That was 2012

With the 366 days of 2012 nearly at an end, here is my brief pictorial round up of 2012

Sunset over the Mull of Kintyre from Blackwaterfoot.

January 2012
2012 started on the Isle of Arran. Although New Year’s Day was sunny, the weather turned resulting in being stormbound the day we had planned to leave the island.

MV Caledonian Isles stormbound at Brodick.

Mid afternoon the weather had calmed down with blue skies over Goat Fell.

Afternoon blue skies above Goat Fell.

• More on the wet and windy start to 2012 on the Isle of Arran
• January 2012 blogs

The following day with Ardrossan not able to receive ferries, due to storm damage, we took the diverted ferry to Gourock.

February 2012
Having got a cut price voucher we visited the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Centre at Barnes. Developed on the site of a redundant waterworks it provides habitat for numerous birds both resident and migratory.

Strutting Geese at Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, Barnes, London.

• More pictures from the visit to the London Wetland Centre
• February 2012 blogs

March 2012
During Lent the Die Harder sculpture was erected in the sanctuary of Southwark Cathedral. Artist, David Mach, used wire coat hangers in this depiction of the crucified Christ.

“Die Harder” at Southwark Cathedral by David Mach.

March also featured Theatre South Productions presenting the Tim Rice and Elton John musical, Aida

• Images from the production of Aida by TSP

April 2012
A church in Edinburgh I have been meaning to visit for many years is Old St Pauls. I got the opportunity at the end of April, singing evensong there with RSCM Scottish Voices.

Old St Pauls, Edinburgh.

• Pictures from the visit to Old St Pauls, Edinburgh
• April 2012 blog

May 2012
As a result of use a photographic printing company in London in 2011, I got their mailshot about Clerkenwell Design Week. Whilst ambling around Clerkenwell on a glorious sunny afternoon I visited the Prior Church of St John.

Priory Church of St John, Clerkenwell, London.

• More on the visit to the Prior Church of St John

June 2012
In June I had the opportunity to visit China on a business trip. When the work was finished I took the chance to spend a day or so sightseeing.

Great Wall of China at Juyongguan.

• June 2012 blogs
• Pictures from the visit to China

July 2012
At the end of July the 2012 summer Olympic Games started in London. Whilst the opening ceremony was in progress I was on a train heading towards London. The following day we went to the Chilterns visiting the Buckingham Railway Centre at Quainton Road and Claydon House. Whilst at Claydon we also visited Church of All Saints.

Church of All Saints, Middle Claydon.

August 2012
By the end of August I was losing count on the number of visits to Arran. The 23 August was also the last visit of the season of PS Waverley, which I followed along the Arran coastline.

PS Waverley at Whiting Bay.

September 2012
September included a visit to Canterbury Cathedral and another visit to Arran.

1950 Albion bus approaching Blackwaterfoot.

• Pictures from the visit to Canterbury Cathedral
• September 2012 blog

October 2012
October saw the first visit to Canada for four years. This visit was to Vancouver and Victoria.

Canada Place, Vancouver.

• Pictures from the visit to British Columbia

November 2012
November was a quiet month, however as always Christmas starts to emerge during the month. Street entertainers as always seek to entertain the passing crowds.

Clanadonia in Buchanan Street, Glasgow.

• November 2012 blog

December 2012
December finished much the same way January start with wet weather, however I visited another new church, St Mary’s Bourne Street in London.

Minstrels at west end of Southwark Cathedral.

• Pictures form the visit to St Mary’s Bourne Street, London
• Deember 2012 blogs

…and finally
During a dry spell on Hogmany afternoon, a visit to the north end of Arran, seeing a small amount of snow on the mountains.

Snow on the mountains of Arran.

So as with 2011, the year began and ended on the Isle of Arran.

China 2012 – Last sights of Beijing and the journey home – 23/24 June 2012

The flight home departed Beijing in the early hours of Sunday morning. Waking up on Saturday morning, there was the sight of formation grass cutting on the parkland outside my hotel window.

Formation grass cutting near Beijing Airport

After a late check out from my room I spent some time in the Club L lounge in the Langham Place hotel. Among the facilities was a games room, which proved yet again that my skills with a cue where non-existent.

Games room at Club L

Aquarium fish in the Club L lounge

The Club L lounge also provided a light evening snacks, which was just what was need prior to the long flight home. Whilst leaving the hotel there was a torrential downpour and thunderstorm.

Progress through the airport was mixed. Check-in was speedy and efficient, as was the transit to the international departure gates. However then it all slowed down. Chinese immigration to leave China took nearly an hour to clear. The late hour meant that most of the facilities at the international departure gates were closed with those still open,in the process of closing. As with arrival in Beijing, departure was via a remote stand requiring a bus transfer to the aircraft. Two hours after checking in, during boarding the plane the high temperature and recent heavy rain meant that there was a lot of mist rising from the taxiways and runway.

Mist rising from the taxiway following heavy rain at Beijing.

Eleven hours or so later arrival at Gatwick Airport was in typical UK weather – it was raining.

Rain at Gatwick

• More images from Langham Place Hotel
• Last images of Beijing and the journey home

China 2012 – Ming Tombs, Great Wall and Beijing – 22 June 2012

Business meeting concluded, I arranged for a day in the Beijing area before returning to the UK. Deciding what to do was very difficult with limited time available. I decided to take a tour to the Ming Tombs and Great Wall. Other parts of tour included a factory were jade was carved and a tea house.

As I was staying at an airport hotel, a taxi ride was required to get to the pick up point in central Beijing. Given the expected traffic congestion, this meant leaving at 06:45. However a clear run meant that I was at the pickup point around 20 minutes early. The guide arrived around five minutes later, and as I was the only person on the tour, we set off immediately.

Traffic congestion Beijing style

Being a Chinese Public Holiday – Dragon Boat Day – there was heavy traffic leaving Beijing, most of which appeared to heading to the Great Wall at Badaling. Our first calling point was the Ming Tombs where there are the burial grounds to 13 of the 16 Ming emperors. The visit was to the largest of the excavated burial sites, the Changling Tomb, which is divided into three separate courtyards. Within one of the buildings there is a display of artefacts from the site. and a display of the history of the Tombs.

Changling Tomb Building

Changling statue in one of the tomb buildings

Silk Burning Stove at Chang Ling Tomb

• More photos of the Ming Tombs
• More about the Ming Tombs on Wikipedia

Leaving the Ming Tombs, the next stop was the Great Wall of China. The published itinerary was a trip to Badaling, however the guide advised that this section of the wall would be very busy, so the tour went to the wall at Juyongguan. This section of the wall is narrow and steep. I climbed up as far as Beacon 9, stopping part way up at a concession to buy a disposable raincoat (primarily to protect my camera from the passing rain shower).

Looking up the Great Wall at Juyongguan

Looking down the Great Wall from Beacon 9 at Juyongguan

• More photos from the visit to the Great Wall of China
• Wikipedia on Juyongguan

Having been to the two main destinations of the tour, it was now back to Beijing to a Jade Factory (for lunch). As is common with type of tour, there is pressure to spend in the attached shop. Most of the items were priced at a high level, and those which were more affordable were not of a quality that I considered purchasing.

After lunch it was back into central Beijing to the area of the 2008 Olympic Park and the Bird’s Nest Stadium, enroute to the Dr Tea tea house. The Beijing smog prevent a clear view. At the tea house, the set up is based round getting the tour participants through the Tea Ceremony as fast as possible prior to more high pressure sales.

The Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing surrounded by smog.

Leaving the Tea House I was able to grab a picture of a Games Lane marking (four years after the Olympic hosted by Beijing).

Beijing Olympic Games Lane

To get back to my hotel I decided to take the Airport Express. I was dropped off close to the station, however once in the station, finding the ticket office was not easy.However I managed and was soon on the train back to the airport.

• More photos of the Ming Tombs
• More photos from the visit to the Great Wall of China
• More photos from around Beijing

China 2012 – Time for Work – 18 to 20 June 2012

The main reason for my visit to China was a business trip. As I have previously mentioned, I was staying in the Surefar Enjoy Hotel in Fuqing and this provide some opportunities for observation.

Surefar Enjoy Hotel, Fuqing

I was intrigued by the display in the hotel lift, with the makers name – “Edunburgh Elevator”

“Edunburgh Elevator”

My hotel room overlooked a main throughfare, and on the penultimate day it was raining, so I was treated to Fuqing methods for keeping dry whilst on a moped.

Riding a Moped with an Umbrella

• Pictures from June 2012 trip to China
• More pictures from Fuqing – 18 to 20 June 2012

China 2012 – Fuzhou – 17 June 2012

Having arrived in China the previous day, a free day prior to the business starting the following day. My hosts took me for a day trip to the local city of Fuzhou. Fortunately I was able to retreat to the air conditioned minibus as the heat and jetlag took its toil.

Fuzhou is the capital city of Fujian Province. There were three main places we visited, two temples and an historic street.

At the entrance to the first temple complex the visitor is greeted with a lake with bridges and a statue. The pagoda of the Xichan Temple (西禅寺) is in the background.

Pagoda, Lake, Bridge and Statue at Xichan Temple, Fuzhou

This is a large complex and took us quite sometime to get round. Even though I had a bottle of water with me, by the time we were most of the way round I was flagging. As we walked across the bridge to return to our minibus the fish and terrapins caught me eye.

Terrapins at Xichan Temple, Fuzhou

After lunch we headed to Bai Ta (白塔) “White Pagoda”. This on the top of Mount Yu, originally built in 905 AD to a height of 67m. However it collapsed in 1534 AD, being rebuilt in 1548 AD this time to a height of 41m.

White Pagoda in Fuzhou

Parts of this this temple were destroyed during the Cultural Revolution, however it has now been restored.

Passing the Black Pagoda, our last port of call was Sanfang Qixiang (三坊七巷) “Three Lanes and Seven Alleys” A cluster of ancient residential buildings dating from the late Jin Dynasty.

Guide board for Sanfang Qixiang (三坊七巷) “Three Lanes and Seven Alleys” in Fuzhou

The three lanes are on one side and the seven alleys on the other. At the head of each alley and lane is a descriptive board. There are also statues along the street, which visitors pose by whilst having their picture taken. On place we did visit for drinks and a snack was the local branch of Starbucks.

Starbucks Mug from Fuzhou

All too soon the tour was over and we headed back to Fuqinq. On the way out of Fuzhou to Fuqing we passed a B&Q…..

B&Q in Fuzhou

This trip also gave me an introduction to Chinese road discipline, and the various modes of transport. The linked picture album shows a few examples, however the picture as a driver, one passenger hold an umbrella and the second passenger riding side-saddle.

Three on a Moped in Fuzhou

• Pictures from June 2012 trip to China
• More pictures from the visit to Fuzhou – 17 June 2012
• Wikipedia on Fuzhou

China 2012 – Travel to Fuqing – 15/16 June 2012

Air China A330 B-6536 at London Gatwick

A business trip to Fuqing in SE China. Travel out was by Air China flight 852 from London Gatwick. The flight departed around 30 minutes late due to delays in a tow-truck being available for pushback. Approach over Beijing was in the early morning and my window seat gave a view of cooling towers to the east of the city. Landing was around 25 minutes late, with another 30 minutes to elapse before being on stand and leaving the plane for the transfer buses to the terminal building.

Beijing Industry

Processing through immigration was efficient and speedy, however due to the delays on leaving Gatwick, and subsequent delays at Beijing Capital Airport, I missed my onward connecting flight to Fuzhou. Air China were efficient in re-arranging my onward flight, which required a change of terminals at Beijing. Once I had collected my suitcase it was to Terminal 2 on the inter-terminal bus. Check-in with Xiamen Airlines was efficient with a smile, although I had slight difficulty understanding the Security Guard when going through security. I had emptied my pockets into a small bag which they thought was a laptop bag, until I removed my laptop from my camera bag. Following a call to my hosts in Fuqing to tell them about the delay it was a two hour wait for the flight.

Upon arrival at Fuzhou, my hosts met me and transported me to the Surefar Enjoy Hotel in Fuqing. Their hospitality was overwhelming. I was told anything I need from the hotel just to charge to my room, including any phone calls back to the UK.

View from the shower room to bedroom

A shower and a short nap were in order. I had previously come across a hotel with a window between the bathroom and bedroom in Hong Kong, this allowing you to lie in the bath whist watching the television, however here there was only a shower (no bath).

So I had arrived in Fuqing, South East China. I had a day to recover from the jetlag before the work was due to begin.

• Pictures from June 2012 trip to China
• Pictures from the travel to Fuqing – 15/16 June 2012