Welcome to China Blonde in Pictures. I hope you’ve enjoyed the journey…and thank you so much for reading China Blonde. I hope these images give you an even greater insight into our life in Xi’an, China.
Day One in Xi'an - here we are!
Day One the job! Nervous anyone? 'Don't go!'
The Grand Westin. Here she is!
The Grand Westin Lobby
Mix Bar, Westin....so big!
The view from the Hotel Executive Bar balcony
Venturing out into the unknown. The Big Wild Goose Pagoda!
Day 2 and we're spotted by the local 'Papparazzi!' Chant the mantra....'keep moving!'
Being driven into the city centre for the first time...
The 'hood.
Just a few different modes of transport
A little squished
Love the umbrella shield.
The famous 'Zhong Lou' or Bell Tower
Dropped off in the city centre at Maccas, hoping we can find our way back...
The Drum Tower - isn't she a sight?
First time up on the City Wall!
The City Wall in all her (polluted) glory
Xi'an always lit up like a Christmas tree at night
Venturing into the Muslim Quarter...oh my!
Already stopped for a pic.
Yikes! 'Don't worry bub, we've got this.'
Fried bananas?
Muslim Quarter scenes ...that smoke
Chopping and messaging?
Trying to find the Great Mosque
Wow! Pasta anyone?
Just hanging with their feathered friends...
Just a normal guard on the streets
'Peach bum!'
Meeting 'Gao' at the hairdresser...
Ava's turn
Grandma and Granddad arrive
Let's take them into the madness!
The Terracotta Warriors
First day of school...do I look nervous?
The drive to school!
Happy families...
Xi'an High Tech International School
There's our flag
On the class mat with her new friend Lilee
Miss Jenna and the girls heading home
Ming visits! My heart.
Mum and Dad arrive for Xmas, let's go on the Westin Happy Bus.
Sightseeing
Christmas Eve dinner in Seasonal Tastes
Remember those Christmas carols?
West Lake, Hangzhou. She's pretty.
Papped so soon!
Mama bear to the rescue
Those crowds...
My turn...
Scorpions anyone?
Chinese New Year! It's snowing!
Pretty lanterns up everywhere!
My Baijiu initiation
Am I doing this right?
Lunch prep?
Skewers and meat - everywhere!!
More street food
A trip out to the villages
That tongue! Sure to attract even more attention.
Those crowds!
Bugs anyone?
My first champers with the girls! Heidi, Kirsten, me and Li. Making new friends at last.
The bullet train to Beijing. She flies.
Beijing Blue!
Made it!
The precarious cable car ride up to the Great Wall
Now a toboggan ride down...
A polluted day!
Snow time!
Mask up!
Our first house party... Who are these people. Ha Ha
Our new 'lounge'
Famous
Side saddle...and heels
A trip to Guilin and the boat to Yangshuo
Guilin - Yangshuo - beautiful
Papped again by these cute school girls
First time on a bike in 20 years!
Arriving in Ping 'an Village - the ladies carrying the luggage!
Selling 'Tu Dou'
The Yao Ladies who never cut their hair
Up to see the incredible rice paddies
My mum, sister and nieces arrive. Yay!!
My one and only attempt at teaching English to the Westin staff
Lungs?!
My own hot pot!
Visiting Ikea!
Ikea day out
Directions to Le Ban Cafe (carried this in my purse for 3 years)
My girls. Heidi, Li, Kerry and Laura (The Five Families) never mind the boys.
Margaritas at Tex Mex!
Staff party
Ava centre stage!
Ms James - The entertainment.
Heading into Lhasa, Tibet!
Wow!
Under the awning of prayer flags
Lhasa city centre
Cuties spinning their prayer wheels
Monks at 'Debate' time
'Us'
Potala Palace, Tibet
The monk who gifted Ava a yellow prayer scarf for longevity.
Chinese lessons with Vera
That MC gig...
ANZAC Day celebrations with Nicole
The dress!
The Three Musketeers!
Meeting Wang Shao Wu (Yeye)
Yeye, Nai nai, Li and I...
Always sweeping
There were four on the bike...
Sus comes to town!
Painting class...
Typical Chinese feast in Xi'an
My Little China Girl
Selling Mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Festival
Visiting Shaolin Temple - another precarious cable car ride
Ahead of her time?
Kung fu fighting...
Spot the baby
Longmen Grottos... those carvings
I bought Laura's bike!
My medicine from the acupuncturist
With the lovely Nina.
Pollution!!!
Mask up and take a trip to the massage place!
Farewelling my girls. Jenna, Eleonore, Li, Nicole, Me and Laura.
Mix Bar farewell... our own Terracotta Warrior!
And a T-shirt. Who is that!
Do we look like the cast of 'Friends' ... our very last night together.
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts, China
