Little Wandering Wren …. chats!

Thirty years ago Mr Wren and I took two weeks off work to backpack around China. We ended up in Shanghai and ever since then, anyone who knows me will tell, I have always wanted to live in Shanghai. Last week we were back in Shanghai, and as I watched the masses of people out enjoying a Sunday stroll on the Bund it was hard not to be impressed at how far China has come, since those days. Back in 1987, we stood in Tiananmen Square, before Beijing Tank Man and the uprising. We endured several slow & tedious trains around the country before Shanghai's Bullet train became the fastest train in the world. We even called into Hong Kong on the way home and admired the skyline. Little thinking that we'd end up calling Hong Kong home or that sleepy Shanghai would give Hong Kong a run for its money as a World Financial Centre and become the world's fastest-growing Skyscraper City. The Seagull on the Bund is the small pink building on the left riverba...

Gotta love the Chinese Immigration! The first time I arrived in Shanghai was exactly thirty years ago and I just loved this city. In fact, I have always wanted to live in Shanghai. I love its cosmopolitan feel, its energy, its architecture, its vibe.  I remember once saying OK four years in Melbourne and then Shanghai... well that idea never flew, the global financial crisis hit, the kids had important exams and life moved on! So here I am ten years after my  last visit to China, to get eat, drink and get married, a whole other story, standing in front of a Bangkok Chinese Immigration official, who wants to know why in 2007 I had a double entry visa to China and only went once? Ummmmm well... Oh gosh, do you remember what you were doing ten years ago? I'm sensing this unintentional blot on my copybook could be stopping me from getting my visa to Shanghai. Or maybe it was something else? I thought I'd been care...

It seems the whole world loves Paris and a French theme. We're in Macau a Special Administrative Region on the southern coast of China Famous for it's Portuguese tarts (both the edible and the not so savoury!)  and gambling. Macau is bigger than Las Vegas for gambling, becoming the world's largest gambling centre in 2006.  At the time I was working for US casino giant Las Vegas Sands.   Our work was all about bringing Venice in the shape of the Venetian to Macau. Fast forward a decade and Macau has  changed big-time. It is a vibrant resort destination that never ceases to amaze and impress. Since we were last here, a half scale replica of the Eiffel Tower has appeared. This Paris-themed casino is at the heart of Sands, China newest developments. Ultimately Macau will be a 100 billion market. It's exciting to think that by Wednesday we will be able to wander along  admiring real Eiffel Tower! Linking with My S...

Here we go again..... Off to explore the delights of Xiamen, China... and whether we would like to live there. Will we get a new Chinese front door? Decisions, Decisions (part 1)... Xiamen is considered a second-tier Industrial city in China but first impressions are of water and greenery. We have 36 hours to make a decision about whether we will move there. This would be considered a tough Ex-pat move (well that's what I say!) but it's not exactly a hardship posting. We have moved many times, with five international moves under our belts. However, compared with the easier options of Hong Kong, Singapore or even Beijing or Shanghai, with greater numbers of foreigners, and a country club lifestyle, not to mention English speaking domestic help, it would be...  Well, let's just use the word exciting! Piano Island - Xiamen Xiamen Island is located on the south-east coast of China, across from Taiwan and not far from Senkaku Islands that Ch...