop to have a look around and it reminded me of the disney store with all the merchandise divided into the stores. We also went back over to times square & went to sbarros pizza which we had intended on going too on the first night & had a scrummy pizza for lunch. We then made our way back to the hotel slowly to the hotel stopiing at some souvigner shops & a jewellery shop where i got 2 pendants i glass and one pearl.

I also went to starbucks and purchased a starbucks mug which has an awsome design. Got back to the hotel & had to repack my bag to accomodate all the things that i had bought & it all managed to fit in with space i might like to add !Where as others were literally sitting on them, it was hilarious !It got to 5 30 & we packed up, got to the coach & i was so sad, it really hurt to leave as i love the city so much. We got to the airport & checked in really quickly dumped our bags at the scanner & ran to the shop to get sustenance as i was starving !A cereal bar really didnt fill me up but it needed to until the plane,

We sat in the departure lounge waiting & i sat writing my blog. i looked out the window & saw what i thought was an evil looking plane !It really was evil looking, everyone laughed at me as usual but they all came around to the idea eventually !Me and rhianna were really needing the loo so i fake ran whichwas a definate had to be there moment it really was but everytime rhianna sped up i started sprinting & then when she slowed down i ran in slow mo, was sooo funny !

So we were just about to board the plane when rhianna turned to me & says oh my god, do we get goody bags???? she was referring to the duty free bags of boxes of marlborough lights and lots of alcohol...I was like are you serious ???? haha

On the plane i ended up sitting next to mimi and a window which kept me fully entertained during the first hour and half when the inflight entertainment didnt work! Managed to get half an hour sleep luckily the entertainment started & by this time i was now filled with a delicious veggie canelloni, a healthy salad & some yummy melon for dessert. I swear they thing veggies are extremely health conscious or on a diet as meat eaters got a Gu chocolate & raspberry pot on the way out and a piece of millionaires flapjack thingd which was scrummy. This was accompanied by an even stronger vodka and orange than before. It was insanely strong even that didnt knock me out, so i watched fame which was pretty bad if im honest, not what i expected at all. I expected fr moe dancing like the original.

Took an awsome photo of the sun rising from my window, I actually loved it it was really peaceful. Mimi bless her forgot her passport as we got off the plane which she only realised after we got to the passport control desk! Poor girl had to treck back to get it. We collected our bags & the majority of people left to go home which gave me the idea to go home and rest. The coaches were half an hour late due to traffic & then they needed a break which gave us the oppertunity to get some food. I was majorily craving something green or at least healthy looking so i got a prawn salad & a litre of orange juice! M&S as well !i treated myself, its not just food its m&s food !!!

Last day 10th Jan 2010

Well today was the last day & we definately wanted to make the most of it-
Up to finish off packing but ended up packing a little carrier bag with bits to keep warm 'just incase' Took the bags down to reception & left abi our keys to check us out. As we wanted to get going !

Grabbed a quick muffin and cofee, sweatner & cranberry of course & headed on our way. Managed to get out the door by 9.30 which meant we had an hour and half until most of the shops opened. So we decided to walk up the right hans side of 5th Ave & take photos of the shop windows to get to central park, have breaky and then do the shops we needed to for research, the do the left handside on the way back.

All the stores we saw along 5th Ave put so much thought into shop displays, layout & in particular the windows. It was pure art work, exquisitly designed to leave a lasting imprint or entice buyers in. The creativity see was overwhelming in some areas. Working to entice customers in who may have not been able to shop there normally to spend a little to gain an experience & own a piece of a particular brand.

Walking along 5th Ave we saw the public library, slightly gutted that i didnt get to go inside but the building architecturally was absolutely phennominal. One thing just made this day as an overall day possibly theee best. Walking along after taking a very tourist looking photo, we saw Grand central Station. So not only did i get to see the sex in the city 'carrie jilted set' but i had images of madagascar animals particularly melvin running around !

From what looks like a pretty average builing from the exterior, concealed in the back streets, the interior did not fail to impress. Again Rhianna became thankful for yet another awsome sight I introduced her too (not that im being bgiheaded of course) I had imagined however the desk in the middle and the clock to be slightly bigger however it was still such a beautiful building. Shiney, grand yet tasteful and it made me smile extatically

Walking out, my mood had elevated immensly & it was obvious, I was singing all the way back to 5th Ave !

Back on track to the window shopping we can across Gucci whic is at the base of Trump Tower ("Gucci which is spelt like Gucki" friends haha) & decided to have a sneeky peek inside the Trump bit. Oh my goodness it was elaborate, ornate and there to show wealth that was for sure. it had indoor waterfall, gold, marble, spot lighting everywhere it was amazing but very showy offy !

Had to double check with one of the security guards what trump actually did....the conversation went something like this
Me: Excuse me, i was wondering whether you could help us. I know this is going to bevery embarrasing & a stupid question that i probably already know the answer too but could you remind me what donald trump actually does.... (of course i had no clue in the first place)
Security: Gives me the are stupid or something look & the oh my god did she seriously just ask that question stare and finally says a realter, hes an immensly famous home and buisness prosperity realter
Me: oh yes i remember now thank you for your help !& leave at a serious pace !

We headed to the apple mack store which is situated underneath the famous toy store FAO schwarz, we asked the greater on the door if he could suggest a place to eat a hearty american breakfast close by. Pondering for a while he suggests 2 delis down the street 2 blocks down.
Oh my lord, it was amazing very very bad and all I kept picturing the stupid flora proactive adverts about lowering cholesterol but oh my gwadddd it was soooo good. 3 massive pancakes with butter and maple cyrup, i also had a buttered plain bagel & eff muffin & 2 coffees to share ! felt like I had been initiated into the american dream club at this point.

So successfully caloriefied, we totted off to the infamous central park. Really wanted to get a horse ride around for a bit but at $30 for the first 15 mins and $10 every ten after i didnt quite have enough pennies to rub together to afford it.
So we walked towards central park zoo but didnt have time to go in but didnt have time to go in but you could actually see some of the animals such as the sea lions it again reminded me of the film madagascar in partiucalr the penguins "smile and wave boys, smile and wave" There was one sea lion clearly basking in the all the kiddies attention & was upright& proud on a little rocky bit. I was half expecting him start pulling some shapes like the lion alex does in the film. The sights you could see from the park however were again phenonimal. The contrast of the man made skyline towering above the seemingly natural park with trees entwining into the back drop was amazing.

Of course central park is man made in the sense it has been sculpted into the shape & levels by hand. Very much as if it were an actual piece of art. Quite ironic due to it pictureqsue, artistic feel.

The icerink inside made up for the fact I didnt get to see the lakes inside. Shame but probably a good thing oterwse probably would of burst out into a chessy enchanted disney song lol.

Omg totally forgot about the squirrel which were so close too which reminded me of the chipmunk thing in enchanted

so headed over to barneys, which was what i had expected Macy's to look a lot more like. It epitomised every designer store I had see, plain, elegant chic where the focus was on the pieces not the presentation like a gallery, pieces hung loosely & spaciously to gain full impact of the piece, it was to observe & take in the reason why you spend so much money on the piece. Very few sizes so as to imply exclusivity & luxury. Not cluttered pieces of art to puruz at your leisure. Seating was evem provided. Assistants were very attentive, no snobbery. Potentially trying to make sure we didnt do anything wrong but very nice.

One partiucular dress, flapperesque, gorgeous fully beaded wonderful awe inspiring craftsmanship. very heavy but extremely detailed. Price $4899!

The window displays made me laugh created using fortune cookies, a true dedication to mine & rhiannas eventful evenings in New York, it really made me smile immensly. So on the way to Bloomingdales we popped into the infamous pottery barn. Again such a friends moment with pottery barn, pheobe, ross & rachel. It was full of lovely things it really was which were at an ok price. It reminded me of a more upmarket infact no it had many similarities to Habitat I debated buying a reindeer piece for my mum, which i later went back & bought for my mum. As i didnt really find anything i could afford & easily take back in bloomingdales.

So we went to Bloomingdales & it was certainly a different atmosphere to Barneys more like a debenhams feel but with far more prestigious brands, infact the lobby area we walked into reminded me of a departure lounge with the individual shop like areas for brands such as Chanel, LV, mulberry etc. They were really pushing my perfume, again anothr flash back from friends with joey dressed up & fighting with the cowboy perfume pusher.... to be continued

10th Jan (The final day) creative writing piece

Creative writing piece on the train on my way home to catch up from the jet lag !



Nyc the big apple the big city full of hopes and dreams "can make you feel brand new lights will inspires you lets hear it for new york"

Brooklyn tribecker omg so much money 709 dollars plus money i have rhianna crazy amount truely crazy all the lovely things however that i have bought. rockafella !immense! all the way views scenic views never ending miles of skyscraper manmade beauty skillful for it to achieve such stairs when man made, Grand central station, central park the zoo omg madagascar on both occasions melvin an absolutely character love schwimmer central perk with friends, friends references 24 7 living the episodes baby on the bus, american buses, pastrami from deli, "wasiting good pastrami omg im my dad"wearning all of his clothes we should so we can fit things in bags planet hollywood pocket full of sunshine awsome song drowning conversations our shout out sirts night out! 5 minutes

Another day & another crandberry muffin to start it. I really am starting to aquire a taste for coffee. There is hope for me becoming a true new yorker yet !

So we ended up getting of a stop to late to walk to the 'ground zero museum'.... So we ended up walking through Soho to the edge of the Meat packing district which turned out to be an awsome walk.

Started at Prada with the awsome concave arch with the models. We then walked up to Bleaker St which allowed us to find some amazing little boutiques & deli's, it was such a lovely place to live in terms of the area and the lifestyle.

We went into 2 deli's, Amy's Bread which had a vast variety of a bread and pastries and then Murrays appeared. It was like a place where people of come dine with me would go to make themselves look good. or .what i would imagine a french deli to look like. Absolutely full of cheese, salami, pastrami and chirizo...literally any type your could think of. The cheese straws were yummy !

We came across some little boutiques in the cutest little shops in this quaint area on Bleaker, including Ralph Lauren, Baby Marc Jacobs & Mulberry.

So eventually we got to a place where the museum should have been (9th Ave 14th street) and we couldnt see it! so we went into the mac store & he even lookd it up on the net with one of the stores computers & still didnt know what we were on about until he told us that it was down by the site. We had walked for an hour to place that didnt even exist !!

So we walked back along the route of the tour bus which had taken. It wasnt so bad though as i got to have a closer look at the 'impromtue' memorial by the local school children made from tiles which was so touching & beautiful.

We ended up missing two buses as they passed us so we decided to take our time and enjoy more of the sights. The mini arch de triumph with the christmas tree was beautifully lit up by the sun. Rhianna however was more interested in the different coloured colleflowers growing in the base of the trees along 5th Ave. In fairness they were slightly odd !

i introduced rhianna to Urban outfitters & it turned out to be a happy and joyess occasion where im sure a fine friendship will grow !It was here i gave up a life long dream of owning a pair of uggs & instead chose to invest in yet more stylish pieces, including a $ 68 toupe bag, a skirt for $8 and a brown hat for $4.99.

A delpaidated shoe warehouse captured our imaginatin and had it been busy would of made me think of a desiginer sale, however prices were high so we left the forigers to there work.

A mobile cupcake van certainly grabbed our hungry eyes. At $1.50 per mini cupcake & a continued wait for the bus, me having the breaking strain of a kit kat emerged, & i indulged in 2 red velvet & the creamiest butter icing as well as 1 choclate and vanilla. they were absolutely gorgeous !

Hopping onto the bus we had yet another crackers tour guide. VERY health and safety concious. Jumped off at Allen Street 14th street to go to katz Diner. (the process of ordering in pictures)

The grilled cheese sandwich was ok but sickly, chips & a cheescake which was yummy too but again so sickly. managed to finish the tour& then hopped off ready for uptown. Whilst we were waiting for the bus we went to the m&m store which was immense !absolutely filled to the brom with m&ms

Bus around uptown saw amazing, so glad we did it reallu otherwise we wouldnt have seen any of it. The tour guide was brilliant - a minister/ social/ youth worker/ lecturer of history/ a londerner and a keen jazz man !

Saw trump tower, twin towers in terms of the ones where jay z and beyonce live, yoko ownos house, american natural history museum, the guggenheim, harlam, the place where ella fizgerald was discovered and adopted, the public library, churches everywhere, the westside story playground where the fight happened and many more!

The tour guide pointed out a bear which sits in a window along 5th Ave which changes its dress ,according to season holiday or event occuring, it was a nice litle quirk to know something different from what others would know.

Coming to the end of the tour i realise her sounded like Bruce forsyth!

Between the night and uptown tour we went to american eagle which reminded me again of jack wills, we went to our chinese again for the last time :( it was very upsetting !we had a picture taken with the owner to capture the moment of satisfied yummy goodness

Whilst waiting for our bus we had touristy photos taken on times square which along with the ones we took on the night time tour were awsome !

Times square - hudson river - meatpacking district - ground zero - battery park - pier 17 - china town - manhatten bridge - brooklyn - skyline of manhatten ( the view from here was absolutely stunning i couldnt even begin to put into words how beautiful it was)- ladys mile - 5th Ave - 6th ave - macys !

the tour guide was yet another nutter, potentially drunk, throw in a smokers cough and excentricity at its best and you get him ! Finished off the night with the hit show Jersey shore !good old fashioned american trash telly with schnookie, ronnie viny sam and the rest !