An interesting journey today, across the overland border between Hong Kong and Mainland China. The 35-mile journey took over 2 hours, but was a fascinating one, as we took taxi, bus, another bus, and a final minibus (once through the border controls) to our hotel. Although it didn't quite remind me of the DMZ in Korea (visited some years ago) it was certainly a mission to get through - but we managed it!Since arriving we've had some Mandarin coaching, and sung through the Chinese folksongs for this tour's concerts. There's a marked difference in the language between Hong Kong and China - as well as too many other differences to mention. Although the countries are now supposedly united, the feeling in each remains unique.What remains the same, however, is the feeling of warmth and welcome from the people, and their interest in us and our music. I remember fondly our first ever tour here, and the surprise in hearing our own arrangements sung back to us at the stage door on more than one occasion - amazing in a country where we've never sold our sheet music! They do love to sing.This evening is our last free one for a while, as tomorrow we kick off a run of four concerts in a row. It'll be intense work, but satisfying as ever. I'm celebrating by catching up with admin in my hotel room!
An interesting journey today, across the overland border between Hong Kong and Mainland China. The 35-mile journey took over 2 hours, but was a fascinating one, as we took taxi, bus, another bus, and a final minibus (once through the border controls) to our hotel. Although it didn't quite remind me of the DMZ in Korea (visited some years ago) it was certainly a mission to get through - but we managed it!Since arriving we've had some Mandarin coaching, and sung through the Chinese folksongs for this tour's concerts. There's a marked difference in the language between Hong Kong and China - as well as too many other differences to mention. Although the countries are now supposedly united, the feeling in each remains unique.What remains the same, however, is the feeling of warmth and welcome from the people, and their interest in us and our music. I remember fondly our first ever tour here, and the surprise in hearing our own arrangements sung back to us at the stage door on more than one occasion - amazing in a country where we've never sold our sheet music! They do love to sing.This evening is our last free one for a while, as tomorrow we kick off a run of four concerts in a row. It'll be intense work, but satisfying as ever. I'm celebrating by catching up with admin in my hotel room!
An interesting journey today, across the overland border between Hong Kong and Mainland China. The 35-mile journey took over 2 hours, but was a fascinating one, as we took taxi, bus, another bus, and a final minibus (once through the border controls) to our hotel. Although it didn't quite remind me of the DMZ in Korea (visited some years ago) it was certainly a mission to get through - but we managed it!Since arriving we've had some Mandarin coaching, and sung through the Chinese folksongs for this tour's concerts. There's a marked difference in the language between Hong Kong and China - as well as too many other differences to mention. Although the countries are now supposedly united, the feeling in each remains unique.What remains the same, however, is the feeling of warmth and welcome from the people, and their interest in us and our music. I remember fondly our first ever tour here, and the surprise in hearing our own arrangements sung back to us at the stage door on more than one occasion - amazing in a country where we've never sold our sheet music! They do love to sing.This evening is our last free one for a while, as tomorrow we kick off a run of four concerts in a row. It'll be intense work, but satisfying as ever. I'm celebrating by catching up with admin in my hotel room!
An interesting journey today, across the overland border between Hong Kong and Mainland China. The 35-mile journey took over 2 hours, but was a fascinating one, as we took taxi, bus, another bus, and a final minibus (once through the border controls) to our hotel. Although it didn't quite remind me of the DMZ in Korea (visited some years ago) it was certainly a mission to get through - but we managed it!Since arriving we've had some Mandarin coaching, and sung through the Chinese folksongs for this tour's concerts. There's a marked difference in the language between Hong Kong and China - as well as too many other differences to mention. Although the countries are now supposedly united, the feeling in each remains unique.What remains the same, however, is the feeling of warmth and welcome from the people, and their interest in us and our music. I remember fondly our first ever tour here, and the surprise in hearing our own arrangements sung back to us at the stage door on more than one occasion - amazing in a country where we've never sold our sheet music! They do love to sing.This evening is our last free one for a while, as tomorrow we kick off a run of four concerts in a row. It'll be intense work, but satisfying as ever. I'm celebrating by catching up with admin in my hotel room!
An interesting journey today, across the overland border between Hong Kong and Mainland China. The 35-mile journey took over 2 hours, but was a fascinating one, as we took taxi, bus, another bus, and a final minibus (once through the border controls) to our hotel. Although it didn't quite remind me of the DMZ in Korea (visited some years ago) it was certainly a mission to get through - but we managed it!Since arriving we've had some Mandarin coaching, and sung through the Chinese folksongs for this tour's concerts. There's a marked difference in the language between Hong Kong and China - as well as too many other differences to mention. Although the countries are now supposedly united, the feeling in each remains unique.What remains the same, however, is the feeling of warmth and welcome from the people, and their interest in us and our music. I remember fondly our first ever tour here, and the surprise in hearing our own arrangements sung back to us at the stage door on more than one occasion - amazing in a country where we've never sold our sheet music! They do love to sing.This evening is our last free one for a while, as tomorrow we kick off a run of four concerts in a row. It'll be intense work, but satisfying as ever. I'm celebrating by catching up with admin in my hotel room!
An interesting journey today, across the overland border between Hong Kong and Mainland China. The 35-mile journey took over 2 hours, but was a fascinating one, as we took taxi, bus, another bus, and a final minibus (once through the border controls) to our hotel. Although it didn't quite remind me of the DMZ in Korea (visited some years ago) it was certainly a mission to get through - but we managed it!Since arriving we've had some Mandarin coaching, and sung through the Chinese folksongs for this tour's concerts. There's a marked difference in the language between Hong Kong and China - as well as too many other differences to mention. Although the countries are now supposedly united, the feeling in each remains unique.What remains the same, however, is the feeling of warmth and welcome from the people, and their interest in us and our music. I remember fondly our first ever tour here, and the surprise in hearing our own arrangements sung back to us at the stage door on more than one occasion - amazing in a country where we've never sold our sheet music! They do love to sing.This evening is our last free one for a while, as tomorrow we kick off a run of four concerts in a row. It'll be intense work, but satisfying as ever. I'm celebrating by catching up with admin in my hotel room!
An interesting journey today, across the overland border between Hong Kong and Mainland China. The 35-mile journey took over 2 hours, but was a fascinating one, as we took taxi, bus, another bus, and a final minibus (once through the border controls) to our hotel. Although it didn't quite remind me of the DMZ in Korea (visited some years ago) it was certainly a mission to get through - but we managed it!Since arriving we've had some Mandarin coaching, and sung through the Chinese folksongs for this tour's concerts. There's a marked difference in the language between Hong Kong and China - as well as too many other differences to mention. Although the countries are now supposedly united, the feeling in each remains unique.What remains the same, however, is the feeling of warmth and welcome from the people, and their interest in us and our music. I remember fondly our first ever tour here, and the surprise in hearing our own arrangements sung back to us at the stage door on more than one occasion - amazing in a country where we've never sold our sheet music! They do love to sing.This evening is our last free one for a while, as tomorrow we kick off a run of four concerts in a row. It'll be intense work, but satisfying as ever. I'm celebrating by catching up with admin in my hotel room!
