The Audio Blog of Steven Sirski

All about the document renewal process in Beijing! Get the paperwork, get the photos, fill in the papers IN BLACK INK, wait in line, submit the paper, don't lose the paper, pick up your passport in a week's time. And... next year don't forget to renew your passport! // Show notes on stevensirski.com!

Moving day, and it's raining again! No surprise there. ChongQing >> Chengdu.  //  Bought tickets online, train delayed, no Starbucks.  //  Hotel downtown, Chengdu is smaller, People's Park is busy with Elders playing cards, talking, and making deals?  //  Kuan Zhai XiangZi (wide and narrow alleyway, which are called hutongs in Beijing) for the afternoon.  //  Cycled down to Great Leap Chengdu to see what's on offer. They had a sing/guitarist playing. Sound clips include: On the Train to Chengdu, People's Park, Kuan Zhai, Toy Caller, Tinkling Ear Cleaners, Talking to a Salesman.  //  Hope you're well!  //  stevensirski.com

Late start, tired legs and feet. // Off to the Art Gallery, neat temporary collection of oil paintings. // Burning noodles. // The mask situation. // Southern tip of ChongQing City for a bookstore in a dying mall. // Then off to a famous tea house. Got interviewed? // Art district, university students everywhere. // Pig knuckle for dinner. // Old Street isn't old. // Night cap and an excited taxi driver. // Long Episode! stevensirski.com

Back in the Beej and recovering from the very busy journey! Is it possible to travel and publish? How do you keep sane and organized? Schedule over presence of the moment? Deadlines or dates? All things to think about if you're looking to publish on the move. // stevensirski.com

Planned: Three Gorges Museum and an Art Gallery. Got: Govt Museum, house and the Museum. // Neat metro stop built into its surroundings, including a forest park. // China ChongQing Three Gorges Museum is huge! Four floors, interesting to see. Learned about the city's bombing in World War 2. // Jiang Hu Cai for dinner: oily and spicey. // Have a good one! // stevensirski.com

What is your daily schedule like when you travel? Get up and get out, that's why it's sometimes good to have a travel group taking you around. // Got a painting done! Never done that before! // LOTS of walking, mostly downtown ChongQing. It's just shopping. Who buys this stuff? // Climbed a building without an elevator, lots of girls dressed up for those pics, don't know why. // Yugang Temple then over to Hong Ya Dong to see the buildings light up. // Finished with ChongQing hot pot at Gua Xi Xi! Long day! // Have a good one! // stevensirski.com

Smoking smoking smoking, snoring snoring snoring! is true! 2.5 hrs of sleep total! // Cabin couple was nice to talk to. // Arrived in ChongQing, rain rain rain! // Hostel is almost empty! Hilly city! // In bed by 10! // Have a good one! // stevensirski.com

Smoking smoking smoking, snoring snoring snoring! That's how the hard sleeper train to ChongQing was described to me! And, given the price, 389 for a bed, yet flights could be had for 400, you might wonder why I chose this method. It's a bit more visceral, I think. Not as dirty as I thought it would be, but there is a lot of smoking. Not as noisy, but it is getting late and cell phone coverage has been good, so people have something to do. Hardly anyone is drinking. Overall, peaceful journey so far. Let's hope it stays that way!

Pre-travel checklist? GoPro, drone, and a phone, right? // 18 hours to ChongQing on a Saturday night, should be interesting who we meet. // Four days ChongQing, four days Chengdu, as long as nothing changes with the health situation. // Only need a NAT if arriving from medium- to high-risk area. // Will try to post throughout, want to document the trip. A sign of the times. Follow me on Twitter @THEStevenSirski as I'll be posting some travel thoughts along the way. // Have a great end of week! stevensirski.com